Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit: hunting and access
Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit is 5,805 acres of public hunting land in Allamakee County, 2 miles from Waterville, managed by the DNR's forestry bureau. Hunters reported 3,498 deer in Allamakee 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 atlasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landYellow River State Forest - Paint Creek UnitCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 5,805 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Allamakee County |
| Deer harvest unit | Allamakee County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel and Waterfowl |
| Managed by | the DNR's forestry bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Forest |
| DNR contact | Area Forester |
| Nearest towns | Waterville (2 mi), Harpers Ferry (2 mi) and Marquette (7 mi) |
What is Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit like?
The DNR describes the habitat as forest.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and waterfowl for Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit.
What are the rules on Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit?
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 Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit?
Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit lies in Allamakee County. Hunters reported 3,498 deer in Allamakee County in 2025, against 3,602 in 2024.
| County | Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allamakee County | 5,805 | 3,498 | 3,602 | 3,327 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit?
Nearest towns: Waterville (2 miles), Harpers Ferry (2 miles), Marquette (7 miles) and McGregor (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 76 and IA 364. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Yellow River State Forest - Luster Heights Unit: 737 acres, next to it
- Yellow River State Forest - Waukon Junction Unit: 188 acres, next to it
- Waukon Junction Wildlife Area: 195 acres, next to it
- Yellow River State Forest - Paint Rock Unit: 868 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Upper Mississippi River Fish & Wildlife Refuge: 53,843 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River Unit: 1,054 acres, 1.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit
Counting Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit itself, 13,518 of the 59,396 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (22.8%), 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 | 11,823 |
| Other DNR land | 903 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 603 |
| County conservation board and city land | 94 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 52 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 43 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit?
In Allamakee County, 2 miles from Waterville.
What can you hunt on Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and waterfowl.
How much public land is around Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit?
13,518 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Yellow River State Forest - Luster Heights Unit (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.