Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Buena Vista County, IA
Buena Vista County has 1 named Waterfowl Production Area covering 69 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land.
WPAs here are managed by the Iowa Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 580 square miles and has roughly 20,823 residents. WPAs make up about 0.0% of its land area.
Map of WPAs in Buena Vista County
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — federally owned public land. Land outside them is almost always private. Switch to satellite to check water conditions and cover, and click any tract for coordinates.
All Waterfowl Production Areas in Buena Vista County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickerel Lake WPA | 69 | 19 mi SE of Spencer | 42.90795, -94.93053 |
Map · Directions |
Acreage from USFWS realty GIS polygons. Coordinates are a point inside each tract — not necessarily a parking area. Look for designated parking and boundary signs on the ground.
Hunting WPAs in Buena Vista County: rules & tips
Typically allowed
- Hunting waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under Iowa regulations
- Walk-in access from roads and designated parking areas
- Fishing and trapping where state and district rules allow
- Wildlife watching, photography and dog training outside restricted periods
Common restrictions
- No camping, fires or overnight use on most tracts
- Motor vehicles only on designated roads and parking areas
- Blinds and portable stands usually removed at the end of each day
- Nontoxic shot required for waterfowl; many districts require it for all shotgun hunting
- Some tracts have closed areas, refuge-style rules or seasonal restrictions
Getting to Buena Vista County
Distances below are straight-line from the center of the county. Most WPAs are reached by county and township gravel roads — download the GPX file and load it into your phone or GPS before you lose cell coverage.
- Spencer, IA28 mi — county center is S of town
- Sioux City, IA65 mi — county center is E of town
- Windom, MN78 mi — county center is S of town
- Ames, IA93 mi — county center is NW of town
Shooting hours in Buena Vista County
Today at Buena Vista County
*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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:14 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:57 PM | 13h 13m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:32 PM | 12h 34m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:46 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:04 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:02 AM | 7:32 AM | 6:40 PM | 11h 08m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:23 AM | 6:53 AM | 5:15 PM | 10h 22m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:41 AM | 7:11 AM | 4:59 PM | 9h 48m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:00 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:48 PM | 9h 18m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:13 AM | 7:43 AM | 4:47 PM | 9h 04m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:20 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:56 PM | 9h 05m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:10 PM | 9h 22m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:05 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:31 PM | 9h 56m |
Computed for 42.738, -95.160 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Buena Vista County
Loading National Weather Service forecast…
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Clay County, IA 5 WPAs · 863 ac
- Palo Alto County, IA 5 WPAs · 964 ac
- Pocahontas County, IA 2 WPAs · 650 ac
- Sac County, IA 3 WPAs · 933 ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.