Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit: hunting and access
Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit is 2,700 acres of public hunting land in Lee and Van Buren counties, next to Farmington, managed by the DNR's forestry bureau. Hunters reported 2,257 deer in Lee 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 atlasOther DNR landCounty conservation board and city landShimek State Forest - Farmington UnitCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,700 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Lee County and Van Buren County |
| Deer harvest unit | Lee County, Van Buren County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Quail |
| Managed by | the DNR's forestry bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Forest |
| DNR contact | Area Forester |
| Nearest towns | Farmington (next to it), Bonaparte (4 mi) and Donnellson (6 mi) |
What is Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit like?
The DNR describes the habitat as forest.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and quail for Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit.
What are the rules on Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit?
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 Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit?
Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 2,257 deer in Lee County in 2025, against 2,305 in 2024.
| County | Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | 1,612 | 2,257 | 2,305 | 2,054 |
| Van Buren County | 1,087 | 2,181 | 2,365 | 2,427 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit?
The DNR's directions: E of Farmington.
Nearest towns: Farmington (next to it), Bonaparte (4 miles), Donnellson (6 miles) and Franklin (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 2 and IA 81.
What other public land is near Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Shimek State Forest - Lick Creek Unit: 2,415 acres, next to it
- Shimek State Forest - Donnellson Unit: 1,038 acres, next to it
- Shimek State Forest - Croton Unit: 2,045 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Turkey Run Wildlife Area - Lee: 167 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Lindsey Wilderness Area: 199 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Sugar Creek Bottoms: 107 acres, 5.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit
Counting Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit itself, 6,187 of the 43,751 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (14.1%), 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 | 6,167 |
| Other DNR land | 12 |
| County conservation board and city land | 8 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit?
In Lee and Van Buren counties, next to Farmington.
What can you hunt on Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and quail.
How much public land is around Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit?
6,187 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Shimek State Forest - Farmington Unit included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Shimek State Forest - Lick Creek Unit (next to it).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
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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.