Coon Creek: hunting and access
Coon Creek is 1,713 acres of public hunting land in Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, 7 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 landCoon CreekCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,713 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Winneshiek County and Allamakee County |
| Deer harvest unit | Winneshiek County, Allamakee County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Grouse and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland, Coon Creek |
| DNR contact | Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Decorah (7 mi), Waukon (8 mi) and Burr Oak (13 mi) |
What is Coon Creek like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 timber, 1/4 upland, coon creek.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Coon Creek?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, grouse and dove for Coon Creek.
What are the rules on Coon 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 Coon Creek?
Coon Creek lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 2,519 deer in Winneshiek County in 2025, against 2,550 in 2024.
| County | Coon Creek acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winneshiek County | 1,712 | 2,519 | 2,550 | 2,469 |
| Allamakee County | 1 | 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 Coon Creek?
The DNR's directions: 4.3 miles NE of Freeport on River Rd, 0.2 mile E on 143rd Ave, 1.3 miles ENE on Coon Creek Rd.
Nearest towns: Decorah (7 miles), Waukon (8 miles), Burr Oak (13 miles) and Ossian (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 76 and IA 9.
What other public land is near Coon Creek?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Upper Iowa River - Bolson Bridge: 146 acres, next to it
- Canoe Creek Wildlife Area: 495 acres, next to it
- Upper Iowa River - Upper Dam: 202 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Upper Iowa River - Loras: 234 acres, 1.6 miles away
- South Pine Creek Wildlife Area: 239 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Upper Iowa River - Malli: 141 acres, 2.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Coon Creek
Counting Coon Creek itself, 3,309 of the 35,924 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.2%), 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 | 3,259 |
| County conservation board and city land | 45 |
| Other DNR land | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Coon Creek?
In Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, 7 miles from Decorah.
What can you hunt on Coon Creek?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, grouse and dove.
How much public land is around Coon Creek?
3,309 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Coon Creek included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Upper Iowa River - Bolson Bridge (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.