Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin: hunting and access
Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin is 635 acres of public hunting land in Franklin and Wright counties, 2 miles from Dows, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 527 deer in Franklin 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 landWhitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, FranklinCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 635 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Franklin County and Wright County |
| Deer harvest unit | Franklin County, Wright County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Marsh, 1/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Clear Lake Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Dows (2 mi), Popejoy (3 mi) and Galt (7 mi) |
What is Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 marsh, 1/4 timber, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin.
What are the rules on Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin?
The DNR's layer marks this area as nontoxic shot only.
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 Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin?
Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 527 deer in Franklin County in 2025, against 530 in 2024.
| County | Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 507 | 527 | 530 | 618 |
| Wright County | 128 | 365 | 364 | 402 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles S of Dows on S13, 0.5 mile S on Apricot Ave.
Nearest towns: Dows (2 miles), Popejoy (3 miles), Galt (7 miles) and Williams (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-35.
What other public land is near Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Oakland-Iowa River Conservation Area: 193 acres, next to it
- Groom Wildlife Management Area: 158 acres, 5.2 miles away
- Bessman-Kemp Wildlife Area: 62 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Coulter Marsh Wildlife Area: 185 acres, 6.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin
Counting Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin itself, 919 of the 31,050 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3%), 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 | 834 |
| County conservation board and city land | 85 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin?
In Franklin and Wright counties, 2 miles from Dows.
What can you hunt on Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin?
919 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Whitetail Flats Wildlife Area - Wright, Franklin included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Oakland-Iowa River Conservation Area (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.