Three Mile Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Three Mile Wildlife Area is 2,677 acres of public hunting land in Union County, 3 miles from Afton, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,051 deer in Union 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 landThree Mile Wildlife AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 2,677 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Union County |
| Deer harvest unit | Union County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Lake, 1/4 Timber, 1/2 Upland |
| DNR contact | Grand River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Afton (3 mi), Creston (6 mi) and Macksburg (7 mi) |
What is Three Mile Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 lake, 1/4 timber, 1/2 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Three Mile Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Three Mile Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Three Mile 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 Three Mile Wildlife Area?
Three Mile Wildlife Area lies in Union County. Hunters reported 1,051 deer in Union County in 2025, against 1,074 in 2024.
| County | Three Mile Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 2,677 | 1,051 | 1,074 | 1,250 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Three Mile Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 3.5 miles N of Afton on P53, 1 mile W on 150th St.
Nearest towns: Afton (3 miles), Creston (6 miles), Macksburg (7 miles) and Arispe (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 34 and US 169. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Three Mile Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Three Mile Lake County Park: 453 acres, next to it
- Twelve Mile Lake - Union: 1,485 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Groesbeck County Wildlife Area: 108 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Mitchell Marsh: 301 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Green Valley State Recreation Area: 69 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Talmage Hill Wildlife Area: 209 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Three Mile Wildlife Area
Counting Three Mile Wildlife Area itself, 4,795 of the 43,390 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.1%), 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 | 4,614 |
| County conservation board and city land | 179 |
| Other DNR land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Three Mile Wildlife Area?
In Union County, 3 miles from Afton.
What can you hunt on Three Mile Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Three Mile Wildlife Area?
4,795 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Three Mile Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Three Mile Lake County Park (next to it).
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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.