Karcher Wildlife Area
The property is mostly wet, dominated by wetland habitat- wet meadow, lowland shrub, lowland woods, emergent marsh, a calcareous fen, and cattail marsh. Upland habitat cover includes a mixture of oak and central hardwood woodland, prairie, and agriculture fields. Karcher Creek, a cold-water stream, flows through the southern part of the property adjacent to the parking lot.
Despite being one of the smaller wildlife areas in Racine County, the property offers opportunities for small game and turkey hunting in the upland areas and good deer hunting opportunities. The majority of the upland hunting areas are easily accessible from the parking area. For the adventurous deer hunter, the property’s heavy brush areas and dense wetland vegetation provide good foraging areas and cover for deer during the fall and winter. Potentially good deer hunting opportunities on the edges of wetland areas.
The Karcher Wildlife Area features a geological feature: a 770-foot wooded esker is in the southwest corner of the property. The esker is lined with mature Bur Oaks with a shrubby understory, that borders a calcareous fen area. The esker and fen are part of the embedded 31-acre state natural area, Karcher Springs. Community types in the state's natural area also include a complex of springs, a stream, and a brushy sedge meadow.
Management Objectives
In 2017 the fisheries program began management efforts in Karcher Creek and the creek corridor. They started with in-stream habitat work installing bio-logs to narrow the stream and to increase flow. Corridor work involved forestry mowing in the wetlands along the stream clearing out invasive shrubs to open up the corridor and restore the emergent wetland habitat. In 2024-25 additional corridor work, forestry mowing and herbicide application will be done in partnership with the wildlife and natural heritage conservation programs.
Visit the property planning for more information on master planning for this and other wildlife areas around the state.
Recreation
The Karcher Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- Birding
- Fishing
- Hiking (no designated trail)
- Hunting (noted for: deer, turkey, dove and small game)
- Trapping
- Wildlife viewing
Amenities
- Bathroom - none.
- Parking lot - yes.
- Campground and size - none.
- Trails, Types and Lengths - non-designated trails only.
Maps
Download [PDF] a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
