Gabrielson Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Gabrielson Wildlife Area is 781 acres of public hunting land in Hancock County, 3 miles from Miller, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 334 deer in Hancock 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 landIHAP landGabrielson Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 781 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Hancock County |
| Deer harvest unit | Hancock County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant and Waterfowl |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/3 Marshy Timber, 1/3 Upland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Clear Lake Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Miller (3 mi), Forest City (3 mi) and Ventura (6 mi) |
What is Gabrielson Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/3 marshy timber, 1/3 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Gabrielson Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and waterfowl for Gabrielson Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Gabrielson Wildlife Area?
The DNR's layer marks this area as nontoxic shot only.
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 Gabrielson Wildlife Area?
Gabrielson Wildlife Area lies in Hancock County. Hunters reported 334 deer in Hancock County in 2025, against 285 in 2024.
| County | Gabrielson Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County | 781 | 334 | 285 | 299 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Gabrielson Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 3.5 miles E of Forest City on B14.
Nearest towns: Miller (3 miles), Forest City (3 miles), Ventura (6 miles) and Fertile (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 9 and US 69. 4 IHAP tracts within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Gabrielson Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Torkelson Pits Wildlife Area: 97 acres, next to it
- Kermit Hovey Wildlife Area: 39 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Haugen Wildlife Area: 73 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Pilot Knob Recreation Area: 158 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Walker Prairie: 29 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Kuhn Wildlife Area: 76 acres, 1.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Gabrielson Wildlife Area
Counting Gabrielson Wildlife Area itself, 2,449 of the 38,611 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.3%), 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 | 2,054 |
| Other DNR land | 246 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 138 |
| County conservation board and city land | 11 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Gabrielson Wildlife Area?
In Hancock County, 3 miles from Miller.
What can you hunt on Gabrielson Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and waterfowl. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Gabrielson Wildlife Area?
2,449 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Gabrielson Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Torkelson Pits Wildlife Area (next to it).
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.