Home › Wisconsin › Public land › Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Washington County, Wisconsin
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area: the hunter's file
Deer unit Washington and Dodge, bear and turkey zones, closures, licenses and the nearest towns and services.
Photo: IIP Photo Archive (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 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.
Key facts for Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area is a DNR state wildlife area in Washington and Dodge counties. The DNR files it under its Southeast Region (southeast Wisconsin). Management sits with the Wisconsin DNR. Acreage: 5,758, which places it 23rd of 285 state wildlife areas. The closest covered town is Theresa, around 3 miles off as the crow flies.
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 Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area by zone and unit
Deer: Southern Farmland zone, Washington and Dodge. 2,200 and 4,500 antlerless deer: the 2026 quota for the units. Bear hunters here apply for Zone F: 764 applied for 2026 and 764 permits went out. In Zone 2 turkey hunters held 51,056 spring tags in 2025 (spring 2027 levels are not out yet). CWD-positive deer have been recorded in Washington and Dodge counties; free testing is offered statewide. Baiting and feeding deer are banned in Washington and Dodge counties.
DMU figures for Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
| Unit | Deer zone | Quota | Public-access bonus | Private bonus | Farmland per license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | Southern Farmland | 2,200 | 500 | 1,550 | 3 |
| Dodge | Southern Farmland | 4,500 | 200 | 2,500 | 2 |
| Milwaukee Metro Sub-unit | Metro sub-unit | In unit total | — | — | — |
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area zone table
| Zone | Setting | Data | Also | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear zone F | No dogs | 50 target, 764 permits | 1 point | 27 bears in 2025 |
| Turkey 2 | 51,056 spring tags (2025) | 22% success | 11,024 gobblers | 2,500 fall bonus |
| Ruffed grouse B | Oct 17–Dec 8 | 2 a day | ||
| Duck | Southern | Oct 3–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 | ||
| Goose | Southern | Sep 16–Oct 11 Oct 17–Dec 6 Dec 19–Jan 2 | ||
| Wolf 6 | No hunt | Endangered status |
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.
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area: the property description
Copied from the official listing.
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area includes nearly 5,500 acres of state-owned lands and 300 acres of publicly accessible easements located in northwestern Washington and northeastern Dodge counties. The East Branch of the Rock River flows north through the core of the wildlife area. Wetlands, primarily emergent marsh and bottomland hardwood forest, border the river and cover 80% of the property. Uplands are composed of a mix of grassland, farmland, and upland hardwood forest.
Hunting lines from the Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area page
- Theresa Marsh is managed for wildlife production, as a migration stopover area for waterfowl and other birds, and to provide a variety of recreational opportunities including hunting, trapping, fishing, bird watching, and hiking.
- Grasslands are managed using periodic fire, mowing, and haying to provide nesting cover for mallard, blue-winged teal, and wild turkey and cover and forage for white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and ring-necked pheasants.
- Pheasants are stocked in upland grasslands throughout the pheasant hunting season.
- Hunting (noted for: white-tailed deer, waterfowl, pheasant and wild turkey) Archery and firearm hunting are allowed.
- 30 each year except for deer hunting during open gun and muzzleloader seasons.
Quoted from the property page, retrieved 2026-10-19; checked October 19, 2026.
Access, closures and licenses for Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area: open to whom, and how
Open to public hunting and trapping in state seasons with the right Wisconsin licenses. Posted refuges and closed areas are off limits, and the NR 45 state land rules apply.
- The DNR page lists dog training on the property.
Orange, stands and GameReg at Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Bowhunters too: when a gun deer season is on, 50% of the coat and hat must be orange or pink, unless you are hunting waterfowl. A ground blind on DNR property needs 144 sq in of orange or pink during gun deer seasons. South of Hwy. 64 every stand and blind leaves with you; north of it, two portable stands per county may stay out Sept. 1-Jan. 31. Use GameReg (online or 844-426-3734) before 5 p.m. the day after the harvest.
Tags and licenses for Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Licenses sell on Go Wild. On public land, antlerless deer need a public-access authorization for the unit.
Where you cannot hunt at Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Mind these 1 area before you set up. The common carve-out: Except gun and muzzleloader deer, retrieval of legally killed or crippled game in posted zones.
| Area | Restriction | Dates | Acres | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theresa Marsh | No entry wildlife refuge | SEP 1–NOV 30 | 629 | NR 11.07(3)(a) |
Pheasant and dove details for Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
2026 pheasant stocking: 1,380 birds planned for 2,500 acres of suitable cover.
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.
Which animals Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area lists
Game on the record for Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area: whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Ducks and geese
Pheasant
Furbearers
Seasons not named here still apply if they are open in Washington County and the property rules allow.
Species from the property record (species named by the source); bag limits from the DNR regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Which seasons are open in Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area are listed.
| Species | Season | Where it applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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: Washington | 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 (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.
