Millrace Flats: hunting and access
Millrace Flats is 1,346 acres of public hunting land in Louisa County, next to Wapello, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,556 deer in Louisa 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 lakesOther DNR landCounty conservation board and city landMillrace FlatsCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,346 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Louisa County |
| Deer harvest unit | Louisa County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/5 Grassland, 1/5 Timber, 1/5 Marsh |
| DNR contact | Odessa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Wapello (next to it), Grandview (4 mi) and Morning Sun (7 mi) |
What is Millrace Flats like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/5 grassland, 1/5 timber, 1/5 marsh.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Millrace Flats?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Millrace Flats.
What are the rules on Millrace Flats?
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 Millrace Flats?
Millrace Flats lies in Louisa County. Hunters reported 1,556 deer in Louisa County in 2025, against 1,394 in 2024.
| County | Millrace Flats acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisa County | 1,346 | 1,556 | 1,394 | 1,309 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Millrace Flats?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile N of Wapello on Hwy 61. Both sides of road.
Nearest towns: Wapello (next to it), Grandview (4 miles), Morning Sun (7 miles) and Fredonia (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 61, IA 99 and IA 92.
What other public land is near Millrace Flats?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area: 2,814 acres, next to it
- Indian Slough Wildlife Area: 1,094 acres, next to it
- Odessa Wildlife Area: 109 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE: 4,069 acres, 3 miles away
- Klum Lake Wildlife Area: 689 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Deadwood Wildlife Area: 343 acres, 3.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Millrace Flats
Counting Millrace Flats itself, 4,349 of the 33,668 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.9%), 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 | 4,220 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 58 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 46 |
| County conservation board and city land | 18 |
| Other DNR land | 7 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Millrace Flats?
In Louisa County, next to Wapello.
What can you hunt on Millrace Flats?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove.
How much public land is around Millrace Flats?
4,349 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Millrace Flats included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area (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.