Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet: hunting and access
Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet is 538 acres of public hunting land in Emmet County, 5 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 areasOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landEagle Lake WPA - EmmetCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 538 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| 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) | 3/4 Marsh, 1/4 Upland & Timber |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Estherville (5 mi), Superior (6 mi) and Gruver (8 mi) |
What is Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 marsh, 1/4 upland & timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet.
What are the rules on Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet?
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 Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet?
Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet lies in Emmet County. Hunters reported 237 deer in Emmet County in 2025, against 232 in 2024.
| County | Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmet County | 538 | 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 Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet?
Nearest towns: Estherville (5 miles), Superior (6 miles), Gruver (8 miles) and Dolliver (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 4.
What other public land is near Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Eagle Lake - Emmet: 325 acres, next to it
- Anderson Prairie Complex: 896 acres, 2 miles away
- Ringham Habitat Area: 80 acres, 2 miles away
- Grass Lake: 176 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Christopherson Slough Complex WPA: 727 acres, 3.9 miles away
- Christopherson Slough Complex: 1,514 acres, 3.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet
Counting Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet itself, 1,854 of the 28,779 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.4%), 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 | 1,842 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 10 |
| Other DNR land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet?
In Emmet County, 5 miles from Estherville.
What can you hunt on Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet?
1,854 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Eagle Lake WPA - Emmet included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Eagle Lake - Emmet (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.