Monona Bend Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Monona Bend Wildlife Area is 390 acres of public hunting land, 6 miles from Whiting, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau.
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 atlasState parks and recreation areasIHAP landMonona Bend Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 390 acres |
|---|---|
| County | |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Quail |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/3 Bottomland Timber, 1/3 Marsh |
| DNR contact | Missouri River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Whiting (6 mi), Sloan (8 mi) and Onawa (10 mi) |
What is Monona Bend Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/3 bottomland timber, 1/3 marsh.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Monona Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, waterfowl, rabbit and quail for Monona Bend Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Monona 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 do you get to Monona Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: Access by Missouri River only; 9 miles downStream from Winnebago Bend boat ramp.
Nearest towns: Whiting (6 miles), Sloan (8 miles), Onawa (10 miles) and Hornick (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29.
What other public land is near Monona Bend Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Upper Monona Bend Wildlife Area: 123 acres, next to it
- Blackbird Bend Wildlife Area: 459 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Omaha Mission Bend Wildlife Area: 138 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Badger Lake Wildlife Area: 1,108 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Blackbird Bend: 232 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Ivy Island Wildlife Area: 313 acres, 2.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Monona Bend Wildlife Area
Counting Monona Bend Wildlife Area itself, 1,809 of the 28,911 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.3%), 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 | 1,805 |
| Other DNR land | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Monona Bend Wildlife Area?
In Iowa, 6 miles from Whiting.
What can you hunt on Monona Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, waterfowl, rabbit and quail.
How much public land is around Monona Bend Wildlife Area?
1,809 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Monona 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 Upper Monona Bend 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.
FilledTag is not part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.