Rice Lake Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Rice Lake Wildlife Area is 2,621 acres of public hunting land in Winnebago and Worth counties, next to Joice, 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 landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landRice Lake Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,621 acres in 8 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Winnebago County and Worth County |
| Deer harvest unit | Winnebago County, Worth County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 2/3 Marsh/Lake, 1/3 Cropland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Clear Lake Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Joice (next to it), Lake Mills (next to it) and Leland (next to it) |
What is Rice Lake Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 2/3 marsh/lake, 1/3 cropland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Rice Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Rice Lake Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Rice Lake Wildlife Area?
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 Rice Lake Wildlife Area?
Rice Lake Wildlife Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters reported 338 deer in Winnebago County in 2025, against 287 in 2024.
| County | Rice Lake Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago County | 1,472 | 338 | 287 | 296 |
| Worth County | 1,149 | 468 | 471 | 447 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Rice Lake Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Joice (next to it), Lake Mills (next to it), Leland (next to it) and Forest City (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 69, IA 9 and IA 971. 2 IHAP tracts within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Rice Lake Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Rice Lake WPA: 296 acres, next to it
- Winnebago County Home Farm: 370 acres, next to it
- C. A. Block Wildlife Area: 314 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Wood Duck Marsh: 384 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Winnebago River Recreation Area: 45 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Elk Creek Marsh: 2,669 acres, 0.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rice Lake Wildlife Area
Counting Rice Lake Wildlife Area itself, 6,515 of the 67,568 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.6%), 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 | 6,230 |
| County conservation board and city land | 245 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 29 |
| Other DNR land | 7 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rice Lake Wildlife Area?
In Winnebago and Worth counties, next to Joice.
What can you hunt on Rice Lake Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Rice Lake Wildlife Area?
6,515 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rice 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 Rice Lake 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.