Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area
Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area is a 13,800-acre property located 8 miles northeast of Park Falls in Ashland and Iron counties. It is heavily timbered with aspen, northern hardwoods and lowland conifers.
Tucked just Southwest of the Turtle Flambeau Flowage, Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area boasts a large expanse of forested habitats offering excellent outdoor recreation. Consumptive and non-consumptive opportunities abound with many miles of maintained roads and trails for various uses. Many wildlife species call the property home, with ruffed grouse being a focal species. Deer, bear, turkey and many furbearer species also call the property home.
The property is also home to a DNR owned shooting range offering a comfortable and safe option for sighting in and shooting firearms. The range currently hosts 50- and 100-yard lanes, with a 2024 project slated to expand with 25- and 200-yard ranges. With the help of the Flambeau River Sportsman’s Club, this range is maintained and open year-round from dawn to dusk. Each range offers covered shooting benches and at least one handicap accessible shooting table. A shelter behind the shooting benches offers a great place to have lunch or relax after a day shooting at the range or if you’ve been enjoying the property.
Find this wildlife area by traveling east of Park Falls on State Highway 182 for 6 miles. Take Blockhouse Lake Road north to reach the property.
History
This project was established as part of the "deer yard" acquisition program, which was developed to save and manage overwinter deer habitat. In 1946, a large block of land was purchased from the Wisconsin Realty Corp. The majority of the additional acquisitions have occurred since the early 1960s. The current property is nearly 14,000 acres, with an overall project goal of 16,317 acres.
Management Objective
Today, this property is primarily managed for whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, woodcock and black bear. Commercial timber harvest is the main habitat management tool and follows a harvest prescription designed to meet project goals while being silviculturally sound.
This area also has a vast network of gated hunter walking trails and wildlife openings. In addition to hunting and trapping activities, great berry picking, snowshoeing, birding and wildlife watching opportunities exist.
Visit the property planning page for more information on master planning for this and other wildlife areas around the state.
Recreation
The Hay Creek-Hoffman Lake Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- Auto travel
- Birding
- Boating (non-motorized)
- Canoeing
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail)
- Fishing
- Hiking (gated hunter walking trails)
- Hunting (noted for ruffed grouse)
- Kayaking
- Snowshoeing (no designated trail)
- Target range (public range offering 50- and 100-yard targets, and Whitetails Unlimited [exit DNR] has an annual youth event at the range)
- Trapping
- Wild edibles/gathering
- Wildlife viewing
Amenities
- Bathroom - nothing has been constructed, but there is a seasonal port-a-potty at the shooting range during the summer and fall.
- Parking lot - there are a couple of designated parking lots and several " pull-off” areas along the main roads/trails.
- Campground and size - none.
- Trails, Types and Lengths - no designated trails, but there are several miles of non-motorized hunter walking trails. Some of which are opened during the fall.
- Other amenities - shooting range.
Maps
Download [PDF] a general map of this property.
Download [PDF] a detailed road and trail map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
Find out more about how to adopt this wildlife area.