Hooper Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Hooper Wildlife Area is 483 acres of public hunting land in Warren County, 6 miles from Indianola, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,385 deer in Warren 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 atlasState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landHooper Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 483 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Deer harvest unit | Warren County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant and Rabbit |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Timber, 1/2 Upland, Lake |
| DNR contact | Red Rock Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Indianola (6 mi), Milo (7 mi) and St. Marys (7 mi) |
What is Hooper Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 timber, 1/2 upland, lake.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Hooper Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant and rabbit for Hooper Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Hooper 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 Hooper Wildlife Area?
Hooper Wildlife Area lies in Warren County. Hunters reported 2,385 deer in Warren County in 2025, against 2,240 in 2024.
| County | Hooper Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren County | 483 | 2,385 | 2,240 | 2,493 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Hooper Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 5.5 miles S of Indianola on Hwy 65/69, 1 mile W on Pershing St.
Nearest towns: Indianola (6 miles), Milo (7 miles), St. Marys (7 miles) and Ackworth (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 69, US 65 and IA 349.
What other public land is near Hooper Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Otter Creek: 78 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Rolling Thunder Prairie: 366 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Bank Swallow Bend: 570 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Heritage Hills Wildlife Area: 2,313 acres, 7.2 miles away
- Woodland Mounds State Preserve: 336 acres, 8.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Hooper Wildlife Area
Counting Hooper Wildlife Area itself, 1,489 of the 25,521 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| State parks and recreation areas | 788 |
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 559 |
| County conservation board and city land | 142 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Hooper Wildlife Area?
In Warren County, 6 miles from Indianola.
What can you hunt on Hooper Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant and rabbit.
How much public land is around Hooper Wildlife Area?
1,489 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Hooper Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Otter Creek (2.6 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.