McCoy Wildlife Area: hunting and access
McCoy Wildlife Area is 562 acres of public hunting land in Boone County, 3 miles from Luther, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,162 deer in Boone 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 atlasFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasIHAP landMcCoy Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 562 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Boone County |
| Deer harvest unit | Boone County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer and Turkey |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 3/4 Timber, 1/4 Upland |
| DNR contact | Saylorville Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Luther (3 mi), Boone (4 mi) and Madrid (7 mi) |
What is McCoy Wildlife Area like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 3/4 timber, 1/4 upland.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on McCoy Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer and turkey for McCoy Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on McCoy 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 McCoy Wildlife Area?
McCoy Wildlife Area lies in Boone County. Hunters reported 1,162 deer in Boone County in 2025, against 1,351 in 2024.
| County | McCoy Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | 562 | 1,162 | 1,351 | 1,294 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to McCoy Wildlife Area?
The DNR's directions: 2 miles N of Luther on Hwy 17, 3.5 miles W on E52, 0.5 mile S on P Ave, 1 mile W on 255th St.
Nearest towns: Luther (3 miles), Boone (4 miles), Madrid (7 miles) and Ogden (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 30 and IA 17. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near McCoy Wildlife Area?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE: 10,773 acres, next to it
- Saylorville Wildlife Area: 1,099 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Long WMA: 43 acres, 2.5 miles away
- Jay Carlson Area: 159 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Harrier Marsh WPA: 386 acres, 5.9 miles away
- Harrier Marsh: 35 acres, 6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of McCoy Wildlife Area
Counting McCoy Wildlife Area itself, 4,509 of the 27,796 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (16.2%), 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 | 3,192 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 975 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 314 |
| Other DNR land | 28 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is McCoy Wildlife Area?
In Boone County, 3 miles from Luther.
What can you hunt on McCoy Wildlife Area?
The DNR's atlas lists deer and turkey.
How much public land is around McCoy Wildlife Area?
4,509 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, McCoy Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE (next to it).
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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.