Cooler temperatures in Iowa don’t have to mean hibernation – if you like watching Iowa’s wildlife, there are still sights to be seen in late fall and winter! Grab the binoculars and camera and get ready for a quiet drive or crisp hike to watch birds, waterfowl, deer and turkey.
Best bets for great wildlife viewing in the colder months:
Brushy Creek State Recreation Area – deer, turkey, waterfowl
Dolliver, Webster County – deer and winter birds
Honey Creek, Appanoose County – deer, turkey, waterfowl
Lake Ahquabi, Warren County – deer and turkey
Lake of Three Fires, Taylor County – deer and turkey
Ledges, Boone County – deer and winter birds
Pine Lake, Hardin County – deer and winter birds
Waubonsie, Fremont County – deer and turkey
Volga River, Fayette County - deer and turkey, winter birds
Keep in mind that while state parks usually do not allow public hunting, they may have managed hunts scheduled to help control locations in certain areas. State recreation areas, like Brushy Creek, do have public hunting areas.
For more information on Iowa’s parks, check out our Iowa State Parks board on Pinterest, as well as our Iowa Wildlife and Iowa Nature Photography boards.