Potato Creek Wildlife Area
Potato Creek Wildlife Area is a 1,000-acre property in the southwest corner of Rusk County at the outlet of Potato Lake. Located along a road section of the Ice Age Trail (Dzimiela Road). Access points exist on the north end at Kent Road, from the east at Dzimiela Road and south via Rose's Resort Road (public boat landing) at the lake outlet.
The wildlife area is bisected by a shallow, warm water creek, which is flanked by wetlands of cattail, sedges, alder and floating bog. The adjacent uplands contain substantial areas of mixed forest and grassland interspersed with scattered ponds to the south and east and upland hardwood forest to the north and west. A small, but high-quality stand of white cedar occurs on the northeast corner of the property. Vegetation consists of approximately 300 acres of wetlands, 400 acres of forested upland and 300 acres of grassland.
This diverse landscape offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including birding, wildlife viewing, hiking, wild edibles gathering, canoeing, hunting and trapping.
Management Objectives
Established in the early 1950s, the property was developed as a waterfowl production and hunting area. Extensive acreage was inundated with the construction of a low-level dam, but after eight years of washouts and marsh deterioration, the structure and dike were removed. Wild rice has responded favorably to this action. Several runoff ponds have been constructed and extensive upland grassland habitat is maintained to provide nest cover for waterfowl, grassland birds, and other game and non-game species.
Visit the property planning for more information on master planning for this and other wildlife areas around the state.
Recreation
The Potato Creek Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- ATV trail (limited, marked trail)
- Birding
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail)
- Canoeing
- Fishing (limited potential)
- Hiking (no designated trail)
- Hunting (noted for deer, turkey, waterfowl, bear and small game)
- Kayaking
- Snowmobiling trail (marked trail)
- Trapping
- Wild edibles/gathering
- Wildlife viewing
Note: Pets must be on an 8-foot leash from April 15 to July 31. Prohibited activities include camping, fires, horseback riding, ATVs, and snowmobiles (except on designated trails).
Amenities
- Bathroom - yes.
- Parking lot - Multiple parking areas are available. See the maps tab for more details.
- Campground and size - none.
- Trails, Types and Lengths - no designated trails.
Maps
Download a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
Directions
Disclaimer: The DNR cannot guarantee the usage of every parking lot, as parking lots can close suddenly and for a variety of reasons. Weather, local water levels and county road closures may impact parking lot availability.
Find out more about how to adopt this wildlife area.