Ingham-High Wetland Complex: hunting and access
Ingham-High Wetland Complex is 2,447 acres of public hunting land in Emmet County, 3 miles from Wallingford, 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 landCounty conservation board and city landIngham-High Wetland ComplexCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,447 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Emmet County |
| Deer harvest unit | Emmet County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/3 Lake, Marsh, 1/3 Timber, Uplands |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Wallingford (3 mi), Gruver (4 mi) and Graettinger (4 mi) |
What is Ingham-High Wetland Complex like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/3 lake, marsh, 1/3 timber, uplands.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Ingham-High Wetland Complex?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Ingham-High Wetland Complex.
What are the rules on Ingham-High 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 Ingham-High Wetland Complex?
Ingham-High Wetland Complex lies in Emmet County. Hunters reported 237 deer in Emmet County in 2025, against 232 in 2024.
| County | Ingham-High Wetland Complex acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmet County | 2,447 | 237 | 232 | 211 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Ingham-High Wetland Complex?
The DNR's directions: 5 miles E of Wallingford on A34.
Nearest towns: Wallingford (3 miles), Gruver (4 miles), Graettinger (4 miles) and Ringsted (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 4.
What other public land is near Ingham-High Wetland Complex?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Ingham-High Wetland Complex WPA: 769 acres, next to it
- West Swan Lake WPA: 149 acres, next to it
- West Swan Lake: 993 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Burr Oak Lake: 593 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Burr Oak Lake WPA: 184 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Ryan Lake: 405 acres, 1.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ingham-High Wetland Complex
Counting Ingham-High Wetland Complex itself, 5,979 of the 56,888 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.5%), 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 | 5,674 |
| County conservation board and city land | 179 |
| Other DNR land | 111 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 15 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ingham-High Wetland Complex?
In Emmet County, 3 miles from Wallingford.
What can you hunt on Ingham-High Wetland Complex?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Ingham-High Wetland Complex?
5,979 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ingham-High Wetland Complex included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Ingham-High Wetland Complex 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.