Sand Creek Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Sand Creek Wildlife Area is 3,752 acres of public hunting land in Decatur and Ringgold counties, 2 miles from Grand River, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,508 deer in Decatur 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 landIHAP landSand Creek Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,752 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Decatur County and Ringgold County |
| Deer harvest unit | Decatur County, Ringgold County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Rabbit, Quail and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland |
| DNR contact | Grand River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Grand River (2 mi), Sun Valley Lake (2 mi) and Beaconsfield (3 mi) |
What is Sand Creek Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 timber, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Sand Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, rabbit, quail and dove for Sand Creek Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Sand Creek 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 Sand Creek Wildlife Area?
Sand Creek Wildlife Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 1,508 deer in Decatur County in 2025, against 1,439 in 2024.
| County | Sand Creek Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur County | 2,674 | 1,508 | 1,439 | 1,591 |
| Ringgold County | 1,078 | 1,353 | 1,378 | 1,522 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Sand Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 3 miles N of Grand River on R15, 1 mile W on gravel road.
Nearest towns: Grand River (2 miles), Sun Valley Lake (2 miles), Beaconsfield (3 miles) and Ellston (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 294. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Sand Creek Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Dekalb Wildlife Area: 2,313 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Wirth Springer Woods: 33 acres, 7.8 miles away
- Elk Creek Wildlife Area: 52 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Don & Connie Huff Wildlife Area: 304 acres, 8.2 miles away
- Kellerton Bird Conservation Area: 2,035 acres, 8.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Sand Creek Wildlife Area
Counting Sand Creek Wildlife Area itself, 3,758 of the 43,768 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.6%), 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 | 3,752 |
| County conservation board and city land | 6 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Sand Creek Wildlife Area?
In Decatur and Ringgold counties, 2 miles from Grand River.
What can you hunt on Sand Creek Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, rabbit, quail and dove.
How much public land is around Sand Creek Wildlife Area?
3,758 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Sand Creek Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Dekalb Wildlife Area (3.5 miles).
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.