Bell Branch Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Bell Branch Wildlife Area is 514 acres of public hunting land in Davis County, 4 miles from Drakesville, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,611 deer in Davis 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landBell Branch Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 514 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Davis County |
| Deer harvest unit | Davis County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant, Rabbit and Quail |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/3 Timber, 1/3 Upland |
| DNR contact | Sugema Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Drakesville (4 mi), Floris (5 mi) and Bloomfield (6 mi) |
What is Bell Branch Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/3 timber, 1/3 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Bell Branch Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and quail for Bell Branch Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Bell Branch 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 Bell Branch Wildlife Area?
Bell Branch Wildlife Area lies in Davis County. Hunters reported 1,611 deer in Davis County in 2025, against 1,778 in 2024.
| County | Bell Branch Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis County | 514 | 1,611 | 1,778 | 1,721 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Bell Branch Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 4.5 miles N of Bloomfield, 1.5 miles W on 160th St, 0.6 miles N on Lily Ave.
Nearest towns: Drakesville (4 miles), Floris (5 miles), Bloomfield (6 miles) and Eldon (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 63 and IA 273. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Bell Branch Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Pioneer Ridge Nature Area: 679 acres, 2.4 miles away
- McGowen Recreation & Wildlife Area: 301 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit: 2,498 acres, 6.1 miles away
- Soap Creek Wildlife Area - Davis: 782 acres, 8.4 miles away
- Eldon Wildlife Area: 1,292 acres, 8.5 miles away
- Fox Hills Wildlife Area: 1,453 acres, 9.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Bell Branch Wildlife Area
Counting Bell Branch Wildlife Area itself, 621 of the 26,993 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.3%), 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 | 621 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Bell Branch Wildlife Area?
In Davis County, 4 miles from Drakesville.
What can you hunt on Bell Branch Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and quail.
How much public land is around Bell Branch Wildlife Area?
621 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Bell Branch Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Pioneer Ridge Nature Area (2.4 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.