Forney Lake: hunting and access
Forney Lake is 1,137 acres of public hunting land in Fremont County, 2 miles from Bartlett, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 379 deer in Fremont 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 areasCounty conservation board and city landForney LakeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,137 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Fremont County |
| Deer harvest unit | Fremont County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Squirrel and Rabbit |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Marsh, 1/2 Upland |
| DNR contact | Nishnabotna Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Bartlett (2 mi), Thurman (2 mi) and Tabor (5 mi) |
What is Forney Lake like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 marsh, 1/2 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Forney Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, squirrel and rabbit for Forney Lake.
What are the rules on Forney Lake?
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 Forney Lake?
Forney Lake lies in Fremont County. Hunters reported 379 deer in Fremont County in 2025, against 432 in 2024.
| County | Forney Lake acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fremont County | 1,137 | 379 | 432 | 414 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Forney Lake?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles N of Thurman on L44, 0.5 mile W.
Nearest towns: Bartlett (2 miles), Thurman (2 miles), Tabor (5 miles) and Percival (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29 and US 275.
What other public land is near Forney Lake?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- McPaul I-29 Wildlife Area: 169 acres, next to it
- Forney Lake - CCB: 91 acres, next to it
- Scott I-29 Wildlife Area: 88 acres, next to it
- Green Hollow Wildlife Area: 624 acres, next to it
- Blackburn Wildlife Area: 79 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Auldon Bar: 2,004 acres, 1.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Forney Lake
Counting Forney Lake itself, 4,249 of the 33,324 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.8%), 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 | 4,204 |
| Other DNR land | 41 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 2 |
| County conservation board and city land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Forney Lake?
In Fremont County, 2 miles from Bartlett.
What can you hunt on Forney Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, squirrel and rabbit.
How much public land is around Forney Lake?
4,249 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Forney Lake included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is McPaul I-29 Wildlife Area (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.