Bloody Run Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Bloody Run Wildlife Area is 1,112 acres of public hunting land in Clayton County, next to Marquette, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 4,248 deer in Clayton 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 atlasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landLand trusts and other open landBloody Run Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,112 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Clayton County |
| Deer harvest unit | Clayton County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel and Grouse |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Timber |
| DNR contact | Maquoketa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Marquette (next to it), McGregor (next to it) and Monona (7 mi) |
What is Bloody Run Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Bloody Run Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse for Bloody Run Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Bloody Run 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 Bloody Run Wildlife Area?
Bloody Run Wildlife Area lies in Clayton County. Hunters reported 4,248 deer in Clayton County in 2025, against 4,324 in 2024.
| County | Bloody Run Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton County | 1,112 | 4,248 | 4,324 | 4,023 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Bloody Run Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 0.5 mile W of Marquette on Hwy 18 to 128th St.
Nearest towns: Marquette (next to it), McGregor (next to it), Monona (7 miles) and Farmersburg (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 76, US 18, US 52 and IA 13.
What other public land is near Bloody Run Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Yellow River State Forest - Lost 40 Unit: 161 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River Unit: 1,054 acres, 3 miles away
- North Cedar/Sny Magill Wildlife Area: 1,950 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Upper Mississippi River Fish & Wildlife Refuge: 53,843 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Yellow River State Forest - Luster Heights Unit: 737 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit: 5,805 acres, 5.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Bloody Run Wildlife Area
Counting Bloody Run Wildlife Area itself, 3,874 of the 35,926 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.8%), 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 | 1,274 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 1,251 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 829 |
| Other DNR land | 379 |
| County conservation board and city land | 129 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 8 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Bloody Run Wildlife Area?
In Clayton County, next to Marquette.
What can you hunt on Bloody Run Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse.
How much public land is around Bloody Run Wildlife Area?
3,874 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Bloody Run Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Yellow River State Forest - Lost 40 Unit (1.5 miles).
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.