Underwood Wildlife Area
Underwood Wildlife Area is a 1,602-acre property located in northeast Iron County. It was purchased by the Wisconsin Conservation Department (now the DNR) in the 1940s and 1950s to protect the area as a deer yard. Cedar and hemlock browse cutting for deer in the winters changed the area to be more dominated by hardwoods, reducing its suitability as a deer yard.
Underwood Wildlife Area is located in northeast Iron County. Take Highway 51 for 9 miles north of Mercer to Highway G. Then go 4 miles east to Bass Lake Road. On Bass Lake Road, go north about 2.5 miles.
Management Objectives
Current timber harvest is used to maintain aspen stands and an uneven aged northern hardwood forest. Grass openings were created in the 1980s and are maintained today. The DNR Wildlife and Forestry programs use this area to experiment with cedar, hemlock and oak regeneration.
For more information on master planning for this and other wildlife areas around the state, visit the property planning page.
Recreation
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The Underwood Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- Auto travel (road into the area may not be plowed in winter);
- Biking;
- Birding;
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail);
- Hiking (no designated trail);
- Hunting;
- Trapping;
- Wild edibles/gathering; and
- Wildlife viewing.
Maps
Download [PDF] a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
