Kirke Woods: hunting and access
Kirke Woods is 679 acres of public hunting land in Madison County, 3 miles from Bevington, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,470 deer in Madison 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 landKirke WoodsCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 679 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Deer harvest unit | Madison County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel and Rabbit |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Timber, Bottomland Timber |
| DNR contact | Grand River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Bevington (3 mi), Patterson (3 mi) and Martensdale (4 mi) |
What is Kirke Woods like?
The DNR describes the habitat as timber, bottomland timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Kirke Woods?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and rabbit for Kirke Woods.
What are the rules on Kirke Woods?
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 Kirke Woods?
Kirke Woods lies in Madison County. Hunters reported 2,470 deer in Madison County in 2025, against 2,555 in 2024.
| County | Kirke Woods acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 679 | 2,470 | 2,555 | 2,759 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Kirke Woods?
Nearest towns: Bevington (3 miles), Patterson (3 miles), Martensdale (4 miles) and Cumming (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-35, IA 92 and IA 28.
What other public land is near Kirke Woods?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Jensen Marsh: 220 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Blue Flag Marsh: 133 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Badger Creek Recreation Area: 1,154 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Guye Woods: 80 acres, 5.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Kirke Woods
Counting Kirke Woods itself, 679 of the 27,711 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.5%), 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 | 679 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Kirke Woods?
In Madison County, 3 miles from Bevington.
What can you hunt on Kirke Woods?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and rabbit.
How much public land is around Kirke Woods?
679 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Kirke Woods included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Jensen Marsh (4.3 miles).
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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.