Iowa publishes deer harvest in a form FDR could rank for 13 public hunting areas. Backbone State Park is highest at 23.2 deer harvested per square mile in 2025. Lake Darling State Park has 10.6 in 2025 and Pine Lake State Park has 9.4 in 2025. The rankings describe reported harvest and do not measure access or hunting pressure.
KEY FINDINGS
- Backbone State Park has the highest harvest per square mile at 23.2. The agency reported 64 deer on 1,763 acres in 2025.
- 13 public hunting areas are ranked. Ranks compare areas measured between 2023 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
Iowa public land rankings
Best public land in Iowa
Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2023 through 2025. Captured October 19, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Download all ranked rows (CSV)
Public hunting areas
Top 13 of 13 ranked public hunting areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
13 of 13 areas shown
| 1 | Backbone State Park | 1,763 | 2025 | 64 | 23.2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Lake Darling State Park | 1,386 | 2025 | 23 | 10.6 |
| 3 | Pine Lake State Park | 680 | 2025 | 10 | 9.4 |
| 4 | Ledges State Park | 1,086 | 2025 | 12 | 7.1 |
| 5 | Green Valley State Park | 987 | 2025 | 9 | 5.8 |
| 6 | Honey Creek State Park | 781 | 2024 | 7 | 5.7 |
| 7 | Stone State Park | 1,415 | 2025 | 12 | 5.4 |
| 8 | Elk Rock State Park | 997 | 2024 | 8 | 5.1 |
| 9 | Lake Ahquabi State Park | 786 | 2025 | 6 | 4.9 |
| 10 | Lake Macbride State Park | 2,081 | 2024 | 12 | 3.7 |
| 11 | Springbrook State Park | 772 | 2025 | 4 | 3.3 |
| 12 | Bellevue State Park | 777 | 2023 | 2 | 1.6 |
| 13 | Lake Wapello State Park | 1,156 | 2025 | 2 | 1.1 |
01Public hunting areas
13 areas ranked on harvest per square mile
Backbone State Park has the most deer harvested per square mile at 23.2 in 2025. Lake Darling State Park has 10.6 in 2025 and Pine Lake State Park has 9.4 in 2025.
The top 13 run from 23.2 down to 1.1 deer harvested per square mile.
02Basis of this report
Sources and method
FDR divided the agency's deer harvest by the area's size to get harvest per square mile. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Ranks compare areas measured between 2023 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Tied values share a rank and the order uses the unrounded values.
A ranking does not evaluate an individual property and does not confirm that it is open to hunting for you.
Sources
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2023 through 2025. Captured October 19, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR rankings are independent analysis of state agency numbers. A ranking does not evaluate an individual property.
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