National Wildlife Refuge · Iowa
Desoto National Wildlife Refuge
Desoto National Wildlife Refuge is listed in PAD-US 4.1 as roughly 3,978 acres (the portion in this state) in Harrison County, Pottawattamie County, Iowa (National Wildlife Refuge), managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It may allow hunting, but PAD-US does not say so — confirm with the managing agency.
Approximate outline (north up) from simplified PAD-US boundaries
Area details
| Approx. size | 3,978 acres (Iowa portion) |
|---|---|
| Manager | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Manager type | Federal |
| Designation | National Wildlife Refuge |
| Public access (PAD-US) | Restricted access PAD-US definition: “requires a special permit from the owner for access, a registration permit on public land … or has highly variable times when open to use (e.g. seasonal Wildlife Refuge closure).” |
| County | Harrison County, Pottawattamie County, Washington County, NE |
| Reference point | 41.51587, -96.04402 A point inside the area — not an entrance or parking lot. Google Maps · OpenStreetMap |
| Source records | 2 PAD-US records combined |
Before you hunt here
- Regulations, seasons and licenses: check with Iowa Department of Natural Resources. This site does not list regulations.
- 2026 deer season dates in Iowa: Iowa deer season dates, copied from the state agency, with the official source linked. Areas like this can set their own dates. Score your buck.
- Managing agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: hunting on refuges
- Boundaries: PAD-US boundaries are approximate and simplified here. Use the agency’s official maps and respect adjacent private land.
Hunting on national wildlife refuges is allowed only where a refuge has opened specific areas and species under its own refuge-specific regulations, in addition to state rules. Check the refuge’s page or office.
This unit also extends into: Nebraska. Acreage on this page covers the Iowa portion only.
Nearby public land (within 30 miles)
- State wildlife / game area
Rand Bar Wildlife Management Area
64 acres · 0.7 mi away
State: department of natural resources
Open access - National Wildlife Refuge · Nebraska
Desoto National Wildlife Refuge
4,389 acres · 1.6 mi away
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Nobles Lake Wildlife Management Area
201 acres · 3.3 mi away
State: department of natural resources
Open access - State wildlife / game area
California Bend Wildlife Management Area
462 acres · 4.5 mi away
State: department of natural resources
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Saint John's Wildlife Management Area
49 acres · 7.2 mi away
State: department of natural resources
Open access - National Wildlife Refuge · Nebraska
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge
3,970 acres · 7.4 mi away
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Tyson Bend Wildlife Management Area
806 acres · 7.6 mi away
State: department of natural resources
Open access - Army Corps of Engineers project land
Tysons Bend
101 acres · 8.2 mi away
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Boyer Bend Wildlife Management Area
74 acres · 8.3 mi away
State: department of natural resources
Open access - Army Corps of Engineers project land · Nebraska
Glenn Cunningham Recreation Area
1,527 acres · 10.3 mi away
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Open access
Distances are straight-line between reference points, not driving distance.
Source: PAD-US 4.1 (USGS), records for “Desoto National Wildlife Refuge” in Iowa combined into one listing. How listings are built. Spotted an error? PAD-US is maintained by USGS with data from the managing agencies.