Mississippi River Islands: hunting and access
Mississippi River Islands is 6,615 acres of public hunting land in Des Moines, Louisa and Muscatine counties, next to Fairport, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 1,561 deer in Des Moines 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 atlasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landLand trusts and other open landMississippi River IslandsCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 6,615 acres in 71 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Des Moines County, Louisa County and Muscatine County |
| Deer harvest unit | Des Moines County, Louisa County, Muscatine County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer and Waterfowl |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| DNR contact | Odessa Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Fairport (next to it), Muscatine (2 mi) and Kent Estates (3 mi) |
What can you hunt on Mississippi River Islands?
The DNR's atlas lists deer and waterfowl for Mississippi River Islands.
What are the rules on Mississippi River Islands?
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 Mississippi River Islands?
Mississippi River Islands lies in 3 counties. Hunters reported 1,561 deer in Des Moines County in 2025, against 1,483 in 2024.
| County | Mississippi River Islands acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines County | 3,541 | 1,561 | 1,483 | 1,455 |
| Louisa County | 1,883 | 1,556 | 1,394 | 1,309 |
| Muscatine County | 897 | 1,393 | 1,379 | 1,313 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Mississippi River Islands?
Nearest towns: Fairport (next to it), Muscatine (2 miles), Kent Estates (3 miles) and Fruitland (3 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 61, IA 22, IA 92, IA 99 and IA 38.
What other public land is near Mississippi River Islands?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Huron Flats Wildlife Area: 418 acres, next to it
- Odessa Wildlife Area - USACOE: 4,069 acres, next to it
- Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge - Big Timber Division: 1,769 acres, next to it
- Odessa Wildlife Area: 109 acres, 1.4 miles away
- Klum Lake Wildlife Area: 689 acres, 3.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Mississippi River Islands
Counting Mississippi River Islands itself, 26,895 of the 189,110 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (14.2%), 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 | 12,974 |
| Other DNR land | 11,138 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 2,409 |
| County conservation board and city land | 295 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 79 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Mississippi River Islands?
In Des Moines, Louisa and Muscatine counties, next to Fairport.
What can you hunt on Mississippi River Islands?
The DNR's atlas lists deer and waterfowl.
How much public land is around Mississippi River Islands?
26,895 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Mississippi River Islands included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Huron Flats Wildlife Area (next to it).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Iowa are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.
Iowa hunting Des Moines County Louisa County Muscatine County