Powell Marsh Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Powell Marsh Wildlife Area is 4,347 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Vilas and Iron counties, 7 miles from Mercer. The DNR's page for it names deer and ducks and geese among the game here. Hunters registered 895 deer in DMU 117 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 landCounty forestPowell Marsh Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,347 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Vilas County and Iron County |
| Deer Management Unit | DMU 117, Lac du Flambeau Reservation |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer and ducks and geese |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Powell Marsh Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Mercer (7 mi), Lac du Flambeau (7 mi) and Boulder Junction (10 mi) |
What is Powell Marsh Wildlife Area like?
Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area spans approximately 4,303 acres in Vilas County. Find it 3 miles south of Manitowish Waters and 10 miles north of Lac du Flambeau. The wildlife area is on Powell Road between Highway 51 and Highway 47. The large peatland complex of Powell Marsh contains several unique wetland and plant communities and is a favorite area for birders, trappers and waterfowl hunters. Some of the unique features of the marsh include:.
Large, open peatland habitat is rare in northern Wisconsin, making Powell Marsh a regionally important wetland because of its large size and open character. The wetland system at Powell Marsh was maintained by wildfires for thousands of years. The last of the wildfires were in the 1930s and 1940s. These fires stimulated new vegetation growth that attracted large flocks of migrating geese. Sportsmen recognized the potential to attract geese to the area and petitioned the Wisconsin Conservation Commission to establish a goose management project. In 1955, the Powell Marsh State Wildlife Area was established to produce more geese for hunters. Early management at Powell was one of the pioneering efforts to manipulate extensive northern sedge leatherleaf bog for geese. Managers used prescribed fire to stimulate new growth for fall waterfowl migrations.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Powell Marsh Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Powell Marsh Wildlife Area names deer 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 Powell Marsh Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Powell Marsh Wildlife Area as "Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping". Hunting follows Wisconsin's statewide seasons and the rules posted on the property.
How many deer are taken around Powell Marsh Wildlife Area?
Powell Marsh Wildlife Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 895 deer in DMU 117 in 2025.
| DMU | Powell Marsh Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| DMU 117 | 4,326 | 895 |
| Lac du Flambeau Reservation | 20 |
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 Powell Marsh Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Mercer (7 miles), Lac du Flambeau (7 miles), Boulder Junction (10 miles) and Woodruff (15 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 51, WI 47 and WI 182.
What other public land is near Powell Marsh Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Northern Highland State Forest: 176,323 acres, next to it
- Lehto Lake State Natural Area: 1,624 acres, 4.2 miles away
- Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area: 35,782 acres, 5.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Powell Marsh Wildlife Area
Counting Powell Marsh Wildlife Area itself, 18,355 of the 45,783 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (40.1%), 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 | 18,355 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Powell Marsh Wildlife Area?
In Vilas and Iron counties, 7 miles from Mercer. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Powell Marsh 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 Powell Marsh Wildlife Area in?
DMU 117 (4,326 acres) and Lac du Flambeau Reservation (20 acres).
How much public land is around Powell Marsh Wildlife Area?
18,355 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Powell Marsh Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Northern Highland State Forest (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Powell Marsh 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.