Woman dressed warmly in camouflage and standing in marsh reeds aims a shotgun into the air

Some of the best waterfowl hunting opportunities in central Iowa can be found in one of the waterfowl production areas (WPAs) in 17 counties that make up the Iowa WMD. This district covers almost one-third of the state, with 22,000 acres of huntable land, some of which can be heavily used by ducks in the fall, depending on weather conditions. Almost all of the WPAs have consistently excellent hunting for pheasant, although pheasant populations also vary due to weather. While the WPAs are typically not large (100 to 2,000 acres), they do hold deer, and local deer hunters know where to find them. These WPAs offer a variety of opportunities for local and visiting hunters, especially since Iowa ranks among states with the least amount of public land in the country. Click here for Hunting Regulations on the Iowa Wetland Management District.