Cheever Lake: hunting and access
Cheever Lake is 382 acres of public hunting land in Emmet County, 2 miles from Estherville, 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 areasState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landCheever LakeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 382 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Emmet County |
| Deer harvest unit | Emmet County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Marsh, 1/4 Upland, 1/4 Timber |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Estherville (2 mi), Superior (5 mi) and Wallingford (5 mi) |
What is Cheever Lake like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 marsh, 1/4 upland, 1/4 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Cheever Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Cheever Lake.
What are the rules on Cheever 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 Cheever Lake?
Cheever Lake lies in Emmet County. Hunters reported 237 deer in Emmet County in 2025, against 232 in 2024.
| County | Cheever Lake acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmet County | 382 | 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 Cheever Lake?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile S of Estherville on Hwy 4, 3 miles W on 190th St.
Nearest towns: Estherville (2 miles), Superior (5 miles), Wallingford (5 miles) and Terril (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 4 and IA 9.
What other public land is near Cheever Lake?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Cheever Lake WPA: 134 acres, next to it
- Four Mile Lake: 534 acres, 1 mile away
- Four Mile Lake WPA: 280 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Anderson Prairie Complex: 896 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Twelve Mile Lake - Emmet: 395 acres, 4.4 miles away
- Twelve Mile Lake WPA: 161 acres, 4.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Cheever Lake
Counting Cheever Lake itself, 1,673 of the 27,393 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.1%), 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 | 1,330 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 241 |
| County conservation board and city land | 97 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 4 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Cheever Lake?
In Emmet County, 2 miles from Estherville.
What can you hunt on Cheever Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Cheever Lake?
1,673 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Cheever Lake included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Cheever Lake WPA (next to it).
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.