Hawthorn Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Hawthorn Wildlife Area is 1,807 acres of public hunting land in Mahaska County, next to Barnes City, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 959 deer in Mahaska 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 atlasHawthorn Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,807 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Mahaska County |
| Deer harvest unit | Mahaska County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Upland, 1/2 Timber |
| DNR contact | Iowa River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Barnes City (next to it), Gibson (2 mi) and Thornburg (5 mi) |
What is Hawthorn Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 upland, 1/2 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Hawthorn Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and dove for Hawthorn Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Hawthorn 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 Hawthorn Wildlife Area?
Hawthorn Wildlife Area lies in Mahaska County. Hunters reported 959 deer in Mahaska County in 2025, against 961 in 2024.
| County | Hawthorn Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahaska County | 1,807 | 959 | 961 | 934 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Hawthorn Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile S of Barnes City on V13.
Nearest towns: Barnes City (next to it), Gibson (2 miles), Thornburg (5 miles) and Montezuma (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 21 and US 63.
What other public land is near Hawthorn Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Union Mills Access: 28 acres, 5.3 miles away
- Fox Forest Wildlife Area: 613 acres, 6.3 miles away
- Bryan Woods: 21 acres, 7.4 miles away
- Deep River Timber Wildlife Area: 315 acres, 7.6 miles away
- Willie J. Suchy Wildlife Area: 224 acres, 7.7 miles away
- North Skunk River Wildlife Area: 100 acres, 7.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Hawthorn Wildlife Area
Counting Hawthorn Wildlife Area itself, 1,807 of the 33,809 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.3%), 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 | 1,807 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Hawthorn Wildlife Area?
In Mahaska County, next to Barnes City.
What can you hunt on Hawthorn Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Hawthorn Wildlife Area?
1,807 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Hawthorn Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Union Mills Access (5.3 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.