Hunting and Fishing in Union County

Union County is rapidly becoming southwest Iowa’s wildlife and outdoor recreation capitol. Located along and near Highway 34, with easy access to Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 the lakes and beautiful landscape are easily accessible to the avid outdoorsman and those who enjoy the outdoors and the beauty which Southwest Iowa offers.

Whether its deer or turkey, waterfowl or pheasants, walleye, muskie or the lowly catfish, opportunities for hunting and fishing are plentiful in and around Union County. Union County’s High Lakes offer an array of outdoor recreational opportunities unmatched in southern Iowa.  Five lakes including award winning 3-Mile Lake, Twelve Mile Lake and Green Valley State Park along with 2,500 acres of publicly owned woodland and prairie….all conveniently located within a 20-mile radius of each other are located here. (Please click on the Parks & Recreational Sites Link above for details on additional spots in Union County).

The lakes offer opportunities for water-skiing, boating, camping, hiking and picnicking and some great year around fishing for the entire family.

The duck and goose hunting is excellent.  Turkeys were stocked in the area in the late 70’s and have expanded to the point where just about every patch of woods has turkeys now.  

The region has become a favorite for deer hunters as well.

Thousands of acres of CRP and cropland furnish an excellent habitat for wildlife. Or, if you prefer, you can hunt along the banks of Three Mile and Twelve-Mile Lakes, where hundreds of acres of cover and food plots have been created to draw wildlife.

Other Outdoor Activities to Enjoy

Two great golf courses can also be found in Union County along with an expanding hiking and biking trail which now runs from McKinley Park in Creston north to Green Valley State Park. This Park to Park Trail is paved over five miles and once at Green Valley State Park it connects with 3.5 miles of paved trail around Green Valley Lake to the Campground. Another 6 miles of grass surface trail  (suitable for walking and mountain biking) continues from the campground around the lake.

The High Lakes Outdoor Alliance Shooting Range is the newest addition to outdoor activities in Union County. Located north of Three Mile Lake the range consists of 5 separate ATA certified trap shooting stations, 50 yard pistol range, rifle range with targets at 100, 200, 300, 400, 600 and 800 yards and a club house at the facility.