Fallow Marsh: hunting and access
Fallow Marsh is 301 acres of public hunting land in Palo Alto County, 4 miles from Graettinger, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 279 deer in Palo Alto 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 areasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landFallow MarshCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 301 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Palo Alto County |
| Deer harvest unit | Palo Alto County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/3 Marsh, 2/3 Upland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Graettinger (4 mi), Ruthven (6 mi) and Emmetsburg (7 mi) |
What is Fallow Marsh like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/3 marsh, 2/3 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Fallow Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Fallow Marsh.
What are the rules on Fallow Marsh?
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 Fallow Marsh?
Fallow Marsh lies in Palo Alto County. Hunters reported 279 deer in Palo Alto County in 2025, against 244 in 2024.
| County | Fallow Marsh acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto County | 301 | 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 Fallow Marsh?
The DNR's directions: 3 miles S of Graettinger on Hwy 4, 2 miles W on 320th St.
Nearest towns: Graettinger (4 miles), Ruthven (6 miles), Emmetsburg (7 miles) and Wallingford (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 4, US 18 and IA 314. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Fallow Marsh?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Fallow Marsh WPA: 76 acres, next to it
- Perkin's Marsh: 60 acres, 1 mile away
- Blue Wing Marsh: 580 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Blue Wing Marsh WPA: 445 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Dewey's Pasture Complex: 5,025 acres, 3 miles away
- Dewey's Pasture Complex WPA: 516 acres, 3.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Fallow Marsh
Counting Fallow Marsh itself, 734 of the 27,499 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.7%), 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 | 707 |
| County conservation board and city land | 25 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Fallow Marsh?
In Palo Alto County, 4 miles from Graettinger.
What can you hunt on Fallow Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Fallow Marsh?
734 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Fallow Marsh included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Fallow Marsh WPA (next to it).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
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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.