Hunting near Pepin

Wisconsin is known for great hunting at Lake Pepin. With miles of trails

At Billy’s Hideout, adventure begins at dawn – and ends by the fire, under a sky full of stars.

When autumn paints the bluffs in gold and the mornings come crisp and clear, Billy’s Hideout becomes more than a cozy retreat — it’s a hunter’s haven.

Surrounded by Wisconsin’s rich woodlands and river valleys, you’re within easy reach of prime hunting lands like Tiffany Wildlife Area, Rush River, and the Upper Mississippi River Refuge — home to deer, turkey, waterfowl, and small game.

Your Hunting Options:

• Bring Your Own Gear: Head out early and explore thousands of acres of public hunting grounds nearby.
• Hire a Local Guide: Experienced outfitters in the region offer guided hunts, scouting services, and expert insight into local terrain and seasonal movement.
• Relax After the Hunt: Return to Billy’s Hideout to share stories, clean your gear, and enjoy the warmth of the cabin — where the day’s work becomes a memory worth keeping.

Here, the stillness of the woods, the whisper of wings, and the rhythm of the river remind you why you came.

Wisconsin Hunting Resources

• Tiffany Wildlife Area (aka “Tiffany Bottoms”) — 13,000 acres of bottomland forest and sloughs in Pepin & Buffalo Counties. Great for deer, waterfowl, small game. Note posted closed areas (e.g., beaver/otter closed area) and seasonal refuge rules. Tiffany Wildlife Area (WI DNR)
• Lake Pepin Wildlife Area — Immediately south of Stockholm and ~3 miles N/NW of Pepin; former state-park acquisition reverted to a wildlife area; open to hunting per DNR rules. Lake Pepin Wildlife Area (WI DNR)
• Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area (SNA) — Hunting is allowed on DNR-owned SNA lands unless posted otherwise; this site is popular for deer (mind hikers near the overlook). Maiden Rock Bluff (WI DNR)
• Rush River Wildlife Area (Pierce Co.) — Managed specifically to provide public hunting/trapping and other nature-based rec; multiple grassland units. Rush River Wildlife Area (WI DNR)
• Rush River Delta SNA (at the mouth into Lake Pepin) — Floodplain forest; SNAs are generally open to hunting in season (check the ownership tab for any special notes). Rush River Delta (WI DNR)
• Trenton Bluff Prairie SNA (near Hager City) — DNR notes hunting among “allowable activities” on this bluff prairie site. Trenton Bluff Prairie (WI DNR)
• Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area (Mississippi River islands) — Public hunting and trapping with floodplain forest habitat. Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area (WI DNR)

Mississippi River backwaters (Pool 4)

• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge (Pool 4: Wabasha/Alma area) — Large portions open to hunting under refuge + state regs; study the Pool 4 maps for closed/sanctuary corridors like Rieck’s Lake and Big Lake (seasonal closures). US Fish and Wildlife Service

Minnesota Hunting (nearby options)

• Whitewater State Park (near Elba/St. Charles) — Hunting only during scheduled special hunts by permit on specific dates. Check the current “special deer hunts” page and the park’s current hunt map. Hunts in MN State Parks
• Whitewater Wildlife Management Area (WMA) — Massive WMA complex across Wabasha/Winona/Olmsted with broad public hunting access (separate from the state park). Whitewater WMA (MN DNR)
• Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest (SE MN) — Extensive state-forest units around Wabasha with hunting allowed subject to posted restrictions. State forests—your public land to enjoy (MN DNR)

Handy official maps & tools

• WI Public Access Lands (PAL) interactive map & county PDFs — Easiest way to see all state WAs, SNAs, easements, and which parcels are open to hunting. Wisconsin Public Access Lands (WI DNR)
• WI DNR “Hunt” hub — Seasons, regs, and “Where to Hunt” entry points. Hunting Seasons & Dates (WI DNR)
• WI Voluntary Public Access (VPA-HIP) — Private lands enrolled for public hunting (varies year to year). PDF Maps by County (WI DNR)
• Upper Mississippi Refuge Pool Maps (Pool 4) — Exactly where you can and can’t hunt on the river. Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
• MN DNR WMA index — Find additional WMAs near the river. Wildlife Management Areas (MN DNR)