Door County Land Trust Hunting Program Overview

Door County Land Trust preserves accommodate a wide variety of public uses including hiking, canoeing, cross country skiing, scientific research and hunting. In order to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all visitors to our preserves, we ask hunters to review and comply with our hunting program policies and guidelines.

Hunters play an important role as conservation partners with the Door County Land Trust by helping control the populations of white-tailed deer and turkeys. If the populations of these species are not kept in balance, it could negatively impact the long-term health of our preserved lands.

Please be aware that lands on which the Door County Land Trust holds a conservation easement are private property and the Land Trust does not have the authority to grant permission to hunt on these lands.

There are a few properties owned by the Door County Land Trust that are not open for any hunting seasons. These areas are usually small in size, located in residential neighborhoods, or too ecologically sensitive for off-trail foot traffic.  However, most of the lands owned by the Land Trust are open for hunting.  The list of preserves at which hunting is permitted, the seasons permitted and links to printable hunting maps are located at the bottom of this page.

If you are interested in hunting on lands owned by the Door County Land Trust, please carefully review the hunting policies below.

Rules For Hunting on Door County Land Trust Preserves
(Updated July 2011)

• Prior to the hunt, hunters are required to contact the Land Trust by 
   
  • completing the Hunter Information Form on our website
    
    OR
     
  • sending an e-mail to hunting@doorcountylandtrust.org to register their name, address, phone number, and the season(s) and preserve(s) they intend to hunt, and to report back with the results of their hunt.

  By requesting this information, we can determine how many hunters intend to hunt at each site, and also assess the effectiveness of the hunting program in reducing deer and turkey populations.
   

• Use of Door County Land Trust Preserves is a privilege extended to all legally-permitted hunters who abide by the rules and regulations of the WI-DNR and the Door County Land Trust. Failure to do so may result in loss of hunting privilege and if warranted, to referral to the WI-DNR and/or Door County Sheriff for possible enforcement action.
   
• Portable hunting stands and structures are permitted for day use only and must be removed each night. All stands and structures must contain ownership information (name, address, and phone number). If a stand or other structure is left overnight it will be dismantled and removed by staff or preserve stewards.
   
• Hunters are NOT allowed to cut trees or vegetation or to remove brush from properties.
   
• Baiting is NOT allowed.
   
• Deer drives are NOT allowed.
   
• Hunters need to respect adjacent private property. If a hunter needs to follow a wounded animal onto private lands, prior permission needs to be obtained from the landowner.
   
• Motorized vehicles of any kind NOT allowed.
   
• Hunting dogs are NOT allowed off-leash.
   
• Hunters are asked to help “keep an eye” on things when hunting and to inform the Land Trust if there are any activities taking place on the property of which we should be aware.
   

Door County Land Trust Preserves at which Hunting is Permitted

Click on a preserve name below to view or print a map showing areas open to hunting for that preserve in Adobe PDF** format.  In the chart below, an X means that hunting season is permitted at that preserve.  Please note that hunting is not permitted on Door County Land Trust properties other than those listed and/or shown below.

• Please contact us at hunting@doorcountylandtrust.org with any questions or for more information about hunting or trapping at Door County Land Trust preserves.
   
• Visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI-DNR) website to find out the dates of this year's hunting seasons.
   
• To locate a tax parcel number on a web map, please visit the Door County Land Information Portal.

Join the Land Trust to Help Protect More Wildlife Habitat

If you are not already a supporter of the Land Trust, we hope you will consider Becoming a Member. Membership dues and donations provide the needed financial resources to protect lands in Door County. Your donation will increase our ability to protect wildlife habitat in Door County and continue to provide public recreation and hunting opportunities.

Back to Top of Page