Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit: hunting and access
Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit is 2,498 acres of public hunting land in Appanoose and Davis counties, next to Unionville, managed by the DNR's forestry bureau. Hunters reported 2,066 deer in Appanoose 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 areasStephens State Forest - Unionville UnitCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,498 acres in 11 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Appanoose County and Davis County |
| Deer harvest unit | Appanoose County, Davis 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 | Unionville (next to it), Udell (4 mi) and Moravia (5 mi) |
What is Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit like?
The DNR describes the habitat as forest.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and quail for Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit.
What are the rules on Stephens State Forest - Unionville 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 - Unionville Unit?
Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 2,066 deer in Appanoose County in 2025, against 2,073 in 2024.
| County | Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appanoose County | 1,416 | 2,066 | 2,073 | 2,136 |
| Davis County | 1,083 | 1,611 | 1,778 | 1,721 |
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 - Unionville Unit?
The DNR's directions: N and E of Unionville.
Nearest towns: Unionville (next to it), Udell (4 miles), Moravia (5 miles) and Drakesville (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 273 and IA 5.
What other public land is near Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Tubaugh Wildlife Area: 533 acres, next to it
- Soap Creek Wildlife Area - Appanoose: 251 acres, next to it
- Soap Creek Wildlife Area - Davis: 782 acres, next to it
- Bell Branch Wildlife Area: 514 acres, 6.1 miles away
- Rathbun Lake: 16,468 acres, 6.5 miles away
- Cottonwood Pits Wildlife Area: 55 acres, 7.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit
Counting Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit itself, 5,232 of the 78,300 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.7%), 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 | 4,064 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1,152 |
| Other DNR land | 16 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit?
In Appanoose and Davis counties, next to Unionville.
What can you hunt on Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and quail.
How much public land is around Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit?
5,232 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Stephens State Forest - Unionville Unit included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Tubaugh 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.