Twelve Mile Lake - Union: hunting and access
Twelve Mile Lake - Union is 1,485 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landTwelve Mile Lake - UnionCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,485 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Union County |
| Deer harvest unit | Union County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/3 Lake, 2/3 Upland |
| DNR contact | Grand River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Afton (3 mi), Creston (4 mi) and Arispe (7 mi) |
What is Twelve Mile Lake - Union like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/3 lake, 2/3 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Twelve Mile Lake - Union?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Twelve Mile Lake - Union.
What are the rules on Twelve Mile Lake - Union?
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 Twelve Mile Lake - Union?
Twelve Mile Lake - Union lies in Union County. Hunters reported 1,051 deer in Union County in 2025, against 1,074 in 2024.
| County | Twelve Mile Lake - Union acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 1,485 | 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 Twelve Mile Lake - Union?
The DNR's directions: 4 miles E of Creston on Hwy 34, 0.75 mile N of Lark Ave.
Nearest towns: Afton (3 miles), Creston (4 miles), Arispe (7 miles) and Cromwell (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 34 and US 169. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Twelve Mile Lake - Union?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Three Mile Wildlife Area: 2,677 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Three Mile Lake County Park: 453 acres, 2 miles away
- Mitchell Marsh: 301 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Green Valley State Recreation Area: 69 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Summit Lake - City of Creston: 161 acres, 4 miles away
- Groesbeck County Wildlife Area: 108 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Twelve Mile Lake - Union
Counting Twelve Mile Lake - Union itself, 4,796 of the 37,728 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.7%), 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 | 4,608 |
| County conservation board and city land | 186 |
| Other DNR land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Twelve Mile Lake - Union?
In Union County, 3 miles from Afton.
What can you hunt on Twelve Mile Lake - Union?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Twelve Mile Lake - Union?
4,796 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Twelve Mile Lake - Union included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Three Mile Wildlife Area (0.9 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.