Badger Creek Recreation Area: hunting and access
Badger Creek Recreation Area is 1,154 acres of public hunting land in Madison County, 3 miles from Van Meter, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,470 deer in Madison County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's public hunting area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting, 2021 to 2025.
Public hunting areas on the DNR atlasState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landBadger Creek Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,154 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Deer harvest unit | Madison County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Quail and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Lake, 3/4 Upland |
| DNR contact | Grand River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Van Meter (3 mi), De Soto (5 mi) and Waukee (7 mi) |
What is Badger Creek Recreation Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 lake, 3/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Badger Creek Recreation Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit, quail and dove for Badger Creek Recreation Area.
What are the rules on Badger Creek Recreation Area?
Iowa's general hunting rules apply, and some DNR land is a posted wildlife refuge closed during set seasons; Iowa DNR wildlife management areas has area maps.
How many deer are taken around Badger Creek Recreation Area?
Badger Creek Recreation Area lies in Madison County. Hunters reported 2,470 deer in Madison County in 2025, against 2,555 in 2024.
| County | Badger Creek Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 1,154 | 2,470 | 2,555 | 2,759 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Badger Creek Recreation Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile W of Booneville on F90, 3 miles S on Tabor/Badger Creek Rd.
Nearest towns: Van Meter (3 miles), De Soto (5 miles), Waukee (7 miles) and Cumming (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-80 and US 169.
What other public land is near Badger Creek Recreation Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Guye Woods: 80 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Two Rivers Access: 44 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Kirke Woods: 679 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Goeldner Woods: 38 acres, 7.1 miles away
- Blue Flag Marsh: 133 acres, 7.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Badger Creek Recreation Area
Counting Badger Creek Recreation Area itself, 1,179 of the 31,932 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 1,154 |
| County conservation board and city land | 25 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Badger Creek Recreation Area?
In Madison County, 3 miles from Van Meter.
What can you hunt on Badger Creek Recreation Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit, quail and dove.
How much public land is around Badger Creek Recreation Area?
1,179 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Badger Creek Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Guye Woods (3.8 miles).
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Iowa included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: Iowa DNR public hunting areas (Hunting Atlas layer).
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
- Deer harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
FilledTag is not part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.