Burr Oak Lake: hunting and access
Burr Oak Lake is 593 acres of public hunting land in Emmet County, 3 miles from Wallingford, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 237 deer in Emmet 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 landCounty conservation board and city landBurr Oak LakeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 593 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Emmet County |
| Deer harvest unit | Emmet County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Marsh, 1/2 Upland, 1/4 Timber |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Wallingford (3 mi), Graettinger (3 mi) and Gruver (7 mi) |
What is Burr Oak Lake like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 marsh, 1/2 upland, 1/4 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Burr Oak Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Burr Oak Lake.
What are the rules on Burr Oak 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 Burr Oak Lake?
Burr Oak Lake lies in Emmet County. Hunters reported 237 deer in Emmet County in 2025, against 232 in 2024.
| County | Burr Oak Lake acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmet County | 593 | 237 | 232 | 211 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Burr Oak Lake?
The DNR's directions: 3 miles E of Wallingford on A34, 2 miles S on 430th Ave.
Nearest towns: Wallingford (3 miles), Graettinger (3 miles), Gruver (7 miles) and Estherville (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 4.
What other public land is near Burr Oak Lake?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Burr Oak Lake WPA: 184 acres, next to it
- Ingham-High Wetland Complex: 2,447 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Ingham-High Wetland Complex WPA: 769 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Twelve Mile Lake - Emmet: 395 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Twelve Mile Lake WPA: 161 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Ryan Lake: 405 acres, 4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Burr Oak Lake
Counting Burr Oak Lake itself, 2,493 of the 29,383 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.5%), 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 | 2,290 |
| County conservation board and city land | 185 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 9 |
| Other DNR land | 9 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Burr Oak Lake?
In Emmet County, 3 miles from Wallingford.
What can you hunt on Burr Oak Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Burr Oak Lake?
2,493 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Burr Oak Lake included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Burr Oak Lake WPA (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.