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Anthony Branch Fisheries and Wildlife Area

DNR Fisheries Areas

Anthony Branch Fisheries and Wildlife Area is over 1,000 acres in Southeast Dane County. This is an aesthetically pleasing property with gentle hills flowing into healthy wetlands and dotted with good woodland acres. Put all these ingredients together and you have a site that provides a good example of southern Wisconsin landscape at its best.

The wetland is composed of wet-meadow, cattails, shrub-car, and sedge marsh with a high quality creek meandering through it. The Anthony Branch is stocked with trout. The property is also laced with old agricultural ditches that one needs to become familiar with in order to learn where the fords are. There are a few old farm ponds on the north end of the property. They can become stagnant at times (i.e., keep your dog from jumping in them!).

The uplands are composed of prairie grass fields and cool season fields. There are woodlands on the property that harbor oak and hickory. The southern side of the property is dominated by box elder.

Location/Directions

Anthony Branch Fisheries and Wildlife Area is located 3 miles southwest of Stoughton and 1.5 miles southeast of Oregon in Dane County. It is located in south central Wisconsin in the Badfish Creek Watershed.

Activities

Angling opportunities

Wild Brown Trout inhabit the Anthony Branch and provide most of the fishing. Rainbow trout also live in this water. Due to its close proximity to Madison, this is an important recreation site for people who fish for trout.

Recreational Opportunities

  • Hunting
  • Trapping
  • Hiking
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Fishing - Trout
  • Berry picking

Contacts/Partners

For questions and comments contact:

Property Manager
Department of Natural Resources
3911 Fish Hatchery Road
Fitchburg WI 53711
608-516-3895