Cone Marsh Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Cone Marsh Wildlife Area is 728 acres of public hunting land in Louisa County, 2 miles from Conesville, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,556 deer in Louisa 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 landCounty conservation board and city landCone Marsh Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 728 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Louisa County |
| Deer harvest unit | Louisa County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Marsh, 1/4 Upland, 1/4 Timber |
| DNR contact | Odessa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Conesville (2 mi), Lone Tree (6 mi) and Nichols (7 mi) |
What is Cone Marsh Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 marsh, 1/4 upland, 1/4 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Cone Marsh Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Cone Marsh Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Cone Marsh 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 Cone Marsh Wildlife Area?
Cone Marsh Wildlife Area lies in Louisa County. Hunters reported 1,556 deer in Louisa County in 2025, against 1,394 in 2024.
| County | Cone Marsh Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisa County | 728 | 1,556 | 1,394 | 1,309 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Cone Marsh Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 3 miles W of Conesville on 220th St, 1 mile N on X61.
Nearest towns: Conesville (2 miles), Lone Tree (6 miles), Nichols (7 miles) and Cotter (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 70.
What other public land is near Cone Marsh Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Spur Island Wildlife Area: 283 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Cedar Bluffs Recreation Area: 180 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Richardson Wildlife Area: 82 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Red Cedar Wildlife Area: 786 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Chinkapin Bluffs Recreation Area: 399 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Pechman Creek Delta: 391 acres, 8.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Cone Marsh Wildlife Area
Counting Cone Marsh Wildlife Area itself, 740 of the 27,812 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.7%), 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 | 728 |
| Other DNR land | 12 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Cone Marsh Wildlife Area?
In Louisa County, 2 miles from Conesville.
What can you hunt on Cone Marsh Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Cone Marsh Wildlife Area?
740 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Cone Marsh Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Spur Island Wildlife Area (4.4 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.