Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area: hunting and access
Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area is 3,326 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Jefferson County, 2 miles from Helenville. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, pheasants and ducks and geese among the game here. Hunters registered 3,843 deer in Jefferson 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 landOther federal landState parksOther county, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landVoluntary Public Access landJefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,326 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Deer Management Unit | Jefferson County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer, wild turkey, pheasants and ducks and geese |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Helenville (2 mi), Jefferson (2 mi) and Hebron (4 mi) |
What is Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area like?
Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area consists of approximately 3,000 acres lying between 1 and 3 miles east/southeast of the city of Jefferson in Jefferson County. This wildlife area is primarily a large wetland restored in 2005 from agricultural drainage. This restoration resulted in a diverse wetland ranging from an open water marsh in the south to a 900-acre tamarack bog in the north. The Jefferson Tamarack Swamp State Natural Area is located within the Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area. To find the wildlife area, travel east of Jefferson on U.S. Highway 18 about 1 mile and watch for a parking lot on the south side of the road. Another option is to head east of Jefferson on U.S. Highway 18 and turn south on County Highway Y. Continue approximately 2.5 miles southeast on Highway Y to three different parking lots centrally located within the property.
The restored wetlands south of Highway Y can provide excellent waterfowl hunting opportunities while the uplands and tamarack bog between Highways Y and 18 can provide a remote deer hunting experience in southern Wisconsin. The majority of the wildlife area provides excellent opportunities for walking and wildlife watching due to extensive internal access roads. Dove hunting opportunities on 6 acres of sunflower and corn fields. The Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area is primarily managed as a restored wetland complex with the objectives of providing opportunities for hunting and wildlife watching. Habitat management is aimed at maintaining and restoring native flora to the property. The management techniques employed include wetland drawdowns and water level manipulation, prescribed fire, brush control, planting of native species, and other invasive species removal efforts.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area?
The DNR's page for Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area names deer, wild turkey, pheasants and ducks and geese. Each follows Wisconsin's statewide season and, for deer, the tags and rules of the deer management unit.
What are the rules on Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area?
The DNR's property map lists Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural 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 Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area: Birding, Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (especially noted for pheasant, deer, turkey and waterfowl), Snowmobiling (designated trails only), Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area?
Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area lies in Jefferson County. The DNR registered 3,843 deer in Jefferson County in 2025, against 3,816 in 2024.
| DMU | Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 3,326 | 3,843 | 3,816 | 3,579 |
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 Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area?
Nearest towns: Helenville (2 miles), Jefferson (2 miles), Hebron (4 miles) and Rome (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 26, US 18, WI 106, WI 89 and US 12. 1 VPA property within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Glacial Drumlin State Trail: 1,021 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Prince's Point Wildlife Area: 3,979 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Rome Pond Wildlife Area: 2,295 acres, 5 miles away
- Aztalan State Park: 178 acres, 5.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area
Counting Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area itself, 4,165 of the 44,289 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.4%), 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 | 3,998 |
| Other county, city and regional land | 100 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 51 |
| Other federal land | 9 |
| State parks | 7 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area?
In Jefferson County, 2 miles from Helenville. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural 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 Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area in?
Jefferson County.
How much public land is around Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area?
4,165 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Glacial Drumlin State Trail (1.2 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Jefferson Marsh State Wildlife And Natural 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.