Rubio Access: hunting and access
Rubio Access is 794 acres of public hunting land in Washington and Keokuk counties, 4 miles from Richland, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,585 deer in Washington 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 atlasState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landRubio AccessCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 794 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Washington County and Keokuk County |
| Deer harvest unit | Washington County, Keokuk County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey and Squirrel |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Timber (Borders Skunk River) |
| DNR contact | Sugema Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Richland (4 mi), Pleasant Plain (6 mi) and Brighton (6 mi) |
What is Rubio Access like?
The DNR describes the habitat as timber (borders skunk river).
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Rubio Access?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey and squirrel for Rubio Access.
What are the rules on Rubio Access?
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 Rubio Access?
Rubio Access lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 1,585 deer in Washington County in 2025, against 1,622 in 2024.
| County | Rubio Access acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 428 | 1,585 | 1,622 | 1,685 |
| Keokuk County | 367 | 1,152 | 1,044 | 1,053 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Rubio Access?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles N of Richland on W15, 2 miles E on G67, 1 mile N on gravel road.
Nearest towns: Richland (4 miles), Pleasant Plain (6 miles), Brighton (6 miles) and Ollie (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 78 and IA 1.
What other public land is near Rubio Access?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Rubio Wildlife Area: 99 acres, next to it
- Skunk River Wildlife Area: 415 acres, next to it
- Schmitter Heritage Area: 77 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Pool Wildlife Area: 67 acres, 5 miles away
- Livingston Timber: 74 acres, 8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rubio Access
Counting Rubio Access itself, 2,577 of the 30,951 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.3%), 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 | 1,395 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1,008 |
| County conservation board and city land | 174 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rubio Access?
In Washington and Keokuk counties, 4 miles from Richland.
What can you hunt on Rubio Access?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey and squirrel.
How much public land is around Rubio Access?
2,577 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rubio Access included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Rubio 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.