Dekalb Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Dekalb Wildlife Area is 2,313 acres of public hunting land in Decatur County, 3 miles from Van Wert, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,508 deer in Decatur 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 landIHAP landDekalb Wildlife AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 2,313 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Decatur County |
| Deer harvest unit | Decatur County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Rabbit, Quail and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland |
| DNR contact | Grand River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Van Wert (3 mi), Grand River (4 mi) and Decatur (6 mi) |
What is Dekalb Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 timber, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Dekalb Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, rabbit, quail and dove for Dekalb Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Dekalb 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 Dekalb Wildlife Area?
Dekalb Wildlife Area lies in Decatur County. Hunters reported 1,508 deer in Decatur County in 2025, against 1,439 in 2024.
| County | Dekalb Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur County | 2,313 | 1,508 | 1,439 | 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 Dekalb Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 5.5 miles E of Grand River on J20, 0.75 mile N on gravel road.
Nearest towns: Van Wert (3 miles), Grand River (4 miles), Decatur (6 miles) and Weldon (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-35, US 69, IA 294 and IA 258.
What other public land is near Dekalb Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Little River: 1,510 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Sand Creek Wildlife Area: 3,752 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Little River County Park: 589 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Wirth Springer Woods: 33 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Elk Creek Wildlife Area: 52 acres, 7.1 miles away
- Kobville Park: 40 acres, 7.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Dekalb Wildlife Area
Counting Dekalb Wildlife Area itself, 2,323 of the 40,748 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.7%), 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 | 2,313 |
| Other DNR land | 10 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Dekalb Wildlife Area?
In Decatur County, 3 miles from Van Wert.
What can you hunt on Dekalb Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, rabbit, quail and dove.
How much public land is around Dekalb Wildlife Area?
2,323 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Dekalb Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Little River (3.3 miles).
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.