M U Payne Wildlife Area: hunting and access
M U Payne Wildlife Area is 1,292 acres of public hunting land in Fremont County, 5 miles from Hamburg, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 379 deer in Fremont County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's public hunting area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting, 2021 to 2025.
Public hunting areas on the DNR atlasOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasIHAP landM U Payne Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,292 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Fremont County |
| Deer harvest unit | Fremont County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | River bottom wetlands and grassland |
| DNR contact | Nishnabotna Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Hamburg (5 mi), Percival (7 mi) and Sidney (9 mi) |
What is M U Payne Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as river bottom wetlands and grassland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on M U Payne Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for M U Payne Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on M U Payne Wildlife Area?
Iowa's general hunting rules apply, and some DNR land is a posted wildlife refuge closed during set seasons; Iowa DNR wildlife management areas has area maps.
How many deer are taken around M U Payne Wildlife Area?
M U Payne Wildlife Area lies in Fremont County. Hunters reported 379 deer in Fremont County in 2025, against 432 in 2024.
| County | M U Payne Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fremont County | 1,292 | 379 | 432 | 414 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to M U Payne Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: W on J64 at I-29 Hamburg exit, N on L40, W on 290th St.
Nearest towns: Hamburg (5 miles), Percival (7 miles), Sidney (9 miles) and Riverton (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29 and IA 2. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near M U Payne Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Copeland Bend - USACOE: 2,995 acres, 1.6 miles away
- Lower Hamburg Bend: 325 acres, 2 miles away
- Draper Bottoms Wildlife Area: 517 acres, 2 miles away
- Waubonsie Access: 86 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Eli Slusher Wildlife Area: 516 acres, 2.7 miles away
- Copeland Bend Wildlife Area: 528 acres, 3.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of M U Payne Wildlife Area
Counting M U Payne Wildlife Area itself, 2,657 of the 31,411 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 2,453 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 190 |
| Other DNR land | 14 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is M U Payne Wildlife Area?
In Fremont County, 5 miles from Hamburg.
What can you hunt on M U Payne Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove.
How much public land is around M U Payne Wildlife Area?
2,657 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, M U Payne Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Copeland Bend - USACOE (1.6 miles).
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Iowa included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: Iowa DNR public hunting areas (Hunting Atlas layer).
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
- Deer harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
FilledTag is not part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.