Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area is 645 acres of public hunting land in Monona County, 7 miles from Onawa, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 452 deer in Monona 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 landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landUpper Decatur Bend Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 645 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Monona County |
| Deer harvest unit | Monona County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Quail |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/3 Timber, 2/3 Marsh |
| DNR contact | Missouri River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Onawa (7 mi), Whiting (8 mi) and Blencoe (9 mi) |
What is Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/3 timber, 2/3 marsh.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, waterfowl, rabbit and quail for Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Upper Decatur 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 Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area?
Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area lies in Monona County. Hunters reported 452 deer in Monona County in 2025, against 347 in 2024.
| County | Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monona County | 630 | 452 | 347 | 560 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 6 miles W of Onawa I-29 exit on Hwy 175.
Nearest towns: Onawa (7 miles), Whiting (8 miles), Blencoe (9 miles) and Turin (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29 and IA 175.
What other public land is near Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Tieville Bend - USACOE: 1,128 acres, next to it
- Tieville Bend Wildlife Area: 903 acres, next to it
- Middle Decatur Bend Wildlife Area: 341 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Blue Lake Wildlife Area: 1,329 acres, 1 mile away
- Ivy Island Wildlife Area: 313 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Blackbird Bend: 232 acres, 2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area
Counting Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area itself, 4,751 of the 30,436 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (15.6%), 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 | 4,514 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 159 |
| Other DNR land | 78 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area?
In Monona County, 7 miles from Onawa.
What can you hunt on Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, waterfowl, rabbit and quail.
How much public land is around Upper Decatur Bend Wildlife Area?
4,751 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Upper Decatur 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 Tieville Bend - USACOE (next to it).
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.