Skunk River Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Skunk River Wildlife Area is 415 acres of public hunting land in Keokuk County, 4 miles from Richland, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,152 deer in Keokuk 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 landIHAP landSkunk River Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 415 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Keokuk County |
| Deer harvest unit | 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), Ollie (6 mi) and Keota (7 mi) |
What is Skunk River Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as timber (borders skunk river).
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Skunk River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey and squirrel for Skunk River Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Skunk River 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 Skunk River Wildlife Area?
Skunk River Wildlife Area lies in Keokuk County. Hunters reported 1,152 deer in Keokuk County in 2025, against 1,044 in 2024.
| County | Skunk River Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keokuk County | 415 | 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 Skunk River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 4 miles N of Richland on W15.
Nearest towns: Richland (4 miles), Ollie (6 miles), Keota (7 miles) and Harper (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 78.
What other public land is near Skunk River Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Rubio Access: 794 acres, next to it
- Rubio Wildlife Area: 99 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Pool Wildlife Area: 67 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Schmitter Heritage Area: 77 acres, 5.1 miles away
- South Skunk River Access: 518 acres, 8 miles away
- Belva Deer Recreation Area: 1,701 acres, 10 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Skunk River Wildlife Area
Counting Skunk River Wildlife Area itself, 1,324 of the 29,161 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.5%), 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 | 1,307 |
| County conservation board and city land | 10 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 7 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Skunk River Wildlife Area?
In Keokuk County, 4 miles from Richland.
What can you hunt on Skunk River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey and squirrel.
How much public land is around Skunk River Wildlife Area?
1,324 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Skunk River Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Rubio Access (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.