Louisville Bend Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Louisville Bend Wildlife Area is 908 acres of public hunting land in Monona County, 3 miles from Blencoe, 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 landLouisville Bend Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 908 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) | 1/2 Marsh, 1/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland |
| DNR contact | Missouri River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Blencoe (3 mi), Onawa (4 mi) and Turin (9 mi) |
What is Louisville Bend Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 marsh, 1/4 timber, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Louisville Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Louisville Bend Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Louisville Bend 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 Louisville Bend Wildlife Area?
Louisville Bend Wildlife Area lies in Monona County. Hunters reported 452 deer in Monona County in 2025, against 347 in 2024.
| County | Louisville Bend Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monona County | 348 | 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 Louisville Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: W of I-29 Blencoe exit, 1 mile N on Hazel Ave, 1.5 miles W on 284th St.
Nearest towns: Blencoe (3 miles), Onawa (4 miles), Turin (9 miles) and Whiting (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29 and IA 175. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Louisville Bend Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Louisville Bend - USACOE: 87 acres, next to it
- Upper Blencoe Bend Wildlife Area: 85 acres, 1 mile away
- Middle Decatur Bend Wildlife Area: 341 acres, 1 mile away
- Blue Lake Wildlife Area: 1,329 acres, 1.6 miles away
- I - 29 Wildlife Area: 25 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Lower Blencoe Bend Wildlife Area: 63 acres, 2.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Louisville Bend Wildlife Area
Counting Louisville Bend Wildlife Area itself, 1,877 of the 36,283 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.2%), 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 | 1,653 |
| Other DNR land | 215 |
| County conservation board and city land | 9 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Louisville Bend Wildlife Area?
In Monona County, 3 miles from Blencoe.
What can you hunt on Louisville Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Louisville Bend Wildlife Area?
1,877 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Louisville Bend Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Louisville Bend - USACOE (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.