Goose Lake Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Goose Lake Wildlife Area is 1,289 acres of public hunting land in Clinton County, next to Goose Lake, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,414 deer in Clinton 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landGoose Lake Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,289 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Deer harvest unit | Clinton County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Marsh, 1/4 Timber & Upland |
| DNR contact | Maquoketa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Goose Lake (next to it), Charlotte (3 mi) and Preston (5 mi) |
What is Goose Lake Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 marsh, 1/4 timber & upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Goose Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Goose Lake Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Goose Lake Wildlife Area?
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 Goose Lake Wildlife Area?
Goose Lake Wildlife Area lies in Clinton County. Hunters reported 1,414 deer in Clinton County in 2025, against 1,324 in 2024.
| County | Goose Lake Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County | 1,289 | 1,414 | 1,324 | 1,271 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Goose Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile W of Goose Lake on Hwy 136.
Nearest towns: Goose Lake (next to it), Charlotte (3 miles), Preston (5 miles) and Miles (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 136 and IA 64.
What other public land is near Goose Lake Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Manikowski Prairie: 153 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Brophy Wildlife Area: 45 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Richardson Timber Preserve: 20 acres, 9.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Goose Lake Wildlife Area
Counting Goose Lake Wildlife Area itself, 1,521 of the 32,617 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.7%), 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 | 1,487 |
| County conservation board and city land | 34 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Goose Lake Wildlife Area?
In Clinton County, next to Goose Lake.
What can you hunt on Goose Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around Goose Lake Wildlife Area?
1,521 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Goose Lake Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Manikowski Prairie (0.6 miles).
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.