Hunting

The largest public hunting area near Madison and Milwaukee, Necedah NWR has become a popular destination for many Wisconsin deer hunters. As many as 2,000 deer hunters visit the 45,000-acre refuge on opening day, with many returning year after year. While turkey hunting is not nearly as popular, the refuge has a healthy population of birds that appears to be increasing. The spring season is a particularly good time to catch sight of a gobbler. Necedah offers a wide range of hunting opportunities on limited parts of the refuge including fall waterfowl hunting. Nearly the entire refuge is opened for the deer firearms season.

Welcome: Necedah National Wildlife Refuge exists for the purpose of “a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife...” (Executive Order 8065) and “...for use as an inviolate sanctuary for migratory birds” (Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929). Only specific areas of the refuge are open to hunting and fishing in accordance with applicable state regulations. Signs are posted throughout the refuge identifying hunting areas. State licensing required, no special federal hunting permit is required. 

Hunting Regulations: Hunting regulations are designed to provide safe recreational opportunities through wise use of renewable wildlife resources. Hunting and fishing are permitted in accordance with Federal regulations governing public use on National Wildlife Refuges as set forth in Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Hunting will be in accordance with applicable State of Wisconsin regulations subject to the conditions stated below. 

Hunting Activity, Areas and Seasons:

Access: Hunting areas are open one hour before legal shooting hours and closed one hour after, during the hunting season. Unarmed deer hunters may enter Hunt Area 3 for scouting beginning the Saturday prior to the gun deer season. 

During the spring turkey season, we allow unarmed hunters who have a valid spring turkey permit in their possession to scout the hunt area. We allow this scouting beginning on the Saturday immediately prior to the opening date listed on the State turkey hunting permit. Fishing areas are open 30 minutes prior to sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset during refuge-specific seasons for hook and line fishing only. 

Tree Stands, Blinds, and Personal Equipment: Deer Hunting and/or Upland Game Hunting: Portable elevated devices may be used, but may not be erected prior to the opening day of deer hunting season and must be lowered to ground level at the end of each day’s hunt.  Per state requirements tree stands and all ground blinds must have the Department of Natural Resources customer ID number or name and address attached in a manner that is visible and legible to a person on the ground or near the entrance of the ground blind. Ground blinds, elevated devices, platforms, and ladders may be used only if there is no damage, cutting, or removing of any vegetation. If natural, dead vegetation is used as a ground blind, it must be disassembled at the close of the deer season or the close of the day for upland game hunting. Per State requirements ground blinds during any open deer season or special deer hunt with firearms must have a minimum of 144 square inches of solid blaze orange or fluorescent pink material is visible from all directions. Flagging used during hunting season(s) must to be removed by the close of archery deer season. 

Waterfowl Hunting and Fishing: You must remove all boats, decoys, blinds, blind materials, stands, platforms, and other hunting/fishing equipment (see §§27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter) brought onto the refuge at the end of each day and if any dead and down vegetation is used it must be disassembled at the close of the day. 

Prohibited Activities: By law, recreational activities on national wildlife refuges are prohibited unless expressly permitted

• Shining/Spotlighting
• Baiting 
• Open fires, grills, open heat sources
• Littering 
• Wolf, coyote, bobcat and bear hunting
• Hunting at night 
• Target and practice shooting 
• Trail cameras and drones 
• Overnight parking and camping 
• Permanent blinds, stands and ladders 
• Tacks, paint, reflective tape and leaving flagging 
• Damaging, cutting, removing vegetation
• The use of nails, wire, screws, or bolts to attach any hunting equipment 
• Possession or use of alcoholic beverages 
• Lead and non-federally approved toxic shot 
• Loaded firearms or nocked arrows on a bow, within 50 feet of the centerline of all public roads and service roads (shown on the map as a solid line and dotted lines respectively) 
• Discharging from, across, down, or along service roads 
• Motorized vehicles off Township Roads or blocking service roads and gates 
• Dog training
• Pets must be leashed at all times other than while hunting refuge approved species 
• Fishing after dark or before daylight 
• Leaving boats on the refuge overnight \
• Taking of any mussel (clam), crayfish, frog, leech, or turtle species by any method on the refuge (50 CFR.27.21) 
• Lead free tackle is recomended for the health of loons, swans and cranes 
• Unless specifically listed, boats are not allowed on refuge waters  
• Unless specifically listed, boats are not allowed on refuge waters 
• Harassment of wildlife or excessive damage to vegetation
• Leaving shell casings and other disposable hunting or fishing gear. Items must be retrieved and disposed of properly.

Vehicles: Licensed motor vehicles, ATVs, and UTVs are permitted only on Township roads and in designated parking areas. Vehicles must not block gates. Vehicles parked in front of gates or blocking any roads are subject to being fined and/or towed (at the owner’s expense).

Safety: Be a sure shot. Know what your target is and what is beyond it. Foot travel is allowed across the refuge and on designated trails at different times of the year and at times overlaps with hunting seasons. Swans, whooping cranes and elk can also be seen during hunting seasons and are protected with other restricted species. 

Firearms: Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on National Wildlife Refuge System lands must comply with all provisions of State and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations in 50 CFR Part 32.) 

Accessibility Information: Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available to all individuals regardless of physical or mental ability. For more information please contact the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Civil Rights, https://www.doi.gov/pmb/eeo/ public-civil-rights 

Hunters with a current state disabled hunter license and applicable hunting tags and/or stamps can apply for gun-deer disabled hunting area special use permits available each September.