Lahart Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Lahart Wildlife Area is 556 acres of public hunting land in Monroe County, 2 miles from Lovilia, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,567 deer in Monroe 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 atlasLahart Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 556 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Deer harvest unit | Monroe County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit and Quail |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Timber, 1/2 Upland |
| DNR contact | Rathbun Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Lovilia (2 mi), Hamilton (4 mi) and Marysville (4 mi) |
What is Lahart Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 timber, 1/2 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Lahart Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, rabbit and quail for Lahart Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Lahart 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 Lahart Wildlife Area?
Lahart Wildlife Area lies in Monroe County. Hunters reported 1,567 deer in Monroe County in 2025, against 1,722 in 2024.
| County | Lahart Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | 556 | 1,567 | 1,722 | 1,812 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Lahart Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile S of Lovilla on Hwy 5, 3 miles SW on T19.
Nearest towns: Lovilia (2 miles), Hamilton (4 miles), Marysville (4 miles) and Bussey (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 5.
What other public land is near Lahart Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Miami Lake Wildlife Area: 772 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Stephens State Forest - Thousand Acres Unit: 2,957 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Paul Todd Wildlife Area: 49 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Miami Lake Area: 78 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Stephens State Forest - Chariton Unit: 944 acres, 7.2 miles away
- Tyrone Wildlife Area: 1,081 acres, 7.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lahart Wildlife Area
Counting Lahart Wildlife Area itself, 556 of the 27,547 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (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 | 556 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lahart Wildlife Area?
In Monroe County, 2 miles from Lovilia.
What can you hunt on Lahart Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, rabbit and quail.
How much public land is around Lahart Wildlife Area?
556 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lahart Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Miami Lake Wildlife Area (3.7 miles).
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.