East Twin Lake: hunting and access
East Twin Lake is 490 acres of public hunting land in Hancock County, 4 miles from Kanawha, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 334 deer in Hancock 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 atlasEast Twin LakeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 490 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Hancock County |
| Deer harvest unit | Hancock County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant and Waterfowl |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/3 Marsh, 1/3 Timber/ Grassland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Clear Lake Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Kanawha (4 mi), Goodell (4 mi) and Klemme (7 mi) |
What is East Twin Lake like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/3 marsh, 1/3 timber/ grassland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on East Twin Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant and waterfowl for East Twin Lake.
What are the rules on East Twin 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 East Twin Lake?
East Twin Lake lies in Hancock County. Hunters reported 334 deer in Hancock County in 2025, against 285 in 2024.
| County | East Twin Lake acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock County | 490 | 334 | 285 | 299 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to East Twin Lake?
The DNR's directions: 4 miles E of Kanawha on 120th St.
Nearest towns: Kanawha (4 miles), Goodell (4 miles), Klemme (7 miles) and Belmond (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 69.
What other public land is near East Twin Lake?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- West Twin Lake: 105 acres, next to it
- Olaf WPA: 38 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Indian Pipes WMA: 130 acres, 2.9 miles away
- Sullivan Wildlife Management Area: 65 acres, 5.1 miles away
- Tusha Wildlife Area: 42 acres, 5.3 miles away
- Lau Wildlife Area: 64 acres, 5.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of East Twin Lake
Counting East Twin Lake itself, 625 of the 26,073 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.4%), 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 | 624 |
| County conservation board and city land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is East Twin Lake?
In Hancock County, 4 miles from Kanawha.
What can you hunt on East Twin Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant and waterfowl. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around East Twin Lake?
625 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, East Twin Lake included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is West Twin Lake (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.