Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Wildlife area · Southeast region
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area for Wisconsin hunters
A hunter's summary of Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area in Sheboygan County: zones and quota, rules, CWD numbers and local help.
Photo: wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 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.
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area: record card
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area: a DNR state wildlife area, located in Sheboygan County. Region on record: the DNR Southeast Region. The Wisconsin DNR writes the rules on the ground. The 863 acres on record put it 129th of the 285 state wildlife areas we list. Base town: Greenbush, some 3 miles away.
From the source page (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting); region from the DNR county layer. Checked October 19, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area deer unit, quota and game zones
The deer unit is Sheboygan, in the Central Farmland zone. The 2026 antlerless quota for that unit is 3,100. For black bear this is Zone F, with no hound hunting; 764 permits for 2026. Turkey hunting falls under Zone 2, which had 51,056 spring permits in 2025. The DNR counts Sheboygan County among its CWD-affected counties. Sheboygan County sits under the DNR deer baiting and feeding ban.
The deer unit around Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
| DMU | Deer zone | Antlerless quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Free tags per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan | Central Farmland | 3,100 | 371 | 595 | 2 |
Bear, turkey and bird zones at Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
| Zone | Rule | Numbers | Extra | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear F | Bait only | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Wild turkey 2 | 51,056 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 11,024 gobblers | 2,500 fall bonus |
| Grouse zone B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Ducks | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Geese | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Wolf zone 6 | Closed | Federally 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.
Rules on the ground at Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Entry terms for Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Anyone licensed can hunt and trap here in season. Watch for posted refuges and closed areas, and follow NR 45.
Wisconsin rules that follow you to Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
During any firearm deer season, everyone hunting except waterfowlers wears blaze orange or fluorescent pink on at least half the clothing above the waist, and on half of any cap. DNR land rule: 144 sq in of solid orange or pink on any ground blind in gun season. Leave no stand overnight south of Hwy. 64. North of the highway, two per hunter per county may stay from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31. GameReg registration is due by 5 p.m. the day after you recover the animal.
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area: licenses and tags
Go Wild carries every license. For antlerless deer on public ground, use a public-access tag for the right DMU.
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area closed zones
Closed or limited zones on Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area: 1. Most common exception: Except gun and muzzleloader deer, retrieval of legally killed or crippled game in posted zones.
| Closed area | Type | Period | Acres | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan Marsh | No entry wildlife refuge | SEP 1–NOV 30 | 665 | NR 11.07(12)(a) |
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area upland bird notes
Stocked rooster ground: 620 birds proposed for 2026 on 700 acres.
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.
Game and bag limits at Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, pheasants, ruffed grouse, woodcock, mourning doves, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, per the property record.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Ducks and geese
Pheasant
Ruffed grouse
Woodcock
Mourning dove
Small game
Furbearers
Other legal game follows the Sheboygan County season table below.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Every Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area season on one table
Private and public land share these dates. A state park, refuge or Fort McCoy can close sooner, so read the property page before you go.
| Animal | Segment | Scope | Starts | Ends | Open 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 | Metro sub-unit gun | Metro sub-unit: Milwaukee | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 9, 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: Sheboygan | 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 F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 2 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 2 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 2 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 2 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 2 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 2 | May 26, 2027 | Jun 1, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | |
| 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 | 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 (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck | Open Water Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 15, 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 (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.
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area described by the DNR
Quoted as published; nothing here is our wording.
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area lies in northwestern Sheboygan County, just one mile west and north of Elkhart Lake. It covers over half of the townships of Russell and Greenbush. The area historically known as Sheboygan Marsh includes over 14,000 acres of land and surface water. It contains the largest restored wetland in the Wisconsin watersheds of Lakes, Michigan, and Superior. Today, the Department of Natural Resources staff provides wildlife, fish, and forestry management of the 8,285-acre Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area.
In addition to managing the 871 acres of state-owned lands, the DNR manages the 7,414 acres of county-owned lands by a formal management agreement executed with Sheboygan County in 1984. The Sheboygan Marsh provides habitat for many different wildlife species. The main marsh and smaller wetland impoundments provide migratory stopover, breeding, and brood rearing habitat for numerous species of waterfowl and wetland birds. White cedar stands, bottomland hardwoods, dogwood, and alder thickets are commonly used by white-tailed deer, woodcock, squirrels, rabbits, and various furbearers.
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area: hunting text as published
- The prairies on the south side of the marsh provide habitat for grassland birds and are part of the stocked pheasant hunting program.
- Common wildlife species found on this property are white-tailed deer, woodcock, wild turkey, squirrels, ring-necked pheasants (stocked), rabbits, and numerous waterfowl and shorebird species.
- Waterfowl hunting in this refuge is prohibited at all times, and all entry is closed to all entry from Sept.
- Hunting (especially noted for deer, turkey, waterfowl, wild ring-necked pheasant [not stocked], rabbit, squirrel, ruffed grouse, woodcock, mourning dove, fox, coyote and raccoon)
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Harvest numbers for the country around Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
2025 in Sheboygan County: 1,684 bucks, 1,878 antlerless, 3,562 in all. Range since 2016: 2,885 to 3,562 deer a year. Early 2026 registrations (archery, crossbow, youth hunt): Sheboygan 309. The DNR sampled 154 deer from Sheboygan County in 2025; 2 had CWD. 4 positives overall, from 2,417 deer. Figures are for the whole county unit, not Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area alone; the DNR does not report harvest by property.
