Ivy Island Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Ivy Island Wildlife Area is 313 acres of public hunting land in Monona County, 8 miles from Whiting, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 452 deer in Monona 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 landState parks and recreation areasIHAP landIvy Island Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 313 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Monona County |
| Deer harvest unit | Monona County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Marsh, 3/4 Bottomland Timber |
| DNR contact | Missouri River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Whiting (8 mi), Onawa (8 mi) and Blencoe (11 mi) |
What is Ivy Island Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 marsh, 3/4 bottomland timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Ivy Island Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Ivy Island Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Ivy Island 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 Ivy Island Wildlife Area?
Ivy Island Wildlife Area lies in Monona County. Hunters reported 452 deer in Monona County in 2025, against 347 in 2024.
| County | Ivy Island Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monona County | 313 | 452 | 347 | 560 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Ivy Island Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 5 miles W of Onawa on 230th St, through Tieville Bend WMA.
Nearest towns: Whiting (8 miles), Onawa (8 miles), Blencoe (11 miles) and Sloan (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29 and IA 175.
What other public land is near Ivy Island Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Tieville Bend - USACOE: 1,128 acres, next to it
- Tieville Bend Wildlife Area: 903 acres, next to it
- Blackbird Bend: 232 acres, next to it
- Blackbird Bend Wildlife Area: 459 acres, next to it
- Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area: 645 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Blue Lake Wildlife Area: 1,329 acres, 2.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ivy Island Wildlife Area
Counting Ivy Island Wildlife Area itself, 3,687 of the 24,558 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (15%), 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 | 3,683 |
| Other DNR land | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ivy Island Wildlife Area?
In Monona County, 8 miles from Whiting.
What can you hunt on Ivy Island Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Ivy Island Wildlife Area?
3,687 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ivy Island Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Tieville Bend - USACOE (next to it).
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.