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State natural area, west-central Wisconsin
Dewey Marsh State Natural Area, a hunter's guide
Who runs it, which deer unit and bear zone cover it, and the public land and towns around it in Portage County.
Photo: newagecrap (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
- Parking areaParking ยท 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
What the record says about Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
On paper it is a DNR-owned State Natural Area; on the map it is in Portage County. DNR staff of the West Central Region cover this part of west-central Wisconsin. Manager: the Wisconsin DNR. Its 1,222 acres rank 42nd of the 449 Wisconsin state natural areas with an acreage on file. In the natural areas program it is site 182, T25N-R8E, Sections 10, 11, 14, 15. From Polonia, our closest town page, it is roughly 8 miles to the northwest. Parent property: Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area.
From the source page (WI DNR SNA parcel ownership GIS OWNER_ACRE_AMT, WDNR-owned parcels); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
Dewey Marsh State Natural Area in the agency's words
Unedited text from the official page.
Dewey Marsh contains a large expanse of relatively undisturbed northern sedge meadows including smaller islands of tamarack and black spruce swamp, paper birch and white pine woods, and ericaceous bog. The marsh is dominated by blue-joint grass, steeple bush and wire-leaved sedges, with cat-tails and bur-reed. It forms the headwaters of Hay Meadow Creek. Scattered throughout the area are islands of aspen, birch, and white pine. Tamarack and black spruce swamps are also present. The eastern arm of the marsh is relatively cold and acidic containing an ericaceous bog while the western and southern portions are more alkaline.
Rocks are exposed in many areas and there is little peat formation under the sedge mat. Large areas of peat and several acres of tamarack-spruce swamp, shrub carr, and red oak-white pine forest were destroyed in a large fire in 1976. Wildlife use is extensive with a diversity of rare species. Dewey Marsh is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1976.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Dewey Marsh State Natural Area rules and licenses
Access rules at Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
State Natural Area rules: hunt and trap where not posted, but no camping, no vehicles, no drones and no collecting plants.
State law on Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
Orange or pink, 50% above the waist and 50% of the head covering, is the rule while gun deer seasons run; duck and goose hunters are exempt. Gun-season ground blinds on DNR property display 144 sq in of orange or pink from every direction. No screw-in steps or cut shooting lanes on DNR land. Overnight stands are legal north of Hwy. 64 from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31; south of it, remove them every day. By 5 p.m. the following day, register the deer on GameReg (online, phone or station).
Which licenses Dewey Marsh State Natural Area needs
Get licenses on Go Wild or at an agent. Antlerless tags are unit-specific and labelled public or private land.
Access from the source page; closures from the DNR closed and restricted areas layer; stocking and dove fields from the DNR upland bird layers; rules from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations; prices from Go Wild. Checked October 19, 2026.
Dewey Marsh State Natural Area: DMU, bear zone and turkey zone
Deer management: Portage, Central Farmland zone. The Natural Resources Board set 6,000 antlerless deer as the 2026 quota there. Bear Zone C has a 2026 harvest target of 875 with 4,465 Class A permits drawn; it took 2 preference points to win one. Spring turkey tags are sold for Zone 3; the DNR issued 55,612 there in 2025, the newest level published. Chronic wasting disease has turned up in wild deer in Portage County; DNR testing is free and voluntary statewide. The deer baiting ban covers Portage County.
Deer units that cover Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
| Deer unit | Zone | Antlerless goal | Public tags left | Private tags left | Included tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage | Central Farmland | 6,000 | 932 | 5,041 | 3 |
Zones beyond deer for Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear C | Dogs barred | 875 target, 4,465 permits | 2 points | 663 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey zone 3 | 55,612 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 12,324 gobblers | 1,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone A | Sep 12–Jan 3 | 5 a day | ||
| Duck zone | Northern | Sep 26–Nov 24 | ||
| Goose zone | Northern | Sep 16–Dec 16 | ||
| Wolf zone 4 | No season | Listed endangered |
Zones from the DNR zone layers as recorded in lands.json; quotas and bonus tags from the 2026 antlerless quota table; bear figures from the 2026 bear drawing summary and 2025 bear harvest; turkey from the 2025 spring turkey report; CWD and baiting lists from the DNR. Checked October 19, 2026.
