Tyson Bend Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Tyson Bend Wildlife Area is 809 acres of public hunting land in Harrison County, 4 miles from Modale, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 532 deer in Harrison 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 lakesIHAP landTyson Bend Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 809 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Harrison County |
| Deer harvest unit | Harrison County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant and Waterfowl |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Marsh, 3/4 Timber |
| DNR contact | Missouri River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Modale (4 mi), California Junction (6 mi) and Mondamin (7 mi) |
What is Tyson Bend Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 marsh, 3/4 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Tyson Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant and waterfowl for Tyson Bend Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Tyson Bend 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 Tyson Bend Wildlife Area?
Tyson Bend Wildlife Area lies in Harrison County. Hunters reported 532 deer in Harrison County in 2025, against 500 in 2024.
| County | Tyson Bend Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County | 809 | 532 | 500 | 738 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Tyson Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 4.5 miles W of K45 on 260th St.
Nearest towns: Modale (4 miles), California Junction (6 miles), Mondamin (7 miles) and Missouri Valley (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29 and US 30. 2 IHAP tracts within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Tyson Bend Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- California Bend Wildlife Area: 466 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Sandy Point Bend: 279 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Soldier Bend Wildlife Area: 308 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Mondamin Wildlife Area: 33 acres, 5 miles away
- Rand Bar Wildlife Area: 65 acres, 5.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Tyson Bend Wildlife Area
Counting Tyson Bend Wildlife Area itself, 1,658 of the 32,371 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.1%), 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 | 1,562 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 95 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Tyson Bend Wildlife Area?
In Harrison County, 4 miles from Modale.
What can you hunt on Tyson Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant and waterfowl.
How much public land is around Tyson Bend Wildlife Area?
1,658 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Tyson Bend Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is California Bend Wildlife Area (0.5 miles).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
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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.