Ocheyedan Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Ocheyedan Wildlife Area is 604 acres of public hunting land in Clay County, 3 miles from Spencer, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 461 deer in Clay 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landOcheyedan Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 604 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Clay County |
| Deer harvest unit | Clay County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Timber, 1/4 Marsh, 1/4 Upland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Spencer (3 mi), Everly (3 mi) and Fostoria (4 mi) |
What is Ocheyedan Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 timber, 1/4 marsh, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Ocheyedan Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Ocheyedan Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Ocheyedan Wildlife Area?
The DNR's layer marks this area as nontoxic shot only.
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 Ocheyedan Wildlife Area?
Ocheyedan Wildlife Area lies in Clay County. Hunters reported 461 deer in Clay County in 2025, against 427 in 2024.
| County | Ocheyedan Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 604 | 461 | 427 | 462 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Ocheyedan Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 5 miles W of Spencer on West 4th St.
Nearest towns: Spencer (3 miles), Everly (3 miles), Fostoria (4 miles) and Royal (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 71 and US 18. 3 IHAP tracts within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Ocheyedan Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Riverton Wildlife Area - Clay: 156 acres, 0.7 miles away
- Reiter Wildlife Area: 348 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Tom Tuttle Marsh: 141 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Northern Tallgrass Prairie - Laursen: 147 acres, 5 miles away
- Hawk Valley Wildlife Area: 1,560 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Judd Wildlife Area: 234 acres, 6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Ocheyedan Wildlife Area
Counting Ocheyedan Wildlife Area itself, 1,316 of the 41,048 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.2%), 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 | 1,108 |
| County conservation board and city land | 207 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ocheyedan Wildlife Area?
In Clay County, 3 miles from Spencer.
What can you hunt on Ocheyedan Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Ocheyedan Wildlife Area?
1,316 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ocheyedan Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Riverton Wildlife Area - Clay (0.7 miles).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
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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.