Dewey Marsh State Natural Area: species with bag limits
The record lists no species. Every season open in Portage County works here within the rules above.
That makes the Portage County calendar (44 rows) the one to read.
Species from the property record (No species list published for this property; open seasons follow statewide/zone regulations where hunting is allowed.); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Season dates that cover Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
Dewey Marsh State Natural Area sits in the Central Farmland deer zone. These 44 rows are the dated hunting segments the DNR schedule puts there, from the September archery opener into spring turkey.
| Game | Season | Applies in | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery and crossbow | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth/disabled gun hunt | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun deer (9-day) | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | December antlerless hunt | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt | Holiday Hunt: Portage | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Extended archery and crossbow | Extended archery | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, Class A draw | Bear Zone C/F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 3 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 3 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 3 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 3 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 3 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 3 | May 26, 2027 | Jun 1, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone A | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite Quail | Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Hungarian partridge | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | Squirrel | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Northern cottontail zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Southern cottontail zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe Hare | Snowshoe hare | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| American Crow | Crow | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Mar 24, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl hunt | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Northern Duck Zone | Sep 26, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 2) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose | Northern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 1) | Southern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (holiday split) | Southern Goose Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (resident) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (nonresident) | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red and gray fox | Fox (red and gray) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote (hunting) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 1 | North of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 1 | South of Hwy. 64 | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | North of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat, Period 2 | South of Hwy. 64 | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected species | Unprotected species | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 hunting regulations and season dates, checked October 19, 2026.
Linked units of Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
It shares Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area with 0 sibling units.
Public property near Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
The large pin is Dewey Marsh State Natural Area; the others are the 10 closest public properties. Together they hold 41,265 acres.
| Name | Type | Size (ac) | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul J. Olson | Wildlife area | 3,415 | 9.0 mi | west |
| Richard A Hemp | Fishery area | 1,347 | 12 mi | southeast |
| Little Plover River | Fishery area | 245 | 13 mi | south |
| Upper Little Wolf | State natural area | 33 | 14 mi | east |
| New Hope Pines | State natural area | 171 | 14 mi | southeast |
| Little Wolf River | Fishery area | 2,339 | 14 mi | east |
| Mead Conifer Bogs | State natural area | 932 | 15 mi | west |
| Bradley Creek Swamp Conifers | State natural area | 21 | 15 mi | east |
| Flume Creek Cedars | State natural area | 138 | 15 mi | east |
| George W. Mead | Wildlife area | 32,624 | 16 mi | west |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR State Natural Areas parcel ownership GIS (centroid of WDNR-owned parcels) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the land around Dewey Marsh State Natural Area hunts, by the numbers
Portage County hunters registered 8,384 deer in 2025, 3,648 of them bucks. Totals swing between 5,841 and 8,384 across the years charted. 2026 so far, still changing: Portage, 749. CWD sampling in Portage County, CWD year 2025: 465 wild deer sampled, 3 positive. Overall: 5,979 samples and 18 positives. Portage County: 17 bears in 2025. The DNR reports deer by unit, not by property: read these as the Portage County picture.
Portage County bucks and antlerless
| Year | Bucks | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,648 | 4,736 | 8,384 |
| 2024 | 3,626 | 4,015 | 7,641 |
| 2023 | 2,967 | 3,592 | 6,559 |
| 2022 | 3,361 | 4,174 | 7,535 |
| 2021 | 3,053 | 3,697 | 6,750 |
| 2020 | 3,141 | 4,347 | 7,488 |
Portage County CWD sampling
| Year | Sampled | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 40 | 0 |
| 2025 | 465 | 3 |
| 2024 | 434 | 2 |
| 2023 | 401 | 2 |
| 2022 | 388 | 2 |
| 2021 | 393 | 1 |
Portage County bears
| Year | Bears registered | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 2025 | 17 | 10 | 7 |
Deer from DNR Deer Metrics harvest history and the 2026 harvest to date; CWD from the DNR CWD summary; bears from the DNR bear harvest reports. Checked October 19, 2026.
