Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area is 2,048 acres of public hunting land in Benton County, next to Vinton, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,060 deer in Benton 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 landCounty conservation board and city landDudgeon Lake Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,048 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Benton County |
| Deer harvest unit | Benton County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl 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 | Vinton (next to it), Mount Auburn (3 mi) and Garrison (6 mi) |
What is Dudgeon Lake 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 Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Dudgeon Lake 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 Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area?
Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area lies in Benton County. Hunters reported 1,060 deer in Benton County in 2025, against 1,127 in 2024.
| County | Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County | 2,048 | 1,060 | 1,127 | 1,082 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 0.5 mile N of Vinton on Hwy 150.
Nearest towns: Vinton (next to it), Mount Auburn (3 miles), Garrison (6 miles) and Urbana (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 218, IA 150 and IA 198.
What other public land is near Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Red Fox Wildlife Area: 198 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Butterfield Island Wildlife Area: 40 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Hoefle-Dulin Area Park: 65 acres, 1.7 miles away
- County Care Facility Wildlife Area: 30 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Minnie Estema Access: 64 acres, 2.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area
Counting Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area itself, 2,589 of the 38,990 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.6%), 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 | 2,395 |
| County conservation board and city land | 189 |
| Other DNR land | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area?
In Benton County, next to Vinton.
What can you hunt on Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl and dove.
How much public land is around Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area?
2,589 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Red Fox Wildlife Area (0.6 miles).
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.