Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area is 536 acres of public hunting land in Chickasaw County, 3 miles from Colwell, 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 atlasCounty conservation board and city landWapsi Flats Wildlife AreaCounty lineHighway
| Size | 536 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Chickasaw County |
| Deer harvest unit | Chickasaw County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Grassland, 1/4 Wetland |
| DNR contact | Cedar-Wapsi Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Colwell (3 mi), Elma (5 mi) and Alta Vista (5 mi) |
What is Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 grassland, 1/4 wetland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove for Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Wapsi Flats 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 Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area?
Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area lies in Chickasaw County. Hunters reported 1,197 deer in Chickasaw County in 2025, against 1,087 in 2024.
| County | Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickasaw County | 536 | 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 Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles S of Elma on V18/Garden Ave, 4 miles W on 100th, S on Beaumont.
Nearest towns: Colwell (3 miles), Elma (5 miles), Alta Vista (5 miles) and North Washington (7 miles).
What other public land is near Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Goodale Conservation Area: 22 acres, next to it
- Ackerson-Easterly Wildlife Area: 115 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Elma Wildlife Area: 154 acres, 2 miles away
- Knapp I Wildlife Area: 66 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Deerfield Wildlife Area: 36 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Hart Pond Wildlife Area: 238 acres, 3.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area
Counting Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area itself, 897 of the 29,295 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.1%), 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 | 896 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area?
In Chickasaw County, 3 miles from Colwell.
What can you hunt on Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant, waterfowl and dove.
How much public land is around Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area?
897 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wapsi Flats Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Goodale Conservation Area (next to it).
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.