Uncategorized

Beaver Bounty 2025-2026

by
Sioux County Conservation Board logo

Sioux County will be offering a bounty of $35.00 per tail for beavers taken during the 2025-2026 trapping season. The maximum that will be paid out is $7,500.

Beavers will be accepted at the Sioux County Conservation Ranger Station- 4051 Cherry Ave, Hawarden on Monday’s from 8:30- 9:30 am.

The first Monday you may bring them to the Ranger Station is November 3, 2025.

Here are the guidelines:

  • Beaver(s) must be taken into Sioux County Conservation Ranger Station between the dates of November 1, 2025, to April 15, 2026. Beaver bounties will not be offered for the following dates: Martin Luther King Day (January 19, 2026) or Presidents Day (February 16, 2026)
  • Trapper must have a valid Iowa Fur-bearer License.
  • No trapping of beavers allowed at: Oak Grove Park, Hawarden, Big Sioux Recreation Area, Hawarden or Sandy Hollow Recreation Area, Sioux Center.
  • The tail must be attached to the beaver(s) when presented for bounty.
  • A bounty of $35.00 will be paid per tail until a maximum of $7,500.00 for the season has been paid.
  • Payment will be processed through the Sioux County Auditor’s Office. A completed W9 tax form from the trapper will be required for payment.

The following forms must be completed and submitted with the beavers:

Beaver Bounty Form

W9 Form

Beaver Bounty 2024- 2025

by

Sioux County will be offering a bounty of $35.00 per tail for beavers taken during the 2024-2025 trapping season. The maximum that will be paid out is $7,500.

Beavers will be accepted at the Sioux County Conservation Ranger Station- 4051 Cherry Ave, Hawarden on Monday from 8:30- 9:30 am.

The first Monday you may bring them to the Ranger Station is November 4, 2024.

Here are the guidelines:

• Beaver(s) must be taken into Sioux County Conservation Ranger Station between the dates of November 2, 2024, to April 15, 2025. Beaver Bounties will not be offered for the following dates: Veteran’s Day (11/11) or Presidents Day (2/17).
• Trapper must have a valid Iowa Fur-bearer License.
• No trapping of beavers allowed at: Oak Grove Park, Hawarden, Big Sioux Recreation Area, Hawarden or Sandy Hollow Recreation Area, Sioux Center.
• The tail must be attached to the beaver(s) when presented for bounty.
• A bounty of $35.00 will be paid per tail until a maximum of $7,500.00 for the season has been paid.
• Payment will be processed through the Sioux County Auditor’s Office. A completed W9 tax form from the trapper will be required for payment.

The following forms must be completed and submitted with the beavers:

Beaver Tail Bounty Information Sheet

W9 Form

August 20 2024 Update Oak Grove Park/Trick or Treat Hike

by

Update as of Aug 20, 2024

Camping at Deer Run Campground remains open first come, first served for every weekend except trick or treat hike (Oct 11/12). Turkey Ridge Campground remains reserved for flood victims.
We are going to run the Oak Grove Trick or Treat Hike as normal in Deer Run Campground. Since our original post, we have been informed that we can expect to need Turkey Ridge Campground for flood victims but we are not likely to need Deer Run Campground. Therefore, sign up for campsites will start at 8am Sept 3 by calling 712/552-1047 and the event will be in Deer Run Campground (with the Prairie Woods Nature Center being open) on Oct 12th. Thank you for your patience as we were waiting for communication and updates.

Aug 7th Update Oak Grove Park Camping

by
Update on Oak Grove Camping:
As of today, Wednesday August 7th, Deer Run Campground is currently open to all public camping on a first come, first served basis. Turkey Ridge Campground is designated to flood relief and closed to the public for camping, as we do not know what rate flood relief campers will be arriving. Please come and enjoy Oak Grove and all of it’s amenities! Thank you for supporting your Sioux County Parks!

Aug 2 Update Oak Grove Park Camping

by

Edit: Aug 2, 2024 Deer Run Campground will be open this weekend for all camping. We will post a camping update for you weekly or biweekly until the campgrounds are full. Turkey Ridge is closed to camping as of now. Also, Big Sioux Rec Area beach is open!!!!

