Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area is 830 acres of public hunting land in Jones County, 5 miles from Monticello, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,022 deer in Jones 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 landIHAP landIndian Bluffs Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 830 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Jones County |
| Deer harvest unit | Jones County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel and Rabbit |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland |
| DNR contact | Maquoketa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Monticello (5 mi), Cascade (6 mi) and Center Junction (7 mi) |
What is Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 timber, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and rabbit for Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Indian Bluffs 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 Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area?
Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area lies in Jones County. Hunters reported 2,022 deer in Jones County in 2025, against 1,986 in 2024.
| County | Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County | 830 | 2,022 | 1,986 | 1,920 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile W of Cascade, 5 miles S on Butterfield Rd.
Nearest towns: Monticello (5 miles), Cascade (6 miles), Center Junction (7 miles) and Onslow (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 151, IA 136 and IA 38.
What other public land is near Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area: 726 acres, next to it
- Eby's Mill Wildlife Area: 588 acres, next to it
- Pictured Rocks County Park: 63 acres, next to it
- Scotch Grove Prairie: 75 acres, 3 miles away
- Hamilton & Tapken Prairie Preserve: 81 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Mon-Maq Access: 44 acres, 4.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area
Counting Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area itself, 2,219 of the 29,785 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.5%), 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 | 2,216 |
| County conservation board and city land | 2 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area?
In Jones County, 5 miles from Monticello.
What can you hunt on Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and rabbit.
How much public land is around Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area?
2,219 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area (next to it).
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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.