Whitman Dam Wildlife Area
Whitman Dam Wildlife Area is a 2,253-acre property in Buffalo County. Find it 3 miles southeast of Cochrane across the main river channel from Merrick State Park. Access is available from Merrick State Park or at the end of Whitman Dam Road west of Kamrowski Road. The property consists of floodplain forest and marshland.
Management Objectives
The Whitman Dam Wildlife Area was established in 1965 through a donation of 1,257 acres of land made to the state of Wisconsin by John Latsch in 1919. Latsch donated the land to be used by citizens of Wisconsin for outdoor recreational activities. In 1936, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed Lock and Dam #5, which tied into the north end of the Whitman Dam Wildlife Area. Since the construction of the dam, three culverts have been installed that allow water to flow through the wildlife area. Management on the property is limited to boundary posting and fish and wildlife population surveys.
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 Whitman Dam Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- Birding;
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail);
- Hiking (no designated trail);
- Hunting (especially noted for rabbits, squirrels, deer, turkey and ruffed grouse);
- 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.
