Miami Lake Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Miami Lake Wildlife Area is 772 acres of public hunting land in Monroe County, 3 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landMiami Lake Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 772 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Deer harvest unit | Monroe County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Quail and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Lake, 1/4 Upland, 1/2 Timber |
| DNR contact | Rathbun Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Lovilia (3 mi), Hamilton (4 mi) and Albia (6 mi) |
What is Miami Lake Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 lake, 1/4 upland, 1/2 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Miami Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, rabbit, quail and dove for Miami Lake Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Miami Lake 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 Miami Lake Wildlife Area?
Miami Lake Wildlife Area lies in Monroe County. Hunters reported 1,567 deer in Monroe County in 2025, against 1,722 in 2024.
| County | Miami Lake Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | 772 | 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 Miami Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles N of Albia on Hwy 137, 1.5 miles W on H33, 2 miles N on T31, 0.5 mile W and 1.5 miles N on gravel.
Nearest towns: Lovilia (3 miles), Hamilton (4 miles), Albia (6 miles) and Bussey (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 5 and IA 137.
What other public land is near Miami Lake Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Miami Lake Area: 78 acres, next to it
- Lahart Wildlife Area: 556 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Paul Todd Wildlife Area: 49 acres, 5.6 miles away
- Tyrone Wildlife Area: 1,081 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Cedar Bluffs Natural Area State Preserve: 228 acres, 8.6 miles away
- Cottonwood Pits Wildlife Area: 55 acres, 8.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Miami Lake Wildlife Area
Counting Miami Lake Wildlife Area itself, 912 of the 28,267 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.2%), 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 | 850 |
| County conservation board and city land | 62 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Miami Lake Wildlife Area?
In Monroe County, 3 miles from Lovilia.
What can you hunt on Miami Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, rabbit, quail and dove.
How much public land is around Miami Lake Wildlife Area?
912 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Miami Lake 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 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.