Sugar River Wildlife Area Expands, Opens to Public News | October 19, 2025 | 0 | by Morgan McCarthy Dane County Executive Melissa Agard says Sugar River Wildlife Area is now open to the public Thursday. Access has now been expanded to 923-acres with turkey hunting, trout fishing and other related activities. Over the last few years the county built parking lots, removed buildings and set-up signs. Agard says it’s an important space where the public can “connect with nature and the past”.