Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms: hunting and access
Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms is 556 acres of public hunting land in Kossuth County, 2 miles from Burt, managed by Usfws. Hunters reported 382 deer in Kossuth 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 areasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landUnion Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek BottomsCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 556 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Kossuth County |
| Deer harvest unit | Kossuth County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Rabbit |
| Managed by | Usfws |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| Nearest towns | Burt (2 mi), Bancroft (5 mi) and Titonka (6 mi) |
What can you hunt on Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl and rabbit for Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms.
What are the rules on Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms?
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 Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms?
Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms lies in Kossuth County. Hunters reported 382 deer in Kossuth County in 2025, against 379 in 2024.
| County | Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kossuth County | 556 | 382 | 379 | 392 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms?
Nearest towns: Burt (2 miles), Bancroft (5 miles), Titonka (6 miles) and Lone Rock (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 169. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Patterson Recreation and Wildlife Area: 309 acres, next to it
- Wapati WPA: 99 acres, next to it
- Bluestem WPA: 160 acres, 1.3 miles away
- Dickcissel WPA: 159 acres, 3 miles away
- Michaelson Marsh: 96 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Blue-Wing WPA: 173 acres, 3.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms
Counting Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms itself, 2,572 of the 28,486 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 1,446 |
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 1,125 |
| County conservation board and city land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms?
In Kossuth County, 2 miles from Burt.
What can you hunt on Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl and rabbit. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms?
2,572 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge - Buffalo Creek Bottoms included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Patterson Recreation and Wildlife Area (next to it).
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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.