Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area is 3,574 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Waushara County, 2 miles from Tustin. The DNR's page for it names deer and ducks and geese among the game here. Hunters registered 8,678 deer in Waushara 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 landNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasLand trusts and other open landVoluntary Public Access landPoygan Marsh Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,574 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Waushara County |
| Deer Management Unit | Waushara County |
| DNR lists for hunting | deer and ducks and geese |
| Public access (DNR) | Open to Hiking, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping |
| DNR property page | Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Tustin (2 mi), Poy Sippi (3 mi) and Eureka (6 mi) |
What is Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area like?
Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area is in eastern Waushara County on the west shore of Lake Poygan. Currently, 3,570 acres are state-owned. Access to the wildlife area is available from several town roads or by boat from Lake Poygan. The Pine River, Willow Creek and Pumpkinseed Creek flow through the wetland complex to their mouths at Lake Poygan. The area is known historically for the vast shallow marshes that attracted large flocks of waterfowl, especially canvasback ducks. Today, the most extensive plant community is a high-quality sedge meadow and shrub marsh complex between the Pine River and Pumpkinseed Creek. Wild rice is scattered throughout the property, and it is especially abundant at the mouths of the Pine River and Willow Creek.
Early management efforts involved the construction of perimeter impoundments and level ditching to promote waterfowl and furbearer production. Today, much of this infrastructure remains and provides recreational access to the property and opportunities for public hunting, especially waterfowl and white-tailed deer. Trapping is very accessible along the several miles of dikes. Excellent birding opportunities exist year-round due to the size and variety of habitats. The Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area is managed to provide opportunities for public hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor recreation while protecting the qualities of the unique native communities and associated species found on the property. Current habitat management is focused on wetland restoration, favoring projects that restore natural hydrological function.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Poygan 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 Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Poygan Marsh 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 Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area: Birding, Boating (motorized and non-motorized), Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Fishing, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for waterfowl and deer), Kayaking, Trapping, Wild edibles/gathering and Wildlife viewing.
How many deer are taken around Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area lies in Waushara County. The DNR registered 8,678 deer in Waushara County in 2025, against 8,191 in 2024.
| DMU | Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waushara County | 3,573 | 8,678 | 8,191 | 6,404 |
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 Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Tustin (2 miles), Poy Sippi (3 miles), Eureka (6 miles) and Pine River (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: WI 49 and WI 21. 1 VPA property within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Glacial Habitat Restoration Area: 11,308 acres, next to it
- Leach Natural Resource Center - Closed To Public: 356 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Deppe Wildlife Area: 201 acres, 1.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area
Counting Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area itself, 5,392 of the 43,163 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.5%), 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 | 5,392 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
In Waushara County, 2 miles from Tustin. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Poygan 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 Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area in?
Waushara County.
How much public land is around Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area?
5,392 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Poygan Marsh Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Glacial Habitat Restoration Area (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Poygan 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.