Ever wondered what it’s like to sip a cold one while surrounded by stuffed wildlife?

No?

Well, you’re about to.

Welcome to the Moccasin Bar in Hayward, Wisconsin, where taxidermy meets taps in a delightfully bizarre blend of watering hole and wildlife museum.

This isn’t your average corner pub, folks. It’s a place where you can knock back a brew while locking eyes with a glassy-eyed buck.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “A bar full of dead animals? That’s nuts!”

And you’re absolutely right. It is nuts.

But in the best possible way.

Picture this: You walk into a cozy, wood-paneled room that looks like it was decorated by a hunter with a PhD in interior design and a slight drinking problem.

The walls are adorned with more mounted heads than you can shake a stick at (not that you should be shaking sticks at mounted heads, mind you).

But these aren’t just any old taxidermy displays. Oh no, my friends.

These are elaborate dioramas that would make a natural history museum green with envy.

You’ve got deer frozen mid-leap, fish suspended in imaginary streams, and birds perched on branches, all looking like they’re about to break into a Disney musical number at any moment.

It’s like Noah’s Ark ran aground in northern Wisconsin and decided to open a pub.

Now, let’s talk about the star of the show: the world-record musky.

This bad boy is the pièce de résistance of the Moccasin Bar’s collection.

Caught in 1949 by Louis Spray, this 69-pound, 11-ounce monster is the stuff of fishing legends.

It’s so big, you half expect it to order a drink and start telling fish stories of its own.

But the musky isn’t the only celebrity in this menagerie.

Oh no, there’s a whole cast of characters here.

Take the albino deer, for instance.

It’s like Snow White’s forest friend decided to retire to a life of eternal barroom bliss.

And let’s not forget the two-headed calf.

Because nothing says “I’ll have another round” quite like a bovine with double vision.

As you sidle up to the bar, you might find yourself in a staring contest with a mounted bobcat.

Don’t worry, it’s not judging your drink choice. It’s just… observing. Eternally.

Speaking of drinks, the Moccasin Bar serves up your typical array of beers, spirits, and mixed drinks.

Nothing too fancy, but then again, you’re not here for a mixology masterclass.

You’re here for the experience.

And what an experience it is.

Where else can you enjoy a cold one while surrounded by more wildlife than a David Attenborough documentary?

It’s like drinking in a forest, minus the mosquitoes and plus indoor plumbing. Win-win, if you ask me.

Now, I know some of you might be thinking, “Is this place for real?”

And I’m here to tell you, it’s as real as that hangover you’re going to have tomorrow morning.

The Moccasin Bar has been a Hayward institution since the 1930s. That’s right, it’s been serving up drinks and dioramas for nearly a century.

It’s outlasted prohibition, survived countless Wisconsin winters, and weathered more bad taxidermy puns than you can shake a stuffed raccoon at.

But what really sets this place apart isn’t just the decor.

It’s the atmosphere.

Despite the abundance of glass eyes staring at you from every direction, there’s something undeniably cozy about the Moccasin Bar.

Maybe it’s the warm wood paneling, or the soft glow of the neon beer signs.

Or maybe it’s just the alcohol talking.

Either way, you’ll find yourself settling in, getting comfortable, and before you know it, you’re on a first-name basis with the mounted moose in the corner.

Now, let’s talk about the clientele.

You might expect a place like this to attract a, shall we say, unique crowd. And you’d be right.

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But not in the way you’re thinking.

The Moccasin Bar draws an eclectic mix of locals, tourists, hunters, fishermen, and the occasional bewildered vegetarian who wandered in by mistake.

It’s the kind of place where a lumberjack, a college professor, and a retired circus clown could all belly up to the bar and feel right at home.

And that’s the beauty of it.

The Moccasin Bar is more than just a novelty.

It’s a community hub, a living piece of Wisconsin history, and quite possibly the world’s most elaborate conversation starter.

Because let’s face it, when you’re surrounded by stuffed wildlife, you’re never at a loss for words.

“Hey, did you see that bear over there? I think it winked at me.”

“Is it just me, or does that raccoon look like my Uncle Bob?”

“I swear that fish just mouthed ‘help me’ at me.”

The possibilities are endless.

