I have a verbal accepted offer to purchase on a 40-acre parcel that connects to my existing deer hunting property, I’m formalizing the written OTP today. The adjoining 40 east of the new property is owned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
I assume this was a tax delinquent surrender years ago, the 40 is locked in, inaccessible and surrounded by private landowners, they logged it about 5-7 years ago by the way it looks. I found some climbing sticks and a hang-on- within the DNR 40, so someone was ambitious enough to navigate through 3 miles of hardwoods and swamp or more likely is an adjacent landowner.
My propensity is to enjoy the tax-free advantage of an adjoining 40 but I like to think ahead. I often see DNR lands listed for sale- has anyone ever approached the DNR to initiate a sale?

Never knew they sold land but Illinois doesn’t have a ton of public land other than the Shawnee.This is interesting let us know what happens.

I know the logger well as he has logged my property- he accessed from and existing logging road on a adjacent landowner that granted permission and they used a tag alder area for landing and skidding.

I don’t think they typically sell land. Maybe they’d consider an exchange for a more accessible 40 of similar land.

Wouldn’t a tax surrender go to the county?

I’ve seen it happen on landlocked around here just takes a few bucks for a trespass fee

The mn dnr sells land like described but they always do it at public auction.

Seems the best course of action is to call the dnr and just ask about it, they probably aren't even aware they have a landlocked 40 there.

Unused and landlocked lands have been being sold off in Wisconsin for the past 5-10 years. Had two around our home sold off in the last two years. Being landlocked they went real cheap to two adjoining landowners. What is the worst that happens if you work on it, and they say no?

Contact their real estate section:

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fl/RealEstate/landsale

Cheap is the deal my cousin recently bought a land locked 40 that adjoined him for ten grand and this was a private individual but he was in the drivers seat on how it sat

Now I'm salivating
The fact that is was select cut vs clearcut knowing DNR practices in our area... didn't leave me with the feeling that they cashed-out on it.
Once I secure the piece I'm working on I'll pursue it.

Good luck with keeping others off thats my concern Don't know about other states but mi/dnr created its own realty/recreation division and if you look in any county plattbook any water close to a road is surrounded by private land