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
Mud Lake Wildlife Area
Mud Lake Wildlife Area is a 2,262 acre property located in Columbia County. Find it south of Rio 1 mile on Hwy. C, then west on Drake Road 1 mile. The property consists of approximately 1450 acres of wetland, 590 acres of upland, and 220 acres of wooded habitat.
The Mud Lake area has long provided excellent habitat for a variety of wildlife and migratory birds. Action to acquire lands in and around the Mud Lake marsh commenced in 1948. In 1940, a ditch to drain the marsh was constructed by private landowners. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission responded to complaints of the marsh drainage and ordered that normal water levels of Mud Lake be re-established. The Wisconsin Conservation Department (now WI DNR) constructed dikes and installed water control structures to manipulate water levels in the Mud Lake basin. In 1958, through the cooperation of the Rio Conservation Club, an artesian well was re-opened on the south side of Mud Lake to allow continuous water flow into the marsh. The amount of flow appears to be dependent on ground water recharge. Three flowages (50, 110, and 800 acres) have been developed and maintained for waterfowl and furbearer use, as well as provide hunting, trapping, and non-consumptive recreation opportunity. Waterfowl hunting is enhanced by a 160 acre closed area in which hunting and trapping is prohibited during the waterfowl hunting season.
Management
Historically, the primary management objective for Mud Lake WA was to provide hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities. As lands were acquired, marginal farm fields were converted to prairie to compliment the existing native prairie community and provide additional wildlife habitat and hunting opportunity. Numerous wetland restorations occurred to create the hemi-marsh habitat that is present today.
Management Objective
Current management objectives focus on managing for pre-settlement vegetation types. This includes maintaining existing prairies and savannas and seeking opportunities to increase these cover types. The property is managed on a landscape scale, creating smooth transitions between cover types.
The property is monitored for invasive species such as buckthorn and garlic mustard. Prairie and savanna areas are managed and maintained through prescribed burning, mowing, and herbicide use to limit brush encroachment and encourage vigorous grasslands. Wetlands are managed through limited disturbance to prevent the spread of reed canary grass. Woodlands are managed in a manner that limits the spread of oak wilt and encourages regeneration of oak, hickory, etc. while removing invasive species such as buckthorn and honeysuckle.
Recreation
The following recreational opportunities exist at Mud Lake Wildlife Area:
- Hunting - deer (DMU 70G), waterfowl, pheasant (2pm closure rules apply), squirrels, rabbits, furbearers, turkeys (zone 3)
- Trapping - furbearers
- Hiking
- Berry picking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Canoeing
- Bird watching
|
|
|
Map
Download [PDF 181KB] a map of this property.
Useful Links
For more information on Mud Lake Wildlife Area contact the property manager.
Questions for Wildlife Management
RSS