Sandhill Wildlife Area
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
The Trumpeter Trail auto-tour route is closed for the season and scheduled to open again on April 15, 2025.
Nestled within the ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin bed, Sandhill Wildlife Area spans an impressive 9,150 acres. Its name is derived from a series of gently rolling sandy ridges that crisscross the property.
Managed by a team of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employees, this property boasts a unique 9-foot deer-proof fence, which creates an ideal environment for wildlife research. Special permits and restrictions are in place within the fenced area of the property; however, visitors are welcome to enter through the designated entrance gates to explore and recreate. DNR staff manage the Sandhill Wildlife Area, Wood County Wildlife Area and the Meadow Valley Wildlife Area collectively. Together, these three Wildlife Areas are called the Sandhill-Meadow Valley Work Unit. They make up the largest block of state-managed wildlife lands in Wisconsin. Nearly 150 square miles of public lands lie within the work unit.
When exploring the Sandhill Wildlife Area, visitors are captivated by its diverse inhabitants, and scenic landscapes captivate visitors. From a small herd of American bison to white-tailed deer, and from the majestic bald eagles to thousands of sandhill cranes flying in to roost during fall, the property offers a haven for various wildlife species. The low, sandy uplands feature oak, aspen and jack pine forests, creating a picturesque setting for wildlife viewing, birdwatching, hiking, hunting (by permit) and much more.
A 14-mile auto-tour route highlights Sandhill Wildlife Area: The Trumpeter Trail. This is a one-way auto tour, typically open from spring to fall, that meanders through Sandhill’s unique landscape. Vehicles, bicycles and hikers are welcome on the trail. All property users must register at the kiosk and adhere to trail hours.
Sandhill Wildlife Area is located in southwestern Wood County. Situated approximately 25 miles south of Marshfield and 17 miles west of Wisconsin Rapids, the property’s headquarters and visitor’s entrance can be found one mile west of Babcock on Cty Hwy X. The address is 1715 Cty Hwy X, Babcock, WI 54413.
History
Wildlife and their habitats have endured many changes in central Wisconsin during the past 150 years. Settlers found populations of deer, grouse, bear, wolf and bobcat. Large flocks of passenger pigeons were nested in the area during the 1870s and the settlement period disrupted many forms of wildlife. The last wild passenger pigeon was shot near Sandhill in 1899. By the 1920s, very few deer remained in Wood County. One year, a local hunter walked all day in Sandhill and surrounding lands without seeing a deer track. By the 1930s, only 15 breeding pairs of sandhill cranes were believed to remain in Wisconsin; most were found in and around Sandhill. While destructive to some wildlife, the transformed landscape was beneficial to others. Farmland and adjacent wild, open spaces favored prairie chickens, sharp-tailed grouse and other prairie wildlife for a time. Prairie chickens were particularly plentiful in the region during the early 1900s.
Over the years, fire has dominated plant and animal life composition and abundance in the area. The last major fire swept through the area in 1930, burning 500 square miles of the central Wisconsin flatlands. This fire created conditions favoring sun-loving species like the aspen, jack pine, oak and grass-shrub-dominated wetlands. Prairie grouse populations disappeared as the forest cover returned. Ruffed grouse, squirrel and deer numbers increased. Other forest wildlife responded just as dramatically, as the new lush forest growth increased the availability of food and cover.
Learn more about the rich history of Sandhill Wildlife Area:
Management
Wildlife habitats, whether wetland, grassland or forest, constantly change over time. These changes affect the wildlife that lives in these habitats. Many factors either limit or enhance wildlife populations: food, water, cover, amount of wild space, contaminants and people's use of the land. If nothing were done to the land at Sandhill Wildlife Area, the existing aspen, pine and oak forests would age and eventually decay and be replaced by shade-tolerant trees, such as maples. The wetlands would be crowded out by woody shrubs and filled in with the annual accumulation of dead leaves, and the grassland prairies would disappear as the surrounding forest encroached. To counteract the inevitable changes in nature and provide for a wider variety of wildlife habitats native to Sandhill, DNR staff actively manage the land on behalf of wildlife. DNR staff utilize a variety of management practices to accomplish the goal of providing diverse wildlife habitat. These practices include prescribed burns, wetland drawdowns, timber sales, and herbaceous/woody vegetation control (mowing, chemical application and mulching).
