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Friends of Horicon NWR

Phone: 920-387-2658
Address: W4279 Headquarters Rd.
Mayville, WI 53050

Visitor Center Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:00pm

The 32,000 acre Horicon Marsh is divided into the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The two areas have different regulations and different season dates for hunting. You are responsible for knowing the Federal refuge boundary and abiding by these regulations. For hunting information on the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area, please call the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at (920) 387-7860 or visit their website at http://dnr.wi.gov.

Species and Season Dates

Only the animals listed below may be hunted. No waterfowl hunting is allowed and due to pending State rules the deer seasons may be modified.

• Pheasant and partridge
  • October 17 (noon) - December 31
• Rabbit
  • October 17 (noon) - February 28
• Squirrel
  • September 12 - January 31

• Deer (Archery)
  • September 12 - November 19 and November 30 - January 3
• Deer (Gun)
  • November 21 - November 29
• Muzzleloader November 30 - December 9

• Youth Deer Hunt
  • October 10 and 11
• Statewide Anterless Deer Hunt
  • December 10 - December 13

Youth Waterfowl Hunting

No waterfowl hunting is allowed on the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. Youth may apply for a special youth waterfowl hunt, held each October on three different weekend mornings, in a designated area of the refuge. Youth must be between the ages of 12 and 18 and have attended both hunter safety and a waterfowl skills or Greenwings day. For more information on how to apply for this hunt, please call (920) 387-2658 ext. 12.

Hunts for Hunters with Disabilities

The Horicon National Wildlife Refuge offers two deer gun hunts in a designated part of the refuge for hunters with disabilities. Both hunts require hunters to have a Class A, B or C permit (forms can be obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). Six hunting blinds are available for use.

2009 season dates for these two hunts are October 3-11 and November 21-29. Hunters must apply for the October hunt prior to September 1 and the November hunt prior to November 9. Applications for both hunts can be obtained by calling (920) 387-2658 ext. 12.

Closed and Restricted Areas

Most of the refuge is open to the hunting of the above species. Please note the following closed areas and restricted areas with special regulations.

• Refuge areas closed to all hunting
  • Viewing area - located near the intersection of State Highway 49 and County Road Z
  • Refuge office/visitor center - located off County Road Z on east side of the marsh
  • Bud Cook Hiking Area - located on Point Road on east side of the marsh
• Refuge restricted areas
  • Horicon TernPike Auto Tour and hiking trails - open only during deer gun season, November 21-29 and anterless hunt, December 10-13
  • Area between Point Road and Lehner Road (area for hunters with disabilities) - open to everyone during anterless hunt, December 10-13. Open to hunters with diabilities by permit during deer gun season, October 3-11 and November 21-29.
  • Area on west side of refuge, at intersection of Main Dike Road and State Highway 26 - open only to youth during pheasant season, October 17 (noon)-November 29.

Rules and Regulations

Besides the prohibited activities listed in the Wisconsin Hunting Regulations pamphlet, the following activities are also prohibited on the refuge.

• Construction and use of permanent blinds, platform or scaffolds and damaging of trees. All items, including portable stands must be removed each night
• Overnight camping or parking and fires
• Scouting or baiting
• Use of toxic shot when hunting small game
• Shining to locate or take wildlife
• Use of motorized vehicles, boats or horses

Horicon Marsh hunting map (397 KB, pdf)