Blog · October 14, 2026 · Iowa
Story County Hunting Map (Iowa)
Scouting private and public ground in Story County with the official parcel map, starting near Gilbert.
Main page: Story County, IA GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, Story County facts and neighboring maps).
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Every season, hunters around Ames ask the same thing about Story County hunting map: who do I call? The Story County, IA parcel map does that for free, with no login.
Below: finding owners on the Story County map, public ground in and near the county, asking permission the right way, and where Iowa hunting rules are published.
Scouting Story County hunting map on the parcel map
Open the Story County Beacon site, turn on aerial imagery, and pan the timber and field edges around Colo; click a tract to see the landowner and acreage. Write down the parcel ID, owner name and mailing address for each tract near Colo, then rank them by cover, access and size.
Finding the tract on the Story County map
Story County publishes its parcels on the Story County Beacon site, which runs on Schneider Geospatial's Beacon platform, free to use for a lot in Gilbert or a tract near Colo. Search a Colo address on the county search page, read the report, then jump to the map to see that parcel's outline. If the official address for the Story County, IA map ever changes, our directory page carries the current link for Gilbert and the rest of the county.
Public land, private land and the rules in Iowa
Around Colo, the hunting map is mostly private parcels, which makes the landowner field on the county record your main tool. Regulations change every year, so confirm Story County seasons and public access with Iowa Department of Natural Resources before you go.
How to approach an owner near Colo
Owners near Collins get plenty of requests; a clear one listing the county parcel ID and an offer to help with chores stands out. Trespass rules vary by state, so check Iowa law before assuming unposted land near Collins is open.
Keeping track of Story County landowners
Mid-sized properties around Cambridge with mixed timber and fields are where many Story County hunters focus first. A thank-you card and some of the harvest go a long way with county owners near Ames.
What Story County owners want to hear
On the county imagery, look for food, cover and water close together near Colo, then check how many owners share that ground. A postseason note to the landowner near Iowa Center, with what you saw on the county ground, is useful next year's request.
The Story County economy in brief
County Business Patterns counted 2,168 business establishments in Story County for 2022, led by retail trade, accommodation and food services, and other services. Agriculture and forestry support services and chemical manufacturing make up an above-average share of Story County businesses, a clue to how land around Nevada gets used.
Towns and land across Story County
Town lots cluster around Nevada, the county seat, and Ames, Cambridge, Collins, and Colo. Smaller places such as Fernald, Iowa Center, and Ontario appear on the county map as little clusters of lots. Roughly 573 square miles of land and about 98,566 residents (2023 estimate) make up Story County. Platted neighborhoods near Cambridge give way to rural acreage elsewhere in the county. Story County was organized in 1846, so deeds for older farms near Collins can run back a long way.
Lines, GPS and posted land
The Story County parcel lines are approximate; where a fence or posted signs near Iowa Center disagree with the map, stay on the safe side.
Story County, IA: common questions
Is there public hunting land in Story County?
Check the public hunting maps from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources; they show which areas in and near Story County are open and under what rules.
How do I find who owns hunting land in Story County?
Click the tract on the Story County Beacon site; the Story County record lists the landowner of record and a mailing address.
Do I need permission to hunt land near Cambridge that isn't posted?
Always get permission; posting rules vary in Iowa, and the landowner of land near Cambridge decides who hunts.
Can I lease hunting land in Story County?
Many owners near Cambridge lease by the season; put the terms, boundaries and liability in a written agreement.
What should I say when asking to hunt land near Iowa Center?
Give the county parcel ID for the land near Iowa Center, your game, your dates and a number to call.
Open the official Story County, IA parcel map Story County in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey, especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.