Brown's Lake Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Brown's Lake Wildlife Area is 1,157 acres of public hunting land in Woodbury County, next to Salix, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 406 deer in Woodbury 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 atlasOther DNR landCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landBrown's Lake Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,157 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Woodbury County |
| Deer harvest unit | Woodbury County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Quail |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Timber, 1/2 Upland, 1/4 Marsh |
| DNR contact | Missouri River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Salix (next to it), Sergeant Bluff (5 mi) and Sloan (7 mi) |
What is Brown's Lake Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 timber, 1/2 upland, 1/4 marsh.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Brown's Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and quail for Brown's Lake Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Brown's Lake Wildlife Area?
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 Brown's Lake Wildlife Area?
Brown's Lake Wildlife Area lies in Woodbury County. Hunters reported 406 deer in Woodbury County in 2025, against 418 in 2024.
| County | Brown's Lake Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury County | 1,157 | 406 | 418 | 519 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Brown's Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 2.25 miles W of I-29 Salix exit on Port Neal Rd.
Nearest towns: Salix (next to it), Sergeant Bluff (5 miles), Sloan (7 miles) and Bronson (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Brown's Lake Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Ips Property: 175 acres, next to it
- Snyder Bend WMA: 1,206 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Mile Long Island Wildlife Area: 242 acres, 2.1 miles away
- Glovers Point Wildlife Area: 68 acres, 2.4 miles away
- Lakeport Wildlife Area: 180 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Winnebago Bend - USACOE: 85 acres, 3.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Brown's Lake Wildlife Area
Counting Brown's Lake Wildlife Area itself, 3,391 of the 29,378 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.5%), 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 | 2,672 |
| Other DNR land | 665 |
| County conservation board and city land | 54 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Brown's Lake Wildlife Area?
In Woodbury County, next to Salix.
What can you hunt on Brown's Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and quail.
How much public land is around Brown's Lake Wildlife Area?
3,391 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Brown's Lake Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Ips Property (next to it).
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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.