Lake Sugema Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Lake Sugema Wildlife Area is 2,396 acres of public hunting land in Van Buren County, 3 miles from Keosauqua, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,181 deer in Van Buren 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 atlasOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landLake Sugema Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,396 acres in 6 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Van Buren County |
| Deer harvest unit | Van Buren County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Quail and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/5 Water, 1/5 Timber, 3/5 Upland |
| DNR contact | Sugema Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Keosauqua (3 mi), Cantril (3 mi) and Milton (5 mi) |
What is Lake Sugema Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/5 water, 1/5 timber, 3/5 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Lake Sugema Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, rabbit, quail and dove for Lake Sugema Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Lake Sugema 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 Sugema Wildlife Area?
Lake Sugema Wildlife Area lies in Van Buren County. Hunters reported 2,181 deer in Van Buren County in 2025, against 2,365 in 2024.
| County | Lake Sugema Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren County | 2,396 | 2,181 | 2,365 | 2,427 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Lake Sugema Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 5 miles W of Keosauqua on J40, 1 mile S.
Nearest towns: Keosauqua (3 miles), Cantril (3 miles), Milton (5 miles) and Mount Sterling (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 2 and IA 1.
What other public land is near Lake Sugema Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Lake Sugema - CCB: 1,468 acres, next to it
- Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit: 1,042 acres, next to it
- Daughrity Timber: 83 acres, 1.4 miles away
- De Voss-Foster Wildlife Area: 330 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Chequest Wildlife Area: 120 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Fox River Wildlife Area: 810 acres, 5.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Lake Sugema Wildlife Area
Counting Lake Sugema Wildlife Area itself, 6,908 of the 46,058 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (15%), 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 | 5,387 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1,514 |
| Other DNR land | 7 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Lake Sugema Wildlife Area?
In Van Buren County, 3 miles from Keosauqua.
What can you hunt on Lake Sugema Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, rabbit, quail and dove.
How much public land is around Lake Sugema Wildlife Area?
6,908 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Lake Sugema 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 Sugema - CCB (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.