Iowa hosts more than 250,000 hunters annually. These hunters make 3.5
million visits to Iowa’s 340 public hunting areas. Deer and pheasants are
a popular draw, but plenty of opportunities exist to pursue waterfowl and
other small game.
Non-Resident Hunting Information
Public Wildlife Management Areas around Clear Lake that are available for
public recreational use every day of the year. These areas are managed
to provide food, winter cover and secure nesting habitat for resident and
migratory wildlife species, and to provide public hunting opportunities.
Although hunting and trapping are the primary recreational activities
available on these areas, bird watching, hiking, mushrooming and nature
study are allowed, preferably when hunting and trapping seasons are
closed.
- Bailey Creek
P,W 159 acres; 1/5 Wetland, 4/5Upland
1 mile W of Thornton on Hwy 107, 0.5 mile N on Eagle Ave, 1 mile W on 130th St - Beaverdam
P,W 151 acres; 1/4 Marsh, 3/4 Upland
3 miles N of Thornton on Hwy 107 - Clear Lake Pond
P,D 41 acres; 3/4 Marsh, 1/4 Upland
1 mile N of Clear Lake on S28, 0.5 mile E on 275th St - Lekwa Marsh
P,W 48 acres; 1/4 Forest, 1/4 Upland, 1/2 Marsh
S side of Clear Lake - McIntosh
P,W 217 acres; 1/10 Timber, 2/10 Marsh, 7/10 Upland
NE corner of Ventura on Hwy 18 - Sandpiper Hills
P,W 124 acres; 1/10 Marsh, 9/10 Upland
8 miles N of Ventura on S14, 0.25 mile W on B14 - Teal Basins
P,W 151 acres; 1/5 Marsh, 4/5 Upland
6 miles N of Clear Lake on S14, 2 miles E on B20 - Union Hills
P,W 2,125 acres; 1/5 Marsh, 4/5 Upland
4 miles N of Thornton on Hwy 107, 2 miles W on B55 - VenturaMarsh
P,W 156 acres; 1/3 Marsh, 2/3 Upland
S edge of Ventura on S14 - Wild GooseMarsh
P,W 991 acres; 1/2 Marsh, 1/2 Upland
4 miles N of Ventura on S14, 0.25 mile E on 290th St
Upland Game Hunting (pheasants, quail, cottontail rabbits, & squirrels)
Hunting Licenses
- The Crazy Minnow
504 Highway 18 East
(641) 357-BAIT - Kramer-Ace Hardware
580 Highway 18 East
(641) 357-7080 - Department of Natural Resources
1203 North Shore Drive
(641) 357-3517
Hunting Guides & Retreats
- Pheasant Country Inn
4497 190th Street
(641) 357-3528
The Pheasant Country Inn, owned by Gary Thomsen, offers guided hunting trips for wild upland game and waterfowl on private and public lands in the Clear Lake area. Dogs are available, or hunters may provide their own. Year-round
lodging includes a pheasant dinner one night during the stay and pheasant hors’ d’oeuvres nightly. Game cleaning shed/freezer is available, as well as accommodations for dogs. Hunters must purchase their own hunting licenses.
Trapshooting
- Ventura Gun Club
Hwy. 18 West, Ventura
(641) 829-3364
The Ventura Gun Club offers hunters a place to practice their sport April 1 (weather permitting) through September 15. The club is open Thursday evenings for the public to shoot trap and alternating Tuesdays for skeet or five stand.
Interested persons only need to bring their own gun. Ammunition is available on site, although shooters may bring their own. Membership is not required to shoot. An adult league of trap shooters is open to men and women. In addition, a young shooters league helps those ages eight and up develop their skills while having fun. Memberships (which entitle holders to a reduced price on rounds of clay birds) are available.