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This massive zone makes up much of the north border of the state and holds a good population of turkeys. The large majority of this area is composed of private land and the terrain types will vary between croplands, creek and river bottoms, and mature timber stands. Like most other zones in the state, this area is primarily composed of private lands but there are a surprising amount of good public access options for hunters willing to put in the time to research these.
As with the other zones in the state, private lands dominate the landscape but this zone does have some great public access options that hunters should be considering. Traditional state lands are spread throughout the area and hunters will also have access to a great collection of Wildlife Management areas throughout the zone that can provide some exceptional hunting opportunities. While private lands offer the best chances for success, hunters willing to dedicate effort and time to exploring public lands can still find a punched tag at the end of their hunt. Oftentimes, the best private lands are generally leased by outfitters. Looking into outfitters can be a great way to drastically increase your odds of success.
Some of the bigger portions of land you might consider for public access:
Many large towns are available within this unit that can provide access to modern lodging, groceries, gear, and other amenities depending on the area you are planning to hunt. Lodging can typically be found in the form of motels, hotels, and rental properties. Public campgrounds and RV parks cover the unit with many of these being available in and around the areas with the best public access options.
Some of the larger towns and cities located in this zone:
Roughly 15,303 square miles
2% public land
Elk Creek Marsh WMA - This area encompasses the lands around Elk Creek and features many marshy river bottom areas that can provide excellent habitat.
Rice Lake WMA - This 1,800 acre piece of land surrounds Rice Lake in the northeast portion of the zone. This area features rich marshlands and mature stands of timber.
Ventura Marsh WMA - This 800 acre piece of land is located in the eastern portion of the zone and lies just west of Clear Lake. Hunters will find a healthy mixture of traditional marshlands here.
Spirit Lake - The area surrounding the town of Spirit Lake has an incredible collection of publically accessible properties. This includes state owned lands, wildlife management areas, and Iowa Habitat And Access Program lands. This would be an excellent area to base a hunt from.
Ingham-High Wetland Complex - This 3,100 acre WMA is found in the central portion of the zone and is just southeast of the town of Estherville. Hunters will find a healthy mixture of sloughs, lakes, ponds, grasslands, and oak savannas.
Dewey’s Pasture Wildlife Complex - This 8,000 acres WMA is located on the north centrl=al portion of the zone and sits just east of the town of Spencer. Hunters will find a healthy mixture of sloughs, lakes, ponds, grasslands, and oak savannas throughout the area making for an exciting hunt.
Waterman Prairie Complex - This 1,800 acre complex is located in the central portion of the zone and sits between the towns of Sutherland and Peterson. This WMA is situated along the Waterman Creek and Little Sioux watersheds and features great riparian zones, hardwood stands, and rolling prairie fields.
Waterloo - Southeast corner
Mason City - East central
Webster City - South central
Fort Dodge - South central
Sioux City - Southwest corner
Spirit Lake - North central
Humboldt - Central