Holst State Forest: hunting and access
Holst State Forest is 310 acres of public hunting land in Boone County, next to Fraser, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,162 deer in Boone 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 atlasFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesOther DNR landCounty conservation board and city landHolst State ForestCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 310 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Boone County |
| Deer harvest unit | Boone County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer and Turkey |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Forest |
| DNR contact | Saylorville Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Fraser (next to it), Pilot Mound (3 mi) and Ogden (6 mi) |
What is Holst State Forest like?
The DNR describes the habitat as forest.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Holst State Forest?
The DNR's atlas lists deer and turkey for Holst State Forest.
What are the rules on Holst State Forest?
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 Holst State Forest?
Holst State Forest lies in Boone County. Hunters reported 1,162 deer in Boone County in 2025, against 1,351 in 2024.
| County | Holst State Forest acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | 310 | 1,162 | 1,351 | 1,294 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Holst State Forest?
The DNR's directions: SW of Fraser on Kale Rd.
Nearest towns: Fraser (next to it), Pilot Mound (3 miles), Ogden (6 miles) and Boone (7 miles).
What other public land is near Holst State Forest?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE: 10,773 acres, next to it
- Barkley State Forest: 322 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Pilot Mound State Forest: 34 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Rhoades Acres: 164 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Jay Carlson Area: 159 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Harrier Marsh: 35 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Holst State Forest
Counting Holst State Forest itself, 2,184 of the 23,854 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.2%), 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 | 1,411 |
| County conservation board and city land | 581 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 164 |
| Other DNR land | 28 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Holst State Forest?
In Boone County, next to Fraser.
What can you hunt on Holst State Forest?
The DNR's atlas lists deer and turkey.
How much public land is around Holst State Forest?
2,184 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Holst State Forest included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE (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.