Brayton Memorial Forest: hunting and access
Brayton Memorial Forest is 307 acres of public hunting land in Delaware County, 3 miles from Hopkinton, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,732 deer in Delaware 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landBrayton Memorial ForestCounty lineHighway
| Size | 307 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Deer harvest unit | Delaware County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel and Rabbit |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Timber |
| DNR contact | Maquoketa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Hopkinton (3 mi), Delhi (5 mi) and Worthington (6 mi) |
What is Brayton Memorial Forest like?
The DNR describes the habitat as timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Brayton Memorial Forest?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and rabbit for Brayton Memorial Forest.
What are the rules on Brayton Memorial Forest?
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 Brayton Memorial Forest?
Brayton Memorial Forest lies in Delaware County. Hunters reported 1,732 deer in Delaware County in 2025, against 1,700 in 2024.
| County | Brayton Memorial Forest acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | 307 | 1,732 | 1,700 | 1,591 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Brayton Memorial Forest?
The DNR's directions: 3 miles N of Hopkinton. Access off of 270th Ave.
Nearest towns: Hopkinton (3 miles), Delhi (5 miles), Worthington (6 miles) and Earlville (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 38.
What other public land is near Brayton Memorial Forest?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Retz Memorial County Park: 425 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Shearer Wildlife Area: 151 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Hardscrabble Wildlife Area: 42 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Indian Hills Wildlife Area: 122 acres, 5.3 miles away
- Turtle Creek Park: 208 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Ringneck Ridge Wildlife Area: 158 acres, 6.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Brayton Memorial Forest
Counting Brayton Memorial Forest itself, 425 of the 23,975 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.8%), 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 | 424 |
| County conservation board and city land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Brayton Memorial Forest?
In Delaware County, 3 miles from Hopkinton.
What can you hunt on Brayton Memorial Forest?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and rabbit.
How much public land is around Brayton Memorial Forest?
425 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Brayton Memorial Forest included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Retz Memorial County Park (2.5 miles).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Iowa are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.