Otter Creek Marsh: hunting and access
Otter Creek Marsh is 3,589 acres of public hunting land in Tama County, next to Chelsea, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,239 deer in Tama 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 atlasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasOther DNR landCounty conservation board and city landOtter Creek MarshCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 3,589 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Tama County |
| Deer harvest unit | Tama County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Pheasant and Waterfowl |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Marsh, 1/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Iowa River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Chelsea (next to it), Vining (3 mi) and Tama (5 mi) |
What is Otter Creek Marsh like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 marsh, 1/4 timber, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Otter Creek Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and waterfowl for Otter Creek Marsh.
What are the rules on Otter Creek Marsh?
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 Otter Creek Marsh?
Otter Creek Marsh lies in Tama County. Hunters reported 1,239 deer in Tama County in 2025, against 1,230 in 2024.
| County | Otter Creek Marsh acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tama County | 3,589 | 1,239 | 1,230 | 1,486 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Otter Creek Marsh?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile NW of Chelsea on E66.
Nearest towns: Chelsea (next to it), Vining (3 miles), Tama (5 miles) and Toledo (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 30.
What other public land is near Otter Creek Marsh?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS: 9,850 acres, next to it
- Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area: 1,548 acres, next to it
- Iowa River Natural Wildlife Area: 100 acres, 0.5 miles away
- West Salt Creek Wildlife Area: 86 acres, 2.8 miles away
- Columbia Wildlife Area: 159 acres, 3.4 miles away
- Salt Creek Wildlife Area: 117 acres, 4.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Otter Creek Marsh
Counting Otter Creek Marsh itself, 5,719 of the 42,571 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (13.4%), 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 | 5,666 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 43 |
| Other DNR land | 9 |
| County conservation board and city land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Otter Creek Marsh?
In Tama County, next to Chelsea.
What can you hunt on Otter Creek Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, pheasant and waterfowl. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Otter Creek Marsh?
5,719 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Otter Creek Marsh included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Iowa River Corridor Wildlife Area - USFWS (next to it).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Iowa are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.