DMU Sauk, Wisconsin

Sauk County is dominated by the Baraboo Hills — ancient Baraboo quartzite ridges rising 200 to 400 feet above the surrounding lowlands, covered in the largest contiguous block of upland hardwood forest in southern Wisconsin. Oak, maple, and basswood blanket the north-facing slopes and ridge tops, while south-facing bluffs drop steeply into agricultural valleys planted in corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. The Wisconsin River bisects the county from east to west, creating extensive floodplain bottomlands, wetlands, and backwater sloughs along the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway corridor. Devil''s Lake occupies a glacially dammed gap in the Baraboo Range, surrounded by steep quartzite bluffs. Elevations range roughly from 700 feet near the Wisconsin River to about 1,200 feet on the highest Baraboo Hills summits. The county''s terrain is classic Driftless — unglaciated, dissected, and full of natural funnels formed by ridge saddles, creek drainages, and bench terrain above crop fields.

Hunting pressure in Sauk County is moderate to high, driven by the county''s strong reputation as a trophy deer destination and its proximity to the Madison metro area roughly 45 minutes to the east. Public land parcels near Baraboo and along the Wisconsin River see consistent pressure during the nine-day gun season, with opening weekend bringing the heaviest crowds. Archery hunters appreciate the season''s length and the ability to work unpressured deer in early October before the gun season bump. The Baraboo Hills private timberlands receive moderate pressure, and some ridge-top farms are leased. Remote bottomland tracts along the Lower Wisconsin Riverway and deeper MFL parcels off paved roads tend to hold deer with lighter competition. The county draws both local hunters from Sauk and Columbia counties and traveling hunters specifically targeting Driftless-area trophy bucks, so public-land gun-season spots can feel crowded — scouting access roads and alternative parking pull-offs well before the season opener pays dividends.

Sauk County falls within the Central Farmland Zone, where DMU boundaries follow county lines. Resident deer hunting licenses include farmland zone antlerless harvest authorizations bundled automatically — hunters choosing Sauk receive 2 farmland antlerless authorizations per license as part of standard license purchase (no draw required). Additional bonus antlerless authorizations are available for purchase beginning in mid-August: for the 2026 season, WDNR set the Sauk quota at 750 public land and 3,950 private land bonus authorizations at $12 for residents and $20 for nonresidents. Authorizations are land-type specific (public vs. private) and must be designated at purchase. No earn-a-buck or mandatory antlerless harvest requirement applies — both bucks and does are huntable from opening day. Antlered deer require a standard license; there is no separate buck draw. CWD regulations require that harvested deer from Sauk County cannot be transported as whole carcasses outside the CWD zone — boned-out meat, cleaned skulls, and finished taxidermy mounts are permitted.

Deer archery and crossbow season opens mid-September and runs through early January, providing the longest hunting window of any season. The traditional nine-day gun deer season opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving (November 22 in 2025, November 21 in 2026). Muzzleloader season follows immediately after gun season for about ten days. A youth deer hunt is held in mid-October. Spring turkey hunting is available in Sauk County under Wisconsin''s turkey zone system — the county falls in a zone with good gobbler numbers supported by the oak mast and agricultural mix. Fall turkey season also runs roughly mid-October through year-end. Pheasant season opens in mid-October and runs through early January; the county holds limited wild pheasant along agricultural edges. Ruffed grouse are present in the Baraboo Hills hardwoods and aspen edges, with season opening in September. Waterfowl hunting is productive along the Wisconsin River corridor and associated wetlands during the Southern Zone split seasons. Bear hunting is available by tag in some Wisconsin units but Sauk County is not a primary bear county. CWD testing is mandatory for deer harvested in Sauk County and nearby counties — the DNR operates multiple sample collection stations throughout the county during gun season.

Sauk County''s greatest asset is the combination of Driftless topography and diverse habitat that consistently grows mature bucks. The oak-mast ridges of the Baraboo Hills, the ag-field edges along creek bottoms, and the timber bluffs above the Wisconsin River create natural travel corridors that concentrate deer movement — especially during the rut in early November. Bowhunters working ridge saddles and bench terrain in mid-October to mid-November have a realistic shot at mature bucks before gun season pressure moves them. The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway bottoms offer overlooked public-land hunting with thick cover and easy food sources nearby. Sauk is consistently ranked among Wisconsin''s top counties for record-book bucks, trailing only Buffalo County in Driftless prestige. The tradeoff is CWD: prevalence runs 33–48% in Sauk County deer, one of the highest rates in the state, so hunters planning to keep and eat their venison should test harvested deer and be prepared for positive results. For those focused on the experience and antler quality rather than meat, Sauk remains one of southern Wisconsin''s premier destinations. Access tip: the east bluff and west bluff units of Devil''s Lake State Park are underutilized during archery season despite being within easy driving distance of major population centers — most visitors skip them in favor of the park''s recreational areas, leaving the ridge timber to serious hunters.