Lands_Content Page_Cylon Wildlife Area

Cylon Wildlife Area

Cylon Wildlife Area is a 2,342-acre property located in St. Croix County. The property consists of upland and lowland hardwoods (~1300 ac.), sedge meadow (~700 ac.), grassland (~100 ac.), and wetland with open water (~20 ac.).

In 1975 the Cylon Wildlife area was established. This property was chosen as a Wildlife area due to its uniqueness of being the last remaining large tract of wild land in St. Croix County. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources set an acreage goal for Cylon WA of 2,980 acres and is still working on reaching this goal by purchasing land from willing sellers. The public land forming the project's nucleus is at the confluence of the North Fork of the Willow River and Black Brook stream. Eight miles of the river along with one mile of stream flow through the property. The Cylon Wildlife Area is located in the Western Prairie Ecological landscape and is part of the Prairie Pothole Conservation Opportunity Area in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan.

Find it from State Highway 46 (Deer Park), go East on 222nd Ave for one mile. This will be the NW corner of Cylon Wildlife Area and is marked with a wooden kiosk.

Management Objectives

The property is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, trapping, wildlife observation, and other nature-based outdoor recreation. Management objectives include restoring temporary and seasonal wetlands, protection of the ecological gradient from lowlands to uplands along the floodplain corridor, perpetuation of the aspen type through timber sales and control of invasive species.

Recreation

The Cylon Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities.

  • Birding
  • Canoeing
  • Cross country skiing (no designated trail)
  • Falconry (by permit)
  • Fishing (minimal)
  • Hiking
  • Hunting - especially noted for whitetail deer, black bear, wild turkey, upland birds, waterfowl and small game
  • Snowshoeing
  • Trapping
  • Wild edibles/gathering
  • Wildlife viewing

Maps

Download [PDF] a map of this property.

If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.

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