Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area is 1,296 acres of public hunting land in Linn County, next to Palo, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 2,454 deer in Linn 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 landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landChain-O-Lakes Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,296 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Linn County |
| Deer harvest unit | Linn County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/4 Upland, 1/4 Marsh, 1/2 Timber |
| DNR contact | Iowa River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Palo (next to it), Hiawatha (4 mi) and Robins (4 mi) |
What is Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/4 upland, 1/4 marsh, 1/2 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area?
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 Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area?
Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area lies in Linn County. Hunters reported 2,454 deer in Linn County in 2025, against 2,208 in 2024.
| County | Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linn County | 1,296 | 2,454 | 2,208 | 2,128 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile E of Palo on Blairs Ferry Rd.
Nearest towns: Palo (next to it), Hiawatha (4 miles), Robins (4 miles) and Shellsburg (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-380, IA 100, IA 94 and IA 199.
What other public land is near Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Chain Lakes Natural Area: 454 acres, next to it
- Palo Marsh Natural Area: 110 acres, next to it
- Wickiup Hill Natural Area: 661 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Otter Creek Natural Area: 38 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Linn Learning Farm: 286 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area: 1,984 acres, 2.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area
Counting Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area itself, 3,554 of the 35,681 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10%), 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 | 2,676 |
| County conservation board and city land | 875 |
| Other DNR land | 2 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area?
In Linn County, next to Palo.
What can you hunt on Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area?
3,554 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Chain-O-Lakes Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Chain Lakes Natural Area (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.