Navarino Wildlife Area (NWA) is a 15,000 acre State Wildlife Management Area, located in southern Shawano and northeast Waupaca Counties. Habitat types on the property include open fields, conifer swamps, lowland shrub, bog, bottomland hardwoods, pine plantations, and aspen / oak forests. Current forest management practices are utilized to maximize timber values for wildlife through a variety of cutting methods. Water control structures are used to control surface water levels on the flowages for waterfowl and aquatic animals. Prescribed burns are used to reduce the amount of woody vegetation within the grassland / prairie habitats.

Navarino Wildlife Area began as a donation of 982 acres from Shawano County in 1954. The first purchase of 557 acres was in 1955 by the Wisconsin Conservation Department. Local conservation groups were leaders in urging for the development of a wildlife area prior to the first land acquisition. The acreage goal for Navarino initially started at 9,400 acres. This goal was raised to 16,166 acres in 1969, and raised to 16,500 acres in 1979. The first dike was constructed in 1962, since then 14 other dikes have been constructed, totaling over 1,400 acres of water which can be controlled.

Navarino Wildlife Area is the northern most wildlife area, which make up the Lower Wolf River Bottomlands Natural Resources Area (LWRBNRA) as of 2002. The LWRBNRA is a bigger project area from the Shawano Dam to Lake Poygan. It protects regionally significant natural communities and provides necessary habitat for various wildlife and aquatic communities.