Halloween Hike News Oak Grove/Sandy Hollow

by
We are still planning on having a fun Oak Grove Park Halloween Event on Oct 12. However, things will look a bit different due to the transitional housing for flood victims at our Oak Grove Campsites. Our staff is currently brainstorming, “How can we offer an opportunity to show support and love of our neighbors who have been displaced by the flood?” We would like this to still involve youth participating in costume for a fun family event. If you or your business would like to be a part of this event, please email [email protected].
Sandy Hollow will host their annual Trick or Treat Event on Saturday Oct 5 from 5:30-7:30. Ages 12 and under are invited to trick or treat in costume. The campgrounds are full of campers with friendly faces at each campsite and of course candy/goodies too. If you would like to be a camper, see below for details. Parking is provided. Trick or treating is from 5:30-7:30 pm. No pre-registration needed. Food truck available!
CAMPERS: First come First Serve for camping spots. Decorating encouraged, not required. Free camping Friday and Saturday night only in exchange for handing out 500 pieces of purchased candy/goodies. Campground gates close at 5:00 for event, no traffic in campground during.
Listen to KSOU 93.9 FM for weather cancellations.

Transitional Housing at Oak Grove Park and Flood Updates

by

Public Press Release

Sioux County Conservation Board

8/1/24

For questions call Sunday Ford at 712/551-6780

 

Updates: Oak Grove Park is transitioning our campgrounds starting today, August 1st, to accommodate transitional housing for those displaced by flooding. This will take place in both of our campgrounds and is anticipated to occupy all of our non-seasonal campsites, including online reservation campsites. We anticipate that we will be closing these campgrounds to the public for camping, with the exception of non-electric tent sites, which will remain open in Deer Run Campground on a first-come, first-served basis. The company called Tetra Tech is overseeing the transitional housing program, with the aid of the Sioux County Emergency Management. The transitional housing is made possible by Iowa Homeland Security’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Through conversations with these groups, the Sioux County Conservation Board anticipates that everyone will be moved in within 1.5-2 weeks from Aug 1. Transitional camper housing has started with Turkey Ridge Campground, and will continue in Deer Run Campground. If you need temporary housing due to flooding, you can apply through FEMA. You will need to get a FEMA identification number to begin the process. The Sioux County Conservation Board anticipates being able to honor any currently existing online campsite reservations. We are thankful to be able to support our community through this support and encourage our patrons to visit the Prairie Woods Nature Center, enjoy our hiking trails, our fishing pond, access to the Big Sioux River and the many public programs we offer at siouxcountyparks.org

 

Other park updates: Sandy Hollow beach, campgrounds are open. The clubhouse will remain closed due to renovations. Big Sioux Recreation Area campgrounds and bathhouses are open, The Rookery multifamily cabin is available for reservation online, the boat ramp is open, dock is in and some of the trails and road are currently being repaired. The beach is ready to be opened as soon as we get a good water test reading, which is anticipated to happen 8/2/24. You can look at the results at https://programs.iowadnr.gov/aquia/Programs/Beaches. The Bruce Schomaker Recreation Area north of Boyden has camping and bathhouse open. Oak Grove Park is open to recreation, tent camping, and Prairie Woods Nature Center. The river area still has a lot of clean up needed.

 

Please be patient with us as we tackle each need. We had 17 buildings with flood waters throughout the county. We are ordering picnic tables and fire rings lost, repairing roads, trails and buildings, while maintaining mowing, campgrounds and wildlife areas. An early estimate of our Sioux County park damages is 1.3 million dollars.

Big Sioux Recreation Area north campground open

by

We are pleased to announce at the Big Sioux Recreation Area. Meadowlark Campground is open and back for service. Beach will remain closed no swimming until water testing is done. Entrance shack will be open for service but no watercraft rentals. Eagle view campground will remain closed until electrical is completed. Please stay out of barricaded areas or you will be fined. Be careful of edges of roads there is some erosion along them. Also Campers do no take seasonal sites and reservable sites if you are a long term camper they could be arriving back anytime.

Sandy Hollow Campground News

by

As of today July 1st, Sandy Hollow Campground in Sioux Center has opened the older part of the campground to campers. As of 10am, there are approximately 10 sites open. Please do not move cones or barricades. Some campsites have been blocked off until power has been restored and sites have been cleared.

Spring 2024 Newsletter

by

Check out what we have coming up for this spring and summer, click here.

Highlights include:

100 year park anniversary for Oak Grove Park- Celebration happening June 22.

Summer Camp registration opens April 1, at 8 am.

Additional program opportunities.

Escape Grandma’s Cabin.

Seasonal positions available. Click here for application.

Click here to check it all out.

Public Hunting Osterkamp Addition Oak Grove Park

by

This 92-acre addition to Oak Grove Park has been opened as a public hunting area. However, we do have some stipulations in place for hunting. Game species available to hunt on this property include pheasant, deer, and turkey. Below is further information on each option. This space is also open and available to everyone to explore, hike, bird watch and other outdoor activities throughout the year.

