Cardinal Marsh: hunting and access
Cardinal Marsh is 1,174 acres of public hunting land in Winneshiek County, 3 miles from Ridgeway, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,519 deer in Winneshiek 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landCardinal MarshCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,174 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Winneshiek County |
| Deer harvest unit | Winneshiek County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Timber, 1/4 Upland, 1/4 Marsh, Turkey River |
| DNR contact | Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Ridgeway (3 mi), Cresco (3 mi) and Protivin (7 mi) |
What is Cardinal Marsh like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 timber, 1/4 upland, 1/4 marsh, turkey river.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Cardinal Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, grouse, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Cardinal Marsh.
What are the rules on Cardinal Marsh?
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 Cardinal Marsh?
Cardinal Marsh lies in Winneshiek County. Hunters reported 2,519 deer in Winneshiek County in 2025, against 2,550 in 2024.
| County | Cardinal Marsh acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winneshiek County | 1,174 | 2,519 | 2,550 | 2,469 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Cardinal Marsh?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile NW of Ridgeway on Hwy 9, 3.5 miles W on Madison.
Nearest towns: Ridgeway (3 miles), Cresco (3 miles), Protivin (7 miles) and Spillville (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 9 and IA 139. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Cardinal Marsh?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Cleghorn Wildlife Area: 40 acres, next to it
- Turkey River Wildlife Area: 410 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Martinek Wildlife Area: 25 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Miner Wildlife Area: 66 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Thomson Marsh: 40 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Kendallville Wildlife Area: 217 acres, 6.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Cardinal Marsh
Counting Cardinal Marsh itself, 1,882 of the 31,099 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.1%), 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 | 1,712 |
| County conservation board and city land | 168 |
| Other DNR land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Cardinal Marsh?
In Winneshiek County, 3 miles from Ridgeway.
What can you hunt on Cardinal Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, grouse, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Cardinal Marsh?
1,882 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Cardinal Marsh included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Cleghorn Wildlife Area (next to it).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Iowa are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.