Neal Smith NWR
Jasper County, IA · 56 mi E
!1 special✕1 closed
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4.6K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Guthrie County, Iowa
Bays Branch Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Covering about 277 acres, Bays Branch Waterfowl Production Area protects prairie wetlands and uplands in Guthrie County, Iowa. It is managed by the Iowa Wetland Management District as part of the Guthrie County Waterfowl Production Area group of WPAs. Waterfowl Production Areas are purchased largely with Federal Duck Stamp dollars and are generally open to hunting, trapping and fishing under state regulations, with some federal restrictions.
277GIS acres
277deeded acres
Guthrie Countycounty
4WPAs within 40 mi
Bays Branch WPA satellite map
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — public land. Everything outside is typically private; always look for boundary signs.
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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
Hunting on Bays Branch WPA
What you can typically do
- Hunt waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under Iowa regulations
- Walk in from roads or designated parking areas — vehicles generally stay off the tract
- Fish and trap where state rules and district regulations allow
- Wildlife watching, photography and hiking
Common restrictions
- No camping, fires or overnight use on most WPAs
- Motorized vehicles only on designated roads/parking
- Temporary blinds and stands usually must be removed daily
- Non-toxic shot required for waterfowl — many districts require it for all shotgun hunting
- Some tracts have closed areas or special regulations — check signs
How to get to Bays Branch WPA
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Destination: Bays Branch Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
41.73528, -94.33399- DMS
41°44′07.0″N 94°20′02.4″W
Nearest towns
- Des Moines, IA38 mi W of town
- Ames, IA42 mi SW of town
- Council Bluffs, IA86 mi NE of town
Closest airports
- DSM Des Moines Intl38 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Bays Branch WPA
Today at Bays Branch WPA
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 | 6:12 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:53 PM | 13h 11m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:26 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:29 PM | 12h 33m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:42 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:01 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:57 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:37 PM | 11h 10m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:18 AM | 6:48 AM | 5:13 PM | 10h 25m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:35 AM | 7:05 AM | 4:58 PM | 9h 53m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 4:48 PM | 9h 24m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:47 PM | 9h 10m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:14 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:56 PM | 9h 12m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:12 AM | 7:42 AM | 5:09 PM | 9h 28m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:00 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:30 PM | 10h 00m |
Computed for 41.735, -94.334 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Nearby Waterfowl Production Areas
| WPA | Acres | Distance | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakin Slough WPA | 26 | 3.7 mi N | Guthrie County |
| Snake Creek WPA | 235 | 18 mi NE | Greene County |
| Dunbar Slough WPA | 887 | 22 mi NW | Greene County |
| Harrier WPA | 410 | 26 mi NE | Boone County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Guthrie County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.