Pheasant hunting- Max of eight persons in hunting group, regardless of age, are allowed per permit. Limited to two hunts per pheasant hunting season per person. Must have obtained a special use permit by filling out form online. Must print a copy for each vehicle dashboard present during time of hunt. Dates are limited to Friday- Monday. There will be no pheasant hunting allowed Tuesday- Thursday unless the following holiday’s land on these days. Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Hunting for this location has a fee of $10, with a $4 convenience fee. To register to hunt this property click here.

Deer Hunting- primitive weapons only (bow and muzzle loader). There is no party hunting, pushing, or driving of deer.

Turkey Hunting- must obey all state laws no restrictions on method of take.

All game hunting requires appropriate licensing, tags, and permits.

To register to hunt this property click here and select AM or PM hunting session.

2024 Seasonal Site

by

Click here for Seasonal Campsite Application

Are you interested in one of our seasonal sites for the 2024 camping season? We offer select campsites at the Big Sioux Recreation Area, Oak Grove Park and Sandy Hollow Recreation Area as seasonal sites. This is the perfect opportunity for those that enjoy camping at your local county parks week after week.

Sandy Hollow Recreation Area and Big Sioux Recreation Area seasonal site will have concrete pads, electric (20, 30 and/or 50 amp), water and sewer hook ups. Sites will be available from April 15 until October 15, weather dependent.

Oak Grove Park’s seasonal sites will be available April 15 to October 10, weather dependent. Sites have concrete pads and are electric (20, 30, and/or 50 amp). There is a water hydrant nearby to fill from, and sewer dump station located in the campground for use, however these amenities are not located at each site.

To acquire one of these sites you must fill out a Seasonal Camp Site application by clicking here or pick one up at the Sioux County Conservation Administration Office during regular business hours. Return application with $50 deposit by December 31, 2023. We will draw for sites at our regular board meeting on February 7, 2024 at approximately 6:30 pm. If you are drawn at this time your application deposit will be applied to your site as first payment. You will be required to put down a $500 payment by March 15, 2024. If not received by this date you will forfeit your site and $50 application deposit. The remainder of your balance for the site, $1,829 for Big Sioux Recreation Area and Sandy Hollow Recreation Area or $1,408 for Oak Grove will be due by April 15, 2024. Failure to make your payment by this date will result in forfeiting your site and $550 deposit.

Click here for Seasonal Campsite Application.

Sioux County Beaver Bounty 2023-2024

by

Sioux County will be offering a bounty of $35.00 per tail for beavers taken during the 2023-2024 trapping season. The maximum that will be paid out is $7,500.

Beavers will be accepted at the Sioux County Conservation Ranger Station- 4051 Cherry Ave, Hawarden on Monday from 8:30- 9:30 am. The first Monday you may bring them to the Ranger Station is November 13, 2023.

Here are the guidelines:

  • Beaver(s) must be taken into Sioux County Conservation Ranger Station between the dates of November 13, 2023, to April 15, 2024.
  • Trapper must have a valid Iowa Fur bearer License.
  • No trapping of beavers allowed at: Oak Grove Park, Hawarden, Big Sioux Recreation Area, Hawarden or Sandy Hollow Recreation Area, Sioux Center.
  • The tail must be attached to the beaver(s) when presented for bounty.
  • A bounty of $35.00 will be paid per tail until a maximum of $7,500.00 for the season has been paid.
  • Payment will be processed through the Sioux County Auditor’s Office. A completed W9 tax form from the trapper will be required for payment.

The following forms must be completed and submitted with the beavers:

Beaver Tail Bounty Information Sheet

W9 Form

Trick or Treat at Sandy Hollow Campground

by

New this year we are offering an additional night of Trick or Treating at our Sandy Hollow Recreation Area. Event will be Saturday October 7, from 5:30- 7:30 pm.

Want to be a camper?

All sites will be available on a first come first served basis. Decorating encouraged, not required. Free camping Friday and Saturday nights only any additional nights must be paid for. Friday and Saturday nights free camping is in exchange for enough candy/goodies for 500 kids. Campground will be closed to all vehicle traffic starting at 5 pm through 7:30pm night of event.

Want to come Trick or Treat?

Grab your best costume and come out October 7 from 5:30-7:30pm. Park by the beach and walk over the bridge to the campground to trick or treat. Food trucks will be available. No park pass required during hours of event.

Update: Water is on at Eagle View Campground

by

UPDATE: Water leak has been repaired at the Eagle View Campground.

 

Old: Due to water leak at the Eagle View Campground, Big Sioux Rec. Area water will be off to all campsites and bathhouse.

You are welcome to camp in the campground however will not have water or restroom facilities. Meadowlark Campground is open and has water and restroom facilities.

2023 Summer Seasonal Employment Opportunities

by

Parks Department

Application available click here.

