Big Sioux River Complex: hunting and access
Big Sioux River Complex is 1,434 acres of public hunting land in Lyon and Sioux counties, 4 miles from Inwood, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 226 deer in Lyon 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landBig Sioux River ComplexCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,434 acres in 11 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Lyon County and Sioux County |
| Deer harvest unit | Lyon County, Sioux County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Timber, Upland, River |
| DNR contact | Great Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Inwood (4 mi), Larchwood (6 mi) and Hawarden (9 mi) |
What is Big Sioux River Complex like?
The DNR describes the habitat as timber, upland, river.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Big Sioux River Complex?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and dove for Big Sioux River Complex.
What are the rules on Big Sioux River Complex?
It lies in the DNR's new Zone B, where resident general licenses are antlered-buck only (at least one forked antler) and party hunting is not allowed (DNR).
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 Big Sioux River Complex?
Big Sioux River Complex lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 226 deer in Lyon County in 2025, against 244 in 2024.
| County | Big Sioux River Complex acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon County | 936 | 226 | 244 | 267 |
| Sioux County | 419 | 165 | 158 | 234 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Big Sioux River Complex?
Nearest towns: Inwood (4 miles), Larchwood (6 miles), Hawarden (9 miles) and Rock Valley (9 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 18 and IA 182.
What other public land is near Big Sioux River Complex?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Blankespoon Wildlife Area: 162 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Fairview Area: 102 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Hidden Bridge Wildlife Area: 166 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Peterson Prairie Wildlife Area: 321 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Lake Pahoja Recreation Park: 298 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Fairview Wildlife Complex: 458 acres, 2.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Big Sioux River Complex
Counting Big Sioux River Complex itself, 2,658 of the 95,494 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.8%), 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 | 2,646 |
| County conservation board and city land | 9 |
| Other DNR land | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Big Sioux River Complex?
In Lyon and Sioux counties, 4 miles from Inwood.
What can you hunt on Big Sioux River Complex?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and dove.
How much public land is around Big Sioux River Complex?
2,658 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Big Sioux River Complex included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Blankespoon Wildlife Area (1.3 miles).
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.