The Newest Wildlife Refuge In Iowa Is Still A Hidden Gem… But Not For Long

If there's one thing we have plenty of in Iowa, it's wide-open spaces. The Hawkeye State is a veritable paradise for those who want to go exploring, hiking, birding, fishing, and hunting. But with all those places to enjoy the great outdoors, most of them still seem crowded - which is why the state and non-profits are developing new areas all the time. It just so happens that a new wildlife area in Iowa has been recently developed and is now open to the public for the first time. Oxbow Bottoms Wildlife Area, located in rural Tama County, hasn't been discovered by outdoorsy types yet - so we're giving you the inside scoop on this new wildlife area so you can be among the first to experience it. Come along with us to discover why this floodplain grassland-wetland complex should be on your next trip to the great outdoors.

Tama County is one of the most peaceful counties in Iowa, and there are still new natural havens to be discovered.

One of them is Oxbow Bottoms Wildlife Area, which is going to become one of the best hunting, birding, and hiking areas in the county.

A grassland-wetland hybrid developed in a flood plain, this area will become one of the best areas in the region to see wildflowers.

However, its top appeal will be as a wildlife-spotting and hunting area. You can expect to see white-tailed deer regularly making the place their home.

Bird hunting will be the main appeal here - it was designed as a pheasant-hunting ground by the non-profit group Pheasants Forever.

And around Thanksgiving, it should get a bigger audience - this is expected to be a great spot to find wild turkeys!

Take a closer look inside Oxbow Bottoms Wildlife Management Area and its sister site with this video from Pheasants Forever, posted a year ago!

Have you heard of Oxbow Bottoms Wildlife Area in Tama County? Do you plan to visit this new wildlife area in Iowa? Let us know in the comments section! You can find out even more information about the area on the official Iowa DNR press release. If you're planning to be in Tama County, it's also home to one of the country's most fascinating cultural festivals - the Meskwaki Powwow.

Oxbow Bottoms and many other wildlife areas aren't as heavily traveled as Iowa's state parks, so avid hikers may want to subscribe to AllTrails + - the perfect digital companion for when you're headed off the beaten path.