Syracuse Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Syracuse Wildlife Area is 724 acres of public hunting land in Clinton County, 2 miles from Calamus, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,414 deer in Clinton 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 landSyracuse Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 724 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Deer harvest unit | Clinton County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland |
| DNR contact | Maquoketa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Calamus (2 mi), Wheatland (2 mi) and Big Rock (5 mi) |
What is Syracuse Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 timber, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Syracuse Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, waterfowl and dove for Syracuse Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Syracuse 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 Syracuse Wildlife Area?
Syracuse Wildlife Area lies in Clinton County. Hunters reported 1,414 deer in Clinton County in 2025, against 1,324 in 2024.
| County | Syracuse Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County | 724 | 1,414 | 1,324 | 1,271 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Syracuse Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile W of Calamus on Hwy 30, 0.25 mile N on 154th Ave.
Nearest towns: Calamus (2 miles), Wheatland (2 miles), Big Rock (5 miles) and Toronto (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 30.
What other public land is near Syracuse Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Ringneck Marsh: 355 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Wheatland Wildlife Area: 179 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Sherman Park: 202 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Buena Vista Public Use Area: 175 acres, 7.2 miles away
- Townsend Wildlife Area: 179 acres, 7.4 miles away
- Allen's Grove Park: 142 acres, 7.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Syracuse Wildlife Area
Counting Syracuse Wildlife Area itself, 1,341 of the 27,172 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.9%), 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 | 1,258 |
| County conservation board and city land | 79 |
| Other DNR land | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Syracuse Wildlife Area?
In Clinton County, 2 miles from Calamus.
What can you hunt on Syracuse Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, waterfowl and dove.
How much public land is around Syracuse Wildlife Area?
1,341 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Syracuse Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Ringneck Marsh (0.8 miles).
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.