Deadwood Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Deadwood Wildlife Area is 343 acres of public hunting land in Louisa County, 3 miles from Fredonia, 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landDeadwood Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 343 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Louisa County |
| Deer harvest unit | Louisa County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Squirrel and Rabbit |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Timber, Wetland, Upland |
| DNR contact | Odessa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Fredonia (3 mi), Columbus Junction (4 mi) and Columbus City (4 mi) |
What is Deadwood Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as timber, wetland, upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Deadwood Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, squirrel and rabbit for Deadwood Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Deadwood 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 Deadwood Wildlife Area?
Deadwood Wildlife Area lies in Louisa County. Hunters reported 1,556 deer in Louisa County in 2025, against 1,394 in 2024.
| County | Deadwood Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisa County | 343 | 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 Deadwood Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 3 miles W of Fredonia on Hwy 92, 1.5 miles S on O Ave, 0.5 mile E on 140th St.
Nearest towns: Fredonia (3 miles), Columbus Junction (4 miles), Columbus City (4 miles) and Grandview (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 92, US 61 and IA 70.
What other public land is near Deadwood Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Chinkapin Bluffs Recreation Area: 399 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Indian Slough Wildlife Area: 1,094 acres, 2 miles away
- Cairo Woods Wildlife Area: 524 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Millrace Flats: 1,346 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Spur Island Wildlife Area: 283 acres, 4 miles away
- Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area: 2,814 acres, 5.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Deadwood Wildlife Area
Counting Deadwood Wildlife Area itself, 1,065 of the 25,087 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.2%), 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 | 1,001 |
| County conservation board and city land | 64 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Deadwood Wildlife Area?
In Louisa County, 3 miles from Fredonia.
What can you hunt on Deadwood Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, squirrel and rabbit.
How much public land is around Deadwood Wildlife Area?
1,065 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Deadwood Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Chinkapin Bluffs Recreation Area (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.