Noddleman Island: hunting and access
Noddleman Island is 1,542 acres of public hunting land in Mills County, 2 miles from Bartlett, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 381 deer in Mills 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 landState parks and recreation areasNoddleman IslandCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,542 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Mills County |
| Deer harvest unit | Mills County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Quail |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/5 Timber, 1/10 Wetlands, Remaining Upland |
| DNR contact | Nishnabotna Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Bartlett (2 mi), Pacific Junction (4 mi) and Tabor (7 mi) |
What is Noddleman Island like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/5 timber, 1/10 wetlands, remaining upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Noddleman Island?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, rabbit, pheasant, waterfowl and quail for Noddleman Island.
What are the rules on Noddleman Island?
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 Noddleman Island?
Noddleman Island lies in Mills County. Hunters reported 381 deer in Mills County in 2025, against 302 in 2024.
| County | Noddleman Island acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mills County | 1,542 | 381 | 302 | 353 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Noddleman Island?
The DNR's directions: 2.5 miles N of Bartlett on L31.
Nearest towns: Bartlett (2 miles), Pacific Junction (4 miles), Tabor (7 miles) and Thurman (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29, US 34 and IA 385.
What other public land is near Noddleman Island?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Bartlett I-29 Wildlife Area: 65 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Haynie Slough: 797 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Keg Creek I-29 Wildlife Area: 107 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Auldon Bar: 2,004 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Scott I-29 Wildlife Area: 88 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Forney Lake: 1,137 acres, 3.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Noddleman Island
Counting Noddleman Island itself, 2,653 of the 37,293 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.1%), 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 | 2,641 |
| Other DNR land | 10 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Noddleman Island?
In Mills County, 2 miles from Bartlett.
What can you hunt on Noddleman Island?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, rabbit, pheasant, waterfowl and quail.
How much public land is around Noddleman Island?
2,653 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Noddleman Island included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Bartlett I-29 Wildlife Area (1.1 miles).
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.