Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area is 1,163 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Door County, 3 miles from Little Sturgeon. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game among the game here. Hunters registered 4,302 deer in Door County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's DNR property data, read 2026-10. Harvest: DNR Deer Metrics.
State wildlife areas, forests and other DNR landGardner Swamp Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,163 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Door County |
| Deer Management Unit | Door County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Little Sturgeon (3 mi), Forestville (8 mi) and Sturgeon Bay (10 mi) |
What is Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area like?
Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area is a 1,180-acre property located in Door County. The property consists primarily of emergent marsh and lowland forest and shrub but there are also upland components including forest and meadow. Gardner swamp provides nesting, brooding and migratory habitat to waterfowl. The marsh also provides a critical habitat for the endangered Hine’s emerald dragonfly. Deer, turkey, pheasant and waterfowl are popular game species at Gardner Swamp. Access to open water in the Marsh is limited so waterfowlers who are willing to work hard and pack light reap the greatest rewards. Similarly, deer that frequent the fringes of the marsh have ample opportunity to seek refuge in the interior of the property as pressure increases. Bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts can be rewarded with many exciting species observations, particularly during migration seasons.
Acquisition of the property began in 1958. Support was strong from local sportsmen to purchase the property, which frequently was subject to damning and flooding from beaver. The Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area is a Conservation Opportunity Area [PDF] for managing the Great Lakes and their shorelines of global significance according to Wisconsin's Wildlife Action Plan. It is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, trapping and other outdoor recreation while protecting the qualities of the unique native communities and associated species found on the property. Thinning and improvement cutting are used to maintain the white cedar and swamp hardwood types. The marsh, shrub-carr, and grassland types are maintained with brushing, mowing and prescribed fire. The Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area names deer, wild turkey, pheasants, ducks and geese and small game. Each follows Wisconsin's statewide season and, for deer, the tags and rules of the deer management unit.
What are the rules on Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Hunting follows Wisconsin's statewide seasons and the rules posted on the property.
Activities the DNR lists for Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area: Birding, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for waterfowl, turkey, small game and deer), Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area?
Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area lies in Door County. The DNR registered 4,302 deer in Door County in 2025, against 4,225 in 2024.
| DMU | Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Door County | 1,163 | 4,302 | 4,225 | 3,793 |
Harvest for the whole deer management unit, not the property alone: Wisconsin DNR Deer Metrics (registered harvest by deer management unit).
How do you get to Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Little Sturgeon (3 miles), Forestville (8 miles), Sturgeon Bay (10 miles) and Dyckesville (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 57.
What other public land is near Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Ahnapee State Trail: 591 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Potawatomi State Park: 1,098 acres, 7.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area
Counting Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area itself, 1,175 of the 29,824 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State wildlife areas, forests and other DNR land | 1,175 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area?
In Door County, 3 miles from Little Sturgeon. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area open to hunting?
Yes. The DNR's property map lists it as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Posted refuges or closed areas, where there are any, are marked on site.
Which deer management unit is Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area in?
Door County.
How much public land is around Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area?
1,175 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Ahnapee State Trail (5.4 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area; Wisconsin DNR managed lands open to hunting.
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public).
- Deer harvest: Wisconsin DNR Deer Metrics (registered harvest by deer management unit).
FilledTag is not part of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.