Thunder Lake Wildlife Area

Thunder Lake Wildlife Area is a 3,000 acre property located in northeast Oneida County, one mile north of the village of Three Lakes. It consists of 50% open peat wetland (poor fen) and 50% forested tamarack/black spruce wetland with the 120-acre Rice Lake and 1.3 miles of shoreline on 1,800-acre Thunder Lake. The whole property is open for hunting except for the waterfowl closed area around Rice Lake. A wide variety of wetland wildlife use the property including mallards, blue-winged teal, ring necked ducks, Great blue herons, sandhill cranes, Canada geese and numerous species of wetland songbirds. Three rare species, the Nelson sharp-tailed sparrow, merlin, and the yellow rail nest on the property. Common mammals include white-tailed deer, beaver, and muskrats.

History of Management

The area was cleared and drained for agriculture by 1920. Agriculture failed and the land became tax delinquent. In 1952, Oneida County transferred the land to the State of Wisconsin for development of a wildlife management area. During the 1950’s and 1960’s prescribed fire was used to keep the property free of invading tamarack and black spruce and to support a remnant population of sharp-tailed grouse. By 1985 the sharp-tailed grouse had disappeared because suitable habitat declined to less than 2,000 acres.

Today the property is managed for wetland wildlife. The western half of the property is a large, wild State Natural Area while the eastern half is managed as an open peatland. In the managed area, cutting and prescribed fire are used to maintain about 1,000 acres of open sedge, leatherleaf, cottongrass, and bog birch peatland.

Rice Lake is managed as a Waterfowl Closed Area.

Recreation Opportunities

The following recreational opportunities exist at Thunder Lake Wildlife Area:

Hunting - except the Waterfowl Closed Area around Rice Lake Trapping Hiking Snowmobiling Trail Pets (Note)

Auto travel Berry picking Wildlife Viewing Bird watching Canoeing

Additional Information

Download [PDF 284KB] a map of this property.

Useful Links:

• Hunting in Wisconsin
• Hunting and Trapping Regulations
• Season Dates
• Oneida County Information [Exit DNR]
• Plan your trip to Oneida County [Exit DNR]

For more information on Thunder Lake Wildlife Area contact the property manager.

Questions for Wildlife Management