Turkey River Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Turkey River Wildlife Area is 410 acres of public hunting land in Howard County, 2 miles from Cresco, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 832 deer in Howard 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 landTurkey River Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 410 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Howard County |
| Deer harvest unit | Howard County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Timber, 1/2 Upland, Turkey River |
| DNR contact | Upper Iowa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Cresco (2 mi), Ridgeway (5 mi) and Protivin (8 mi) |
What is Turkey River Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 timber, 1/2 upland, turkey river.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Turkey River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and dove for Turkey River Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Turkey 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 Turkey River Wildlife Area?
Turkey River Wildlife Area lies in Howard County. Hunters reported 832 deer in Howard County in 2025, against 810 in 2024.
| County | Turkey River Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County | 410 | 832 | 810 | 782 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Turkey River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile S of Cresco on V58, 0.6 mile E on Kings Rd.
Nearest towns: Cresco (2 miles), Ridgeway (5 miles), Protivin (8 miles) and Spillville (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 9 and IA 139. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Turkey River Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Martinek Wildlife Area: 25 acres, next to it
- Cleghorn Wildlife Area: 40 acres, next to it
- Cardinal Marsh: 1,174 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Miner Wildlife Area: 66 acres, 1 mile away
- Thomson Marsh: 40 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Mullen Wildlife Area: 140 acres, 5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Turkey River Wildlife Area
Counting Turkey River Wildlife Area itself, 1,932 of the 26,074 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.4%), 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 | 1,761 |
| County conservation board and city land | 169 |
| Other DNR land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Turkey River Wildlife Area?
In Howard County, 2 miles from Cresco.
What can you hunt on Turkey River Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Turkey River Wildlife Area?
1,932 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Turkey 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 Martinek Wildlife Area (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.