Iowa Lake - Emmet: hunting and access
Iowa Lake - Emmet is 522 acres of public hunting land in Emmet County, 6 miles from Armstrong, 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 areasIHAP landIowa Lake - EmmetCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 522 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Emmet County |
| Deer harvest unit | Emmet County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Shallow Lake, 1/2 Upland/Timber |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Armstrong (6 mi), Dolliver (7 mi) and Swea City (10 mi) |
What is Iowa Lake - Emmet like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 shallow lake, 1/2 upland/timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Iowa Lake - Emmet?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Iowa Lake - Emmet.
What are the rules on Iowa Lake - Emmet?
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 Iowa Lake - Emmet?
Iowa Lake - Emmet lies in Emmet County. Hunters reported 237 deer in Emmet County in 2025, against 232 in 2024.
| County | Iowa Lake - Emmet acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmet County | 522 | 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 Iowa Lake - Emmet?
The DNR's directions: 7 miles N of Armstrong on Hwy 15, 0.5 mile W on 110th St.
Nearest towns: Armstrong (6 miles), Dolliver (7 miles), Swea City (10 miles) and Ringsted (13 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 15. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Iowa Lake - Emmet?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Iowa Lake Marsh: 444 acres, next to it
- Iowa Lake Marsh WPA: 134 acres, next to it
- Goose Lake - Kossuth WPA: 160 acres, 1.7 miles away
- Goose Lake - Kossuth: 289 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Burt Lake: 218 acres, 2.2 miles away
- State Line Marsh WPA: 134 acres, 3.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Iowa Lake - Emmet
Counting Iowa Lake - Emmet itself, 1,640 of the 27,282 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (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 | 1,634 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 5 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Iowa Lake - Emmet?
In Emmet County, 6 miles from Armstrong.
What can you hunt on Iowa Lake - Emmet?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Iowa Lake - Emmet?
1,640 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Iowa Lake - Emmet included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Iowa Lake Marsh (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.