Anglers & Hunters

Hunters and anglers play vital roles in natural systems, and instinctively understand how good land management and water quality lead to abundant fish and game. They get involved, too, and understand what it means to pass along natural treasures to the next generation. Groups such as Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and the Izaak Walton League have been instrumental conserving thousands of acres of land in Polk County.

Casting a line

Fishing means different things to different people. For some it means solitude, or a great weekend activity with an old buddy. For others, it is fun activity the whole family can enjoy together. People in Polk County pursue a plethora of angling pleasures, from cast-and-retrieve from a bass boat to patiently waiting for a bobber to yield to a bluegill’s pull.

Consider the access and fishing opportunities Polk County Conservation provides. There’s access to bigger waters, like the Des Moines River at Yellow Banks Park or Saylorville Lake at Jester Park. There are numerous smaller lakes, like the lakes at Fort Des Moines, Thomas Mitchell, and Easter Lake parks. Nearly 4,000 catfish as well as 50,000 walleye and largemouth bass are released into the county lakes and park ponds annually.

On the hunt

As farmland disappears, it’s fortunate that Polk County has several thousands of acres of public hunting land, much of which is owned and managed by Polk County Conservation. At the request of enlightened hunters, Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt is managed with non-game species in mind, which also results in excellent conditions for pheasants, migrating ducks and geese, white-tailed deer, and turkey. As Iowa’s population continues to grow more urban, it is essential for the future of hunting that urban areas like Polk County have adequate amounts of public land where where teens learn to hunt and safely handle firearms.