Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River Unit: hunting and access
Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River Unit is 1,054 acres of public hunting land in Allamakee County, 4 miles from Marquette, 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 landLand trusts and other open landYellow River State Forest - Yellow River UnitCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,054 acres |
|---|---|
| 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 | Marquette (4 mi), McGregor (5 mi) and Harpers Ferry (7 mi) |
What is Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River 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 - Yellow River Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and waterfowl for Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River Unit.
What are the rules on Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River 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 - Yellow River Unit?
Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River 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 - Yellow River Unit acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allamakee County | 1,054 | 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 - Yellow River Unit?
Nearest towns: Marquette (4 miles), McGregor (5 miles), Harpers Ferry (7 miles) and Waterville (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 76, IA 364 and US 18.
What other public land is near Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River Unit?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Yellow River State Forest - Luster Heights Unit: 737 acres, 1 mile away
- Yellow River State Forest - Lost 40 Unit: 161 acres, 1 mile away
- Yellow River State Forest - Paint Creek Unit: 5,805 acres, 1.1 miles away
- Waukon Junction Wildlife Area: 195 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Upper Mississippi River Fish & Wildlife Refuge: 53,843 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Yellow River State Forest - Waukon Junction Unit: 188 acres, 2.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River Unit
Counting Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River Unit itself, 7,236 of the 29,788 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (24.3%), 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 | 4,262 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 2,319 |
| Other DNR land | 609 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 27 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 12 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 7 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River Unit?
In Allamakee County, 4 miles from Marquette.
What can you hunt on Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River Unit?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel and waterfowl.
How much public land is around Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River Unit?
7,236 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Yellow River State Forest - Yellow River 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 (1 mile).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Iowa are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.