Lake Icaria Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Lake Icaria Wildlife Area is 1,127 acres of public hunting land in Adams County, 4 miles from Corning, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 518 deer in Adams 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landLake Icaria Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,127 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Deer harvest unit | Adams County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/3 Lake, 2/3 Upland |
| DNR contact | Grand River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Corning (4 mi), Carbon (4 mi) and Prescott (5 mi) |
What is Lake Icaria Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/3 lake, 2/3 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Lake Icaria Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Lake Icaria Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Lake Icaria 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 Lake Icaria Wildlife Area?
Lake Icaria Wildlife Area lies in Adams County. Hunters reported 518 deer in Adams County in 2025, against 547 in 2024.
| County | Lake Icaria Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 1,127 | 518 | 547 | 692 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Lake Icaria Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 4.5 miles N of Corning on Hwy 148, 0.5 mile E on Hwy 951.
Nearest towns: Corning (4 miles), Carbon (4 miles), Prescott (5 miles) and Bridgewater (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 148 and US 34. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Lake Icaria Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Lake Icaria Recreation Area: 774 acres, next to it
- Talty Wildlife Area: 99 acres, next to it
- Hoskinson Wildlife Area: 64 acres, 2.1 miles away
- E. Rex Sullivan Wildlife Area: 154 acres, 7.3 miles away
- Nodaway Wildlife Area: 46 acres, 9.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lake Icaria Wildlife Area
Counting Lake Icaria Wildlife Area itself, 2,063 of the 36,588 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.6%), 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 | 2,063 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lake Icaria Wildlife Area?
In Adams County, 4 miles from Corning.
What can you hunt on Lake Icaria Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Lake Icaria Wildlife Area?
2,063 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lake Icaria Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Lake Icaria Recreation 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.