Boone Forks Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Boone Forks Wildlife Area is 4,680 acres of public hunting land in Hamilton and Webster counties, next to Stratford, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 395 deer in Hamilton County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's public hunting area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting, 2021 to 2025.
Public hunting areas on the DNR atlasOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landLand trusts and other open landIHAP landBoone Forks Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,680 acres in 11 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Hamilton County and Webster County |
| Deer harvest unit | Hamilton County, Webster County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland, River Access |
| DNR contact | Saylorville Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Stratford (next to it), Dayton (2 mi) and Stanhope (5 mi) |
What is Boone Forks Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 timber, 1/4 upland, river access.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Boone Forks Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and dove for Boone Forks Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Boone Forks Wildlife Area?
Iowa's general hunting rules apply, and some DNR land is a posted wildlife refuge closed during set seasons; Iowa DNR wildlife management areas has area maps.
How many deer are taken around Boone Forks Wildlife Area?
Boone Forks Wildlife Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 395 deer in Hamilton County in 2025, against 375 in 2024.
| County | Boone Forks Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County | 2,364 | 395 | 375 | 415 |
| Webster County | 2,316 | 835 | 936 | 965 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Boone Forks Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 3 miles E of Lehigh on D46.
Nearest towns: Stratford (next to it), Dayton (2 miles), Stanhope (5 miles) and Lehigh (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 175, IA 17 and US 169.
What other public land is near Boone Forks Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Tunnel Mill Access: 116 acres, next to it
- Brushy Creek State Recreation Area: 6,060 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Carlson Recreation Area: 188 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Gordon's Marsh: 106 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Rhoades Acres: 164 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Deception Hollow: 39 acres, 2.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Boone Forks Wildlife Area
Counting Boone Forks Wildlife Area itself, 6,552 of the 81,077 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 6,264 |
| County conservation board and city land | 225 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 35 |
| Other DNR land | 20 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 8 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Boone Forks Wildlife Area?
In Hamilton and Webster counties, next to Stratford.
What can you hunt on Boone Forks Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and dove.
How much public land is around Boone Forks Wildlife Area?
6,552 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Boone Forks Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Tunnel Mill Access (next to it).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Iowa included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: Iowa DNR public hunting areas (Hunting Atlas layer).
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
- Deer harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
FilledTag is not part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.