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area: county harvest and CWD tests
Hunters registered 3,731 deer in the Washington County unit in 2025: 1,656 bucks and 2,075 antlerless. High year on the chart: 2025 at 3,731; low year: 2017 at 2,742. Preliminary 2026 count to Oct. 19: 136 in Washington and 446 in Dodge. Washington County CWD testing (2025): 0 positives out of 172 samples. Cumulative total 2 positives in 1,827 tests. Harvest and CWD figures cover Washington County as a whole.
Washington County deer by year
| Year | Buck | Antlerless | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,656 | 2,075 | 3,731 |
| 2024 | 1,563 | 1,864 | 3,427 |
| 2023 | 1,412 | 1,560 | 2,972 |
| 2022 | 1,373 | 1,804 | 3,177 |
| 2021 | 1,247 | 1,593 | 2,840 |
| 2020 | 1,357 | 2,043 | 3,400 |
Testing for CWD, Washington County
| Year | Deer tested | CWD positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 172 | 0 |
| 2024 | 142 | 0 |
| 2023 | 118 | 1 |
| 2022 | 146 | 0 |
| 2021 | 132 | 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.
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area pinned among its neighbours
Map of Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area and the 10 nearest public places. That is 35,698 acres of public ground.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allenton Marsh | Wildlife area | 1,159 | 8.2 mi | southeast |
| Campbellsport Drumlin | State park | 10 | 8.5 mi | north |
| Kewaskum Maple-Oak Woods | State natural area | 42 | 9.3 mi | east |
| Milwaukee River Floodplain Forest | State natural area | 77 | 9.8 mi | east |
| Spring Lake | State natural area | 48 | 12 mi | northeast |
| Horicon Marsh | Wildlife area | 11,172 | 12 mi | west |
| Milwaukee River and Swamp | State natural area | 828 | 12 mi | northeast |
| Haskell Noyes Woods | State natural area | 62 | 13 mi | northeast |
| Sinnissippi Public Hunting Ground | Wildlife area | 300 | 13 mi | southwest |
| Horicon | Wildlife refuge | 22,000 | 14 mi | west |
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.
Towns, processors and DNR desks near Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Start with a town, then line up a cooler, a butcher and a mount.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres (10 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theresa | Dodge | 3.1 mi | 1,280 | 21,226 |
| Allenton | Washington | 6.2 mi | — | 9,485 |
| Kewaskum | Washington | 8.2 mi | 4,564 | 21,697 |
| Kekoskee | Dodge | 9.5 mi | 880 | 36,301 |
For the wider county picture: Washington County, Dodge County.
Venison, mounts and ammo near Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area: agency contacts
County service center: DNR Waukesha Service Center (262-574-2100).
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.
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area: nearest ranges
Izaak Walton League/ A.D. Sutherland Chapter in Fond du Lac County is the nearest DNR-map range, 19 miles out. Two nearby club ranges follow.
rifle, handgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery on file
From the DNR public range map and its map layer, checked October 19, 2026.
First and last legal minute at Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey: 30 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after sunset. Ducks, geese, doves and spring turkey: same start, done at sunset.
| Date | Season moment | 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 88.39 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Questions hunters raise about Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area
What type of property is Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area on the record?
It is a DNR state wildlife area, managed by the Wisconsin DNR.
What size is Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area on the record?
About 5,758 acres.
What is the nearest town to Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area?
Base in Theresa, 3 miles away; the ground is in Washington and Dodge counties.
Which game is named for Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area?
The property record lists whitetails, wild turkeys, ducks and geese, pheasants and raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
What is the antlerless quota at Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area?
Washington and Dodge, part of the Southern Farmland zone. Antlerless goal for 2026: 2,200 and 4,500.
Which bear permit zone holds Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area?
F. You need a Class A license from the drawing.
How many turkey permits go to the Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area zone?
Turkey Zone 2. 51,056 spring tags were issued there in 2025.
What waterfowl dates apply at Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area?
Duck zone: Southern; goose zone: Southern. Southern Zone ducks open Oct 3, 2026-27.
Can I put out corn for deer at Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area?
Not here: Washington and Dodge counties is under the ban. CWD has been found in wild deer in Washington and Dodge counties.
How much orange do I wear at Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area?
During any firearm deer season: 50% of your outer clothing above the waist and 50% of any cap, blaze orange or pink. Waterfowl hunters are exempt.
When must I register a turkey from Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area?
Deer: online, phone or station by 5 p.m. next day. Turkeys: online or phone only.
Which tags work on Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area?
No special permit for most of it; buy the license on Go Wild and carry public-access antlerless tags.
Does Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area have a refuge?
No: 1 closed or restricted area are listed, starting with Theresa Marsh.
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area: one more look before the drive
Signs on the ground beat any web page. Read the posted boundaries at Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area when you arrive.
Sources for this page: DNR: theresa · 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: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); scostello22 (CC BY 2.0).