Iowa WMD
Kossuth County, IA
✓1 open!3 special✕1 closed
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27.5K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Clay County, IA
Clay County has 5 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 863 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Barringer Slough WPA at 273 acres; the average tract is about 173 acres, and 2 are smaller than 80 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 573 square miles and has roughly 16,384 residents. WPAs make up about 0.2% of its land area.
5named WPAs
863acres of WPA land
273largest WPA (ac)
2refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Clay 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 Clay County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barringer Slough WPA | 273 | 9.2 mi E of Spencer | 43.15857, -94.95842 |
Map · Directions |
| Dewey's Pasture WPA 258 deeded ac |
264 | 11 mi E of Spencer | 43.19511, -94.93640 |
Map · Directions |
| Dan Greene WPA | 204 | 9.0 mi NE of Spencer | 43.22594, -95.00635 |
Map · Directions |
| Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation WPA | 69 | 11 mi E of Spencer | 43.16401, -94.93023 |
Map · Directions |
| Ducks Unlimited Marsh WPA | 53 | 9.6 mi E of Spencer | 43.12465, -94.95176 |
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 Clay 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 Clay 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, IA4.1 mi — county center is S of town
- Windom, MN54 mi — county center is S of town
- Sioux City, IA75 mi — county center is NE of town
- Sioux Falls, SD85 mi — county center is E of town
Shooting hours in Clay County
Today at Clay 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 | 6:13 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:58 PM | 13h 14m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:28 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:33 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 | 6:39 PM | 11h 07m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:24 AM | 6:54 AM | 5:14 PM | 10h 20m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:42 AM | 7:12 AM | 4:58 PM | 9h 46m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:02 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:47 PM | 9h 16m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:14 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:46 PM | 9h 02m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:22 AM | 7:52 AM | 4:55 PM | 9h 03m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:19 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:09 PM | 9h 20m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:06 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:30 PM | 9h 54m |
Computed for 43.083, -95.160 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Clay 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 Clay County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Buena Vista County, IA 1 WPAs · 69 ac
- Dickinson County, IA 15 WPAs · 6.8K ac
- Emmet County, IA 10 WPAs · 2.5K ac
- Palo Alto County, IA 5 WPAs · 964 ac
- Pocahontas County, IA 2 WPAs · 650 ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.