Sweet Marsh: hunting and access
Sweet Marsh is 3,268 acres of public hunting land in Bremer County, next to Tripoli, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,254 deer in Bremer 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 landSweet MarshCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,268 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Bremer County |
| Deer harvest unit | Bremer County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Marsh, 1/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland |
| DNR contact | Cedar-Wapsi Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Tripoli (next to it), Frederika (next to it) and Readlyn (5 mi) |
What is Sweet Marsh like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 marsh, 1/4 timber, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Sweet Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, waterfowl and dove for Sweet Marsh.
What are the rules on Sweet 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 Sweet Marsh?
Sweet Marsh lies in Bremer County. Hunters reported 1,254 deer in Bremer County in 2025, against 1,108 in 2024.
| County | Sweet Marsh acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremer County | 3,268 | 1,254 | 1,108 | 1,093 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Sweet Marsh?
The DNR's directions: 4 miles NE of Tripoli on Hwy 93, 1 mile S on Reed Rd.
Nearest towns: Tripoli (next to it), Frederika (next to it), Readlyn (5 miles) and Sumner (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 63, IA 93, IA 3 and IA 188.
What other public land is near Sweet Marsh?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Wapsie River Greenbelt: 1,928 acres, next to it
- Snyder Access - Bremer: 26 acres, next to it
- Plum Creek Wildlife: 311 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Ringneck Wildlife Area: 38 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Heffernan Wildlife Area: 296 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Justen Wildlife Area: 36 acres, 3.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Sweet Marsh
Counting Sweet Marsh itself, 5,700 of the 58,552 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.7%), 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 | 5,550 |
| County conservation board and city land | 141 |
| Other DNR land | 9 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Sweet Marsh?
In Bremer County, next to Tripoli.
What can you hunt on Sweet Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, waterfowl and dove.
How much public land is around Sweet Marsh?
5,700 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Sweet Marsh included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Wapsie River Greenbelt (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.