Hayesville Bend: hunting and access
Hayesville Bend is 537 acres of public hunting land in Keokuk County, 3 miles from Hayesville, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,152 deer in Keokuk 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 landIHAP landHayesville BendCounty lineHighway
| Size | 537 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Keokuk County |
| Deer harvest unit | Keokuk County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/5 Marsh, 1/5 Upland, 3/5 Skunk River Bottom |
| DNR contact | Sugema Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Hayesville (3 mi), Delta (4 mi) and Hedrick (5 mi) |
What is Hayesville Bend like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/5 marsh, 1/5 upland, 3/5 skunk river bottom.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Hayesville Bend?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Hayesville Bend.
What are the rules on Hayesville Bend?
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 Hayesville Bend?
Hayesville Bend lies in Keokuk County. Hunters reported 1,152 deer in Keokuk County in 2025, against 1,044 in 2024.
| County | Hayesville Bend acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keokuk County | 537 | 1,152 | 1,044 | 1,053 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Hayesville Bend?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles N of Hayesville on Hwy G48.
Nearest towns: Hayesville (3 miles), Delta (4 miles), Hedrick (5 miles) and Martinsburg (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 21, IA 149 and IA 92. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Hayesville Bend?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- South Skunk River Access: 518 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Rose Hill Access: 86 acres, 7.6 miles away
- Rose Hill Marsh: 61 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Devol Area: 79 acres, 9.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Hayesville Bend
Counting Hayesville Bend itself, 582 of the 27,117 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.1%), 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 | 537 |
| Other DNR land | 43 |
| County conservation board and city land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Hayesville Bend?
In Keokuk County, 3 miles from Hayesville.
What can you hunt on Hayesville Bend?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove.
How much public land is around Hayesville Bend?
582 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Hayesville Bend included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is South Skunk River Access (5.2 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.