Wondering who hunts the Mazomanie area? It's closer to home for me, and really never hunted public land. I went through the Mazomanie Oak Barrens & Mazomanie Bottoms State Natural Area this spring. Found some good spots, but really haven't been through since.
During the Deer & Turkey Expo in Madison, I talked with Officer Youngquist, with the WI DNR and he would be able to help me out. But I've been super busy and haven't had the time. He said all I would need were the plat book maps for Iowa, Dane, & Sauk Co. and he said he'd spend a day with me going over everything. I guess it's kind of nice to see an DNR officer try and give a helping hand.
So, I guess. Any tips, suggestions, success stories from this area? (would also inclue the Lower Wisconsin Riverway too)
Hunting the Mazomanie area
- dehart89
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Hunting the Mazomanie area
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Re: Hunting the Mazomanie area
I hunted it in college... used to have good bucks in that area.
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Re: Hunting the Mazomanie area
I've hunted it. There are nice bucks in the area every year. Never shot anything really big. Finding their happy place can be a challenge. There is a fair amount of pressure in the area from duck, pheasant, and deer hunters. Long hikes, difficult access, and thick/nasty are good places to start. So is a spotlight.
You may want to consider applying for a Dane Co Parks permit too.
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You may want to consider applying for a Dane Co Parks permit too.
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- dehart89
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Re: Hunting the Mazomanie area
BassBoysLLP wrote:I've hunted it. There are nice bucks in the area every year. Never shot anything really big. Finding their happy place can be a challenge. There is a fair amount of pressure in the area from duck, pheasant, and deer hunters. Long hikes, difficult access, and thick/nasty are good places to start. So is a spotlight.
You may want to consider applying for a Dane Co Parks permit too.
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Thanks Bucky and BassBoyLLP. I was going to last year and totally forgot. I'm over in Cross Plains. I know Indian Lake gives out 4 I believe. Officer Youngquist mentioned there are always some big boys in the area. He did mention there area a group in the Arena/Mazo area that drive the Islands 2nd half of gun season.
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"Don't take anything for granted, because tomorrow is not promised to any of us." ~ Kirby Puckett
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Re: Hunting the Mazomanie area
I've scouted it, take a gun if you have a ccw, I walked up on what appeared to be a hydroponic operation.
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- hunter_mike
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Re: Hunting the Mazomanie area
I have stayed away from it for the most part, seems like it gets a lot of pressure from the madison crowd. But it is a big enough area, I'm sure theres big ones running around. Drove through there a couple weeks ago and it made me question why I don't check it out. Might make time for it someday.
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Re: Hunting the Mazomanie area
hunter_mike wrote:I have stayed away from it for the most part, seems like it gets a lot of pressure from the madison crowd. But it is a big enough area, I'm sure theres big ones running around. Drove through there a couple weeks ago and it made me question why I don't check it out. Might make time for it someday.
It doesn't see that much pressure, especially the difficult to access pieces. Most guys stick to the park like setting.
If you want a little more solitude, try the properties a little farther down the river, especially if you have a boat. Some properies are only accessible by boat.
Many properties are best accessed by boat as most of the lower WI river is a riparian buffer strip between the river and crop fields.
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- hunter_mike
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Re: Hunting the Mazomanie area
Thanks for the info. I guess i always assumed it got pounded because I always hear people talking about it when public land around madison is mentioned. I always cringe with paranoia every time I hear a place that I hunt mentioned by someone. Have never set foot on Mazo though. Im sure you are right about the pressure being skewed towards the "big timber" areas near the access.
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