All applicants must have an interest in the outdoors and working with people of all ages, be able to effectively communicate orally and in writing, apply knowledge and common sense to solve problems and/or achieve work objectives. Must possess a current valid driver’s license, be 16 years of age or older and undergo background checks in reference to driving record, criminal history and child abuse registry. Prefer education or training in environmental education, natural resources, wildlife biology, biology/ecology or related field is preferred, but not required. Interest in the outdoors and working with people of all ages is a must for all positions. See below for further information on department positions.

Sioux County Conservation Board is looking to hire seasonal help at Oak Grove, Big Sioux Recreation Area, and Sandy Hollow Recreation Area. Whether you are a college student looking for a summer job, high school student exploring career options or a retired adult looking for something to keep you busy during the summer months we have positions available. Hours vary including weekends, evenings, holiday, and weekdays.

All applications and/or resumes will be open to public inspection unless request in writing to be kept confidential. Discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability is prohibited. Sioux County is an equal opportunity employer.

Deadline for applications is March 31, 2023.

Please click the link to print off an application and return to:
Sioux County Conservation Board
4051 Cherry Ave
Hawarden, IA 51023

Click here for application.

Registration Booth Attendants
The Registration Booth Attendant will operate at either the Big Sioux Recreation Area, near Hawarden, IA and/or Sandy Hollow Recreation Area, near Sioux Center, IA. Primary responsibilities include registering vehicles upon entering park, selling firewood and snacks, renting canoes/kayaks, cleaning of assigned areas and other tasks as assigned. Position to include weekday, weekend, evening, and holiday hours.

Seasonal Park Technician
Seasonal Park Technicians will assist the full-time Park Ranger/Maintenance Technicians in day-to-day operations of the parks and facilities. Duties include but not limited to mowing, cleaning restrooms and facilities, cutting firewood, staining, running farm equipment, register park users, maintain records and much more. Applicants interested in the season park technician position should have the ability to engage in physical work, previous experience with maintenance, landscaping, and farm equipment.

Environmental Education Department
All applicants must have an interest in the outdoors and working with people of all ages, be able to effectively communicate orally and in writing, apply knowledge and common sense to solve problems and/or achieve work objectives. Must possess a current valid driver’s license, be 16 years of age or older and undergo background checks in reference to driving record, criminal history and child abuse registry. Prefer education or training in environmental education, natural resources, wildlife biology, biology/ecology, education, or related field is preferred, but not required. Interest in the outdoors and working with people of all ages is a must for all positions. See below for further information on department positions.

All applications and/or resumes will be open to public inspection unless request in writing to be kept confidential. Discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability is prohibited. Sioux County is an equal opportunity employer.

Please print application and return with resume, cover letter to:
Sioux County Conservation Board
Attn: Sunday Ford
4051 Cherry Ave
Hawarden, IA 51023
Or
[email protected]

Naturalist Internship
As a Summer Naturalist Intern, you use your talent and skills to impact public understanding and attitudes about nature and the environment! Assist professional Naturalists with planning and implementing nature interpretation, outdoor recreation and environmental education programs and media for a wide range of audiences. Programs range from summer camp, fishing, kayaking and canoeing, archery, library programs and other summer programs out of the Prairie Woods Nature Center. Additional may include animal cares, cleaning and maintaining classrooms and facilities, other tasks as assigned. Position to include weekday, weekend, evening and holiday hours.

Click here for application.

Sioux County Beaver Bounty 2022-2023

by

Sioux County will be offering a bounty of $35.00 per tail for beavers taken during the 2022-2023 trapping season. The maximum that will be paid out is $7,500.

Beavers will be accepted at the Sioux County Conservation Ranger Station- 4051 Cherry Ave, Hawarden on Monday from 8:30- 9:30 am. The first Monday you may bring them to the Ranger Station is November 7, 2022.

Here are the guidelines:

  •  Beaver(s) must be taken into Sioux County Conservation Ranger Station between the dates of November 5, 2022, to April 15, 2023.
  •  Trapper must have a valid Iowa Furbearer License.
  •  No trapping of beavers allowed at: Oak Grove Park, Hawarden, Big Sioux Recreation Area, Hawarden or Sandy Hollow Recreation Area, Sioux Center.
  •  The tail must be attached to the beaver(s) when presented for bounty.
  •  A bounty of $35.00 will be paid per tail until a maximum of $7,500.00 for the season has been paid.
  •  Payment will be processed through the Sioux County Auditor’s Office. A completed W9 tax form from the trapper will be required for payment.

The following forms must be completed and submitted with the beavers:
Beaver Tail Bounty Information Sheet
W9 Form