Chief River Wildlife Area
Chief River Wildlife Area is located in central Sawyer County, north of the Chippewa Flowage and east of Hayward, Wisconsin. Surrounded primarily by private land, Chief River Wildlife Area provides public recreation and access to upland, swamp hardwoods, lowland conifer and Mud-Callahan lakes.
The 1,183-acre Chief River Wildlife Area was acquired during the late 1940s and early 1950s, with the last purchase made in 1952. A limited network of roads was constructed in 1954, and two easements were granted to improve access at no cost to the state.
The property provides public upland hunting opportunities, and the boat landing and parking area provide access to the Chief River as well as Mud and Callahan lakes. Mud and Callahan lakes offer fishing opportunities for gamefish (musky, largemouth bass) and panfish (bluegill, black crappie). Fishing opportunities also exist in Chief River, though shallow water means that fishing from a paddlecraft may be the only viable option.
Management Objectives
Originally, the property was intended to be managed as a deer yard, and much early work on browse management techniques in Wisconsin was done there. Initial attempts to produce quality browse were considered successful but experiments that followed proved too costly to continue. Active timber management continues on the property today using modern silviculture practices with a focus on quality wildlife habitat for both game and non-game species. Aspen management to promote young successional stands for game species like deer and ruffed grouse is a focus. Promoting oak and soft mast trees is also a goal of the property where applicable. The lowland and upland conifers are managed to retain white cedar, white pine and hemlock throughout the property.
The road network through the property now provides access for maintaining a complex of wildlife openings, increasing forage and cover for wildlife in the forested uplands. They also provide hunters access to all portions of the property.
The property is managed for hunting, hiking, trapping, wildlife viewing, fishing, birding, berry picking, canoeing and snowmobiling on alliance-maintained and designated trails. Break-your-own-trail cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are also popular activities on the property.
For more information on master planning for this and other wildlife areas around the state, visit the Property Planning page.
Recreation
The Chief River Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- Birding
- Canoeing
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail)
- Fishing
- Hiking (no designated trail)
- Hunting
- Snowmobile trail
- Swimming
- Trapping
- Wild edibles/gathering
- Wildlife viewing
Note: The current boat landing and parking area is improved for larger boat access and trailer parking. Tiger Cat Dam Road allows rustic roadside access to Chief River for launching a canoe or kayak down about 1.5 miles of paddling. Chief River Boat landing would provide a second landing downriver.
Amenities
- Bathroom - none.
- Parking lot - there are six parking lots throughout the property.
- Campground and size - none.
- Trails, Types and Lengths - non-designated trails only.
- Other amenities - boat landing.
Maps
Download [PDF] a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
