North Bear Creek Wildlife Area: hunting and access
North Bear Creek Wildlife Area is 970 acres of public hunting land in Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, 11 miles from Burr Oak, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,519 deer in Winneshiek 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 landIHAP landNorth Bear Creek Wildlife AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 970 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Winneshiek County and Allamakee County |
| Deer harvest unit | Winneshiek County, Allamakee County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel and Grouse |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland, North Bear Creek |
| DNR contact | Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Burr Oak (11 mi), Decorah (12 mi) and Waukon (13 mi) |
What is North Bear Creek Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 timber, 1/4 upland, north bear creek.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on North Bear Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse for North Bear Creek Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on North Bear Creek 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 North Bear Creek Wildlife Area?
North Bear Creek Wildlife Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 2,519 deer in Winneshiek County in 2025, against 2,550 in 2024.
| County | North Bear Creek Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winneshiek County | 950 | 2,519 | 2,550 | 2,469 |
| Allamakee County | 20 | 3,498 | 3,602 | 3,327 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to North Bear Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 3.1 miles E of Highlandville on Quandahl Rd.
Nearest towns: Burr Oak (11 miles), Decorah (12 miles), Waukon (13 miles) and New Albin (16 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 76. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near North Bear Creek Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- South Bear Creek Wildlife Area: 587 acres, next to it
- Tahigwa Wildlife Area: 264 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Pine Creek Wildlife Area - Winneshiek, Allamakee: 694 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Upper Iowa River - Iverson Bottoms: 672 acres, 1.6 miles away
- South Pine Creek Wildlife Area: 239 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Waterloo Creek Wildlife Area: 1,981 acres, 4.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of North Bear Creek Wildlife Area
Counting North Bear Creek Wildlife Area itself, 2,829 of the 34,904 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 | 2,819 |
| Other DNR land | 10 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is North Bear Creek Wildlife Area?
In Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, 11 miles from Burr Oak.
What can you hunt on North Bear Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse.
How much public land is around North Bear Creek Wildlife Area?
2,829 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, North Bear Creek Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is South Bear Creek Wildlife Area (next to it).
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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.