Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area is 2,814 acres of public hunting land in Louisa County, next to Wapello, 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 landWapello Bottoms Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,814 acres in 7 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Louisa County |
| Deer harvest unit | Louisa County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/5 Grassland, 2/5 Marsh, 1/5 Timber |
| DNR contact | Odessa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Wapello (next to it), Grandview (4 mi) and Oakville (5 mi) |
What is Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/5 grassland, 2/5 marsh, 1/5 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Wapello 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 Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area?
Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area lies in Louisa County. Hunters reported 1,556 deer in Louisa County in 2025, against 1,394 in 2024.
| County | Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisa County | 2,814 | 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 Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile N of Wapello on Hwy 61, 1.5 miles SE of Wapello on Hwy 99.
Nearest towns: Wapello (next to it), Grandview (4 miles), Oakville (5 miles) and Morning Sun (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 61, IA 99, IA 92 and IA 78.
What other public land is near Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Millrace Flats: 1,346 acres, next to it
- Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Horseshoe Bend Division: 2,603 acres, next to it
- Indian Slough Wildlife Area: 1,094 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE: 4,069 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Odessa Wildlife Area: 109 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Klum Lake Wildlife Area: 689 acres, 3.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area
Counting Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area itself, 10,744 of the 51,358 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (20.9%), 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 | 9,716 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 915 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 65 |
| Other DNR land | 30 |
| County conservation board and city land | 18 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area?
In Louisa County, next to Wapello.
What can you hunt on Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove.
How much public land is around Wapello Bottoms Wildlife Area?
10,744 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wapello 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 Millrace Flats (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.