Reiter Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Reiter Wildlife Area is 348 acres of public hunting land in Clay County, next to 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 landReiter Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 348 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Clay County |
| Deer harvest unit | Clay County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | Timber |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Prairie Lakes Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Spencer (next to it), Fostoria (5 mi) and Dickens (7 mi) |
What is Reiter Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Reiter Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove for Reiter Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Reiter 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 Reiter Wildlife Area?
Reiter Wildlife Area lies in Clay County. Hunters reported 461 deer in Clay County in 2025, against 427 in 2024.
| County | Reiter Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 348 | 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 Reiter Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile N of Spencer on West 4th Ave.
Nearest towns: Spencer (next to it), Fostoria (5 miles), Dickens (7 miles) and Everly (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 71 and US 18. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Reiter Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Ocheyedan Wildlife Area: 604 acres, 0.9 miles away
- Riverton Wildlife Area - Clay: 156 acres, 3.1 miles away
- Hawk Valley Wildlife Area: 1,560 acres, 3.7 miles away
- Schmerse Wildlife Area: 46 acres, 5.5 miles away
- Tom Tuttle Marsh: 141 acres, 5.9 miles away
- Dan Green Slough: 492 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Reiter Wildlife Area
Counting Reiter Wildlife Area itself, 1,081 of the 24,431 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| County conservation board and city land | 619 |
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 461 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Reiter Wildlife Area?
In Clay County, next to Spencer.
What can you hunt on Reiter Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl, rabbit and dove. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Reiter Wildlife Area?
1,081 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Reiter Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Ocheyedan Wildlife Area (0.9 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.