White River Marsh Wildlife Area
White River Marsh Wildlife Area is a 12,000-acre property in the northwest corner of Green Lake County and the northeast corner of Marquette County. Find it approximately 6 miles north of the city of Princeton on County Highway D, or approximately 3 miles west of the city of Berlin on County Highway F. The property consists of open marsh/wet meadow, swamp hardwoods/tamarack swamp, upland prairie/oak savanna and shrub carr.
This property offers various outdoor recreational opportunities. Small game, waterfowl, deer and pheasant are among the most popular game that hunters pursue. All of these species are abundant throughout the wildlife area. Additional user groups visit the property to hike, gather edible plants, wildlife views and canoe/kayak.
Management Objectives
The Wisconsin Conservation Commission approved the preliminary project and first land acquisition on the White River Marsh on March 30, 1962. Aldo Leopold had investigated the marsh in the 1940s and recommended federal or state purchase of the marsh for conservation purposes. Prairie chickens and bobwhite quail were abundant on the marsh.
Much of the uplands were farmed for row or small grain crops and most of the wetlands were drained or altered for farming. The marsh grass (sedge, bluejoint and prairie cordgrass) was used for cattle feed, bedding and the production of carpet fiber at factories in Oshkosh. The marshes were cut by horse-drawn equipment and shipped to Oshkosh via the lock and dam system on the Fox River.
Current management programs include wetland restoration and water level manipulation in the impoundments, upland dry prairie restoration to promote Karner blue butterflies and other grassland-related wildlife and oak savannah restoration. Mourning dove habitat manipulation for banding and hunting opportunities on sunflower and other crop fields.
Recreation
The White River Marsh Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:
- Auto travel (a Rustic Road bisects much of the wildlife area that provides an excellent wildlife viewing opportunity)
- Biking (town road only)
- Birding
- Canoeing
- Cross-country skiing (no designated trail)
- Fishing
- Hiking (no designated trail)
- Hunting (noted for pheasant*, small game, waterfowl, deer, mourning dove and woodcock)
- Kayaking
- Trapping
- Wild edibles/gathering
- Wildlife viewing
*Note: Pheasant hunting closes at noon on weekdays during the season until November 3 at this property.
Amenities
- Bathroom - none.
- Parking lot - Yes.
- Campground and size - none.
- Trails, Types and Lengths - none.
Maps
Download a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
