Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area is 7,440 acres of public hunting land in Appanoose County, 2 miles from Exline, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,066 deer in Appanoose 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landSedan Bottoms Wildlife AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 7,440 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Appanoose County |
| Deer harvest unit | Appanoose County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Quail and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Upland, 1/4 Timber, 1/4 Marsh, 1/4 Open Bottom |
| DNR contact | Rathbun Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Exline (2 mi), Moulton (3 mi) and Centerville (5 mi) |
What is Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 upland, 1/4 timber, 1/4 marsh, 1/4 open bottom.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, quail and dove for Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Sedan Bottoms 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 Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area?
Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area lies in Appanoose County. Hunters reported 2,066 deer in Appanoose County in 2025, against 2,073 in 2024.
| County | Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appanoose County | 7,440 | 2,066 | 2,073 | 2,136 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 4 miles W of Moulton.
Nearest towns: Exline (2 miles), Moulton (3 miles), Centerville (5 miles) and Cincinnati (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 2, IA 202 and IA 5.
What other public land is near Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Fenton Wildlife Area: 83 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Lelah Bradley Park & Reserve: 129 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Ross Wildlife Area: 436 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit: 2,498 acres, 9.5 miles away
- Rathbun Lake: 16,468 acres, 9.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area
Counting Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area itself, 7,589 of the 64,246 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.8%), 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 | 7,440 |
| County conservation board and city land | 145 |
| Other DNR land | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area?
In Appanoose County, 2 miles from Exline.
What can you hunt on Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, quail and dove.
How much public land is around Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area?
7,589 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Sedan Bottoms Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Fenton Wildlife Area (4.1 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.