Mount Ayr Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Mount Ayr Wildlife Area is 1,531 acres of public hunting land in Ringgold County, next to Delphos, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,353 deer in Ringgold 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 landCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landMount Ayr Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,531 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Ringgold County |
| Deer harvest unit | Ringgold County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Rabbit, Quail and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Timber, 1/2 Upland |
| DNR contact | Grand River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Delphos (next to it), Benton (next to it) and Maloy (3 mi) |
What is Mount Ayr Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 timber, 1/2 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Mount Ayr Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, rabbit, quail and dove for Mount Ayr Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Mount Ayr 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 Mount Ayr Wildlife Area?
Mount Ayr Wildlife Area lies in Ringgold County. Hunters reported 1,353 deer in Ringgold County in 2025, against 1,378 in 2024.
| County | Mount Ayr Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ringgold County | 1,531 | 1,353 | 1,378 | 1,522 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Mount Ayr Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles W of Mount Ayr on Hwy 2/169, 2 miles S on Hwy 169, 2 miles W on T43.
Nearest towns: Delphos (next to it), Benton (next to it), Maloy (3 miles) and Mount Ayr (3 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 169, IA 2, IA 66 and IA 344. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Mount Ayr Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Boone Woods: 313 acres, 6.3 miles away
- Fogle Lake: 359 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Sand's Timber Recreation Area: 231 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Don & Connie Huff Wildlife Area: 304 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Ringgold Wildlife Area: 2,711 acres, 9.3 miles away
- Kellerton Bird Conservation Area: 2,035 acres, 10 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Mount Ayr Wildlife Area
Counting Mount Ayr Wildlife Area itself, 1,533 of the 35,563 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.3%), 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 | 1,531 |
| Other DNR land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Mount Ayr Wildlife Area?
In Ringgold County, next to Delphos.
What can you hunt on Mount Ayr Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, rabbit, quail and dove.
How much public land is around Mount Ayr Wildlife Area?
1,533 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Mount Ayr Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Boone Woods (6.3 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.