Canoe Creek Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Canoe Creek Wildlife Area is 495 acres of public hunting land in Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, 8 miles from Decorah, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,519 deer in Winneshiek 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 landCounty conservation board and city landCanoe Creek Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 495 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Winneshiek County and Allamakee County |
| Deer harvest unit | Winneshiek County, Allamakee County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel and Grouse |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Timber, Canoe Creek/Upper Iowa River |
| DNR contact | Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Decorah (8 mi), Waukon (9 mi) and Burr Oak (13 mi) |
What is Canoe Creek Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as timber, canoe creek/upper iowa river.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Canoe Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse for Canoe Creek Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Canoe Creek 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 Canoe Creek Wildlife Area?
Canoe Creek Wildlife Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 2,519 deer in Winneshiek County in 2025, against 2,550 in 2024.
| County | Canoe Creek Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winneshiek County | 378 | 2,519 | 2,550 | 2,469 |
| Allamakee County | 117 | 3,498 | 3,602 | 3,327 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Canoe Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 8 miles NE of Freeport on River Rd, 2 miles ESE on Ferris Mills Rd.
Nearest towns: Decorah (8 miles), Waukon (9 miles), Burr Oak (13 miles) and Ossian (16 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 76.
What other public land is near Canoe Creek Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Coon Creek: 1,713 acres, next to it
- South Pine Creek Wildlife Area: 239 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Pine Creek Wildlife Area - Winneshiek, Allamakee: 694 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Upper Iowa River - Bolson Bridge: 146 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Upper Iowa River - Iverson Bottoms: 672 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Upper Iowa River - Upper Dam: 202 acres, 2.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Canoe Creek Wildlife Area
Counting Canoe Creek Wildlife Area itself, 3,522 of the 28,457 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.4%), 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 | 3,516 |
| Other DNR land | 6 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Canoe Creek Wildlife Area?
In Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, 8 miles from Decorah.
What can you hunt on Canoe Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse.
How much public land is around Canoe Creek Wildlife Area?
3,522 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Canoe Creek Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Coon Creek (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.