Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit: hunting and access
Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit is 1,042 acres of public hunting land in Van Buren County, 2 miles from Keosauqua, managed by the DNR's forestry bureau. Hunters reported 2,181 deer in Van Buren 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 landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landShimek State Forest - Keosauqua UnitCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,042 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Van Buren County |
| Deer harvest unit | 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 | Keosauqua (2 mi), Cantril (5 mi) and Mount Sterling (6 mi) |
What is Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit like?
The DNR describes the habitat as forest.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and quail for Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit.
What are the rules on Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua 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 - Keosauqua Unit?
Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit lies in Van Buren County. Hunters reported 2,181 deer in Van Buren County in 2025, against 2,365 in 2024.
| County | Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren County | 1,042 | 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 - Keosauqua Unit?
The DNR's directions: W of Keosauqua on J40, S on Iowa Oak Grove Ave, E on 22nd St.
Nearest towns: Keosauqua (2 miles), Cantril (5 miles), Mount Sterling (6 miles) and Leando (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 2 and IA 1.
What other public land is near Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Lake Sugema Wildlife Area: 2,396 acres, next to it
- Lake Sugema - CCB: 1,468 acres, next to it
- Daughrity Timber: 83 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Chequest Wildlife Area: 120 acres, 2 miles away
- De Voss-Foster Wildlife Area: 330 acres, 4 miles away
- Fox River Wildlife Area: 810 acres, 6.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit
Counting Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit itself, 6,646 of the 30,216 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (22%), 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 | 5,105 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1,514 |
| County conservation board and city land | 21 |
| Other DNR land | 6 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit?
In Van Buren County, 2 miles from Keosauqua.
What can you hunt on Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and quail.
How much public land is around Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit?
6,646 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Shimek State Forest - Keosauqua Unit included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Lake Sugema 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.