Colyn Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Colyn Wildlife Area is 853 acres of public hunting land in Lucas County, 3 miles from Russell, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,660 deer in Lucas 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 atlasFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landColyn Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 853 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Lucas County |
| Deer harvest unit | Lucas County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Quail and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/3 Marsh, 1/3 Timber, 1/3 Upland |
| DNR contact | Rathbun Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Russell (3 mi), Millerton (6 mi) and Chariton (8 mi) |
What is Colyn Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/3 marsh, 1/3 timber, 1/3 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Colyn Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, quail and dove for Colyn Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Colyn 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 Colyn Wildlife Area?
Colyn Wildlife Area lies in Lucas County. Hunters reported 1,660 deer in Lucas County in 2025, against 1,761 in 2024.
| County | Colyn Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas County | 853 | 1,660 | 1,761 | 1,845 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Colyn Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 4.5 miles S of Russell on S56, 0.75 mile W and 0.5 mile S on gravel road.
Nearest towns: Russell (3 miles), Millerton (6 miles), Chariton (8 miles) and Melrose (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 34 and IA 14.
What other public land is near Colyn Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE: 15,820 acres, next to it
- Brown's Slough: 194 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Slab Castle Wildlife Area: 508 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Rathbun Wildlife Area: 429 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Chariton River Greenbelt: 631 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Red Haw Wildlife Area: 207 acres, 4.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Colyn Wildlife Area
Counting Colyn Wildlife Area itself, 4,348 of the 30,338 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (14.3%), 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 | 4,336 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 11 |
| County conservation board and city land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Colyn Wildlife Area?
In Lucas County, 3 miles from Russell.
What can you hunt on Colyn Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, quail and dove.
How much public land is around Colyn Wildlife Area?
4,348 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Colyn Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE (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.