Little River: hunting and access
Little River is 1,510 acres of public hunting land in Decatur County, next to Leon, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,508 deer in Decatur 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 landLittle RiverCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,510 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Decatur County |
| Deer harvest unit | Decatur County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Quail |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/3 Lake, 2/3 Upland |
| DNR contact | Grand River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Leon (next to it), Decatur (3 mi) and Van Wert (4 mi) |
What is Little River 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 Little River?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and quail for Little River.
What are the rules on Little River?
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 Little River?
Little River lies in Decatur County. Hunters reported 1,508 deer in Decatur County in 2025, against 1,439 in 2024.
| County | Little River acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur County | 1,510 | 1,508 | 1,439 | 1,591 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Little River?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile W of Leon on Hwy 2, 1 mile N on blacktop.
Nearest towns: Leon (next to it), Decatur (3 miles), Van Wert (4 miles) and Weldon (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-35, US 69, IA 2 and IA 258.
What other public land is near Little River?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Little River County Park: 589 acres, next to it
- Dekalb Wildlife Area: 2,313 acres, 3.3 miles away
- Kobville Park: 40 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Wirth Springer Woods: 33 acres, 4.3 miles away
- Slip Bluff Park: 288 acres, 7.2 miles away
- Elk Creek Wildlife Area: 52 acres, 7.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Little River
Counting Little River itself, 2,109 of the 40,153 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.3%), 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 | 2,099 |
| County conservation board and city land | 10 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Little River?
In Decatur County, next to Leon.
What can you hunt on Little River?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and quail.
How much public land is around Little River?
2,109 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Little River included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Little River County Park (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.