Where Can I Hike During Hunting?

Updated: Nov 12, 2021 – Deer Gun Season opens on Nov. 20th, 2021 in Wisconsin and runs through November 28th (2021). There is also a “holiday hunt” in Sauk County and extended Archery and Crossbowthrough Jan. 31, 2021! It is important to note that much of Devil’s Lake State Park is open to hunting. So where can you feel safe hiking in the park?

Hike Anywhere?

Let me get this out of the way right now. There are a lot of folks who will tell you with bravado, “Anywhere!” “Just wear blaze orange and you’ll be fine.” is the standard response. Mostly, they’ll be right. Hunting accidents are rare. As far as I know, no person or pet has been injured by a hunter at Devil’s Lake State Park. In addition, most hunters worth their salt, don’t hunt during mid-day. Still, many people don’t want to take the risk with themselves, their kids, or their pets and that’s reasonable too.

Maybe Not

As you look at the park’s hunting and trapping map, it’s important to realize that hunters are required to stay 100 yards away from the trails marked in gray or 50 feet from the center of a roadway. On trails not shaded, we assume you can hunt directly from the trail if you like. So if you don’t want to be close to hunting, Steink Basin is pretty much a no-go area. Of the popular trails, the West Bluff Trail and East Bluff Woods trail may have hunters 100 yards off-trail. Again, some won’t want to hike on these trails. So let’s look at some “safe” places.

“Safe Hikes”

The East Bluff Trail is well out of the hunting zone. If you want to get up on the bluffs, this is the trail I’d choose. As long as you stay out where you can look out over the cliffs, you’re in the safe zone. This would include the Balanced Rock Trail, Potholes Trail, The CCC Trail and Devil’s Doorway. If you want a flat trail, I’d recommend the Tumbled Rocks trail along the lake and the Grottos Trail at the foot of the East Bluff. You can also make a day of it by staying right around the lake. Of course “officially” you can’t hike on the railroad tracks.

Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area is also closed to hunting.

What About Mirror Lake?

Mirror Lake State Park is just 10 minutes away. Deer Gun hunting is allowed in most of the park as well, limiting where some folks will want to hike or bike.

At Mirror Lake State Park there are a very limited number of options. We’d recommend Echo Rock Trail, staying south of the ravine. There are also a few other trails within the closed area. Personally, this time of year I like to hike in Mirror Lake’s Campgrounds. They make great hiking trails this time of year!

There’s really nothing away from hunting available at Rocky Arbor State Park. Here’s that map.

Where Do You Go?

We know that hiking and biking (Especially fat-tire bikes this time of year.) is growing in popularity year around and there is a real lack of areas to “#OutWIGo” as they say, in Wisconsin State Parks or other “public” lands during hunting season. Where do YOU get outside during the gun hunting season in Wisconsin? Let us know in the comments below!

Have fun! Be safe out there!