Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area is 693 acres of public hunting land in Jackson County, 4 miles from Bellevue, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,486 deer in Jackson 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 atlasFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landBig Mill Creek Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 693 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Deer harvest unit | Jackson County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Grouse and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Timber, 1/4 Upland, 1/4 Wetland |
| DNR contact | Maquoketa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Bellevue (4 mi), La Motte (5 mi) and Springbrook (6 mi) |
What is Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 timber, 1/4 upland, 1/4 wetland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, grouse and dove for Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Big Mill Creek 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 Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area?
Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area lies in Jackson County. Hunters reported 2,486 deer in Jackson County in 2025, against 2,444 in 2024.
| County | Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 693 | 2,486 | 2,444 | 2,419 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 5 miles W of Bellevue on D57.
Nearest towns: Bellevue (4 miles), La Motte (5 miles), Springbrook (6 miles) and St. Donatus (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 62 and US 52. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Bald Forty Preserve: 39 acres, next to it
- Little Mill Wildlife Area: 42 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Bellevue State Park: 223 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Upper Mississippi River Fish & Wildlife Refuge: 53,843 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Cottonville Conservation Area: 40 acres, 5.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area
Counting Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area itself, 775 of the 27,649 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.8%), 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 | 774 |
| County conservation board and city land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area?
In Jackson County, 4 miles from Bellevue.
What can you hunt on Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, grouse and dove.
How much public land is around Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area?
775 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Big Mill Creek Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Bald Forty Preserve (next to it).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Iowa are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.