Hunt unit · Iowa Wetland Management District

WPA Open Hunt Unit Map & Access

Open

The WPA Open unit is one of 5 mapped hunt units on Iowa Wetland Management District in Cerro Gordo County, IA. It covers approximately 26,218 acres and is listed as “open to hunting” for 2026–2027. Hunting generally follows state seasons and bag limits, along with general refuge rules.

Navigate to unit Refuge overview Official hunt info ↗
26,218acres
Openstatus 2026–27
Norefuge permit
Cerro Gordo Countycounty

WPA Open map

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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
Downloads (whole refuge):KMLGPX

Rules & permits for this unit

Status: Open to hunting

Hunting follows Iowa seasons, bag limits and licensing, plus general National Wildlife Refuge rules.

Game at Iowa WMD

Species listed for the refuge as a whole — a special-regulation unit may be limited to certain species. Confirm in the hunt brochure.

Getting to the WPA Open unit

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Destination: center of the WPA Open unit

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Decimal
43.02028, -93.42323
DMS
43°01′13.0″N 93°25′23.6″W

Nearest towns

  • Mason City, IA14 mi SW of town
  • Ames, IA69 mi N of town
  • Mankato, MN84 mi S of town

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

The navigation point is a point inside the unit polygon, not necessarily a parking area or legal access point. Use satellite view to find roads, gates and designated parking, and respect closed areas and private inholdings.

Shooting hours at this unit

Today at WPA Open

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, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:51 PM13h 14m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM7:26 PM12h 34m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:57 PM11h 48m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM6:32 PM11h 07m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM5:07 PM10h 20m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM4:51 PM9h 46m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM4:41 PM9h 16m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:07 AM7:37 AM4:39 PM9h 02m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:14 AM7:44 AM4:48 PM9h 03m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:12 AM7:42 AM5:02 PM9h 20m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:59 AM7:29 AM5:24 PM9h 54m

Computed for 43.020, -93.423 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

Weather forecast

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

Other units at Iowa WMD

UnitStatusAcresPermit
Buffalo Creek BottomsSpecial regs168—
Core AreaSpecial regs303—
Waterfowl RefugeSpecial regs834—
No Hunting AreaClosed5.7—

Back to Iowa WMD →