Dewey Marsh State Natural Area: nearest ranges
No range sits on Dewey Marsh State Natural Area; the nearest on the DNR public range map is Dewey Shooting Range, about 2 miles away. Nearby club or private ranges are shown too.
rifle, handgun on file
trap, archery, shotgun on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Home bases for a Dewey Marsh State Natural Area trip
Closest towns, measured as the crow flies, then the businesses around them.
| Town | County | Straight line | 2024 pop. | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polonia | Portage | 8.0 mi | — | 8,350 |
| Knowlton | Marathon | 8.4 mi | — | 35,035 |
| Stevens Point | Portage | 8.9 mi | 26,465 | 7,182 |
| Kronenwetter | Marathon | 12 mi | 8,435 | 20,070 |
Read up on the county: Portage County.
Taxidermy and supplies for Dewey Marsh State Natural Area hunters
Phone numbers for Dewey Marsh State Natural Area questions
The DNR service center listed for Portage County is DNR Wausau Service Center, 715-359-4522.
Towns and populations from the Census 2024 estimates; public acres within 10 miles from the land layers; businesses from store locators and listings (license-only agents left out); offices from DNR, USFS and USFWS pages. Checked October 19, 2026. Call ahead.
Dewey Marsh State Natural Area: legal shooting time, table by date
Big game and small game hunters get 20 minutes after sunset in Wisconsin, not 30. Waterfowl and spring gobbler hunters quit at sunset.
| Date | Hunt | Northern Area hours | Southern Area hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 6:03 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:47 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:08 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:36 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:48 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:07 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:09 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey table times from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shooting hours tables, plus the Zone C offset of 8 minutes for longitude 89.54 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Straight answers on Dewey Marsh State Natural Area
Which public properties lie near Dewey Marsh State Natural Area?
Three to try: Paul J. Olson Wildlife Area (9 miles), Richard A Hemp Fishery Area (12 miles) and Little Plover River Fishery Area (13 miles).
Is Dewey Marsh State Natural Area its own property?
Yes, Dewey Marsh Wildlife Area.
How is Dewey Marsh State Natural Area classified?
DNR-owned State Natural Area, under the Wisconsin DNR.
How much land is in Dewey Marsh State Natural Area?
It covers 1,222 acres by the recorded figure.
Where in the state does Dewey Marsh State Natural Area lie?
Portage County holds it, 8 miles from Polonia.
Does Dewey Marsh State Natural Area limit which species I hunt?
No species list is published, so every open season applies under the property rules.
Which deer management unit holds Dewey Marsh State Natural Area?
The Central Farmland zone, Portage. Quota for 2026: 6,000 antlerless.
Is bear hunting possible at Dewey Marsh State Natural Area?
Zone C; hound hunting is not allowed there.
Can I turkey hunt Dewey Marsh State Natural Area in spring?
Zone 3; 2025 saw 12,324 birds registered in the zone.
When can I hunt ducks at Dewey Marsh State Natural Area?
Northern for ducks, Northern for geese. The regular Northern Zone duck season opens Sep 26.
Has CWD turned up in the county around Dewey Marsh State Natural Area?
The deer baiting ban applies in Portage County. CWD: yes, in Portage County.
Is blaze pink legal at Dewey Marsh State Natural Area?
Orange or pink, half of the upper clothing, whenever a gun deer season runs (not for waterfowl).
Where do I register game taken on Dewey Marsh State Natural Area?
Register on GameReg by 5 p.m. the next day; the confirmation number starts with W.
Last checks on Dewey Marsh State Natural Area before you go
Treat this page as a starting point: the manager of Dewey Marsh State Natural Area has the final say on closures and maps.
Sources for this page: DNR: DeweyMarsh · DNR GIS · DNR: StateNaturalAreas; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); USDAgov (Public domain).