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North Bend Bottoms Wildlife Area

North Bend Wildlife Area

North Bend Bottoms Wildlife Area is a 1,500-acre property located outside the town of North Bend, in southwest Jackson County. Access points can be found along Highway VV. The property consists of floodplain forest, bottomland hardwoods, marshy oxbows and some upland fields. The Black River borders the property on the north.

This property is the jewel of the Black River, providing an outstanding habitat for wetland dependent species. The Black River provides a critical corridor for a variety of animal, bird and plant species — making any trip down the Black River a trip worth remembering.

Management Objectives

First parcels of land were purchased in 1962. Since then additional acquisitions have been made by Wildlife and Fisheries programs, with the most recent purchases occurring in 2006.

Today, most management activities have been restricted to land acquisition. Most recently a couple of parcels have been placed into state natural area designation to provide them more protection and restoration opportunities with floodplain forest management.

Recreation

The North Bend Bottoms Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities:

  • Birding;
  • Boating (launches available along Highway VV);
  • Canoeing (launches available along Highway VV);
  • Cross-country skiing (no designated trail);
  • Fishing (along the Black River);
  • Hiking (no designated trail);
  • Hunting (especially noted for waterfowl, deer, turkey and bear);
  • Trapping;
  • Wild edibles/gathering; and
  • Wildlife viewing.

Maps

Download [PDF] a map of this property.

If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.

Adopt a Fish or Wildlife Area

Find out more about how to adopt this wildlife area.