Badger Lake Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Badger Lake Wildlife Area is 1,108 acres of public hunting land in Monona County, 3 miles from Whiting, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 452 deer in Monona 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 atlasIHAP landBadger Lake Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,108 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Monona County |
| Deer harvest unit | Monona County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/3 Marsh, 2/3 Upland |
| DNR contact | Missouri River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Whiting (3 mi), Sloan (5 mi) and Hornick (8 mi) |
What is Badger Lake Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/3 marsh, 2/3 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Badger Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Badger Lake Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Badger Lake Wildlife 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 Lake Wildlife Area?
Badger Lake Wildlife Area lies in Monona County. Hunters reported 452 deer in Monona County in 2025, against 347 in 2024.
| County | Badger Lake Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monona County | 1,108 | 452 | 347 | 560 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Badger Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles W of I-29 Whiting exit on K42.
Nearest towns: Whiting (3 miles), Sloan (5 miles), Hornick (8 miles) and Onawa (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29 and IA 141. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Badger Lake Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Monona Bend Wildlife Area: 390 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Upper Monona Bend Wildlife Area: 123 acres, 2 miles away
- Omaha Mission Bend Wildlife Area: 138 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Blackbird Bend Wildlife Area: 459 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Tieville Bend Wildlife Area: 903 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Blackbird Bend: 232 acres, 4.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Badger Lake Wildlife Area
Counting Badger Lake Wildlife Area itself, 1,555 of the 35,340 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.4%), 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 | 1,552 |
| Other DNR land | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Badger Lake Wildlife Area?
In Monona County, 3 miles from Whiting.
What can you hunt on Badger Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Badger Lake Wildlife Area?
1,555 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Badger Lake Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Monona Bend Wildlife Area (1.9 miles).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
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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.