Leonard Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Leonard Wildlife Area is 335 acres of public hunting land in Clayton County, 6 miles from Volga, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 4,248 deer in Clayton 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 landLeonard Wildlife AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 335 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Clayton County |
| Deer harvest unit | Clayton County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Upland, 1/4 Forest |
| DNR contact | Maquoketa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Volga (6 mi), Elkader (6 mi) and Elkport (7 mi) |
What is Leonard Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 upland, 1/4 forest.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Leonard Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and dove for Leonard Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Leonard 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 Leonard Wildlife Area?
Leonard Wildlife Area lies in Clayton County. Hunters reported 4,248 deer in Clayton County in 2025, against 4,324 in 2024.
| County | Leonard Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton County | 335 | 4,248 | 4,324 | 4,023 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Leonard Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile N of Mederville.
Nearest towns: Volga (6 miles), Elkader (6 miles), Elkport (7 miles) and Strawberry Point (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 13.
What other public land is near Leonard Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Motor Mill Access: 76 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Klingman Etringer Wildlife Area: 159 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Volga River Wildlife Area: 256 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Mossey Glen Wildlife Area: 78 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge - Fern Ridge Unit: 205 acres, 5 miles away
- Ensign Hollow Wildlife Area: 118 acres, 5.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Leonard Wildlife Area
Counting Leonard Wildlife Area itself, 624 of the 25,018 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.5%), 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 | 335 |
| County conservation board and city land | 288 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Leonard Wildlife Area?
In Clayton County, 6 miles from Volga.
What can you hunt on Leonard Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and dove.
How much public land is around Leonard Wildlife Area?
624 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Leonard Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Motor Mill Access (3.5 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.