The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications through Sept. 18 for a limited, special trapping season at the 9,150-acre Sandhill State Wildlife Area in central Wisconsin. The program is designed to provide selected trappers with a high-quality field experience while helping the agency meet its furbearer management objectives on the property, the DNR said in an announcement Thursday.
Who can apply and what to expect
Applicants chosen for the special season will be required to attend a mandatory 2-hour workshop at Sandhill State Wildlife Area. During the session, DNR staff will review season objectives, vehicle use regulations and data-collection procedures. Trapping permits will be issued only at that workshop.
The Sandhill property sits in the bed of the ancient Glacial Lake Wisconsin and covers a mixture of marshland, wetlands, and forested uplands. The DNR describes the area as featuring low, sandy uplands of oak, aspen and jack pine, along with large marshes and several flowages — a landscape that supports a range of furbearer species and provides the management context for the special season.
Application details and contacts
The DNR posted an application form for the 2026-27 trapping permit on its Sandhill Outdoor Skills webpage. Interested applicants may also contact the Sandhill wildlife biologist, Darren Ladwig, for more information. His listed availability is Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Property | Sandhill State Wildlife Area |
| Size | 9,150 acres |
| Workshop | 2-hour mandatory session; permits issued at workshop |
| Application deadline | Friday, Sept. 18, 2026 |
Contact information provided by the DNR:
- Email: Darren.Ladwig@wisconsin.gov
- Phone: 715-498-2338 (Monday–Thursday, 6 a.m.–4 p.m.)
Why the DNR is holding a special season
The special trapping opportunity serves dual purposes: to give trappers access to a productive and varied landscape and to collect data and management outcomes that support DNR furbearer objectives on the Sandhill property. The DNR frames the program as both a recreational opportunity and a tool for active wildlife management on a complex of marshes, flowages and upland forests that lies within the former lakebed of Glacial Lake Wisconsin.
Sandhill State Wildlife Area spans parts of seven central Wisconsin counties and features a mix of habitats attractive to species targeted in furbearer management. The DNR’s approach pairs limited permits with mandatory education to ensure trapping aligns with regulatory objectives and minimizes unintended impacts to other resource users and wildlife.
What applicants should know before applying
Prospective applicants should review the DNR’s online materials on the Sandhill Outdoor Skills page before completing the permit application. The workshop requirement means applicants must be able to attend the on-site session to receive a permit; permits will not be mailed or issued remotely. Vehicle use rules and data collection responsibilities will be emphasized at the workshop, so applicants should be prepared to follow specific access and reporting protocols.
- Application period: Now through Sept. 18, 2026
- Workshop: Mandatory; permits issued in person
- Purpose: Support furbearer management while providing a trapping opportunity
Those seeking the application form or more detailed instructions should visit the DNR’s Sandhill Outdoor Skills webpage or contact Darren Ladwig at the email or phone number above during the listed hours.
The announcement from the DNR follows its continuing practice of pairing targeted wildlife management programs with educational outreach and regulated access. For residents interested in participating, the coming weeks are the window to apply and make arrangements to attend the required workshop.