Learn more about Sandhill Wildlife Area's natural history and management programs.
Friends Group
The Friends of Sandhill [exit DNR] has been a nonprofit group supporting Sandhill Wildlife Area since 2002. All their activities and the money they raise benefit Sandhill Educational/Demonstration Area and its visitors. They are an organization of interested persons from all backgrounds dedicated to furthering Sandhill's interpretive, educational, and visitor service programs. To become a member or for more information, visit them on the web [exit DNR] or Facebook [exit DNR].
Hunting/Trapping
The lands within the fenced area of Sandhill Wildlife Area are subject to special regulations under s. NR 10.22, Wis. Adm. Code.
Trapping is allowed by permit only. Permits may be issued on a seasonal basis, dependent upon furbearer population levels. Permit applications, if available, will be posted publicly by Aug. 1 of each year.
Hunting is only permitted for certain species during seasons posted at Sandhill Wildlife Area. Deer hunting is generally limited to the annual Learn to Hunt Deer event for youth (age 12-15) and first-time adult hunters (age 16+). Applications for this event will be posted by June 1. Additional deer hunts may be instituted at the discretion of the DNR.
These unique regulations aim to facilitate the collection of high-quality wildlife management data and sustainable wildlife populations while providing opportunities for outdoor recreation. Your cooperation with these regulations is essential to providing accurate information for managing this unique property.
Please review the documents below for specific rules and regulations for hunting within Sandhill Wildlife Area.
Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center
The Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center is an outdoor training center offering programs on various wildlife-related educational and recreational activities. The center, located in the spacious 9,150-acre Sandhill Wildlife Area, provides a variety of wildlife-related educational ventures. Outdoor programs are enhanced by a shooting range, trails and opportunities for supervised hunting and trapping experience. Please see the link below for the list of educational programs and workshops.
- Outdoor Skills Center Calendar – Many programs and workshops are posted and kept up-to-date on this page. Information on Registration information can also be found here.
Recreation
The Sandhill Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities.
Note: Dogs must be leashed from April 15 – July 31 to protect ground-nesting birds per NR 17.04(2)(a).
- Auto tour
- The Trumpeter Trail is a seasonal route that provides vehicular access inside Sandhill during the general period of May through October. Please call the Sandhill Office at 715-884-2437 for current information.
- The Bison Byway is a spur of the Trumpeter Trail that allows visitors to see more of the bison enclosure.
- Biking
- Birding
- Canoeing
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail)
- Education programs
- Fishing
- Hiking trails and observation towers
- Hunting and Trapping
- *Special regulations apply within Sandhill, please consult the Hunting/Trapping tab for more information.
- Kayaking
- Snowshoeing
- Wild edibles/gathering
- Wildlife viewing and captive bison herd
Amenities
- Bathroom – there are two pit toilets on the property:
- In the parking lot near the main entrance.
- On the northern end of the Trumpeter Trail next to the Gallagher Marsh Tower Hiking Trail.
- Parking lot – yes, see the maps tab for more details.
- Campground and size – none at Sandhill; however, there are nearby primitive campgrounds in Wood County and Meadow Valley Wildlife Areas.
- Trails, Types and Lengths – there are five designated hiking trails as outlined by the map. Numerous service roads can be hiked if desired. The Trumpeter Trail is a 14-mile auto tour route.
- Other amenities –
- Public programs/workshops through the Outdoor Skills Center (OSC).
- There are two walk-in gates when the main vehicle entrance is closed for the season:
- Next to the main entrance gate.
- Off of Ball Rd across from the Ball Rd campground.
Maps
Download maps of this property:
- Trails Map and Points of Interest [PDF]
- Deer Hunting/Trapping Compartment Map [PDF]
- Property map [PDF]
If you want to explore 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 various reasons. Weather, local water levels and county road closures may impact parking lot availability.
- Trumpeter Trail entrance parking lot
- There are numerous parking areas along the Trumpeter Trail and visitors may park anywhere along the trail as long as they don’t block the road or gates.