HUNTING & FISHING

Public Hunting Areas

Whether you prefer to hunt for larger game like deer, or you are interested in bagging a few pheasants, Muscatine County offers hunters thousands of acres of various types of habitat. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Muscatine County Conservation Board manage several hunting sites for public use.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources manages nearly 6,000 acres of wildlife habitat in Muscatine County. One area very popular with hunters is the Wiese Slough Wildlife Area which covers 1700 acres and is located just off of Highway 6 near Atalissa, Iowa. The Cedar River, which is prone to flooding, runs through the Wiese Slough making most of the ground bottomland forest, marsh and swamp. There are some areas of sand prairie, savanna, native grasses and cropfields, too. The best chances to bag waterfowl, either from boat-blinds or from simply walking-in, occur on the north side of the Cedar River. A boat access is available on the north side of the river near the wetland complex. Wildlife area managers report a good number of deer, turkey, and pheasants are to be had at Wiese Slough as well. For more information on the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ wildlife areas located within Muscatine County, visit www.iowadnr.com.,

The Muscatine County Conservation Board manages nearly 1200 acres of wildlife habitat in Muscatine County. The largest area managed by this group is the Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area located 8 miles northwest of Muscatine just off North Mulberry Avenue (County Road X54). The park is comprised of 675 acres, of which 600 acres are available as public hunting grounds. The grounds can best be described as typical river-bottom with woodlands, wetlands, creeks and several old cropfields. This wildlife area is known for its pheasants, ducks, deer and rabbit. Other species may also be found in the area such as squirrel, turkey and quail. Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area offers waterfowl hunters and fisherman easy boat access to the Cedar River and contains several camping sites. Check out the Muscatine County Conservation Board’s website for more information on the public hunting areas they manage in Muscatine County at www.co.muscatine.ia.us., then click on the Departments Tab and go to Conservation.

Fishing and Boating Launches

Remember to bring your fishing tackle and your boat when you head to Muscatine County. Fishermen can cast their lines in search of catfish, bass, crappies, bluegills and more. Several species of fish are native to the rivers and streams that run through Muscatine County.

Boaters are granted ample opportunity to make use of public boat launches. The Mississippi River can be accessed from many different spots along the river bank, including the public boat ramp in Riverview Park in downtown Muscatine. Vehicles and boat trailers can be accommodated in the adjacent parking area. The campgrounds along the Mississippi River, which are managed by the U.S. Army Corps pf Engineers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, have boat launches as well. Get more information at www.missriver.org or at www.iowadnr.gov.

The Cedar River can be accessed from Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area and from the Wiese Slough Wildlife Area. There is parking available for vehicles and trailers near the launches. The Cedar River is perfect for fishing and canoeing. If you would like to make plans for a float trip, the Muscatine Conservation Board offers a canoe shuttle service. Call the office during regular business hours at 563-264-5922 for more information, or check out their website at www.co.muscatine.ia.us., then click on the Departments Tab and go to Conservation.

If you have any other questions concerning public use areas in Muscatine County, or you have questions concerning dining and lodging options, please contact the Muscatine Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-25-PEARL.