At Dutch Hollow Lake, Fall Moves From the Water to the Greenway

"This is not a recreational hunt; it is part of a deer management plan." That line is in the Dutch Hollow Lake Property Owners Association's October 2026 newsletter. It comes right after the news that the Board of Directors voted on September 12 for an annual bow hunt of antlerless deer.

For people who live here, the vote changes more than deer numbers. Every summer, the marina sets the community's daily rhythm. This fall, the rhythm moves to land. The association describes nearly 700 acres of greenway, and those acres now have something they've never had before: set hours.

The Marina Clock Stops October 11

The association's posted hours show the marina open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through October 11, 2026. Boats must be off Association docks by that date, and the campground closes the same day.

Thirteen days later, on October 24, the bow hunt opens. It runs through January 31, 2027. So during the two weeks after the boats come out, the shared outdoor space moves from the water to the woods and fields between the lots. Under the proposed rules, all greenways are open to hunting during that period. So is any privately owned lot whose owner allows it.

Two Years From Survey to Vote

The Board didn't decide this quickly. The newsletter says the Board spent two years looking at the size of the deer herd. It based the decision on a member survey, recommendations from DMAP and comments from members.

DMAP is the Wisconsin DNR's Deer Management Assistance Program. The DNR describes it as a partnership among the agency, landowners and hunters to improve wildlife habitat and manage deer herds. It offers professional guidance and uses members' harvest and observation data.

Here's how it unfolded:

• 2024: The association's deer survey drew 142 responses, covering 168 lots. Sixty-one percent of respondents had seen the deer population grow over the previous three years. Sixty-four percent were concerned about deer damage to private property.
• December 2024: The Forestry & Wildlife committee reported it was surveying members' views on a bow hunt on association land and planning deer-management education.
• December 2025: The committee said a deer plan based on the survey was being written, with member feedback to come before it took effect in 2026.
• September 12, 2026: The Board passed the motion for an annual antlerless bow hunt.

The survey also included open comments. One member, writing for themselves and not for the association, complained about deer damaging gardens, flowers and shrubs. In other words, the hunt grew out of survey answers about property damage.

The Greenway's New Daily Schedule

For anyone using the trails, the key detail is time of day. Under the proposed rules, hunting on greenways is allowed from sunrise to 10 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. to sunset. On private property, hunters follow the DNR's hunting hours.

The 6-mile Dutch Hollow Lake Nature Trail runs through this greenway. It's maintained for walking and horseback riding. Red mile markers run clockwise and green markers run counterclockwise. The proposed rules keep association trails open to walkers and riders for the whole hunt and advise trail users to wear bright clothing.

Here's how a weekday looks on the greenway from October 24 on, under the proposed rules:

The 10-to-3 window lines up with the association office's weekday hours. The posted hours page lists the clubhouse as open 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The September newsletter lists fall hours starting September 8 as 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call before you stop by. Hunters must register in person at that office during business hours. They bring the member's name, lot number, a valid hunting license and a harvest authorization. Each hunter gets a greenway map and an assigned area.

Riders have one more date to keep in mind. The association's 2022 trail brochure allows horses May 1 through November 1, weather permitting. It also closes the trail to horses at sunset and suspends riding during and after rain. After an inch or more of rain, the closure lasts at least 24 hours. If those rules still apply, riding season and the hunt overlap only from October 24 to November 1. The current amenities page still lists walking and horseback trails but doesn't repeat the brochure's rules, so check the dates at the office.

Hunters Need Members' Permission

Most of the proposed rules are about where hunting can't happen. Only property owners in good standing and their immediate family may hunt. That means spouses, children, children's spouses and grandchildren. Only antlerless deer may be taken, with does as the goal.

The proposed setbacks:

• No hunting on land the hunter doesn't own without permission.
• No hunting within 100 yards of any structure for human occupancy on land the hunter doesn't own, unless the hunter has permission.
• No hunting within 100 feet of any trail.
• No hunting within 50 feet of the centerline of any road.

On stands, the proposal bans permanent stands on greenways. Only strap-on temporary stands are allowed there, with no nails or screws. Each stand must show its owner's information. Each hunter gets one stand, and it must be approved at registration. Greenway stands can go up one day before the hunt opens and must come down within one day after it closes.

If a wounded deer crosses onto a lot where the hunter has no permission, the hunter must get the landowner's OK before going in to recover it. The rules also say hunters must respect members who don't allow hunting on their property.

Three members will run the hunt: Gary "Buck" Krahn, Ray Laatsch and Larry Villiard. They'll handle registration, collect hunt reports and answer questions.

Why October 10 Matters

Everything above is still a proposal. The newsletter calls them proposed regulations and rules. The Board meets after the clubhouse presentation to approve the final version based on member feedback. That presentation is Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Clubhouse.

The newsletter itself gives one reason to attend. Its summary says "no hunting within 100 yards of any house or trail." The detailed rule text says 100 yards from any structure for human occupancy on land the hunter doesn't own, and 100 feet from trails. One hundred yards is three times 100 feet. For anyone who walks the Nature Trail on a 7 a.m. dog walk, that's the biggest open question in the proposal. October 10 is the day it's meant to get settled.

The State Calendar Around It

The association rules add to state law and don't replace it. Where they conflict, DNR regulations govern. The DNR's 2026 schedule lists the statewide gun deer season as November 21 to 29. Muzzleloader season follows from November 30 to December 9, and a statewide antlerless-only hunt runs December 10 to 13. Those dates fall inside the association's bow hunt window. They mainly matter for private lots, where hunters follow DNR rules and hours.

The proposed rules strongly encourage chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing for every deer taken. That matters here. The DNR's Sauk County table reports 288 CWD positives out of 862 deer tested during 2025 hunting-season surveillance. The newsletter mentions a free drop-off spot in La Valle. The DNR's locator lists it as the Reedsburg Outdoor Club Kiosk, S2064 Luedtke Rd., La Valle. It's a self-service station that collects deer heads 24 hours a day. The DNR notes that sampling sites can be added or changed during the season.

The Lake Gets Its Own October Project

The greenway isn't the only wildlife project this month. The Friends of Dutch Hollow Lake have hired a trapper to cut down the muskrat population. Trapping starts in October during the regular season. The newsletter says many members have had muskrat damage to shorelines and boats. The Friends group is asking for donations to cover the cost and says a small donation now could prevent bigger repair bills later.

On both the water and the land, the community is paying to manage an animal population, and both efforts start the same month.

The Clubhouse Calendar in the Same Weeks

The social calendar fills the same stretch. Wine, Witches & Warlocks is an adults-only evening at the DHL Clubhouse on Friday, October 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. It includes a costume contest, music by Julie Bodendein, games and a potluck. Bring a dish and your own beverage; punch is provided. That's the night before the hunt opens, and the first day temporary greenway stands are allowed to go up.

Trunk or Treat runs Saturday, October 31, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the clubhouse parking lot. It has contests for best decorated pumpkin, best car décor and costumes. Call to sign up if you're handing out candy. The first five cars to register can win a door prize.

The association's inclusive-playground campaign is still open. It's $7,000 short of breaking ground, and there's a $2,000 match if the community raises $2,000. The October 2026 newsletter has the full rules, the muskrat donation form and event details.

New greenway hours are the kind of thing people ask about when they look at a lot near a trail or a greenway edge. At Your Local Real Estate Group, we follow how Dutch Hollow Lake's association rules affect daily life around specific lots. If you're thinking about buying or selling here, we can walk you through how the final hunt rules apply to that property. Let's talk about your next move.