Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS: hunting and access
Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS is 9,850 acres of public hunting land in Iowa, Tama and Benton counties, next to Chelsea, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,355 deer in Iowa 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 atlasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesCounty conservation board and city landIowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWSCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 9,850 acres in 23 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Iowa County, Tama County and Benton County |
| Deer harvest unit | Iowa County, Tama County, Benton County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 River Bottom Timber, 1/2 Grassland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Iowa River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Chelsea (next to it), Belle Plaine (next to it) and Marengo (next to it) |
What is Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 river bottom timber, 1/2 grassland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS.
What are the rules on Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS?
The DNR's layer marks this area as nontoxic shot only.
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 Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS?
Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS lies in 3 counties. Hunters reported 1,355 deer in Iowa County in 2025, against 1,472 in 2024.
| County | Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa County | 6,178 | 1,355 | 1,472 | 1,389 |
| Tama County | 2,252 | 1,239 | 1,230 | 1,486 |
| Benton County | 1,421 | 1,060 | 1,127 | 1,082 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS?
The DNR's directions: 0.5 mile S of Chelsea on V18 or 2 miles NW of Marengo on F15, 2 miles N of Koszta on F Ave.
Nearest towns: Chelsea (next to it), Belle Plaine (next to it), Marengo (next to it) and Tama (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 30, US 6, IA 21, IA 212 and IA 131.
What other public land is near Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Randolph Access: 402 acres, next to it
- Fish Ponds: 240 acres, next to it
- Highway 21 Access: 22 acres, next to it
- Big Bend Conservation Area: 330 acres, next to it
- Cottonwood Banks Wildlife Area: 115 acres, next to it
- Koszta Access: 62 acres, next to it
Public land within 3 miles of Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS
Counting Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS itself, 17,426 of the 150,743 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.6%), 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 | 16,682 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 390 |
| County conservation board and city land | 339 |
| Other DNR land | 13 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS?
In Iowa, Tama and Benton counties, next to Chelsea.
What can you hunt on Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS?
17,426 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Randolph Access (next to it).
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.