Hunting/Fishing/Trapping
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Comprehensive Conservation Plan Phone: 920-387-2658 Visitor Center Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:00pm
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Hunting The 33,000 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. Horicon Marsh hunting map (461 KB, pdf) 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. The Refuge is located in Deer Management Units 68A (north of Hwy 49) and 68B (south of Hwy 49).
The Refuge will NOT be open for the antlerless gun hunt October 13-16. Youth Waterfowl Hunting No waterfowl hunting is allowed on the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge except for selected youth participants of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Learn to Hunt Waterfowl program. Youth interested in a Learn to Hunt Program should visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources . Hunts for Hunters with Disabilities The Horicon National Wildlife Refuge offers two gun deer hunts and one archery hunt in a designated part of the refuge for hunters with disabilities. Hunters must have a Class A, B, or C permit for the shotgun hunts; and a Class A, B, C or crossbow permit in order to be eligible for the archery hunt. Note, hunters who are over age 65 do not need a special crossbow permit. Also, hunters do not necessarily have to use a crossbow during the archery hunt. All of these permits can be obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Ten hunting blinds are available for use during the shotgun hunts. 2011 season dates for the hunts are October 1-9 shotgun hunt (deadline September 1), October 29-November 6 archery hunt (deadline October 1), and November 19-27 shotgun hunt (deadline November 1). Applications for the hunts can be obtained by calling (920) 387-2658 ext. 12. Closed and Restricted Areas Hunters should be aware that Frankfurth Dike will no longer be open for access during the early archery season. 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.
Rules and Regulations Access on the Refuge is restricted to 1 hour before to 1 hour after legal hunting hours. In addition to the prohibited activities listed in the Wisconsin Hunting Regulations pamphlet, the following activities are also prohibited on the refuge:
Fishing Peachy Road, Ledge Road, and Main Dike Road are designated locations for bank fishing/piers. Opportunities for perch, pike, bullhead, other game species, and carp. Fishing is limited to designated locations. December 1- March 15 the entire refuge is open to ice fishing - no motorized vehicles are allowed for access. For more information on state fishing regulations visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources . Peachy Access Improvement Project: The new fishing platform has been installed and further inprovements will continue through summer 2012. Trapping September 22 and 23, 2011: Refuge is open to all trappers who wish to examine areas that will be open to trapping. Interested trappers must obtain a permit at the Refuge Office. September 27, 2011: Horicon Marsh Trapping Auction (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources). Doors open at 5:00 p.m., auction begins at 6:00 p.m. All successful trappers who buy a unit will be required to stay for mandatory meeting following auction (supper provided). Details of the 2011/2012 Trapping Season: Eleven marsh trapping units on the Refuge will be available at the auction. In addition, two units (3 trappers and helpers per unit) will be available at no charge to any interested seniors, youth, or trappers with disabilities. Seniors must be 62 years of age or older, youth must be between the ages of 12 and 17, and trappers with disabilities must have a Class A, B, or C hunting permit from the Department of Natural Resources. These units will be chosen by a random drawing during the auction. If there is no interest, then the areas will be sold. Season dates for the marsh and senior/youth/disabled units will be November 28, 2011, through March 15, 2012, or 5 days after the ice is out, whichever comes first. Trappers will be able to trap any dikes within the units from October 29, 2011 to March 31, 2012, or 5 days after the ice is out, whichever comes first. (Note: Units 2/3 and 4 do not have any dikes.) Upland trapping will be offered to any interested trapper at no charge. Upland trapping will run from October 29, 2011 through March 31, 2012 (except for water sets which will end on March 15 or 5 days after the ice is out, whichever comes first). Trappers interested in an upland trapping permit can obtain a permit at no charge by stopping in the Refuge office for a permit and map of the designated areas. Permits will also be available at the auction. The number of trappers will be unlimited and the areas of the Refuge will not be divided. Refuge General Trapping Conditions (65 KB, pdf) Dike and Marsh Trapping Map (1 MB, pdf) Upland Trapping Map (1MB, pdf) 2010 - 2011 Trapping Harvest (50 KB, pdf) Wood Cutting Free Firewood : Special use permits for cutting firewood are available this year starting November 28th and will be good from December 1, 2011 - March 15, 2012. Woodlot map, general conditions and special use permit application are found below. Applicants will need to fill out numbers 2-8 and 24 of the permit application and send application by e-mail to Jon_Krapfl@fws.gov; bring a hard copy to your permit appointment; or request assistance from refuge staff on the day of your permit appointment. Contact Jon Krapfl at 920-387-2658 ext. 23 for questions or to set up an appointment. Firewood General Conditions (44 KB, pdf) Woodlot Map (1 MB, pdf) Firewood Permit Application (589 KB, pdf) |
