Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit: hunting and access
Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit is 2,067 acres of public hunting land in Lucas County, 3 miles from Williamson, managed by the DNR's forestry bureau. Hunters reported 1,660 deer in Lucas 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 landStephens State Forest - Cedar Creek UnitCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,067 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Lucas County |
| Deer harvest unit | Lucas County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant, Rabbit and Quail |
| Managed by | the DNR's forestry bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Forest |
| DNR contact | Area Forester |
| Nearest towns | Williamson (3 mi), Russell (5 mi) and Chariton (6 mi) |
What is Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit like?
The DNR describes the habitat as forest.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and quail for Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit.
What are the rules on Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek 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 Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit?
Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit lies in Lucas County. Hunters reported 1,660 deer in Lucas County in 2025, against 1,761 in 2024.
| County | Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas County | 2,067 | 1,660 | 1,761 | 1,845 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit?
The DNR's directions: 4 miles E, 1 mile S of Williamson.
Nearest towns: Williamson (3 miles), Russell (5 miles), Chariton (6 miles) and Melrose (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 34 and IA 14.
What other public land is near Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Stephens State Forest - Chariton Unit: 944 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Williamson Pond WMA: 123 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Stephens State Forest - Thousand Acres Unit: 2,957 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Red Haw Wildlife Area: 207 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Chariton River Greenbelt: 631 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Pin Oak Marsh: 261 acres, 6.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit
Counting Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit itself, 3,467 of the 39,206 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.8%), 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 | 3,455 |
| Other DNR land | 12 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit?
In Lucas County, 3 miles from Williamson.
What can you hunt on Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and quail.
How much public land is around Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit?
3,467 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Stephens State Forest - Cedar Creek Unit included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Stephens State Forest - Chariton Unit (0.8 miles).
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.