National Wildlife Refuge · Iowa · FWS Region 3

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge is located in Jasper County, Iowa, with about 6,179 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 4,645 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
4.6Khuntable acres
6.2KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Neal Smith NWR 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 Neal Smith NWR

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. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge has the unprecedented task to reconstruct the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, which includes native wildlife, grasses and wildflowers.

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 (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 4,645 (75%)Closed: 1,533 (25%)4.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations4,645 ac 75%
  • Closed1,533 ac 25%
Units by size (acres)
Refuge
4,645 ac
Closed
1,533 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Refuge
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,645 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,533 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All

Neal Smith NWR by the numbers

With about 4,645 huntable acres, Neal Smith NWR ranks #3 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Iowa and #266 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 75% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Refuge (4,645 acres, special regulations). Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 1,533 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 6,179 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 650 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

1 Waterfowl Production Area lies within 35 miles; the closest is Errington Marsh WPA (147 acres, 17 miles NW).

When to hunt Neal Smith NWR

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

Required

All

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • ✉️ By mail
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

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 Neal Smith NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

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

How to get to Neal Smith NWR

Navigate

Destination: Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.56446, -93.27616
DMS
41°33′52.1″N 93°16′34.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Des Moines, IA18 mi E of town
  • Ames, IA37 mi SE of town
  • Cedar Rapids, IA88 mi W of town
  • Mason City, IA110 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • DSM Des Moines Intl20 mi
  • CID Cedar Rapids Eastern Iowa84 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 Neal Smith NWR

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, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM7:48 PM13h 11m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM7:24 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM6:56 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM6:33 PM11h 10m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM5:09 PM10h 26m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:31 AM7:01 AM4:54 PM9h 53m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:49 AM7:19 AM4:44 PM9h 25m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:02 AM7:32 AM4:43 PM9h 12m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:09 AM7:39 AM4:52 PM9h 13m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:07 AM7:37 AM5:06 PM9h 29m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:55 AM7:25 AM5:26 PM10h 01m

Computed for 41.564, -93.276 (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.

Guides for hunting Neal Smith NWR

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…

Neal Smith NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Neal Smith NWR?

Yes. Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (4,645 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 Neal Smith NWR?

Yes — Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, mail, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Neal Smith NWR?

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

Where is Neal Smith NWR located?

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge is in Jasper County, Iowa, about 18 miles E of Des Moines, IA (straight-line). GPS: 41.56446, -93.27616.

What are legal shooting hours at Neal Smith NWR?

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

Port Louisa NWR

Louisa County, IA · 115 mi E

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Union Slough NWR

Kossuth County, IA · 124 mi N

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

2.8K huntable acres

Iowa WMD

Kossuth County, IA · 126 mi N

1 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

27.5K huntable acres

Swan Lake NWR

Chariton County, MO · 135 mi S

7 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

11.7K huntable acres

Driftless Area NWR

Clayton County, IA · 137 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

798 huntable acres

Boyer Chute NWR

Pottawattamie County, IA · 138 mi W

1 open10 special
🦌🦆🦃🎣

4K 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.