Hunting

Violations of any hunting regulation (DNR, local municipality, or Restoring Lands’ list below) can be cause for automatic disqualification from Managed Access permissions in the future, for perpetuity. Legal charges can be filed and equipment used within the violation area can be seized by Restoring Lands.

• No baiting is allowed on any preserves. Restoring Lands reserves the right to press trespassing charges on hunters found to be using bait.
• No unoccupied tree stands or ground blinds on Open Access sites are allowed – they must be removed during the day when not in use, and at the end of each day.
• Tree stands and ground blinds are required to be labeled with personal information following DNR regulations and must be visible from the ground.
• Building blinds with lumber or woody debris found on site is NOT allowed.
• Restoring Lands does not allow cutting of branches, trees, or other vegetation for any reason on any preserve – including creating a view for trail cameras.
• “Screw-in” tree steps or any other tree-damaging equipment are not allowed on any preserve – including attaching trail cameras.
• NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES of any kind are allowed on any preserve outside of the access road (if open to the public) and parking area.
• Hunters are responsible for obtaining weapons discharge permits from local agencies where needed.
• Equipment found in association with a violation will be removed from the property. Restoring Lands reserves the right to assume ownership of any piece of equipment in violation.
• Pack out any garbage or other items when leaving Restoring Lands’ preserves.
• Waterfowl Hunting: Our restrictions on waterfowl hunting are only based on upland hunting. Rivers, lakes, and streams are considered “waters of the state.” If you are hunting from a boat or in the water, you are subject to state hunting laws. In either case, we do not allow motorized vehicles on our preserves. If you wish to bring a boat to the water, you must carry it or use a self-propelled device.
• Help control our deer herd by harvesting at least one doe before harvesting a buck.
  • Immediately upon harvesting a deer, please fill out the Deer Harvest Report Form and send to us by mail or email.

• Review the Hunting Policies document.

To ensure a quality hunting opportunity and reward good hunting ethics, Restoring Lands expects hunters to respect and follow all rules and regulations. During all seasons, hunters are responsible for understanding and must follow Wisconsin DNR, local municipality, and Restoring Lands’ policy, rules, and regulations – whichever is most restrictive. Violators of any rule or regulation are automatically disqualified from Managed Access permissions in the future.

Hunters are responsible for knowing where Restoring Lands property boundaries are located and for staying within these boundaries. Violators are automatically disqualified from Managed Access permissions in the future and could be charged with trespassing.

Restoring Lands’ hunting application provides a way to track hunting interest and activity on our preserves, and allows hunters to apply for our lottery at our Managed Access sites.

• Hunters interested in gaining permission to Managed Access sites must submit an application each year.
• Applications are due August 15th
• Winners of drawings will be granted permission by September 1st via email.
• Applications must be filled out in their entirety to be eligible for the lottery.
• Hunters will be introduced (via email) to the other hunters who will be hunting the same Managed Access preserve.

• Restoring Lands’ preserves vary in what species and methods are allowable at each site. See the Hunting Policies document for details.
• It is the hunter’s responsibility to understand what is allowed on each site they plan on hunting – this includes following DNR, municipality, and Restoring Lands rules and regulations.
• Hunters are encouraged to join Restoring Lands by donating or volunteering with us.

• Hunting protects and enhances wildlife habitat. Over-browsing by deer and rabbits can degrade wildlife habitat for all species and decreases plant diversity. Selective hunting can balance populations, help native flora establish and remain viable, and ensure habitat for all species.
• Hunting enhances conservation relationships. Through partnering with hunters, Restoring Lands can protect and enhance our preserves and gain knowledge of our sites from the public’s perspective.
• Hunting encourages nature-based recreation. Hunting is an excellent intergenerational tradition in Wisconsin. It promotes family traditions and provides an outdoor recreational, educational, and stewardship opportunity for families.

• Anderle Property **NEW site. View the Hunting Map here
• Biehl Nature Preserve (has both Open and Managed Access sections- View the Hunting Map for boundaries)
• Center Lane Preserve – View the Hunting Map here
• County Line Preserve – View the Hunting Map here
• County XX Property – View the Hunting Map here
• Mayhew Preserve – View the Hunting Map here
• Schoofs Preserve – View the Hunting Map here
• Spirit Lake (Bow hunting ONLY) – View the Hunting Map here
• South Oak Preserve – View the Hunting Map here
• Stony Creek Preserve – View Hunting Map here
• See the full Preserve-Specific Hunting Policies document. 

• • Biehl Nature Preserve (Bow Hunting ONLY) **has both Managed Access and Open sections. View Hunting Map for boundaries
  • Cedarburg Environmental Study Area  (Bow hunting ONLY) – View Hunting Map here 
  • Fellenz Woods **has both Managed Access and Open sections. View Hunting Map for boundaries
  • Forest Beach Migratory Preserve (Bow hunting ONLY) – View Hunting Map here
  • Huiras Lake Preserve – View Hunting Map here
  • Kratzsch Conservancy – View Hunting Map here
  • MacLaurin Woods – View Hunting Map here
  • Newark Lore – View Hunting Map here
  • Riverbend Conservancy – View Hunting Map here

• See the full Preserve-Specific Hunting Policies document.

1. Retrieval – can people come onto Restoring Lands’ property to recover a deer or another animal? 

Yes. If a deer was shot on another property, but runs onto a Restoring Lands’ preserve, a hunter has permission to go onto our preserve to retrieve.

2. Can people go onto surrounding lands to recover a deer or another animal? 

No, they need to gain permission from the landowner(s) to go onto neighboring lands.

3. Where can hunters park? 

Preferably in the parking lot if available. Hunters must know municipal rules about parking on roadways. Restoring Lands does not allow parking in unauthorized areas to limit disturbance of vegetation.

4. Can I bring another person along with me to hunt in a managed site?

If it is a youth hunter in the DNR’s “Learn to Hunt,” it is allowed. But there should be only one person hunting that day. They can bring a guest while hunting on a managed site, but that guest cannot hunt.

5. Can hunters hunt for waterfowl on the river from a managed site if they were not able to secure a permit? 

Yes. The river is considered “waters of the state,” so hunters can technically access the river via our preserve and stand in the water or sit on a boat and hunt. They cannot hunt from our land though. They can retrieve from our land though.

6. Do you allow shot gun or rifles for hunting? 

This is set by the local municipality and it is the responsibility of the hunter to gather this information.

7. What preserves do NOT allow hunting?

• Bratt Woods
• Decorah Woods
• Donges Bay Gorge
• Hames Nature Preserve
• Hepburn Woods
• Koch Woodlands
• Kurtz Woods State Natural Area
• Milwaukee River Greenway
• Pavcek Preserve
• Sauk Creek Nature Preserve
• Shannon Preserve
• Turtle Park
• Zinn Preserve