North River Wildlife Area: hunting and access
North River Wildlife Area is 379 acres of public hunting land in Warren County, 4 miles from Norwalk, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,385 deer in Warren 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 atlasState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landNorth River Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 379 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Deer harvest unit | Warren County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant and Rabbit |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Floodplain, Timber draws |
| DNR contact | Red Rock Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Norwalk (4 mi), Spring Hill (4 mi) and Carlisle (6 mi) |
What is North River Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as floodplain, timber draws.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on North River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and rabbit for North River Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on North River 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 River Wildlife Area?
North River Wildlife Area lies in Warren County. Hunters reported 2,385 deer in Warren County in 2025, against 2,240 in 2024.
| County | North River Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren County | 379 | 2,385 | 2,240 | 2,493 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to North River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: From Hwy 5, 200 ft S on R63, 0.5 mile E on Border St, 1 mile S on South Union St.
Nearest towns: Norwalk (4 miles), Spring Hill (4 miles), Carlisle (6 miles) and Des Moines (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 69, IA 5, US 65 and IA 28. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near North River Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Bulrush Marsh: 147 acres, next to it
- Banner Flats Wildlife Area: 1,200 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Red Rock - USACOE: 34,439 acres, 4 miles away
- Blue Flag Marsh: 133 acres, 7.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of North River Wildlife Area
Counting North River Wildlife Area itself, 911 of the 24,517 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.7%), 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 | 540 |
| County conservation board and city land | 371 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is North River Wildlife Area?
In Warren County, 4 miles from Norwalk.
What can you hunt on North River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and rabbit.
How much public land is around North River Wildlife Area?
911 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, North River Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Bulrush Marsh (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.