Two white-tailed deer in a grassy streamside on a Door County Land Trust preserve

Hunting on Land Trust Properties

Help us manage healthy ecosystems. Hunt responsibly, follow the rules, and share your hunting info to help us steward the land.

Hunters as Conservation Partners

Hunters play an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems on Land Trust preserves.

White-tailed deer and wild turkeys, when overabundant, damage native plants and forest regeneration. By helping manage these populations, hunters contribute directly to our conservation mission.

Most Land Trust-owned land is open to hunting during Wisconsin DNR seasons. A few small properties are closed due to size, location, or ecological sensitivity.

Important: Lands under conservation easement are private property. The Land Trust cannot grant hunting permission on easement lands — you must contact the landowner directly.

Where to Hunt

How to Use This Guide

Each preserve has color-coded zones shown on its hunting map:

Orange: All seasons, all methods

Green: Most seasons, some restrictions

Blue: Archery/crossbow only

Red: No hunting

DCLT Land Open for Hunting

↕ Scroll within the table to view all preserves and hunting regulations

Preserve Name	Map	Township	Map Color	Fall Traditional Deer Gun	Deer Gun Special Hunts	Deer Archery & Crossbow	Spring Turkey Bow	Spring Turkey Gun	Fall Turkey Bow	Fall Turkey Gun	All Other WI-DNR Game Seasons
Anhapee River Corridor Natural Area	Map	Algoma	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve	Map	Egg Harbor	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve	Map	Egg Harbor	Red	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Bear Creek Nature Preserve	Map	Clay Banks	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Big and Little Marsh State Natural Area	Map	Washington Island	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Carlson Natural Area	Map	Liberty Grove	Green	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
Chambers Island Nature Preserve	Map	Gibraltar	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	no	no	no
Chambers Island Nature Preserve	Map	Gibraltar	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Detroit Harbor Nature Preserve	Map	Washington Island	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Detroit Harbor Nature Preserve	Map	Washington Island	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Detroit Island Nature Preserve	Map	Washington Island	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Domer Neff Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary	Map	Washington Island	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Ephraim Nature Preserve at Anderson Pond	Map	Ephraim (Village of)	Blue	no	no	yes	yes	no	yes	no	no
Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp Natural Area	Map	Ephraim (Village of) & Gibraltar (Town of) / Gibraltar (Town of)	Blue	no	no	yes	yes	no	yes	no	no
Gibraltar-Ephraim Swamp Natural Area	Map		Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Gilson-Peterson Forest Natural Area	Map	Ellison Bay	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Heins Creek Nature Preserve	Map	Baileys Harbor	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Hibbard Creek Natural Area	Map	Egg Harbor	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Hibbard Creek Corridor Natural Area	Map	Egg Harbor	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Indian Point Natural Area	—	Washington Island	Green	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
Kangaroo Lake Nature Preserve	Map	Baileys Harbor	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Kangaroo Lake Nature Preserve	Map	Baileys Harbor	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Kellner Fen Natural Area	Map	Sturgeon Bay	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
			Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
			Red	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
Lautenbach Woods Nature Preserve	Map	Egg Harbor	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Lautenbach Woods Nature Preserve	Map	Egg Harbor	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Legacy Nature Preserve at Clay Banks	Map	Clay Banks	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Little Lake Nature Preserve	Map	Washington Island	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Mostek Natural Area	Map	Washington Island	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Oak Bluff Natural Area	Map	Union	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Oak Bluff Natural Area	Map	Union	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Oak Road Nature Preserve	Map	Egg Harbor	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Picha Woods Natural Area	Map	Egg Harbor	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Richter Community Forest Nature Preserve	Map	Washington Island	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
Solitude Natural Area	Map	Baileys Harbor	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve	Map	Sturgeon Bay (City of)	Blue	yes*	no	yes*	yes*	no	yes*	no	no
Three Springs Nature Preserve	Map	Sister Bay	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Walt's Woods Natural Area	Map	Baileys Harbor	Orange	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
White Cliff Nature Preserve	Map	Egg Harbor	Green	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no

* Special rules apply. Shotgun & muzzleloader only.

