Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE: hunting and access
Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE is 4,069 acres of public hunting land in Louisa County, 3 miles from Oakville, 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 landOdessa Wildlife Area - USACOECounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,069 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Louisa County |
| Deer harvest unit | Louisa County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel and Waterfowl |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Timber, 1/4 Lake, 1/4 Marsh |
| DNR contact | Odessa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Oakville (3 mi), Wapello (4 mi) and Grandview (6 mi) |
What is Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 timber, 1/4 lake, 1/4 marsh.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and waterfowl for Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE.
What are the rules on Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE?
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 Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE?
Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE lies in Louisa County. Hunters reported 1,556 deer in Louisa County in 2025, against 1,394 in 2024.
| County | Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisa County | 4,069 | 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 Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE?
The DNR's directions: 0.5 mile E of Wapello on Hwy 99, 3.5 miles NE on G62, 0.25 mile N on X61.
Nearest towns: Oakville (3 miles), Wapello (4 miles), Grandview (6 miles) and Morning Sun (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 99 and US 61.
What other public land is near Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Odessa Wildlife Area: 109 acres, next to it
- Mississippi River Islands: 6,615 acres, next to it
- Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Big Timber Division: 1,769 acres, next to it
- Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Horseshoe Bend Division: 2,603 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area: 2,814 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Millrace Flats: 1,346 acres, 3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE
Counting Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE itself, 12,451 of the 47,889 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (26%), 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 | 7,918 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 2,700 |
| Other DNR land | 1,750 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 65 |
| County conservation board and city land | 18 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE?
In Louisa County, 3 miles from Oakville.
What can you hunt on Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and waterfowl.
How much public land is around Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE?
12,451 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Odessa Wildlife Area (next to it).
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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.