Diamond Lake: hunting and access
Diamond Lake is 597 acres of public hunting land in Dickinson County, 5 miles from Orleans, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 304 deer in Dickinson 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 landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landDiamond LakeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 597 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Dickinson County |
| Deer harvest unit | Dickinson County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Shallow Lake, bordered by Timber, Grass, Wetlands |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Great Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Orleans (5 mi), Spirit Lake (5 mi) and Lake Park (6 mi) |
What is Diamond Lake like?
The DNR describes the habitat as shallow lake, bordered by timber, grass, wetlands.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Diamond Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Diamond Lake.
What are the rules on Diamond 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 Diamond Lake?
Diamond Lake lies in Dickinson County. Hunters reported 304 deer in Dickinson County in 2025, against 255 in 2024.
| County | Diamond Lake acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson County | 597 | 304 | 255 | 246 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Diamond Lake?
The DNR's directions: 3 miles W of Spirit Lake on Hwy 9, 3 miles N on Hwy 86.
Nearest towns: Orleans (5 miles), Spirit Lake (5 miles), Lake Park (6 miles) and Okoboji (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 9, IA 86 and US 71.
What other public land is near Diamond Lake?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Diamond Lake WPA: 560 acres, next to it
- Kettleson Hogsback Complex: 1,893 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Welch Lake WPA: 1,082 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Welch Lake: 379 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Jemmerson Slough Complex: 489 acres, 2.3 miles away
- Jemmerson Slough Complex WPA: 534 acres, 2.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Diamond Lake
Counting Diamond Lake itself, 4,837 of the 26,297 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (18.4%), 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 | 4,793 |
| Other DNR land | 26 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 14 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Diamond Lake?
In Dickinson County, 5 miles from Orleans.
What can you hunt on Diamond Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Diamond Lake?
4,837 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Diamond Lake included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Diamond 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.