Brights Lake: hunting and access
Brights Lake is 521 acres of public hunting land in Worth County, 6 miles from Lake Mills, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 468 deer in Worth 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 areasOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landBrights LakeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 521 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Worth County |
| Deer harvest unit | Worth County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel and Pheasant |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Drained Lakebed, 1/4 Timber |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Clear Lake Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Lake Mills (6 mi), Scarville (7 mi) and Joice (9 mi) |
What is Brights Lake like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 drained lakebed, 1/4 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Brights Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel and pheasant for Brights Lake.
What are the rules on Brights Lake?
The DNR's layer marks this area as nontoxic shot only.
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 Brights Lake?
Brights Lake lies in Worth County. Hunters reported 468 deer in Worth County in 2025, against 471 in 2024.
| County | Brights Lake acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worth County | 519 | 468 | 471 | 447 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Brights Lake?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile E of Emmons, MN on 510th St.
Nearest towns: Lake Mills (6 miles), Scarville (7 miles), Joice (9 miles) and Northwood (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 69, I-35, IA 27 and IA 16.
What other public land is near Brights Lake?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Northern Prairie WMA: 39 acres, next to it
- Silver Lake - Worth: 415 acres, 1 mile away
- Wood Duck Hollow: 30 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Hogsback Marsh WPA: 665 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Hogsback Marsh Wildlife Area: 672 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Lost Cabin Grove: 143 acres, 3.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Brights Lake
Counting Brights Lake itself, 1,432 of the 26,708 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.4%), 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 | 1,397 |
| County conservation board and city land | 30 |
| Other DNR land | 4 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Brights Lake?
In Worth County, 6 miles from Lake Mills.
What can you hunt on Brights Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel and pheasant. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Brights Lake?
1,432 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Brights Lake included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Northern Prairie WMA (next to it).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
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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.