Theresa Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Theresa Wildlife Area is 5,763 acres of land managed by the Wisconsin DNR in Washington and Dodge counties, next to Allenton. The DNR's page for it names deer, wild turkey, pheasants and ducks and geese among the game here. Hunters registered 3,731 deer in Washington 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 landState parksLand trusts and other open landVoluntary Public Access landTheresa Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 5,763 acres in 21 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Washington County and Dodge County |
| Deer Management Unit | Washington County, Dodge 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 | Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area |
| Nearest towns | Allenton (next to it), Theresa (next to it) and Lomira (3 mi) |
What is Theresa Wildlife Area like?
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area includes nearly 5,500 acres of state-owned lands and 300 acres of publicly accessible easements located in northwestern Washington and northeastern Dodge counties. The East Branch of the Rock River flows north through the core of the wildlife area. Wetlands, primarily emergent marsh and bottomland hardwood forest, border the river and cover 80% of the property. Uplands are composed of a mix of grassland, farmland, and upland hardwood forest. A glacial lake with a southern outflow once occupied the marsh. Subsequent glacial activity created the present outlet of the marsh flowing to the west and resulted in a vast tamarack and lowland hardwood forest that was logged during settlement times, leaving open marshland.
Theresa Marsh is managed for wildlife production, as a migration stopover area for waterfowl and other birds, and to provide a variety of recreational opportunities including hunting, trapping, fishing, bird watching, and hiking. Water levels at Theresa Marsh are managed to provide diverse wetland habitats, primarily emergent and deep-water marsh. Beginning in spring, some wetland impoundments are dewatered to expose mudflats provide shallow water for migrating shorebirds and allow germination of wetland plants. Wetland annual plants produce large, energy-rich seeds and attract an abundance of invertebrates. These stopover wetlands are reflooded in fall to make these food sources available to migrating waterfowl.
In the DNR's words, from its page for the property.
What can you hunt on Theresa Wildlife Area?
The DNR's page for Theresa Wildlife 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 Theresa Wildlife Area?
The DNR's property map lists Theresa 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 Theresa Wildlife Area: Birding, Boating (see more details in the prohibited activies section), Canoeing, Cross-country skiing (no designated trail), Dog training (class II), Fishing, Hiking (no designated trail), Hunting (noted for: white-tailed deer, waterfowl, pheasant and wild turkey) Archery and firearm hunting are allowed and Pheasant hunting is prohibited after noon beginning the third day of the season through November 3.
How many deer are taken around Theresa Wildlife Area?
Theresa Wildlife Area lies in 2 deer management units. The DNR registered 3,731 deer in Washington County in 2025, against 3,427 in 2024.
| DMU | Theresa Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 3,235 | 3,731 | 3,427 | 2,972 |
| Dodge County | 2,528 | 5,477 | 5,238 | 4,552 |
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 Theresa Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Allenton (next to it), Theresa (next to it), Lomira (3 miles) and Brownsville (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 41, I-41, WI 175, WI 28 and WI 67. 3 VPA properties within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Theresa Wildlife Area?
DNR properties within 10 miles:
- Allenton Wildlife Area: 1,161 acres, 0.9 miles away
- State Ice Age Trail Area (SIATA): 4,676 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Eisenbahn State Trail: 296 acres, 6.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Theresa Wildlife Area
Counting Theresa Wildlife Area itself, 7,010 of the 70,199 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10%), 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 | 6,881 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 129 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Theresa Wildlife Area?
In Washington and Dodge counties, next to Allenton. The DNR's property page has its maps and parking.
Is Theresa 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 Theresa Wildlife Area in?
Washington County (3,235 acres) and Dodge County (2,528 acres).
How much public land is around Theresa Wildlife Area?
7,010 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Theresa Wildlife Area included, by PAD-US 4.1. The closest other DNR property is Allenton Wildlife Area (0.9 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Theresa 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.
Wisconsin hunting Washington County Dodge County Washington County Dodge County