Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge: hunting and access
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge is 4,233 acres of public hunting land in Jasper County, next to Prairie City, managed by Usfws. Hunters reported 934 deer in Jasper 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 atlasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasOther DNR landCounty conservation board and city landNeal Smith National Wildlife RefugeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,233 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Jasper County |
| Deer harvest unit | Jasper County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant, Rabbit and Quail |
| Managed by | Usfws |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| Nearest towns | Prairie City (next to it), Runnells (4 mi) and Swan (5 mi) |
What can you hunt on Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and quail for Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.
What are the rules on Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge?
The DNR's layer marks this area as nontoxic shot only.
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 Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge?
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge lies in Jasper County. Hunters reported 934 deer in Jasper County in 2025, against 846 in 2024.
| County | Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper County | 4,233 | 934 | 846 | 846 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge?
The DNR's directions: 9981 Pacific Street, Prairie City.
Nearest towns: Prairie City (next to it), Runnells (4 miles), Swan (5 miles) and Mitchellville (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 163, IA 316 and IA 117.
What other public land is near Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Vandalia Wildlife Area: 100 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Red Rock - USACOE: 34,439 acres, 2 miles away
- Red Rock - Warren: 1,914 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Colfax Wildlife Area: 1,194 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Hoffman Wildlife Area: 152 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Oswalt Bridge Access: 34 acres, 5.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
Counting Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge itself, 8,522 of the 57,687 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (14.8%), 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 | 6,239 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 2,211 |
| County conservation board and city land | 51 |
| Other DNR land | 21 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge?
In Jasper County, next to Prairie City.
What can you hunt on Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and quail. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge?
8,522 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Vandalia Wildlife Area (0.7 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.