Four Mile Lake: hunting and access
Four Mile Lake is 534 acres of public hunting land in Emmet and Dickinson counties, 2 miles from Superior, 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 landFour Mile LakeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 534 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Emmet County and Dickinson County |
| Deer harvest unit | Emmet County, Dickinson County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Marsh, 1/2 Upland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Superior (2 mi), Estherville (3 mi) and Terril (6 mi) |
What is Four Mile Lake like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 marsh, 1/2 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Four Mile Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Four Mile Lake.
What are the rules on Four Mile 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 Four Mile Lake?
Four Mile Lake lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 237 deer in Emmet County in 2025, against 232 in 2024.
| County | Four Mile Lake acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmet County | 347 | 237 | 232 | 211 |
| Dickinson County | 187 | 304 | 255 | 246 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Four Mile Lake?
The DNR's directions: 3 miles W of Estherville on Hwy 9, 1.5 miles S on 340th.
Nearest towns: Superior (2 miles), Estherville (3 miles), Terril (6 miles) and Wallingford (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 4, US 71 and IA 9.
What other public land is near Four Mile Lake?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Four Mile Lake WPA: 280 acres, next to it
- Cheever Lake WPA: 134 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Cheever Lake: 382 acres, 1 mile away
- Anderson Prairie Complex: 896 acres, 2 miles away
- Christopherson Slough Complex: 1,514 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Christopherson Slough Complex WPA: 727 acres, 2.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Four Mile Lake
Counting Four Mile Lake itself, 2,301 of the 30,168 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.6%), 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 | 1,998 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 241 |
| County conservation board and city land | 55 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 4 |
| Other DNR land | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Four Mile Lake?
In Emmet and Dickinson counties, 2 miles from Superior.
What can you hunt on Four Mile Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Four Mile Lake?
2,301 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Four Mile Lake included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Four Mile Lake 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.