Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE: hunting and access
Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE is 10,773 acres of public hunting land in Boone, Dallas and Polk counties, next to Fraser, 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 areasCounty conservation board and city landLand trusts and other open landIHAP landSaylorville Wildlife Area - ACOECounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 10,773 acres in 18 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Boone County, Dallas County and Polk County |
| Deer harvest unit | Boone County, Dallas County, Polk County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Waterfowl and Dove |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/2 Timber, 1/4 Upland, 1/4 Reservoir |
| DNR contact | Saylorville Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Fraser (next to it), Madrid (next to it) and Woodward (2 mi) |
What is Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/2 timber, 1/4 upland, 1/4 reservoir.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, waterfowl and dove for Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE.
What are the rules on Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE?
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 Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE?
Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE lies in 3 counties. Hunters reported 1,162 deer in Boone County in 2025, against 1,351 in 2024.
| County | Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | 6,581 | 1,162 | 1,351 | 1,294 |
| Dallas County | 3,171 | 1,172 | 1,344 | 1,327 |
| Polk County | 1,021 | 966 | 997 | 1,007 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE?
The DNR's directions: Des Moines River valley from Hwy 17 in Polk county N to Fraser in Boone county.
Nearest towns: Fraser (next to it), Madrid (next to it), Woodward (2 miles) and Pilot Mound (2 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IA 141, US 30, IA 17, IA 210 and IA 415. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Jester Park: 581 acres, next to it
- Saylorville Lake: 6,647 acres, next to it
- Big Creek Wildlife Area: 1,344 acres, next to it
- Saylorville Wildlife Area: 1,099 acres, next to it
- McCoy Wildlife Area: 562 acres, next to it
- Jay Carlson Area: 159 acres, next to it
Public land within 3 miles of Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE
Counting Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE itself, 24,552 of the 156,562 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (15.7%), 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 | 19,575 |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 2,248 |
| County conservation board and city land | 1,486 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 1,134 |
| Other DNR land | 88 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 21 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE?
In Boone, Dallas and Polk counties, next to Fraser.
What can you hunt on Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, turkey, waterfowl and dove.
How much public land is around Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE?
24,552 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Saylorville Wildlife Area - ACOE included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Jester Park (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.