Iowa WMD
Kossuth County, IA
✓1 open!3 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣
27.5K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Cerro Gordo County, IA
Cerro Gordo County has 5 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 2,719 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Union Hills WPA at 2,132 acres; the average tract is about 544 acres.
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 575 square miles and has roughly 43,127 residents. WPAs make up about 0.7% of its land area.
5named WPAs
2.7Kacres of WPA land
2,132largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Cerro Gordo 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.
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Waterfowl Production Area (public)County lineRefuge / station
Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
All Waterfowl Production Areas in Cerro Gordo County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Hills WPA | 2,132 | 15 mi SW of Mason City | 43.02031, -93.43055 |
Map · Directions |
| Bailey Creek WPA | 159 | 18 mi SW of Mason City | 42.95535, -93.44349 |
Map · Directions |
| Beaver Dam WPA | 152 | 14 mi SW of Mason City | 42.99746, -93.38421 |
Map · Directions |
| Teal Basins WPA | 151 | 13 mi W of Mason City | 43.21713, -93.44454 |
Map · Directions |
| Sandpiper WPA | 124 | 16 mi NW of Mason City | 43.23885, -93.48270 |
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 Cerro Gordo 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 Cerro Gordo 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.
- Mason City, IA6.9 mi — county center is SW of town
- Ames, IA74 mi — county center is N of town
- Rochester, MN77 mi — county center is SW of town
- Mankato, MN84 mi — county center is SE of town
Shooting hours in Cerro Gordo County
Today at Cerro Gordo County
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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:06 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:50 PM | 13h 14m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:21 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:25 PM | 12h 34m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 6:56 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:55 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:32 PM | 11h 07m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:16 AM | 6:46 AM | 5:06 PM | 10h 20m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:34 AM | 7:04 AM | 4:50 PM | 9h 46m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 4:40 PM | 9h 16m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:38 PM | 9h 02m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:14 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:47 PM | 9h 03m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:01 PM | 9h 20m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:59 AM | 7:29 AM | 5:23 PM | 9h 54m |
Computed for 43.062, -93.264 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Cerro Gordo County
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Refuges & districts with land in Cerro Gordo County
Refuge hunt units in Cerro Gordo County
| Unit | Refuge | Status | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPA Open | Iowa WMD | ✓Open | 26,218 |
| Waterfowl Refuge | Iowa WMD | !Special regs | 834 |
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Hancock County, IA 6 WPAs · 852 ac
- Winnebago County, IA 7 WPAs · 1.5K ac
- Worth County, IA 3 WPAs · 1.6K ac
- Wright County, IA 3 WPAs · 2.1K ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.