(DNR) – Summer is a great time to prepare for the fall hunting seasons. In addition to sighting in your rifle scope, tuning your bow or working on your duck calls, the longer and warmer days can also provide ample time to scout new areas for future hunts.
There are 6 million acres of publicly accessible lands in Wisconsin. Wide swaths of this land are open to various hunting seasons but much of it is less visited than people think. Exploring deeper into State Forests and Wildlife Areas can get you further away from the crowds who just want to hunt adjacent to access points. Plus, some prime hunting grounds are only accessible by foot or by water.
To help hunters navigate these lands, the DNR maintains the Public Access Lands (PALs) tool. This resource can be used via your phone to help you navigate in the field. You can also download a copy of each county’s map for areas without cell service.
In addition to the publicly managed lands, there are also tens of thousands of acres of private land accessible to the public for hunting, fishing, trapping and wildlife viewing, maintained as part of Wisconsin Voluntary Public Access (VPA) program.
These otherwise private properties have volunteered to open their 28,000 acres to the public. Not only can these properties be viewed online before you go, but they do not require landowner permission to access them. VPA lands are comprised of a mix of varying habitats (grassland, agricultural land, forest and wetlands), so check the interactive map of VPA properties to explore the places of interest to you.
The success and future of the VPA program depends on both the generosity of private landowners and respectful use by hunters. Remember only to explore these places on foot and respect the landowner’s property.
Are you a property owner curious about enrollment in the VPA program? Please reach out to DNRVPALands@wisconsin.gov for more information.