But the Moccasin Bar isn’t just about the visual spectacle. It’s also a treasure trove of local lore and legend.

Every mounted creature has a story, every diorama a tale to tell.

It’s like a 3D storybook of Wisconsin’s natural history, with beer.

Take the famous “Angry Muskrat” display, for example.

Legend has it that this particular muskrat was so ornery, it once chased a full-grown man up a tree.

Now, whether that tree was conveniently located next to a taxidermist’s shop is a detail lost to history.

And let’s not forget the “Dancing Bears” diorama.

These two black bears, forever frozen in what appears to be a waltz, have sparked more debates about ursine dance skills than you’d think possible.

Are they doing the foxtrot?

The tango?

Or is it just a really enthusiastic game of patty-cake gone wrong?

The world may never know, but it sure is fun to speculate over a cold brew.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. “Isn’t this all a bit… morbid?”

And to that, I say: only if you let it be. The Moccasin Bar isn’t about glorifying hunting or making light of animal lives.

It’s about celebrating the natural world, preserving a piece of Wisconsin’s outdoor heritage, and yes, enjoying a drink or two in a truly unique setting.

Think of it as a museum where you can get buzzed. Or a bar where you can get educated. Either way, it’s a win.

Plus, let’s be honest: if you’re going to be surrounded by dead animals, wouldn’t you rather have a beer in hand?

But the Moccasin Bar isn’t just about the past. It’s very much a living, breathing (well, metaphorically speaking) part of Hayward’s present.

It’s a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, especially during the town’s famous Musky Festival. Because nothing says “fish celebration” quite like drinking next to a giant stuffed one.

And let’s talk about that festival for a moment, shall we?

The Hayward Musky Festival is like Mardi Gras for fishing enthusiasts.

Picture streets filled with people in fish-themed outfits, musky-shaped parade floats, and more fishing gear than you can shake a rod at.

And at the center of it all?

The Moccasin Bar, standing proud like a taxidermied lighthouse in a sea of angler excitement.

But even when there isn’t a festival going on, the Moccasin Bar is a destination in its own right.

It’s the kind of place you plan road trips around. The sort of spot you drag your out-of-town friends to, just to see the look on their faces when they walk in.

It’s a place that turns “grabbing a quick drink” into an adventure, a history lesson, and possibly an existential crisis all rolled into one.

Because let’s face it, you haven’t really contemplated your place in the food chain until you’ve had a staring contest with a stuffed wolf over your third beer.

Now, I know some of you are probably wondering about the practical details. Like, is there food?

Yes, the Moccasin Bar does serve some basic bar snacks. But let’s be real, you’re not coming here for the cuisine.

You’re coming for the ambiance, the history, and the chance to drink a beer while a stuffed eagle gives you the side-eye.

As for the drinks, well, don’t expect any fancy craft cocktails or artisanal microbrews.

This is a place that prides itself on good old-fashioned Wisconsin hospitality, which means cold beer, strong drinks, and bartenders who know how to pour a shot without measuring.

Because when you’re surrounded by this much taxidermy, precision just seems a little beside the point.

But here’s the thing about the Moccasin Bar: it’s more than just a quirky roadside attraction. It’s a piece of Wisconsin’s soul.

It embodies that unique Midwestern blend of practicality and whimsy, that ability to take something as potentially grim as taxidermy and turn it into a celebration of life, nature, and community.

It’s the kind of place that could only exist in a state where cheese is a food group and “uff da” is a complete sentence.

So, the next time you find yourself in northern Wisconsin, do yourself a favor and make a pit stop at the Moccasin Bar.

Order a beer, settle in at the bar, and take a moment to appreciate the sheer, wonderful weirdness of it all.

Strike up a conversation with a local, or with the stuffed beaver if you’re feeling shy.

Either way, you’re in for an experience you won’t soon forget.

Just remember: no matter how many drinks you have, the animals aren’t actually moving. Probably.

When you’re ready to embark on this wild adventure, use this map to guide your way to taxidermy paradise.

Where: 15820 US-63, Hayward, WI 54843

In the end, the Moccasin Bar isn’t just a bar, or a museum, or even a tourist attraction.

It’s a testament to Wisconsin’s ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, one stuffed animal at a time.

Cheers to that, and to the weirdest happy hour you’ll ever experience!