Ryan Lake: hunting and access
Ryan Lake is 405 acres of public hunting land in Emmet County, 2 miles from Gruver, 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 landRyan LakeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 405 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Emmet County |
| Deer harvest unit | Emmet County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Drained Lakebed, 1/2 Timber, 1/2 Upland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Gruver (2 mi), Wallingford (3 mi) and Estherville (5 mi) |
What is Ryan Lake like?
The DNR describes the habitat as drained lakebed, 1/2 timber, 1/2 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Ryan Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and dove for Ryan Lake.
What are the rules on Ryan Lake?
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 Ryan Lake?
Ryan Lake lies in Emmet County. Hunters reported 237 deer in Emmet County in 2025, against 232 in 2024.
| County | Ryan Lake acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmet County | 405 | 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 Ryan Lake?
The DNR's directions: 4 miles E of Estherville on Hwy 9, 2.5 miles S on 430th.
Nearest towns: Gruver (2 miles), Wallingford (3 miles), Estherville (5 miles) and Graettinger (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 4.
What other public land is near Ryan Lake?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- West Swan Lake: 993 acres, 1 mile away
- Ingham-High Wetland Complex: 2,447 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Ingham-High Wetland Complex WPA: 769 acres, 1.8 miles away
- West Swan Lake WPA: 149 acres, 2.2 miles away
- East Swan Lake: 837 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Burr Oak Lake WPA: 184 acres, 3.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ryan Lake
Counting Ryan Lake itself, 3,162 of the 26,521 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.9%), 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 | 2,996 |
| Other DNR land | 100 |
| County conservation board and city land | 55 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 11 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ryan Lake?
In Emmet County, 2 miles from Gruver.
What can you hunt on Ryan Lake?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Ryan Lake?
3,162 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ryan Lake included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is West Swan Lake (1 mile).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Iowa are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.