Seneca Access: hunting and access
Seneca Access is 320 acres of public hunting land in Kossuth County, 4 miles from Ringsted, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 382 deer in Kossuth 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 atlasSeneca AccessCounty lineHighway
| Size | 320 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Kossuth County |
| Deer harvest unit | Kossuth County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Upland, Wetlands, Timber, River Access |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Ringsted (4 mi), Fenton (6 mi) and Armstrong (6 mi) |
What is Seneca Access like?
The DNR describes the habitat as upland, wetlands, timber, river access.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Seneca Access?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and dove for Seneca Access.
What are the rules on Seneca Access?
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 Seneca Access?
Seneca Access lies in Kossuth County. Hunters reported 382 deer in Kossuth County in 2025, against 379 in 2024.
| County | Seneca Access acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kossuth County | 320 | 382 | 379 | 392 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Seneca Access?
The DNR's directions: 4 miles E of Armstrong on Hwy 9, 4 miles S on P20, 1 mile W on 390th St, 0.75 mile S on 30th Ave.
Nearest towns: Ringsted (4 miles), Fenton (6 miles), Armstrong (6 miles) and Swea City (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 15 and IA 9.
What other public land is near Seneca Access?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- East Des Moines River Access: 44 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Rath Row: 34 acres, 5.8 miles away
- East Swan Lake: 837 acres, 8.4 miles away
- Blazing Star WPA: 115 acres, 8.5 miles away
- Bobolink WPA: 307 acres, 8.8 miles away
- Eagle Lake - Kossuth: 174 acres, 8.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Seneca Access
Counting Seneca Access itself, 321 of the 29,050 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (1.1%), 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 | 320 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Seneca Access?
In Kossuth County, 4 miles from Ringsted.
What can you hunt on Seneca Access?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, rabbit and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Seneca Access?
321 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Seneca Access included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is East Des Moines River Access (3.2 miles).
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.