Lake Odessa Controlled Hunting Area; Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Information

Odessa Wildlife Area has been divided into two hunting zones: Controlled Area A and the Open Area. No person shall enter the Controlled Area during the duck season unless they possess a valid hunting permit (see map at link below, and further area restrictions below).

CONTROLLED AREA A:
- permits required throughout that part of the duck season after October 12

Hunting Sites

1. Hunting sites will be allotted by drawing, and the party must hunt from their assigned stake. Parties may change sites by re-registering for an open stake on a first-come, first-served basis.
   
   
2. Not more than 6 persons shall be at one hunting site, and they must remain within 40 yards of the stake except when retrieving game or going to and from the check station. Decoys must be placed within 60 feet of the stake. A party at one site may use no more than two boats, and each boat must contain a valid permit. Hunting and the location of decoys at double stake sites are restricted to one of the stake sites.

Drawing, Fees, Permits

1. Permits for Area A will be issued only at the Schafer Access check station. The check station will open two hours before shooting time, and the drawing will start 90 minutes before legal shooting time.
   
   
2. One person from each party shall complete a permit listing each member of his party, and present the permit and fee to the attendant prior to drawing time. The nonrefundable daily permit fee to enter the drawing is $5 per party unless one member of the party has a $50 season permit.
   
   
3. No person's name may appear on more than one permit for the drawing. When a person's name is on one permit, he cannot subsequently hunt with any other party prior to 10:00 a.m. each day.
   
   
4. Party captains shall draw to determine the sequence of site selection. Permits will be issued for the 51 Area A sites as party captains make their selections. The person drawing number 1 will select his site first, then the person drawing 2 will choose, etc. Parties drawing higher numbers may choose to hunt the Open Area or can be placed on a waiting list in the proper sequence from #52. The fee to enter the drawing will not be refunded, even for parties drawing numbers higher than 51.
   
   
5. Parties coming to the area after the drawing may choose stakes on a first-come, first-served basis, if sites are available, in the same manner as above.

OPEN AREA

Hunting

1. Hunting sites are not designated, and there is no permit required to hunt this portion of the area.

Further Area Restrictions

1. Blinds and decoys must be removed from both areas within one hour after close of shooting time each day.
   
   
2. Permittees from Control Area A must check out of the check station within thirty minutes after vacating their stake, or one hour after close of shooting time, whichever comes first, and must present all game taken at the check station for inspection. Open Area hunters are not required to check out when leaving the area.
   
   
3. Map of Lake Odessa Controlled Hunting Area,*pdf

For more information, call 319-523-8319 or 319-523-3102