V and W Petersen Wildlife Area: hunting and access
V and W Petersen Wildlife Area is 453 acres of public hunting land in Shelby County, 2 miles from Manilla, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 142 deer in Shelby 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 landV and W Petersen Wildlife AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 453 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Shelby County |
| Deer harvest unit | Shelby County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Rabbit, Quail and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Upland |
| DNR contact | Missouri River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Manilla (2 mi), Defiance (4 mi) and Irwin (5 mi) |
What is V and W Petersen Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on V and W Petersen Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, rabbit, quail and dove for V and W Petersen Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on V and W Petersen Wildlife Area?
It lies in the DNR's new Zone B, where resident general licenses are antlered-buck only (at least one forked antler) and party hunting is not allowed (DNR).
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 V and W Petersen Wildlife Area?
V and W Petersen Wildlife Area lies in Shelby County. Hunters reported 142 deer in Shelby County in 2025, against 154 in 2024.
| County | V and W Petersen Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | 453 | 142 | 154 | 246 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to V and W Petersen Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles S of Manilla on Quince Rd.
Nearest towns: Manilla (2 miles), Defiance (4 miles), Irwin (5 miles) and Aspinwall (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 141, US 59 and IA 45.
What other public land is near V and W Petersen Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Upper'nish' Habitat Area: 54 acres, 4.7 miles away
- Great Western Park: 300 acres, 8.2 miles away
- Six Bee Tree Nature Area: 40 acres, 9.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of V and W Petersen Wildlife Area
Counting V and W Petersen Wildlife Area itself, 454 of the 25,292 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.8%), 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 | 453 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is V and W Petersen Wildlife Area?
In Shelby County, 2 miles from Manilla.
What can you hunt on V and W Petersen Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, rabbit, quail and dove.
How much public land is around V and W Petersen Wildlife Area?
454 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, V and W Petersen Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Upper'nish' Habitat Area (4.7 miles).
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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.