---
type: lake
name: "Hunt Lake"
county: "Rice"
nearest_town: "Shieldsville"
lake_type: "lake"
acres: 176
max_depth_ft: 27
latitude: 44.33234
longitude: -93.44607
lake_score: 48
dnr_lake_id: "66004700"
url: https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/hunt-lake
---

# Hunt Lake

Lake in Rice County, Minnesota, near Shieldsville

- **Surface Area**: 176 acres
- **Max Depth**: 27 ft
- **Shoreline**: 2.2 miles
- **Water Clarity**: 2 ft
- **Lake Type**: lake
- **Public Access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Lake Score**: 48/100 (composite of public data, not a visitor rating)

## About

Hunt Lake is a 176-acre lake near Shieldsville in Rice County, Minnesota. It reaches 27 feet at its deepest point, and has roughly 2.2 miles of shoreline. DNR surveys put average water clarity at about 2 feet, so expect stained or algae-tinted water in summer.

Minnesota DNR fisheries surveys list 16 fish species here, including northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The DNR has stocking records for the lake, so check the stocking report for the most recent species and year classes. The most recent fisheries survey on file dates to 2023.

There is one public boat launch (concrete surface) managed by the Minnesota DNR. The lake is listed as infested with Eurasian watermilfoil — clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before leaving. Ice typically goes out around April 5, based on 8 years of DNR ice-out records.

## Access

- **Public access**: 1 public boat launch (concrete)
- **Managed by**: Minnesota DNR
- **Launch fee**: Free at DNR public water accesses

## Fishing

- **Species on DNR survey**: 16
- **Stocked**: Yes
- **Last DNR survey**: 2023
- **Special regulations**: No
- **Ice fishing**: Yes

## Activities

Fishing, Ice Fishing, Boating, Paddling

## Amenities

Boat Ramp

## Fish Species

Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Yellow Perch, Bigmouth Buffalo, Black Bullhead, Bowfin, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Freshwater Drum, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Yellow Bullhead

## Invasive Species

Eurasian watermilfoil. Clean, drain and dry boats and gear before leaving.

## Ice-Out

- **Median ice-out**: April 5
- **Years of record**: 8
- **Earliest**: 2022-03-24
- **Latest**: 2018-04-29

## Nearby Lakes

- [Rice Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/rice-lake) - 1.9 miles, 331 acres
- [Caron Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/caron-lake) - 2.3 miles, 319 acres
- [Shields Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/shields-lake) - 2.6 miles, 940 acres
- [Cedar Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/cedar-lake) - 2.6 miles, 902 acres
- [French Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/french-lake) - 2.7 miles, 876 acres
- [Mazaska Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/mazaska-lake) - 3.8 miles, 688 acres

## Links

- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=44.33234,-93.44607)
- [Minnesota DNR LakeFinder](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=66004700)
- [All lakes in Rice County](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county)

---
*Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/rice-county/hunt-lake)*