North Bend Bottoms Wildlife Area
North Bend Bottoms Wildlife Area is a 1,600-acre property located outside the town of North Bend, in southwest Jackson County. Access points can be found along Highway VV and off Lockington Road. The property consists of floodplain forest, bottomland hardwoods, marshy oxbows and some upland hardwoods and 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
The first parcels of land were purchased in 1962. Since then, additional acquisitions have been made by the DNR's Wildlife and Fisheries programs, with the most recent purchases occurring in 2006.
Today, most management activities include the enhancement of a few sand prairies located on the east side of the property, and timber management when rotation age is reached. Most recently, a couple of parcels have been placed into state natural area designation to provide additional restoration opportunities with a focus on 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 (noted for waterfowl, deer, turkey and bear)
- Kayaking (launches available along Highway VV)
- Trapping
- Wild edibles/gathering
- Wildlife viewing
Amenities
- Bathroom - none.
- Parking lot - yes.
- Campground and size - none.
- Trails, Types and Lengths - non-designated only.
Maps
Download [PDF] a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
