Dewey's Pasture Complex: hunting and access
Dewey's Pasture Complex is 5,025 acres of public hunting land in Clay and Palo Alto counties, 2 miles from Ruthven, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 461 deer in Clay 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 landIHAP landDewey's Pasture ComplexCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 5,025 acres in 11 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Clay County and Palo Alto County |
| Deer harvest unit | Clay County, Palo Alto County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/5 Lakes, 2/5 Marsh, 1/5 Upland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Ruthven (2 mi), Dickens (3 mi) and Terril (6 mi) |
What is Dewey's Pasture Complex like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/5 lakes, 2/5 marsh, 1/5 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Dewey's Pasture Complex?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Dewey's Pasture Complex.
What are the rules on Dewey's Pasture Complex?
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 Dewey's Pasture Complex?
Dewey's Pasture Complex lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 461 deer in Clay County in 2025, against 427 in 2024.
| County | Dewey's Pasture Complex acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 2,865 | 461 | 427 | 462 |
| Palo Alto County | 2,160 | 279 | 244 | 370 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Dewey's Pasture Complex?
The DNR's directions: 0.5 mile W of Ruthven on Hwy 18, 4 miles N on N18.
Nearest towns: Ruthven (2 miles), Dickens (3 miles), Terril (6 miles) and Graettinger (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 18 and IA 314. 2 IHAP tracts within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Dewey's Pasture Complex?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Blue Wing Marsh: 580 acres, next to it
- Barringer Slough Wildlife Area: 1,282 acres, next to it
- Dewey's Pasture Complex WPA: 516 acres, next to it
- Blue Wing Marsh WPA: 445 acres, next to it
- Barringer Slough WPA: 336 acres, next to it
- Huston Prairie: 62 acres, next to it
Public land within 3 miles of Dewey's Pasture Complex
Counting Dewey's Pasture Complex itself, 9,268 of the 61,384 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (15.1%), 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 | 9,136 |
| County conservation board and city land | 64 |
| Other DNR land | 35 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 33 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Dewey's Pasture Complex?
In Clay and Palo Alto counties, 2 miles from Ruthven.
What can you hunt on Dewey's Pasture Complex?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Dewey's Pasture Complex?
9,268 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Dewey's Pasture Complex included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Blue Wing Marsh (next to it).
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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.