Rathbun Lake: hunting and access
Rathbun Lake is 16,468 acres of public hunting land in Appanoose County, next to Rathbun, managed by Acoe. Hunters reported 2,066 deer in Appanoose 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 atlasFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landRathbun LakeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 16,468 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Appanoose County |
| Deer harvest unit | Appanoose County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Rabbit |
| Managed by | Acoe |
| Nearest towns | Rathbun (next to it), Moravia (3 mi) and Mystic (3 mi) |
What can you hunt on Rathbun Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl and rabbit for Rathbun Lake.
What are the rules on Rathbun Lake?
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 Rathbun Lake?
Rathbun Lake lies in Appanoose County. Hunters reported 2,066 deer in Appanoose County in 2025, against 2,073 in 2024.
| County | Rathbun Lake acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appanoose County | 16,468 | 2,066 | 2,073 | 2,136 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Rathbun Lake?
Nearest towns: Rathbun (next to it), Moravia (3 miles), Mystic (3 miles) and Plano (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 5. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Rathbun Lake?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE: 15,820 acres, next to it
- Brown's Slough: 194 acres, 5 miles away
- Tyrone Wildlife Area: 1,081 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit: 2,498 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Rathbun Wildlife Area: 429 acres, 6.8 miles away
- Lelah Bradley Park & Reserve: 129 acres, 7.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rathbun Lake
Counting Rathbun Lake itself, 25,784 of the 92,357 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (27.9%), 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 | 23,653 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 1,671 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 359 |
| County conservation board and city land | 100 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rathbun Lake?
In Appanoose County, next to Rathbun.
What can you hunt on Rathbun Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl and rabbit.
How much public land is around Rathbun Lake?
25,784 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rathbun Lake included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE (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.