Iowa WMD
Kossuth County, IA
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27.5K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Hancock County, IA
Hancock County has 6 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 852 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Smith WPA at 326 acres; the average tract is about 142 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 574 square miles and has roughly 10,795 residents. WPAs make up about 0.2% of its land area.
6named WPAs
852acres of WPA land
326largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Hancock 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 Hancock County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith WPA | 326 | 27 mi W of Mason City | 43.22410, -93.71990 |
Map · Directions |
| Eagle Flats WPA | 174 | 27 mi W of Mason City | 43.15917, -93.72937 |
Map · Directions |
| Meredith Marsh WPA | 143 | 27 mi W of Mason City | 43.25228, -93.71014 |
Map · Directions |
| Lake Edwards WPA | 92 | 28 mi W of Mason City | 43.24746, -93.74584 |
Map · Directions |
| Eagle Lake WPA | 74 | 24 mi W of Mason City | 43.14559, -93.68097 |
Map · Directions |
| Crystal Lake WPA | 43 | 29 mi W of Mason City | 43.19963, -93.77014 |
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 Hancock 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 Hancock 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, IA28 mi — county center is W of town
- Spencer, IA71 mi — county center is E of town
- Ames, IA73 mi — county center is N of town
- Mankato, MN75 mi — county center is S of town
Shooting hours in Hancock County
Today at Hancock 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 | 6:08 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:52 PM | 13h 14m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:23 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:27 PM | 12h 34m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:40 AM | 7:10 AM | 6:58 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 6:34 PM | 11h 07m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:18 AM | 6:48 AM | 5:08 PM | 10h 20m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 4:52 PM | 9h 46m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:42 PM | 9h 16m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:09 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:40 PM | 9h 02m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:16 AM | 7:46 AM | 4:49 PM | 9h 03m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:13 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:03 PM | 9h 20m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:01 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:25 PM | 9h 54m |
Computed for 43.082, -93.740 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Hancock 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 Hancock County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Cerro Gordo County, IA 5 WPAs · 2.7K ac
- Kossuth County, IA 15 WPAs · 3.1K 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.