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Pine Island Wildlife Area

Pine Island Wildlife Area

Pine Island Wildlife Area is a 5,499-acre property located in Columbia and Sauk Counties west of Portage. The property consists of approximately 900 acres of wetlands, 1,300 acres of grasslands, 700 acres of oak/savanna habitats and 2,600 acres of forested habitat.

Pine Island Wildlife Area lies in the floodplains of the Wisconsin and Baraboo Rivers and includes several islands of the Wisconsin River. The largest of the islands in this area referred to as “Pine Island”, is the namesake for this wildlife area. Prior to most urban and agricultural development in the area, the island was home to a significant stand of white pine. Much of this pine stand was removed in the early 1900s by settlers for the construction of barns. Pine Island, along with another portion of Pine Island Wildlife Area, is designated as a State Natural Area.

The floodplain area between the two rivers was originally farmed by early settlers. To drain the area for farming, a hand-dug ditch was installed and remains in a wetland portion of the area. Between 1890 and 1900, a levee was constructed by the Corps of Engineers on the south and north sides of the Wisconsin River as flood protection for the city of Portage and the farmlands along the river. The levee on the south side of the Wisconsin River runs the entire length of Pine Island Wildlife Area on the north side of Levee Road. Maintenance of this levee is the responsibility of Department of Natural Resources personnel.

Pine Island Wildlife Area was established in 1952. A private businessman from Portage, Ross Bennett, was influential in promoting the idea of establishing a wildlife area along the Wisconsin River west of Portage. The area was considered a wildlife area project because of its use by Canada geese. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, several hundred Canada geese consistently used the area. 

Today, the use of the property by Canada geese is not nearly as prevalent as it was in the mid-1900s. However, the wildlife area is home to many endangered species of reptiles, birds, and insects, as well as many more commonly seen animals such as white-tail deer and wild turkey. It was recently established as an Important Bird Area because of its extensive grasslands: Leopold Reserve-Pine Island Important Bird Area.

A segment of the Ice Age Trail travels on Levee Road though Pine Island Wildlife Area. There are no camping or overnight parking options located within the Wildlife Area.

Management Objectives

Current management objectives focus on protecting the watersheds of the Baraboo and Wisconsin rivers and restoring pre-settlement vegetation types. This includes maintaining existing prairies, savannas, and wetlands, and seeking opportunities to expand these cover types. The property is managed on a landscape scale, creating smooth transitions between cover types. Phasing out planted red pines to allow for the conversion to oak savanna in some locations is another important management objective. Prairie and savanna areas are managed and maintained through prescribed burning, mowing, farming, and herbicide use to limit brush encroachment and encourage vigorous grassland. Wetlands are managed through limited disturbance to prevent the spread of reed canary grass. Woodlands are managed in a manner that limits the spread of oak wilt and encourages the regeneration of oak woodlands and floodplain forests. During most years, this property hosts a sunflower field for mourning dove hunting.

Visit the property planning page for more information on master planning for this and other wildlife areas around the state.

Recreation

Camping is NOT allowed on the property. This includes the islands and sandbars of the Wisconsin River.

The Pine Island Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:

  • Birding
  • Boating (motorized and non-motorized, only on the Wisconsin River).
  • Cross-country skiing (no designated trail)
  • Canoeing
  • Dog training and trialing
    • Note: Dogs must be kept on a leash of no longer than 8ft from April 15 to July 31, except within the boundary of Class 1 Dog Training Grounds and actively participating in dog training or trialing.
  • Fishing
  • Hiking (no designated trail)
  • Horseback riding: Equine use is allowed at Pine Island Wildlife Area only while actively participating in dog training or dog trialing, and only within the boundaries of the Pine Island Class 1 Dog Training Grounds. Horse manure must be removed from all paved and graveled areas.
  • Hunting (especially noted for geese, ducks, turkeys [Zone 1], squirrels, pheasant [noon closure rules apply], mourning doves, deer and furbearers
  • Snowshoeing (no designated trail)
  • Trapping
  • Wild edibles/gathering
  • Wildlife viewing

Note: Permissible recreational activities listed may or may not be allowed within the boundaries of State Natural Areas. Please refer to the individual SNA webpage for further guidance on allowable activities within SNA boundaries.

Amenities

  • Bathroom - none.
  • Parking lot - there are multiple parking areas throughout the property.
  • Campground and size - none.
  • Trails, Types and Lengths - no official trails are maintained for public use; only staff access lanes are mowed occasionally for service and management.
  • Other amenities - there is one boat launch on Levee Rd, which gives boaters access to the Wisconsin River.

Maps

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

Adopt a Fish or Wildlife Area

 

Find out more about how to adopt this wildlife area.