Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE: hunting and access
Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE is 15,820 acres of public hunting land in Appanoose, Lucas, Wayne and Monroe counties, 2 miles from Promise City, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. 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 lakesOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landRathbun Wildlife Area - USACOECounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 15,820 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Appanoose County, Lucas County, Wayne County and Monroe County |
| Deer harvest unit | Appanoose County, Lucas County, Wayne County, Monroe County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Quail and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Lake, 1/4 Timber, 1/2 Upland |
| DNR contact | Rathbun Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Promise City (2 mi), Russell (3 mi) and Mystic (3 mi) |
What is Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 lake, 1/4 timber, 1/2 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, quail and dove for Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE.
What are the rules on Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE?
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 Wildlife Area - USACOE?
Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE lies in 4 counties. Hunters reported 2,066 deer in Appanoose County in 2025, against 2,073 in 2024.
| County | Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appanoose County | 7,635 | 2,066 | 2,073 | 2,136 |
| Lucas County | 4,598 | 1,660 | 1,761 | 1,845 |
| Wayne County | 3,496 | 1,392 | 1,668 | 1,886 |
| Monroe County | 91 | 1,567 | 1,722 | 1,812 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE?
The DNR's directions: 6 miles S of Russell on S56.
Nearest towns: Promise City (2 miles), Russell (3 miles), Mystic (3 miles) and Rathbun (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 34, IA 2, IA 14 and IA 55. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Rathbun Wildlife Area: 429 acres, next to it
- Brown's Slough: 194 acres, next to it
- Colyn Wildlife Area: 853 acres, next to it
- Slab Castle Wildlife Area: 508 acres, next to it
- Rathbun Lake: 16,468 acres, next to it
- Chariton River Greenbelt: 631 acres, 1.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE
Counting Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE itself, 33,893 of the 155,818 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (21.8%), 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 | 31,707 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 1,480 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 474 |
| County conservation board and city land | 204 |
| Other DNR land | 28 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE?
In Appanoose, Lucas, Wayne and Monroe counties, 2 miles from Promise City.
What can you hunt on Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, quail and dove.
How much public land is around Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE?
33,893 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rathbun Wildlife Area - USACOE 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 (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.
Iowa hunting Appanoose County Lucas County Wayne County Monroe County