Myre Slough: hunting and access
Myre Slough is 430 acres of public hunting land in Winnebago County, 5 miles from Crystal Lake, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 338 deer in Winnebago 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 landIHAP landMyre SloughCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 430 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Winnebago County |
| Deer harvest unit | Winnebago County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant and Waterfowl |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/3 Marsh, 1/3 Timber/ Grassland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Clear Lake Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Crystal Lake (5 mi), Thompson (5 mi) and Forest City (6 mi) |
What is Myre Slough like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/3 marsh, 1/3 timber/ grassland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Myre Slough?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant and waterfowl for Myre Slough.
What are the rules on Myre 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 Myre Slough?
Myre Slough lies in Winnebago County. Hunters reported 338 deer in Winnebago County in 2025, against 287 in 2024.
| County | Myre Slough acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago County | 430 | 338 | 287 | 296 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Myre Slough?
The DNR's directions: 5 miles S of Thompson on 100th Ave.
Nearest towns: Crystal Lake (5 miles), Thompson (5 miles), Forest City (6 miles) and Leland (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 9.
What other public land is near Myre Slough?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Myre Slough WPA: 111 acres, next to it
- Thorpe Park: 158 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Russ Wildlife Area: 101 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Osmundson Slough: 158 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Eight Mile Pits: 266 acres, 1.8 miles away
- Lake Edwards Wildlife Area: 175 acres, 2.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Myre Slough
Counting Myre Slough itself, 1,456 of the 25,768 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.7%), 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 | 1,454 |
| County conservation board and city land | 2 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Myre Slough?
In Winnebago County, 5 miles from Crystal Lake.
What can you hunt on Myre Slough?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant and waterfowl. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Myre Slough?
1,456 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Myre Slough included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Myre Slough 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.