Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area is 301 acres of public hunting land in Fayette County, next to Elgin, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,128 deer in Fayette 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 landIHAP landShinbone Valley Wildlife AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 301 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Deer harvest unit | Fayette County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel and Pheasant |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Prairie, 1/4 Timber, Turkey River Corridor |
| DNR contact | Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Elgin (next to it), Clermont (2 mi) and Postville (8 mi) |
What is Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 prairie, 1/4 timber, turkey river corridor.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and pheasant for Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Shinbone Valley 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 Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area?
Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area lies in Fayette County. Hunters reported 2,128 deer in Fayette County in 2025, against 1,967 in 2024.
| County | Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | 301 | 2,128 | 1,967 | 1,921 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile N of Elgin. Access through Gilbertson Conservation Area.
Nearest towns: Elgin (next to it), Clermont (2 miles), Postville (8 miles) and West Union (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 18 and IA 56. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Gilbertson Conservation Ed. Area: 600 acres, next to it
- Glovers Creek Wildlife Area: 186 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Volga River State Recreation Area: 5,871 acres, 7.1 miles away
- Big Springs Wildlife Area: 119 acres, 8.1 miles away
- Grannis Creek Wildlife Area: 225 acres, 9.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area
Counting Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area itself, 1,010 of the 24,027 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.2%), 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 | 901 |
| County conservation board and city land | 67 |
| Other DNR land | 42 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area?
In Fayette County, next to Elgin.
What can you hunt on Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and pheasant.
How much public land is around Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area?
1,010 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Shinbone Valley Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Gilbertson Conservation Ed. 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.