Elk Lake Wetland Complex: hunting and access
Elk Lake Wetland Complex is 532 acres of public hunting land in Clay and Palo Alto counties, 3 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 landElk Lake Wetland ComplexCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 532 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Clay County and Palo Alto County |
| Deer harvest unit | Clay County, Palo Alto County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Lake, 1/4 Marsh, 1/4 Upland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Ruthven (3 mi), Ayrshire (5 mi) and Dickens (6 mi) |
What is Elk Lake Wetland Complex like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 lake, 1/4 marsh, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Elk Lake Wetland Complex?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Elk Lake Wetland Complex.
What are the rules on Elk Lake Wetland 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 Elk Lake Wetland Complex?
Elk Lake Wetland Complex lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 461 deer in Clay County in 2025, against 427 in 2024.
| County | Elk Lake Wetland Complex acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 467 | 461 | 427 | 462 |
| Palo Alto County | 65 | 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 Elk Lake Wetland Complex?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles W of Ruthven on Hwy 18, 3 miles S on 330th.
Nearest towns: Ruthven (3 miles), Ayrshire (5 miles), Dickens (6 miles) and Gillett Grove (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 18 and IA 314. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Elk Lake Wetland Complex?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Elk Lake Wetland Complex WPA: 189 acres, next to it
- Virgin Lake: 402 acres, next to it
- Fen Valley Wildlife Area: 824 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Du Marsh: 229 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Silver Lake - Palo Alto: 848 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Du Marsh WPA: 49 acres, 2.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Elk Lake Wetland Complex
Counting Elk Lake Wetland Complex itself, 2,084 of the 26,632 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.8%), 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 | 2,056 |
| County conservation board and city land | 16 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 9 |
| Other DNR land | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Elk Lake Wetland Complex?
In Clay and Palo Alto counties, 3 miles from Ruthven.
What can you hunt on Elk Lake Wetland Complex?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Elk Lake Wetland Complex?
2,084 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Elk Lake Wetland Complex included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Elk Lake Wetland Complex 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.