Blue Lake Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Blue Lake Wildlife Area is 1,329 acres of public hunting land in Monona County, 3 miles from Onawa, 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 atlasOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landBlue Lake Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,329 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Monona County |
| Deer harvest unit | Monona County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Marsh, 1/4 Upland |
| DNR contact | Missouri River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Onawa (3 mi), Whiting (5 mi) and Blencoe (6 mi) |
What is Blue Lake Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 marsh, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Blue Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Blue Lake Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Blue 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 Blue Lake Wildlife Area?
Blue Lake Wildlife Area lies in Monona County. Hunters reported 452 deer in Monona County in 2025, against 347 in 2024.
| County | Blue Lake Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monona County | 1,329 | 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 Blue Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles W of I-29 Onawa exit, 0.5 mile N on Hwy 3324, 1 mile W on 225th St.
Nearest towns: Onawa (3 miles), Whiting (5 miles), Blencoe (6 miles) and Turin (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29 and IA 175. 3 IHAP tracts within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Blue Lake Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Middle Decatur Bend Wildlife Area: 341 acres, next to it
- Tieville Bend Wildlife Area: 903 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Tieville Bend - USACOE: 1,128 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area: 645 acres, 1 mile away
- Louisville Bend Wildlife Area: 908 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Ivy Island Wildlife Area: 313 acres, 2.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Blue Lake Wildlife Area
Counting Blue Lake Wildlife Area itself, 5,375 of the 42,651 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.6%), 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 | 4,818 |
| Other DNR land | 268 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 246 |
| County conservation board and city land | 43 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Blue Lake Wildlife Area?
In Monona County, 3 miles from Onawa.
What can you hunt on Blue Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove.
How much public land is around Blue Lake Wildlife Area?
5,375 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Blue 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 Middle Decatur Bend Wildlife Area (next to it).
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.