Deer Island Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Deer Island Wildlife Area is 802 acres of public hunting land in Harrison County, 2 miles from River Sioux, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 532 deer in Harrison 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 atlasState parks and recreation areasIHAP landDeer Island Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 802 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Harrison County |
| Deer harvest unit | Harrison County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Pheasant, Quail and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/5 Marsh, 4/5 Timber |
| DNR contact | Missouri River Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | River Sioux (2 mi), Little Sioux (3 mi) and Blencoe (6 mi) |
What is Deer Island Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/5 marsh, 4/5 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Deer Island Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, quail and dove for Deer Island Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Deer Island 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 Deer Island Wildlife Area?
Deer Island Wildlife Area lies in Harrison County. Hunters reported 532 deer in Harrison County in 2025, against 500 in 2024.
| County | Deer Island Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County | 802 | 532 | 500 | 738 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Deer Island Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 5 miles S of Blencoe on K45, 1 mile W on 120th St.
Nearest towns: River Sioux (2 miles), Little Sioux (3 miles), Blencoe (6 miles) and Mondamin (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-29. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Deer Island Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Three Rivers Wildlife Area: 316 acres, next to it
- Fawn Island: 20 acres, next to it
- Little Sioux Bend: 168 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Gee-Hruska Wetland Area: 32 acres, 2.2 miles away
- Upper Bullard Bend Wildlife Area: 36 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Lower Blencoe Bend Wildlife Area: 63 acres, 3.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Deer Island Wildlife Area
Counting Deer Island Wildlife Area itself, 1,408 of the 30,383 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.6%), 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 | 1,393 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 14 |
| Other DNR land | 1 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Deer Island Wildlife Area?
In Harrison County, 2 miles from River Sioux.
What can you hunt on Deer Island Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, squirrel, pheasant, quail and dove.
How much public land is around Deer Island Wildlife Area?
1,408 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Deer Island Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Three Rivers Wildlife 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.