Kettleson Hogsback Complex: hunting and access
Kettleson Hogsback Complex is 1,893 acres of public hunting land in Dickinson County, 3 miles from Orleans, 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 landKettleson Hogsback ComplexCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,893 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Dickinson County |
| Deer harvest unit | Dickinson County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Marsh, Upland, Timber, Prairie |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Great Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Orleans (3 mi), Spirit Lake (4 mi) and Okoboji (5 mi) |
What is Kettleson Hogsback Complex like?
The DNR describes the habitat as marsh, upland, timber, prairie.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Kettleson Hogsback Complex?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Kettleson Hogsback Complex.
What are the rules on Kettleson Hogsback 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 Kettleson Hogsback Complex?
Kettleson Hogsback Complex lies in Dickinson County. Hunters reported 304 deer in Dickinson County in 2025, against 255 in 2024.
| County | Kettleson Hogsback Complex acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson County | 1,876 | 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 Kettleson Hogsback Complex?
The DNR's directions: 3 miles N of Spirit Lake on Hwy 276, 1 mile W on 125th St.
Nearest towns: Orleans (3 miles), Spirit Lake (4 miles), Okoboji (5 miles) and Wahpeton (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 9, US 71 and IA 86.
What other public land is near Kettleson Hogsback Complex?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Kettleson Hogsback Complex WPA: 142 acres, next to it
- Diamond Lake: 597 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Jemmerson Slough Complex: 489 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Diamond Lake WPA: 560 acres, 0.6 miles away
- Welch Lake: 379 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Jemmerson Slough Complex WPA: 534 acres, 0.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Kettleson Hogsback Complex
Counting Kettleson Hogsback Complex itself, 6,364 of the 38,216 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (16.7%), 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 | 5,886 |
| Other DNR land | 392 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 53 |
| County conservation board and city land | 17 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 16 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Kettleson Hogsback Complex?
In Dickinson County, 3 miles from Orleans.
What can you hunt on Kettleson Hogsback Complex?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Kettleson Hogsback Complex?
6,364 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Kettleson Hogsback Complex included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Kettleson Hogsback 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.