Mitchell Marsh: hunting and access
Mitchell Marsh is 301 acres of public hunting land in Union County, 2 miles from Creston, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,051 deer in Union 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 landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landMitchell MarshCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 301 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Union County |
| Deer harvest unit | Union County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Marsh, 1/2 Upland |
| DNR contact | Grand River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Creston (2 mi), Cromwell (5 mi) and Orient (8 mi) |
What is Mitchell Marsh like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 marsh, 1/2 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Mitchell Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Mitchell Marsh.
What are the rules on Mitchell 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 Mitchell Marsh?
Mitchell Marsh lies in Union County. Hunters reported 1,051 deer in Union County in 2025, against 1,074 in 2024.
| County | Mitchell Marsh acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 301 | 1,051 | 1,074 | 1,250 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Mitchell Marsh?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile N of Creston on Hwy 186.
Nearest towns: Creston (2 miles), Cromwell (5 miles), Orient (8 miles) and Afton (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 34 and IA 25.
What other public land is near Mitchell Marsh?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Summit Lake - City of Creston: 161 acres, next to it
- Green Valley State Recreation Area: 69 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Twelve Mile Lake - Union: 1,485 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Three Mile Wildlife Area: 2,677 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Hoskins Wildlife Area: 116 acres, 7.3 miles away
- Lake Orient: 82 acres, 7.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Mitchell Marsh
Counting Mitchell Marsh itself, 1,796 of the 24,575 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 997 |
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 532 |
| County conservation board and city land | 152 |
| Other DNR land | 115 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Mitchell Marsh?
In Union County, 2 miles from Creston.
What can you hunt on Mitchell Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Mitchell Marsh?
1,796 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Mitchell Marsh included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Summit Lake - City of Creston (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.