Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area is 726 acres of public hunting land in Jones County, 3 miles from Monticello, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,022 deer in Jones 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 landPictured Rocks Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 726 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Jones County |
| Deer harvest unit | Jones County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey and Squirrel |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Timber, 1/4 River |
| DNR contact | Maquoketa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Monticello (3 mi), Center Junction (5 mi) and Onslow (7 mi) |
What is Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 timber, 1/4 river.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey and squirrel for Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Pictured Rocks 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 Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area?
Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area lies in Jones County. Hunters reported 2,022 deer in Jones County in 2025, against 1,986 in 2024.
| County | Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County | 726 | 2,022 | 1,986 | 1,920 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 3 miles SE of Monticello on Hwy 38, 1 mile E on 190th St.
Nearest towns: Monticello (3 miles), Center Junction (5 miles), Onslow (7 miles) and Cascade (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 151, IA 38 and IA 136.
What other public land is near Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Pictured Rocks County Park: 63 acres, next to it
- Indian Bluffs Wildlife Area: 830 acres, next to it
- Eby's Mill Wildlife Area: 588 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Scotch Grove Prairie: 75 acres, 2 miles away
- Mon-Maq Access: 44 acres, 2.6 miles away
- Hamilton & Tapken Prairie Preserve: 81 acres, 4.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area
Counting Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area itself, 2,224 of the 34,406 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.5%), 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 | 2,223 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area?
In Jones County, 3 miles from Monticello.
What can you hunt on Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey and squirrel.
How much public land is around Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area?
2,224 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Pictured Rocks County Park (next to it).
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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.