Sheridan Township
Public Access Lands (managed forest law)



To learn more about the Wisconsin managed forest program contact your local DNR forester.
In Dunn county:
WI DNR Forester
Jay Jordan
921 Brickyard Road
Menomonie, WI 54751
(715)-232-1516

Also working with Jay is Rob Strand (DNR Forester). At the time of this writing visits were by appointment only. They spend time in the field so you may be playing "phone tag" at first.

"The managed forest law is a landowner incentive program to encourage sustainable forestry on private woodlands in Wisconsin. Together with landowner objectives, the law incorporates timber harvesting, wildlife management, water quality and recreation to maintain a healthy and productive forest." source DNR brochure Wisconsin's Managed Forest Law - Revision date November 2003

In essence land owners get a property tax reduction in exchange for following a DNR approved 25 year plan of woodland management. The land owner can designate the managed land as "open" to public access or "closed". "Open" land is taxed at a lower rate than "Closed" land. The maximum number of "closed" acres was 80 prior to 2005. If a land owner puts more than 80 acres into the program that in excess must be "open". Their reduced tax is balanced by increased tax for others in the township. In a way creating 'open' land is part of the compensation to the general public.

The program is expanding as more landowners join. The following two tables show land open to the public for hunting and fishing. The first table is also open for Hiking, Sightseeing, and X-Country skiing.
(source WI DNR, run date 02/22/2006, run annually late February, order in March or later.)

Managed Forest Law - Acres OPEN
for Fishing/Hunting/Hiking/X-Country Skiing/Sightseeing
Effective Date January 1, 2006
Landowner Description Sec Acres Through
Bilse, Waldemar Etal SWSE, part of 02 26.00 2020
Bilse, Waldemar Etal NENE, part of 11 13.00 2020
Bilse, Waldemar Etal NWNE, part of 11 8.00 2020
Bowman, Jack A Etal SESW 13 40.00 2026
Bowman, Jack A Etal SWSE 13 37.85 2026
Bowman, Jack A Etal NWSE, part of 13 20.00 2026
Bowman, Jack A Etal SESE, part of 13 2.20 2026
Harnisch, Leonard NWSW, part of 17 20.00 2017
Andrews, Bryan E NWNE, part of 25 8.00 2019
Andrews, Bryan E NENW, part of 25 2.00 2019


Forest Crop Law -Acres OPEN
for Fishing / Hunting
Effective Date January 1, 2006
Landowner Description Sec Acres Through
Harman, Esther Etal NENE 10 40.00 2010
Kippes, Jerauld M Etal SENW 19 40.00 2015
Kippes, Jerauld M Etal FR S1/2 W1/2 NW1/4 19 40.87 2015
Johnston, Wendell W Etal NENW 21 40.00 2010
Johnston, Wendell W Etal NWNW 21 40.00 2010

In Sheridan Township 377.92 acres are open to the public for hunting and fishing. Of that 177.05 is also open for hiking, sightseeing and X-country skiing. As a courtesy please contact the landowner to be certain of property lines, especially when the 'open' acreage is not a clearly defined 40 acre quarter.
The WI DNR site will send you a current list of "open" land for just a few dollars ($5.20 for Dunn County, $3.20 for Barron County, plus $1.00 shipping)
How to obtain a list of forest tax lands open to the public