North Raccoon River Wildlife Area: hunting and access
North Raccoon River Wildlife Area is 855 acres of public hunting land in Greene County, next to Jefferson, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 351 deer in Greene 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 landNorth Raccoon River Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 855 acres in 9 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Deer harvest unit | Greene County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | River Access, Timber |
| DNR contact | Saylorville Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Jefferson (next to it), Scranton (3 mi) and Ralston (7 mi) |
What is North Raccoon River Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as river access, timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on North Raccoon River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, rabbit and dove for North Raccoon River Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on North Raccoon River 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 North Raccoon River Wildlife Area?
North Raccoon River Wildlife Area lies in Greene County. Hunters reported 351 deer in Greene County in 2025, against 353 in 2024.
| County | North Raccoon River Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greene County | 855 | 351 | 353 | 466 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to North Raccoon River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 5 miles W of Jefferson on Hwy 30.
Nearest towns: Jefferson (next to it), Scranton (3 miles), Ralston (7 miles) and Churdan (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 30, IA 4 and IA 25. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near North Raccoon River Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Bristol Wildlife Area: 115 acres, next to it
- Finn Pond: 53 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Raccoon River Valley Trail: 96 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Goose Lake - Greene: 465 acres, 5 miles away
- Hobart Wildlife Area: 59 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Squirrel Hollow Wildlife Area: 147 acres, 6.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of North Raccoon River Wildlife Area
Counting North Raccoon River Wildlife Area itself, 1,256 of the 46,430 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.7%), 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 | 1,023 |
| County conservation board and city land | 228 |
| Other DNR land | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is North Raccoon River Wildlife Area?
In Greene County, next to Jefferson.
What can you hunt on North Raccoon River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around North Raccoon River Wildlife Area?
1,256 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, North Raccoon River Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Bristol Wildlife Area (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.