Wildlife Areas
Wildlife Management Project Areas
- Central WI Grasslands Conservation Area
- SW WI Grassland & Stream Conservation Area
- Glacial Habitat
Restoration Areas - Western Prairie Habitat Restoration Area
Other Recreation Lands
- State Parks
- State Fisheries Areas
- State Natural Areas
- State Trails
- State Forests
- Forest Legacy Program
- County Parks and Forests
- State Parks & Trails Hunting Opportunities
- Wild Rivers
- Voluntary Public Access Program
- Interactive Map Viewer
Statewide Recreation Opportunities
Big Muskego Wildlife Area
Big Muskego Wildlife Area is located in SE Waukesha County just SW of Milwaukee. It is South of I43 and North of St Hwy 36 and bordered by Cty Hwy Y on the West and Cty Hwy OO on the East. Several upland parcels surround the lake; these are off Boxhorn Dr. in the NE, Muskego Dam Rd. in the South, and Parker Rd. in the East end of the Lake.
Big Muskego Lake is a shallow 2,260-acre lake fringed with cattail-dominated wetlands and encompassing numerous islands of cattail marsh. Most of Big Muskego Lake is less than four feet deep with generally a muck bottom. The area surrounding the shallow cattail dominated lake consist of native prairie, scattered oak woodlots, and small wetland basins. Bass Bay is a 100-acre connected embayment of Big Muskego Lake that has a deeper basin typical of other glacially formed "kettle lakes" in the region. Bass Bay has a maximum depth of 23 feet and has a bottom substrate of predominantly muck with some isolated sandy shoreline areas. Parcels surrounding the lake add another 525+ acres of recreational opportunity.
Management
Property History
Following the successful rehabilitation of Big Muskego Lake in 1995-96, the Big Muskego Wildlife Area was established in 1999 to protect the area surrounding this shallow lake. The City of Muskego and the WDNR have partnered to protect hundreds of acres around the lake. Big Muskego is also a Land Legacy Place [PDF 4.4MB].
Management Objective
Shallow Lakes are rare ecosystems and are often degraded to promote recreation. Big Muskego Lake is an excellent example of a relatively intact system. The lake is managed to maintain at least twenty percent emergent cover and promote wildlife habitat. Fishery objectives aim to reduce carp and provide game fish opportunity. The goals of the surrounding landscape are to promote grassland, savanna, and satellite wetlands.
Periodic drawdowns of Big Muskego Lake will be implemented when necessary to maintian water quality, wildlife habitat, and the fishery. The habitats throughout the entire wildlife area will be maintained and improved using a number of techniques including prescribed fire, brush removal, planting native species, and removal of invasive species.
Recreation
The following recreational opportunities exist at Big Muskego Wildlife Area:
- Hunting
- Trapping
- Hiking
- Snowmobiling Trail
- Cross country skiing
- Fishing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Bird watching - eagle, osprey, Forester's terns, and great blue herons breed on the Wildlife Area.
- Canoeing
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Map
Download [PDF 346KB] a map of this property.
Useful Links
For more information on Big Muskego Wildlife Area contact the property manager.
Questions for Wildlife Management
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