Desoto NWR
Washington County, NE · 72 mi SW
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6.8K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Sac County, Iowa
Blackhawk Marsh Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Blackhawk Marsh Waterfowl Production Area is a public parcel of roughly 127 acres located in Sac County, Iowa. It is managed by the Iowa Wetland Management District as part of the Sac 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.
127GIS acres
125deeded acres
Sac Countycounty
4WPAs within 40 mi
Blackhawk Marsh 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 Blackhawk Marsh 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 Blackhawk Marsh WPA
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Destination: Blackhawk Marsh Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
42.26366, -95.02824- DMS
42°15′49.2″N 95°01′41.7″W
Nearest towns
- Spencer, IA61 mi S of town
- Sioux City, IA72 mi E of town
- Ames, IA74 mi W of town
Closest airports
- SUX Sioux Gateway70 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Blackhawk Marsh WPA
Today at Blackhawk Marsh 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 | 6:14 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:56 PM | 13h 12m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:28 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:32 PM | 12h 33m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:45 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:03 PM | 11h 48m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:01 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:40 PM | 11h 09m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:22 AM | 6:52 AM | 5:15 PM | 10h 23m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 4:59 PM | 9h 50m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:58 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:49 PM | 9h 21m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 4:48 PM | 9h 07m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 4:57 PM | 9h 08m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:16 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:11 PM | 9h 25m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:04 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:32 PM | 9h 58m |
Computed for 42.264, -95.028 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomahawk Marsh WPA | 50 | 6.3 mi N | Sac County |
| Kiowa Marsh WPA | 756 | 15 mi N | Sac County |
| Shimon Marsh WPA | 491 | 26 mi N | Pocahontas County |
| Dunbar Slough WPA | 887 | 29 mi SE | Greene County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Sac County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.