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Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area

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Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area is located in southeastern Waukesha County, with a small portion crossing into Milwaukee County. This wildlife area protects approximately 1000 acres of land around Big Muskego Lake and has about 2.5 miles of lake frontage and 0.2 miles of frontage along the Muskego Canal. The habitat of the wildlife area consists of a mix of lowland shrub, upland hardwood and oak forests, several areas with native and planted prairies, and several small emergent wetlands. The diverse wildlife area provides excellent opportunities for hunting, fishing and trapping. This property also has an approximately 160-acre waterfowl refuge on the west shore of Big Muskego Lake. This no-entry wildlife refuge is closed from September 1st through December 31st, except for gun and muzzleloader deer hunting and retrieval of legally killed or crippled game.

A central feature of this wildlife area is Big Muskego Lake. The lake has a surface area of 2,260 acres and a maximum depth of 4 feet. Bass Bay is also a 100-acre connected embayment of Big Muskego Lake with a deeper basin typical of other glacially formed "kettle lakes" in the region. Bass Bay has a maximum depth of 23 feet and a predominantly muck bottom substrate with some isolated sandy shoreline areas. Big Muskego Lake has excellent water clarity and provides a quality sport fishery. The lake has a diverse marsh/shallow lake complex with numerous islands of emergent vegetation and floating vegetation islands. The lake is fringed with extensive wetlands, including dense cattail marshes. These habitats are ideal for colonial nesting water birds and marsh birds. The lake offers a unique opportunity to observe breeding Forster's terns, yellow-headed blackbirds, eagles, ospreys, and many other resident and migratory wildlife species.

Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area is located in southeastern Waukesha County, just southwest of Milwaukee. It is south of I-43 and north of State Highway 36, bordered by County Highway Y on the west and County Highway OO on the east. Several upland parcels surround the lake off Boxhorn Drive in the northeast, Muskego Dam Road in the south, and Parker Road at the east end of the lake.

History

Following the successful rehabilitation of Big Muskego Lake in 1995-96, the Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area was established in 1999 to protect the area surrounding this shallow lake. The city of Muskego and the DNR have partnered to preserve hundreds of acres around the lake.

Management objective

Management goals for Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area include expanding and enhancing the oak and prairie habitats within the property, actively conducting wetland drawdowns to reinvigorate plant diversity and food sources, and providing increased opportunities for the primary recreational activities for waterfowl, deer, and turkey hunting and for warm water sport fishing. Additionally, management aims to provide opportunities for other compatible activities such as canoeing, wildlife observation and other nature-based recreation. The habitats throughout the entire wildlife area will be maintained and improved using a number of techniques, including prescribed fire, brush removal, planting native species and removal of invasive species.

Management of the wildlife area is conducted in cooperation with the management of Big Muskego Lake. The DNR coordinates with partners (e.g., Big Muskego Lake/Bass Bay Protection and Rehabilitation District, the City of Muskego) to maintain water clarity and desired aquatic plant communities within the lake. A goal for the lake is to keep at least 20% emergent cover and promote wildlife habitat. Fishery objectives aim to reduce carp and provide game fish opportunities. Additionally, management should be implemented to maintain the diversity and abundance of the natural wetland plant communities and vegetation islands to protect breeding and migration stopover habitat for marsh and shorebirds, emphasizing rare species. Periodic drawdowns of Big Muskego Lake should be implemented when necessary to maintain water quality, wildlife habitat and the fishery. 

Recreation

Big Muskego Lake Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:

  • Birding (eagles, ospreys, forester's terns and great blue herons breed in the area)
  • Canoeing
  • Cross-country skiing (no designated trail)
  • Fishing
  • Hiking (no designated trail)
  • Hunting (noted for waterfowl, deer and turkey)
    • According to local government ordinances, only shotgun or archery hunting is allowed on portions of the property located in the City of Franklin.
    • This property has a wildlife refuge. According to state code, the no-entry wildlife refuge is closed from September 1st through December 31st, except for gun and muzzleloader deer hunting and retrieval of legally killed or crippled game.
  • Kayaking
  • Snowmobiling trail
  • Trapping
  • Wild edibles/gathering
  • Wildlife viewing

Amenities

  • Bathroom - none.
  • Parking lot - there are multiple parking areas throughout the property.
  • Campground and size - None.
  • Trails, Types and Lengths - non-designated only.

Maps

Download [PDF] a map of this property.

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

Adopt a Fish or Wildlife Area

 

The UW-Milwaukee Conservation Club has adopted this wildlife area.