Willow Slough: hunting and access
Willow Slough is 597 acres of public hunting land in Mills County, 3 miles from Henderson, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 381 deer in Mills 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 landCounty conservation board and city landWillow SloughCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 597 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Mills County |
| Deer harvest unit | Mills County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Rabbit |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/3 Marsh, 1/3 Timber |
| DNR contact | Nishnabotna Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Henderson (3 mi), Hastings (4 mi) and Emerson (6 mi) |
What is Willow Slough like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/3 marsh, 1/3 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Willow Slough?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and rabbit for Willow Slough.
What are the rules on Willow Slough?
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 Willow Slough?
Willow Slough lies in Mills County. Hunters reported 381 deer in Mills County in 2025, against 302 in 2024.
| County | Willow Slough acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mills County | 597 | 381 | 302 | 353 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Willow Slough?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile E of Hastings on Hwy 34, 4 miles N on M16, 0.25 mile E, 0.6 mile N.
Nearest towns: Henderson (3 miles), Hastings (4 miles), Emerson (6 miles) and Macedonia (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59 and US 34.
What other public land is near Willow Slough?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Fisher Wildlife Area: 20 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Wheeler Grove Conservation Area: 249 acres, 8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Willow Slough
Counting Willow Slough itself, 700 of the 28,350 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.5%), 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 | 597 |
| County conservation board and city land | 89 |
| Other DNR land | 14 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Willow Slough?
In Mills County, 3 miles from Henderson.
What can you hunt on Willow Slough?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and rabbit.
How much public land is around Willow Slough?
700 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Willow Slough included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Fisher Wildlife Area (6.5 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.