Eldon Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Eldon Wildlife Area is 1,292 acres of public hunting land in Davis County, 2 miles from Eldon, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,611 deer in Davis 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 landState parks and recreation areasEldon Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,292 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Davis County |
| Deer harvest unit | Davis County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey and Squirrel |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/3 Upland, 3/4 Timber |
| DNR contact | Sugema Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Eldon (2 mi), Floris (4 mi) and Agency (8 mi) |
What is Eldon Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/3 upland, 3/4 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Eldon Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey and squirrel for Eldon Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Eldon 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 Eldon Wildlife Area?
Eldon Wildlife Area lies in Davis County. Hunters reported 1,611 deer in Davis County in 2025, against 1,778 in 2024.
| County | Eldon Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis County | 1,292 | 1,611 | 1,778 | 1,721 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Eldon Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 4 miles E of Floris on J15, 1 mile N.
Nearest towns: Eldon (2 miles), Floris (4 miles), Agency (8 miles) and Batavia (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 16.
What other public land is near Eldon Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Blanchard Hills Wildlife Area: 47 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Fox Hills Wildlife Area: 1,453 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Cardinal Wildlife Area: 41 acres, 4.2 miles away
- Selma Wildlife Area: 135 acres, 5 miles away
- Pioneer Ridge Nature Area: 679 acres, 6 miles away
- Garrison Rock Resource Management Unit: 296 acres, 7.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Eldon Wildlife Area
Counting Eldon Wildlife Area itself, 1,317 of the 33,979 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.9%), 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 | 1,292 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 20 |
| Other DNR land | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Eldon Wildlife Area?
In Davis County, 2 miles from Eldon.
What can you hunt on Eldon Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey and squirrel.
How much public land is around Eldon Wildlife Area?
1,317 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Eldon Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Blanchard Hills Wildlife Area (3.5 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.