Additional Properties (by Parcel ID)

These properties are identified by parcel number. Contact us for location details.

↕ Scroll within the table to view all parcels and hunting regulations

Preserve Name	Township	Fall Traditional Deer Gun	Deer Gun Special Hunts	Deer Archery & Crossbow	Spring Turkey Bow	Spring Turkey Gun	Fall Turkey Bow	Fall Turkey Gun	All Other WI-DNR Game Seasons
006-00-31262634A	Clay Banks	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
008-210007	Egg Harbor	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
028-03-04333011A & 028-03-04333011F	Washington Island	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
028-03-09333044H	Washington Island	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
028-04-30343041A	Washington Island	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
028-04-30343043A1	Washington Island	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
0280304333021A	Washington Island	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
0280318333031F & 0280318333013 & 0280318333041B & 0280318333041W & 0280317333022B	Washington Island	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	no
0280429343011A & 0280429343014B	Washington Island	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
0280421343011N	Washington Island	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
0180215322831E3 & 0180215322831E4	Liberty Grove	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes

Hunting is Not Permitted at the Following Preserves

The preserves listed below are not open for any hunting seasons. These areas may be guided by a management agreement that does not permit hunting, or they may be too small in size, located in residential neighborhoods, or too ecologically sensitive for off-trail foot traffic.

Boo's Bluff Natural Area

Town of Washington

1506 Sunrise Road · Tax pins: 0280434343012F, 0280434343012G
Erskine Woods Natural Area

Town of Jacksonport

6468 County Highway A, Egg Harbor, WI 54209 · Tax pin: 0160014292733B1
Dammon-Welcker Natural Area

Town of Gibraltar

off Welcker Cliff Road, Fish Creek, WI 54212 · Tax pins: 014430004, 014430005, 014430006, 014430007
Gordy and Pat Nevins Shoreline Preserve Natural Area

Village of Egg Harbor

7421 Horseshoe Bay Road, Egg Harbor, WI 54209 · Tax pins: 1180134302611S1, 1180134302611S2
Griffin Woods Natural Area

Town of Egg Harbor

5789 Monument Point Road, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 · Tax pins: 0080116292633D1, 0080116292633D2
6538 Bay Shore Drive, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 · Tax pins: 0080116292623Q2, 0080116292623Q3
6583 Bay Shore Drive, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 · Tax pin: 0080116292623Q4
Haswell Natural Area

Town of Liberty Grove

10271 Trails End Road, Sister Bay, WI 54234 · Tax pin: 0180116312821C
Kinsey Bay Natural Area

Town of Liberty Grove

off Appleport Road, Sister Bay, WI 54234 · Tax pin: 0180101312821B
Lily Bay Natural Area

Town of Sturgeon Bay

North Lake Michigan Drive, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 · Tax pins: 0241100053, 0241100052, 0241100051, 0241100050
Washington Harbor Scenic Overlook

Town of Washington

1865 Dock Road, Washington, WI 54246 · Tax pin: 0280225342922A3

Hunting Rules

Required

✓ Licenses — Valid Wisconsin hunting license required
✓ DNR rules — Follow DNR seasons and regulations
✓ Blaze orange — Wear blaze orange per state requirements
✓ Label your equipment — Tree stands and trail cameras must display your name, address, and phone number

Prohibited

✗ No baiting — Baiting is prohibited on all preserves
✗ No cutting vegetation — Do not cut trees, branches, or brush
✗ No overnight structures — All stands and cameras must be removed each night
✗ No motorized vehicles — ATVs, UTVs, and vehicles are prohibited

Hunting Info Form

Filling this out is one of the most useful things a hunter can do for the future of hunting here. Your info documents preserve use for the state grants that fund public hunting access, so the more hunters who share, the stronger our case for opening more land. It also lets us reach you directly if conditions change during the season. It's voluntary, not required, but it genuinely makes a difference.

