Falcon Springs Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Falcon Springs Wildlife Area is 496 acres of public hunting land in Winneshiek County, 4 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 atlasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasOther DNR landCounty conservation board and city landFalcon Springs Wildlife AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 496 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Winneshiek County |
| Deer harvest unit | Winneshiek County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel and Grouse |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland |
| DNR contact | Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Decorah (4 mi), Ridgeway (7 mi) and Burr Oak (7 mi) |
What is Falcon Springs 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 Falcon Springs Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse for Falcon Springs Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Falcon Springs 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 Falcon Springs Wildlife Area?
Falcon Springs Wildlife Area lies in Winneshiek County. Hunters reported 2,519 deer in Winneshiek County in 2025, against 2,550 in 2024.
| County | Falcon Springs Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winneshiek County | 496 | 2,519 | 2,550 | 2,469 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Falcon Springs Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles N of the junction of Hwy 9 & 52, 4.7 miles NW on Pole Line.
Nearest towns: Decorah (4 miles), Ridgeway (7 miles), Burr Oak (7 miles) and Spillville (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 52 and IA 9.
What other public land is near Falcon Springs Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Upper Iowa River - Lowell's Bridge: 66 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Malanaphy Springs State Preserve: 64 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Upper Iowa River - Sollien: 42 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Upper Iowa River - Tnc Engbertson: 171 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Bluffton Fir Stand: 181 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Bluffton Fir Stand State Preserve: 93 acres, 3.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Falcon Springs Wildlife Area
Counting Falcon Springs Wildlife Area itself, 1,050 of the 27,319 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.8%), 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 | 838 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 161 |
| County conservation board and city land | 48 |
| Other DNR land | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Falcon Springs Wildlife Area?
In Winneshiek County, 4 miles from Decorah.
What can you hunt on Falcon Springs Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse.
How much public land is around Falcon Springs Wildlife Area?
1,050 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Falcon Springs Wildlife Area 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 - Lowell's Bridge (0.5 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.