Buffalo Creek: hunting and access
Buffalo Creek is 1,050 acres of public hunting land in Delaware and Buchanan counties, 2 miles from Coggon, 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 landBuffalo CreekCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,050 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Delaware County and Buchanan County |
| Deer harvest unit | Delaware County, Buchanan County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/5 Timber, 1/2 Grass, River/Wetland |
| DNR contact | Maquoketa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Coggon (2 mi), Ryan (4 mi) and Central City (7 mi) |
What is Buffalo Creek like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/5 timber, 1/2 grass, river/wetland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Buffalo Creek?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Buffalo Creek.
What are the rules on Buffalo Creek?
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 Buffalo Creek?
Buffalo Creek lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 1,732 deer in Delaware County in 2025, against 1,700 in 2024.
| County | Buffalo Creek acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | 1,026 | 1,732 | 1,700 | 1,591 |
| Buchanan County | 24 | 1,032 | 982 | 918 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Buffalo Creek?
The DNR's directions: 2.5 miles S of Ryan on Hwy 13, 4 miles W on 325th St.
Nearest towns: Coggon (2 miles), Ryan (4 miles), Central City (7 miles) and Prairieburg (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 13.
What other public land is near Buffalo Creek?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Buffalo Wildlife Area: 80 acres, next to it
- Silver Creek Wildlife Area: 72 acres, next to it
- Buffalo Creek Natural Area: 93 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Newton Township Natural Area: 173 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Paris Bridge Natural Area: 80 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Rehrauer Natural Area: 80 acres, 4.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Buffalo Creek
Counting Buffalo Creek itself, 1,624 of the 36,013 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.5%), 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 | 1,468 |
| County conservation board and city land | 156 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Buffalo Creek?
In Delaware and Buchanan counties, 2 miles from Coggon.
What can you hunt on Buffalo Creek?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Buffalo Creek?
1,624 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Buffalo Creek included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Buffalo Wildlife Area (next to it).
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.