UNION HILLS WMA
"This area is a mosaic of wetlands and tall-grass prairie," says Wildlife Biologist Doug Janke.

"October hunting will find the birds in the uplands, and they'll quickly become more wild since the area is hunted fairly hard. In November, the birds will move into the cattail marshes and denser grasses."

According to Janke, a good dog is an important asset when hunting this area. There are hundreds of acres of grassland and a lot of up-and-down walking. Single hunters or those in a group will find a lot of room to stretch out on.

This Clear Lake-area WMA covers 1,989 acres of prairie grass seedings, and the walking can be tough. Every year, the switch grass and willow thickets near marshy areas produce lots of rooster action.

As the weather gets colder, ringnecks will be hunkered down in piles of grass, food plots, crop fields or fencerows.

Union Hills WMA lies in Cerro Gordo County four miles north of Thornton on highway 107, then two miles west on B55.

For more information contact the Big Marsh Unit at (515) 532-2765.

CHICHAQUA RIVER BOTTOMS WMA
Des Moines-area ringneck hunters consistently take roosters from this 6,431-acre wildlife unit that lies just a short drive away. The pheasant numbers never fall below acceptable levels, and even though the hunting pressure can be heavy, the shooting can be phenomenal.

The habitat and access are excellent, says McInroy. The area has large tracts of habitat that make it one of the state's best pheasant-hunting destinations. A lot of DNR work has gone into the area, and it's become a top-notch bird area as a result.

When hunting the switch grass on Chichaqua River Bottoms, a close-working dog or a large group of drivers is good to have. Roosters will double back in the thick grass and without a dog, there's a good chance of not even seeing them.

Target the prairie grasses and grain food plots. As it gets colder, the birds will concentrate in the heaviest cover they can find near food plots.

The Chichaqua River Bottoms WMA is in Polk and Jasper counties.

Contact the Red Rock Management unit at (515) 961-0716 for more information.

SWEET MARSH WMA
"I've hunted the Sweet Marsh Area myself and it's a great place to hunt," says McInroy.

Waterloo's pheasant hunters have great hunting right in their backyard. Sweet Marsh WMA is primarily a waterfowl habitat, according to Wildlife Biologist Doug Chafa. A lot of it is marshy and bordered by the Wapsi River and Plum Creek.

"On the east side of the property are cattails, brush and some wet areas that the pheasants can get into and not a lot of hunters go," says Chafa.

According to him, the grassland acreage is getting larger. Well over a hundred acres are being planted in a mixture of shorter grasses, and patches of tall grass and brush are being established. It won't help shooters this season, but in a year or two, it should be overrun with birds.

Sweet Marsh WMA covers 2,267 acres of grass, marshland and woody cover in Bremer County. For more information, contact the Sweet Marsh Unit at (563) 425-4257.

BIG MARSH WMA
"On Big Marsh, blocking opportunities don't really exist," Janke says.

"The west end includes several hundred acres of prairie grass that's pretty much flat and dry when October arrives, aside from a few ditches. Large groups or just lone hunters can all be accommodated by the area's terrain."

The main section of the area off Highway 14 has more broken cover with small fields, shrub patches and a fair amount of wet ground with an inch or two of standing water.

According to Janke, hunters working in small groups generally take the most birds. The largest numbers of pheasants are likely to move into this area later on in the season.

Big Marsh WMA has a nice blend of upland grasses, marshland and timber cover that gives roosters an opportunity to pick their habitat preference. It's also within easy driving distance of Waterloo and Cedar Falls.

The Big Marsh WMA covers 4,380 acres near Waterloo. It's located 6 miles north of Parkersburg on Highway 14 in Butler County.

Call the Big Marsh Unit at (515) 532-2765 for additional information.