Quick Tips
- Turkeys have incredible eyesight - camouflage and natural surroundings will be important
- Artificial blinds can be an excellent way to increase your cover
- Decoys can be an excellent way to add realism to your calling setup
On The Ground
This large zone makes up the majority of the southern third of the state. Great numbers of turkey are found here and this zone routinely sees some of the highest harvest numbers in the state each year. The vast majority of this area is composed of private land and the terrain types will vary between crop lands, creek and river bottoms, and mature timber stands. Like most other zones in the state, this area is primarily composed of private lands but there are some good public access options for hunters willing to put in the time to research these.
Access
As with the other zones in the state, private lands dominate the landscape but this zone does have some great public access options that hunters should be considering. Traditional state lands are spread throughout the area but the biggest collections of these are found in the south central portion of the zone. Additionally, hunters will also have access to a great collection of Wildlife Management areas throughout the zone that can provide some exceptional hunting opportunities as well. While private lands offer the best chances for success, hunters willing to dedicate effort and time to exploring public lands can still find a punched tag at the end of their hunt. Oftentimes, the best private lands are generally leased by outfitters. Looking into outfitters can be a great way to drastically increase your odds of success.
Roughly 16,599 square miles
4% public land
Some of the bigger portions of land you might consider for public access:
Lake Sugema WMA - This large WMA is located in the southeast corner of the state and provides hunters access to thousands of acres of prime habitat. This WMA is also positioned against a large section of traditional state lands.
Sedan Bottoms WMA - This massive 5,550 acre piece of land is located in the south central portion of the zone and lies just southwest of Centerville. Hunters will find a healthy mixture of marsh, grassland, and timbered terrain.
Rathbun WMA - The massive WMA, located in the south central portion of the zone, provides access to well over 10,000 acres of public land. Positioned next to Rathbun Lake, this area is largely composed of rolling marshland with grasslands and mature stands of timber.
Red Rock WMA - This massive WMA features over 25,000 acres of public lands. Most of this area is composed of winding river bottom that creates a diverse and interesting terrain type
Camping and Lodging
With the size of this zone hunters will encounter many towns and communities. Larger cities will typically provide the largest selection of gear, but groceries and lodging can be found nearly zone wide. Lodging can typically be found in the form of motels, hotels, and rental properties. Public campgrounds and RV parks cover the unit with many of these being available in and around the areas with the best public access options.
Some of the larger towns and cities located in this zone:
Davenport - Far east side
Muscatine - Far east side
Mountain Pleasant - Southeast corner
Fort Madison - Southeast corner
Ottumwa - East central
Red Oak - West side
Atlantic - Northwest corner
Des Moines - North central
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