Big Bend Wildlife Area

Hunting at Big Bend Wildlife Area

Big Bend is composed of 640 acres of huntable, diverse habitat. There are some nice stretches of river bottom timber along the Middle Raccoon River, fields of reestablished prairie and sections of upland forest further away from the river. 

Populations of wild turkey, pheasant, quail, wood duck, white-tailed deer, red and gray fox, mink, raccoon and many non-game species can be found in this area. 

The zig-zag boundary of the area makes it important to always know your location to avoid trespassing.  

In all Dallas County Conservation Board managed hunting areas, green signs mark the boundary of the public hunting.  Yellow signs mark any boundaries of adjacent wildlife refuges.  Hunting and trapping of any kind is not allowed in a wildlife refuge. All park users need to be aware of park boundaries and respect private property.

All Iowa Department of Natural Resources laws and regulations apply on Dallas County Conservation Board areas.

The use of non-toxic shot is highly encouraged.

Locations

Big Bend Wildlife Area
West of Redfield, Iowa

Go north from Redfield on County Road P46 for ½ mile to the junction with Linden Road. Turn west (left) on Linden Road and proceed west for 2 miles to the junction with Cadet Ct. (This is a “Y” intersection with the left leg of the “Y” being Cadet Ct.). Follow Cadet Ct. the short distance to the parking lot which is at the end of the road on the right.

Another parking area can by found by turning south on Beaumont Ave. from Linden Rd. about 3 miles west of County Road P46. Beaumont Ave. ends at a parking area for the Iowa DNR's Knapp Tract  which is a public hunting area that is adjacent to Big Bend.

A third parking area is found on the north side of County Road F59 at its junction with County Road P48, about 1 1/2 miles west of Redfield.

Hours

Big Bend is open year round.  The parking lots are not plowed.

Big Bend is open ½ hour before sunrise and closed each day at 10:00 p.m

Check with the DNR for the appropriate hunting seasons each year