National Wildlife Refuge · Iowa · FWS Region 3

Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge is located in Kossuth County, Iowa, with about 2,834 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 2,755 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
2.8Khuntable acres
2.8KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Union Slough 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 Union Slough 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.

Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge is an important place for wildlife in an area with extensive cropland. Two portions of the refuge, Schwob Marsh and Buffalo Creek Bottoms, are open for all state hunting seasons.

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 (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 2,755 (97%)Closed: 79 (3%)2.8Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations2,755 ac 97%
  • Closed79 ac 3%
Units by size (acres)
Core Area
2,114 ac
Buffalo Creek Bottoms
381 ac
Schwob Marsh
260 ac
No Hunting Area
79 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Buffalo Creek Bottoms Special regs 381 —
Core Area Special regs 2,114 —
Schwob Marsh Special regs 260 —
No Hunting Area Closed 79 —

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 Union Slough NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The fishing opportunities are marginal and are offered in accordance with refuge regulations. Major available species include bass, bluegill, bullhead, carp, catfish, crappie, northern pike, perch, sunfish and walleye. Only bank fishing is allowed.

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

How to get to Union Slough NWR

Navigate

Destination: Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.23853, -94.15304
DMS
43°14′18.7″N 94°09′10.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Mason City, IA48 mi W of town
  • Spencer, IA50 mi E of town
  • Mankato, MN64 mi S of town
  • Windom, MN65 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • DSM Des Moines Intl121 mi
  • MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul123 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 Union Slough 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, 20266:09 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 AM5:10 PM10h 20m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM4:54 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 19m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:03 AM7:33 AM5:26 PM9h 53m

Computed for 43.239, -94.153 (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.

Union Slough NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Union Slough NWR?

Yes. Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (2,755 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 Union Slough NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Union Slough NWR. 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 Union Slough NWR?

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

Where is Union Slough NWR located?

Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge is in Kossuth County, Iowa, about 48 miles W of Mason City, IA (straight-line). GPS: 43.23853, -94.15304.

What are legal shooting hours at Union Slough 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

Iowa WMD

Kossuth County, IA · 3.8 mi NE

1 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

27.5K huntable acres

Windom WMD

Cottonwood County, MN · 63 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

17.8K huntable acres

Minnesota Valley WMD

Le Sueur County, MN · 83 mi N

2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

8.7K huntable acres

Minnesota Valley NWR

Hennepin County, MN · 121 mi N

12 special5 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

12.6K huntable acres

Neal Smith NWR

Jasper County, IA · 124 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

4.6K huntable acres

Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR

Lincoln County, MN · 128 mi NW

1 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

6.7K 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 September 29, 2026.