Fins and Feathers...
...small game or big game, in the water, on the uplands, or in the forest, whatever you are looking for, the Butler County Conservation Board has something to offer you.

Our hunting and fishing areas are managed by professional staff with assistance from the Iowa DNR. Many of our upland areas have been enhanced with habitat plantings and food plots that attract and hold wildlife.

Our fishing areas are stocked with bass, bluegill and channel catfish and are monitored to insure that adequate fish populations provide a quality fishing experience. Sunken Christmas trees are often placed in our ponds to provide fish structure.

Thank you for choosing Butler County. We hope that your experience in our fishing and hunting areas is a safe and enjoyable one. Please remember to respect park boundaries and the rights of the landowners surrounding our areas.

Sportsman Park
27588 180th Street, Clarksville

The lake located within Sportsman Park provides an excellent opportunity for anglers to fish for a wide variety of fish species. Located on the west edge of Clarksville, this park was the site of the first cabin in the county and was later used to provide fill to build the railroads. The lake, picnic shelter, and playground offer something for all ages. Hunting and trapping are not allowed in this area.

Boylan Creek Wildlife Management Area
15404 Highway 3, Dumont

Purchased using Habitat Stamp Money and with help from the local Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited Chapters, this 334 acre area is located just south of Bristow on Highway 3. This area features excellent hunting for upland game birds, wild turkey and white-tailed deer. For the trapper, the creek, timber edges, and fence lines provide excellent runways for many furbearers. The Boylan Creek Wildlife Management Area has been enhanced with food plots, tree and shrub plantings, and nesting areas for wildlife. These enhancements provide for the needs of wildlife through out the year.

Dumont Park - South Fork Access
21045 Cedar Avenue, Dumont

Dumont Park has much to offer despite its small size. Only 20 acres in size, the area offers access to the South Fork of the West Fork River and a 3-acre lake stocked with bass, bluegill and yellow perch. In addition to its fishing resources, the area provides a small variety of upland and forest type resources for hunting. Primitive camping is allowed but no water or toilet facilities are available.

Lake Considine
15509 230th Street, Dumont

Formerly a popular camping area, vandalism forced the removal of modern facilities in the late 1980's. Currently, the major use of this area is fishing and hunting. The majority of the area provides excellent hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, squirrel and duck. The West Fork River and small pond provide fishing opportunities for many different fish species. Since most of the pond is privately owned, we ask that you respect private property in this area. Hunting is prohibited in and around the camping area.

Helt Memorial Reserve
32817 Spring Avenue

This 25-acre area was donated to the Conservation Board by the estate of the late Donald Helt. Placed in the CRP program in the 1980's the area was primarily brome and timothy with a few cedar trees planted along one area. Since it's acquisition it has been enhanced with prairie grasses, a food plot, and tree plantings. These improvements have greatly increased the types and numbers of wildlife species using the area.

Moore's Access
29988 Spring Avenue

This 35-acre area of bottomland timber is located just north of New Hartford off County Road T-55. Designated in 1997 as a walk in area only, Moore's Access provides access to Beaver Creek. A small open area located along the creek and walk in access make the area a good choice for a beginning-backpacking trip. The stream allows good early-season waterfowl hunting as well as fishing for Smallmouth Bass and catfish.

West Fork Forest Access
28376 Temple Avenue

Located along County Road T-55, this 108-acre area of bottomland timber provides excellent habitat for many species of wildlife. Dotted with potholes, the area offers good early-season waterfowl hunting. An abundance of swamp white oaks and tree plantings of pines and cedars provide food and cover for many squirrels, deer and wild turkey. A small boat ramp is available to launch small boats or canoes, but canoeing the West Fork may be difficult due to large numbers of trees in the water. Primitive camping is allowed in the area, but water and restroom facilities are not available.

South Fork Park
21045 Cedar Avenue, Dumont

Located just outside of Dumont off Higway 3, this 10 acre area is small but diverse. Thick shrub and tree plantings provide a variety of wildlife with much needed habitat and the four acre pond and access to the West Fork River provide angling opportunities for bass, sunfish, catfish, and a variety of other fish. Primitive camping is allowed at this park but no restrooms or other amenities are provided.


North Butler Wilderness Area
Dumont

Our newest public hunting area is located north of Dumont on the southeast corner of T16 and C33, this 150 acre area was purchased by the local Pheasants Forever Chapters with a grant from the Iowa Habitat Stamp program. The area is enrolled in the Wetland Reserve Program and is mostly grassland with a small amount of timber. The West Fork River runs through the southwest side of the property. This combination of habitats provides hunters with opportunities for upland game, deer, and early season duck. A house is located on the northeast corner of the area and hunters are reminded that they can not hunt within 200 yards of an occupied residence without permission