Garlock Slough: hunting and access
Garlock Slough is 557 acres of public hunting land in Dickinson County, next to Wahpeton, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 304 deer in Dickinson 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 landLand trusts and other open landIHAP landGarlock SloughCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 557 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Dickinson County |
| Deer harvest unit | Dickinson County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Marsh, 1/2 Upland Prairie |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Great Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Wahpeton (next to it), Milford (next to it) and Arnolds Park (2 mi) |
What is Garlock Slough like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 marsh, 1/2 upland prairie.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Garlock Slough?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Garlock Slough.
What are the rules on Garlock Slough?
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 Garlock Slough?
Garlock Slough lies in Dickinson County. Hunters reported 304 deer in Dickinson County in 2025, against 255 in 2024.
| County | Garlock Slough acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson County | 557 | 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 Garlock Slough?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile N of Milford on Hwy 71.
Nearest towns: Wahpeton (next to it), Milford (next to it), Arnolds Park (2 miles) and Okoboji (3 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 71, IA 9 and IA 86. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Garlock Slough?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Garlock Slough WPA: 344 acres, next to it
- Little Sioux Savanna: 219 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Little Foote Forest: 73 acres, 1 mile away
- Cayler Prairie Complex: 1,147 acres, 1 mile away
- West Okoboji Wetlands Complex WPA: 216 acres, 1 mile away
- West Okoboji Wetlands Complex: 131 acres, 1.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Garlock Slough
Counting Garlock Slough itself, 8,008 of the 35,301 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (22.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Other DNR land | 4,234 |
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 3,115 |
| County conservation board and city land | 345 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 291 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 15 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 8 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Garlock Slough?
In Dickinson County, next to Wahpeton.
What can you hunt on Garlock Slough?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Garlock Slough?
8,008 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Garlock Slough included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Garlock Slough 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.