Sheboygan County unit harvest
| Season | Bucks | Does and fawns | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,684 | 1,878 | 3,562 |
| 2024 | 1,664 | 1,872 | 3,536 |
| 2023 | 1,617 | 1,634 | 3,251 |
| 2022 | 1,489 | 1,929 | 3,418 |
| 2021 | 1,379 | 1,550 | 2,929 |
| 2020 | 1,508 | 1,991 | 3,499 |
CWD samples, Sheboygan County
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 7 | 0 |
| 2025 | 154 | 2 |
| 2024 | 177 | 0 |
| 2023 | 170 | 0 |
| 2022 | 170 | 1 |
| 2021 | 217 | 0 |
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.
Bed, fuel and a butcher near Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Where to sleep, where to buy shells, where to drop off a deer.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenbush | Sheboygan | 2.9 mi | — | 22,624 |
| Glenbeulah | Sheboygan | 3.2 mi | 453 | 19,264 |
| Mount Calvary | Fond du Lac | 6.8 mi | 488 | 9,930 |
| Chilton | Calumet | 15 mi | 4,183 | 10,952 |
Season and zone pages by county: Sheboygan County.
Who processes a deer from Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Where to ask about Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Licenses and questions for Sheboygan County go through the DNR Oshkosh Service Center.
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.
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area and nearby public ground
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area at the big pin; the nearest 10 public places around it. Combined, 4,027 acres are on record.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle Moraine Red Oaks | State natural area | 241 | 4.0 mi | southeast |
| Muehl Springs | State natural area | 72 | 5.3 mi | northeast |
| Areas-Mullet River (Remnant) | Fishery area | 23 | 5.5 mi | southeast |
| LaBudde Creek | Fishery area | 391 | 5.8 mi | east |
| Kiel Marsh | Wildlife area | 850 | 6.0 mi | northeast |
| Mullet Creek | Wildlife area | 2,244 | 6.7 mi | southwest |
| Kamrath Creek Forest and Fen | State natural area | 59 | 7.0 mi | southeast |
| Mullet Creek White Cedar Wetland | State natural area | 86 | 7.2 mi | southwest |
| Areas-Onion River (Remnant) | Fishery area | 50 | 8.4 mi | southeast |
| Johnson Hill Kame | State natural area | 11 | 8.5 mi | south |
Points from the DNR managed lands, SNA, county forest, FWS realty, USFS, NPS and DoD layers (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS (polygon centroid of hunting-open parcels) (polygon centroid)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Shooting-hour table for Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Two tables cover the state, one for the Northern Area and one for the Southern Area, each for Zone A. West of 88 degrees you add 4 minutes per degree of longitude.
| Date | Why it matters | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Bow, turkey, grouse opener | 5:59 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:43 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:04 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:32 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:44 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:03 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:05 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:50 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 B offset of 4 minutes for longitude 88.10 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
The DNR-map range closest to Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area is Izaak Walton League/ A.D. Sutherland Chapter (14 miles). Club ranges within 30 miles are included.
rifle, handgun on file
trap, shotgun on file
trap, 5-stand, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
Before-the-trip answers for Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Is Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area DNR, county or federal ground?
A DNR state wildlife area; the manager is the Wisconsin DNR.
Is Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area a big property?
863 acres in the source data.
Which town works as a base for Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
Sheboygan County; Greenbush, the nearest town we cover, is 3 miles away.
Which species does the record give for Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
Whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, pheasants, ruffed grouse, woodcock, mourning doves, squirrels, cottontails and hares and raccoons, foxes and coyotes, plus any other season open in the county.
What deer tags work on Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
It is in Sheboygan (Central Farmland). This year the antlerless quota is 3,100.
How hard is a bear permit for Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
Zone F; hounds may not be used there.
Which zone do I apply for to hunt turkeys at Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
Zone 2. Success in 2025 was 22%.
Which goose zone is Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area in?
Ducks follow the Southern zone, Canada geese the Southern zone. Opening day for Southern Zone ducks is Oct 3.
Can I bait deer at Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
No bait or feed in Sheboygan County. The county list for CWD includes Sheboygan County.
When does orange apply at Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
Pink counts the same as orange: 50% above the waist in firearm deer seasons.
Does a Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area deer go into GameReg?
By 5 p.m. the following day, through GameReg; bears also go to a station or online the same way.
What paperwork does Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area need?
Gun deer ($24), archer ($24) or small game ($18) for residents; nonresident gun deer is $200.
Are there restrictions inside Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
Not all of it. The DNR layer lists 1 zone such as Sheboygan Marsh.
Signing off on Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Gates, refuges and open areas at Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area are the manager's call; confirm them before opening day.
Sources for this page: DNR: sheboygan · DNR GIS · DNR: alpha · DNR GIS · DNR GIS; regulations from the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin hunting regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Shiva Shenoy (CC BY 2.0); scostello22 (CC BY 2.0).