Sharing your info is voluntary. It helps us track preserve usage and obtain grants for additional hunting lands. Reporting is total hunters per season — not usage at specific preserves.

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone (for safety updates)

City

State

Have you hunted on a Land Trust preserve before?

YesNo

Which season(s) are you interested in? *

Comments or questions (optional)

•Prior to the hunt, hunters are requested to contact the Land Trust by completing this Hunter Information Form.
•Use of Door County Land Trust Preserves is a privilege extended to all legally-permitted hunters who abide by the rules and regulations of the WI-DNR and the Door County Land Trust. Failure to do so may result in loss of hunting privilege and if warranted, referral to the WI-DNR and/or Door County Sheriff for possible enforcement action.
•Portable hunting stands and structures (including trail cameras) are permitted for day use only and must be removed each night. All stands and structures must contain ownership information (name, address, and phone number). If a stand or other structure is left overnight it will be dismantled and removed.
•The following activities are not allowed: cutting trees or vegetation or removing brush from properties, baiting, deer drives, motorized vehicles of any kind.
•Hunters must respect adjacent private property. If a hunter needs to follow a wounded animal onto private lands, prior permission must be obtained from the landowner.
•Dogs actively engaged in hunting may be off leash, except that all dogs must be kept on a leash from April 15 to July 31 to protect ground-nesting birds.
•Hunters are asked to report helpful or relevant observations while hunting and to inform the Land Trust if there are any activities taking place on the property of which we should be aware.

I have read and agree to the above. *

Questions? Contact us

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave my tree stand overnight?

No. All portable stands, blinds, and trail cameras must be removed at the end of each day. Stands and cameras left overnight will be removed by staff. Make sure both your stand and trail camera have your name, address, and phone number on them.

Do I need permission to hunt on Land Trust preserves?

No. You don't need individual permission to hunt here. We do invite you to complete our Hunting Info Form, and it's one of the most useful things a hunter can do: your info documents preserve use for the state grants that fund public hunting access, so the more hunters who share, the stronger our case for opening more land. It also lets us reach you if conditions change. It's voluntary, not required.

Can I hunt on conservation easement lands?

No. Not through the Land Trust. Easement lands are private property, so we cannot grant hunting permission there. To hunt on easement land, contact the landowner directly.

Can I use bait?

No. Baiting is not permitted on any Land Trust preserve.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes. Dogs actively engaged in hunting may be off-leash. All dogs must be leashed April 15 – July 31, though, to protect ground-nesting birds.

Who do I contact with questions?

Email: info@doorcountylandtrust.org
Phone: (920) 746-1359

Tips for Hikers During Hunting Season

Our preserves are open to everyone year-round, including during hunting seasons. Hunters and hikers share these spaces safely by staying aware.

If you are hiking during hunting season:

Wear blaze orange or bright colors — Visibility protects you
Stay on marked trails — Hunters expect hikers on trails, not off-trail
Make noise — Talk, whistle, or use bells so hunters know you're nearby
Keep pets leashed — Especially important during hunting season
Avoid white clothing — It resembles the tail of a white-tailed deer

Prefer to avoid hunting areas altogether? Consider hiking at a DCLT property closed to hunting.

View WI-DNR hunting season dates →

Support Hunting Access

Hunting on Land Trust land is free, and we are glad to keep it that way. Maintaining this access takes real work behind the scenes: mapping zones, posting and updating signs, maintaining trails and parking, and stewarding wildlife habitat year-round. If you hunt with us and would like to give back, a donation or membership helps us keep these lands open and well cared for.

Donate → Become a Member →

How We Save Land

Overview of our conservation work

Stewardship

How we care for protected lands

Volunteer

Join a workday or the Stew Crew

Explore Preserves

Maps, trails, and access info