Big Marsh Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Big Marsh Wildlife Area is 8,184 acres of public hunting land in Butler County, next to Dumont, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,211 deer in Butler County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's public hunting area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting, 2021 to 2025.
Public hunting areas on the DNR atlasOther DNR landCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landBig Marsh Wildlife AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 8,184 acres in 9 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Deer harvest unit | Butler County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Timber, 1/4 Wetland, 1/2 Grassland |
| DNR contact | Cedar-Wapsi Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Dumont (next to it), Bristow (3 mi) and Allison (4 mi) |
What is Big Marsh Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 timber, 1/4 wetland, 1/2 grassland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Big Marsh Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Big Marsh Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Big Marsh Wildlife Area?
Iowa's general hunting rules apply, and some DNR land is a posted wildlife refuge closed during set seasons; Iowa DNR wildlife management areas has area maps.
How many deer are taken around Big Marsh Wildlife Area?
Big Marsh Wildlife Area lies in Butler County. Hunters reported 1,211 deer in Butler County in 2025, against 1,092 in 2024.
| County | Big Marsh Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County | 8,184 | 1,211 | 1,092 | 1,162 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Big Marsh Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 6 miles N of Parkersburg on Hwy 14.
Nearest towns: Dumont (next to it), Bristow (3 miles), Allison (4 miles) and Parkersburg (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 3 and IA 14. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Big Marsh Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Boylan Creek Wildlife Area: 362 acres, next to it
- North Butler Wilderness Area: 150 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Deer Meadow Wildlife Area: 83 acres, 1.6 miles away
- North Butler Wildlife Area: 24 acres, 1.7 miles away
- West Fork Wildlife Area - Franklin: 241 acres, 2.9 miles away
- West Fork WMA: 188 acres, 3.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Big Marsh Wildlife Area
Counting Big Marsh Wildlife Area itself, 8,954 of the 88,721 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 8,810 |
| County conservation board and city land | 126 |
| Other DNR land | 18 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Big Marsh Wildlife Area?
In Butler County, next to Dumont.
What can you hunt on Big Marsh Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove.
How much public land is around Big Marsh Wildlife Area?
8,954 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Big Marsh Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Boylan Creek Wildlife Area (next to it).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Iowa included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: Iowa DNR public hunting areas (Hunting Atlas layer).
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
- Deer harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
FilledTag is not part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.