Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area is 557 acres of public hunting land in Chickasaw County, 5 miles from Frederika, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,197 deer in Chickasaw 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 landCounty conservation board and city landUpper Wapsi Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 557 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Chickasaw County |
| Deer harvest unit | Chickasaw County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland |
| DNR contact | Cedar-Wapsi Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Frederika (5 mi), New Hampton (6 mi) and Ionia (7 mi) |
What is Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 timber, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Upper Wapsi 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 Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area?
Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area lies in Chickasaw County. Hunters reported 1,197 deer in Chickasaw County in 2025, against 1,087 in 2024.
| County | Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickasaw County | 557 | 1,197 | 1,087 | 1,000 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 9 miles E of Nashua on Hwy 346.
Nearest towns: Frederika (5 miles), New Hampton (6 miles), Ionia (7 miles) and Fredericksburg (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 63, US 18 and IA 346.
What other public land is near Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Wapsi Junction: 82 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Heffernan Wildlife Area: 296 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Twin Ponds: 162 acres, 3.2 miles away
- Little Wapsie Wildlife Area: 227 acres, 3.6 miles away
- Justen Wildlife Area: 36 acres, 4.1 miles away
- Stolz Addition: 80 acres, 4.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area
Counting Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area itself, 638 of the 26,039 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.5%), 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 | 638 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area?
In Chickasaw County, 5 miles from Frederika.
What can you hunt on Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, waterfowl and dove.
How much public land is around Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area?
638 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Upper Wapsi Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Wapsi Junction (1.2 miles).
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.