Wetland Management District · Iowa · FWS Region 3

Iowa Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Kossuth County, Iowa, Iowa Wetland Management District is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 27,593 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules, 3 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 27,523 huntable acres.

1 open unit3 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
27.5Khuntable acres
27.6KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Iowa WMD hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Iowa WMD

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Some of the best waterfowl hunting opportunities in central Iowa can be found in one of the waterfowl production areas (WPAs) in 17 counties that make up the Iowa WMD.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Iowa regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Open: 26,218 (95%)Special regulations: 1,304 (5%)Closed: 5.7 (0%)27.5Khuntable acres
  • Open26,218 ac 95%
  • Special regulations1,304 ac 5%
  • Closed5.7 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open
26,218 ac
Waterfowl Refuge
834 ac
Core Area
303 ac
Buffalo Creek Bottoms
168 ac
No Hunting Area
5.7 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 26,218 —
Buffalo Creek Bottoms
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 168 —
Core Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 303 —
Waterfowl Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 834 —
No Hunting Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 5.7 —

Iowa WMD by the numbers

With about 27,523 huntable acres, Iowa WMD ranks #1 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Iowa and #90 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is WPA Open (26,218 acres), while the smallest, Buffalo Creek Bottoms, covers 168 acres.

1 unit totaling 5.7 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunting Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 27,593 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 1,105 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Pintail WPA (154 acres, 1 miles SE).

When to hunt Iowa WMD

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Iowa sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Iowa hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Iowa Department of Natural Resources
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Iowa WMD

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

As they are in much of the Prairie Pothole Region, fishing opportunities are limited and scattered through 35-county Iowa Wetland Management District.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Iowa WMD

Navigate

Destination: Iowa Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.28382, -94.11054
DMS
43°17′01.8″N 94°06′37.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Mason City, IA47 mi W of town
  • Spencer, IA53 mi E of town
  • Mankato, MN61 mi S of town
  • Windom, MN65 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul119 mi
  • DSM Des Moines Intl123 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Iowa WMD

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM7:54 PM13h 15m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM7:29 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM6:59 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM6:35 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM5:09 PM10h 19m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM4:53 PM9h 45m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:58 AM7:28 AM4:43 PM9h 15m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:11 AM7:41 AM4:41 PM9h 00m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:18 AM7:48 AM4:50 PM9h 02m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:15 AM7:45 AM5:04 PM9h 18m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:02 AM7:32 AM5:26 PM9h 53m

Computed for 43.284, -94.111 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Waterfowl Production Areas managed by Iowa WMD

This district manages 86 named WPAs totaling 26,674 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

WPACountyAcres
Union Hills WPACerro Gordo County2,132
Lower Morse Lake WPAWright County1,804
Spring Run WPADickinson County1,233
Welsh Lake WPADickinson County962
Harlontown Slough WPAWorth County939
Dunbar Slough WPAGreene County887
Dugout Creek WPADickinson County788
Ingham Lake WPAEmmet County775
Kiowa Marsh WPASac County756
Swan Lake WPADickinson County742
Diamond Lake WPADickinson County561
Maynard Reece WPAKossuth County556
Elk Creek WPAWorth County543
Yager Slough WPADickinson County539
Jemmerson Slough WPADickinson County538
Shimon Marsh WPAPocahontas County491
Santee Prairie WPADickinson County454
Winnebago County WPAWinnebago County428
Harrier WPABoone County410
Bluewing Marsh WPAPalo Alto County392
Garlock Slough WPADickinson County347
Eagle Lake WPAEmmet County344
Smith WPAHancock County326
Tuttle Lake WPAEmmet County313
Prairie Smoke WPAKossuth County312

Showing the 25 largest of 86. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.

Guides for hunting Iowa WMD

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Iowa WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Iowa WMD?

Yes. Iowa Wetland Management District offers hunting in 4 units (27,523 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Iowa WMD?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Iowa WMD. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Iowa WMD?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Iowa WMD located?

Iowa Wetland Management District is in Kossuth County, Iowa, about 47 miles W of Mason City, IA (straight-line). GPS: 43.28382, -94.11054.

What are legal shooting hours at Iowa WMD?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Union Slough NWR

Kossuth County, IA · 3.8 mi SW

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

2.8K huntable acres

Windom WMD

Cottonwood County, MN · 63 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

17.8K huntable acres

Minnesota Valley WMD

Le Sueur County, MN · 79 mi N

2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

8.7K huntable acres

Minnesota Valley NWR

Hennepin County, MN · 118 mi N

12 special5 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

12.6K huntable acres

Litchfield WMD

Meeker County, MN · 125 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.6K huntable acres

Neal Smith NWR

Jasper County, IA · 126 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

4.6K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in Iowa →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.