French Creek Wildlife Area: hunting and access
French Creek Wildlife Area is 1,675 acres of public hunting land in Allamakee County, 7 miles from Lansing, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 3,498 deer in Allamakee 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 landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landFrench Creek Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,675 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Allamakee County |
| Deer harvest unit | Allamakee 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, French Creek |
| DNR contact | Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Lansing (7 mi), Waukon (7 mi) and New Albin (8 mi) |
What is French Creek Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 timber, 1/4 upland, french creek.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on French Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse for French Creek Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on French Creek 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 French Creek Wildlife Area?
French Creek Wildlife Area lies in Allamakee County. Hunters reported 3,498 deer in Allamakee County in 2025, against 3,602 in 2024.
| County | French Creek Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allamakee County | 1,675 | 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 French Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 4.5 miles NE of Waukon on Hwy 9, 3 miles N on French Creek Rd.
Nearest towns: Lansing (7 miles), Waukon (7 miles), New Albin (8 miles) and Waterville (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 9 and IA 76.
What other public land is near French Creek Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- English Bench Wildlife Area: 29 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Clear Creek Fish and Wildlife Area: 954 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Lansing Wildlife Area: 2,310 acres, 4 miles away
- Waterloo Creek Wildlife Area: 1,981 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Fish Farm Mounds Wildlife Area: 1,024 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Upper Mississippi River Fish & Wildlife Refuge: 53,843 acres, 5.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of French Creek Wildlife Area
Counting French Creek Wildlife Area itself, 1,721 of the 41,051 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.2%), 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 | 1,720 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is French Creek Wildlife Area?
In Allamakee County, 7 miles from Lansing.
What can you hunt on French Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and grouse.
How much public land is around French Creek Wildlife Area?
1,721 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, French Creek Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is English Bench Wildlife Area (2.8 miles).
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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.