Loess Hills Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Loess Hills Wildlife Area is 3,116 acres of public hunting land in Monona County, 3 miles from Rodney, 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 landCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landLoess Hills Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,116 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Monona County |
| Deer harvest unit | Monona County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Rabbit and Quail |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Upland Timber & Prairie |
| DNR contact | Missouri River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Rodney (3 mi), Turin (3 mi) and Castana (3 mi) |
What is Loess Hills Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as upland timber & prairie.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Loess Hills Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit and quail for Loess Hills Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Loess Hills 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 Loess Hills Wildlife Area?
Loess Hills Wildlife Area lies in Monona County. Hunters reported 452 deer in Monona County in 2025, against 347 in 2024.
| County | Loess Hills Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monona County | 3,116 | 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 Loess Hills Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile W of Castana on L20, 3 miles N on Oak Rd.
Nearest towns: Rodney (3 miles), Turin (3 miles), Castana (3 miles) and Smithland (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 175, IA 141 and IA 37. 3 IHAP tracts within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Loess Hills Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Turin Preserve Wildlife Area: 1,107 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Davs Wetland: 54 acres, 1 mile away
- Whiting Woods: 79 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Grant Center Wildlife Area: 544 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Grays Landing: 43 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Southwood Conservation Area: 587 acres, 3.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Loess Hills Wildlife Area
Counting Loess Hills Wildlife Area itself, 4,841 of the 59,962 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.1%), 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 | 4,655 |
| County conservation board and city land | 155 |
| Other DNR land | 31 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Loess Hills Wildlife Area?
In Monona County, 3 miles from Rodney.
What can you hunt on Loess Hills Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit and quail.
How much public land is around Loess Hills Wildlife Area?
4,841 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Loess Hills Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Turin Preserve Wildlife Area (0.7 miles).
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.