resident deer zone · Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Zone A
Iowa, United States
The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.
About Zone A
Zone A is a resident deer zone in Iowa, United States, set by Iowa Department of Natural Resources. It covers about 131,734 km² (50,863 mi²). Towns inside it include Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Ankeny, Iowa City and West Des Moines.
HuntGrid draws its boundary from Iowa Department of Natural Resources's data for the 2026 season. The agency uses this unit system for White-tailed deer.
- Unit code
- A
- Area
- 131,734 km²
- Area (miles)
- 50,863 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 3,543 km² of public or protected land inside it, 3% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:
| Manager | km² | Share |
|---|---|---|
| DNR - Wildlife | 1,269 | under 1% |
| Rock Island | 408 | under 1% |
| DNR - Parks | 223 | under 1% |
| DNR - Forestry | 186 | under 1% |
| State Department of Natural Resources | 180 | under 1% |
| Army Corps of Engineers | 140 | under 1% |
| Kansas City | 133 | under 1% |
| Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife And Fish Refuge | 86 | under 1% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 1,465 | 1% |
Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.
Public land: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1
Seasons and regulations
Seasons for this unit that a person has checked against Iowa Department of Natural Resources's regulations:
| Species | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Oct 1, 2026 to Dec 4, 2026 | archery, residents source |
| White-tailed deer | Dec 5, 2026 to Dec 9, 2026 | antlered, firearm, residents, 18 western Zone A counties: Osceola, Dickinson, Emmet, Clay, Palo Alto, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Pocahontas, Sac, Calhoun, Monona, Carroll, Greene, Harrison, Audubon, Pottawattamie, Mills, Fremont source |
| White-tailed deer | Dec 5, 2026 to Dec 9, 2026 | firearm, residents, Rest of Zone A (outside the 18 antlered-only western counties) source |
| White-tailed deer | Dec 12, 2026 to Dec 20, 2026 | firearm, residents source |
| White-tailed deer | Dec 21, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 | archery, residents source |
| White-tailed deer | Dec 21, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 | muzzleloader, residents source |
| White-tailed deer | Jan 11, 2027 to Jan 24, 2027 | antlerless, residents, Allamakee and Winneshiek counties, only if reinstated (more than 100 antlerless licences unsold there on 21 Dec 2026) source |
The official regulations have the final word: check them before you hunt.
Units around it
Next to it in the same unit system
Other hunting units that cover part of it
- Nonresident Zone 1 (nonresident deer zone)
- Bobcat counties, limit 1 (bobcat season county group)
- Nonresident Zone 2 (nonresident deer zone)
- Nonresident Zone 3 (nonresident deer zone)
- Bobcat counties, limit 3 (bobcat season county group)
- Fall Turkey Zone 4
- Nonresident Spring Turkey Zone 4
- Nonresident Zone 4 (nonresident deer zone)
- Nonresident Zone 5 (nonresident deer zone)
- Fall Turkey Zone 6
- Nonresident Spring Turkey Zone 6
- Nonresident Zone 7 (nonresident deer zone)
- Fall Turkey Zone 7
- Nonresident Spring Turkey Zone 7
- Nonresident Spring Turkey Zone 8
- Fall Turkey Zone 8
- Nonresident Zone 8 (nonresident deer zone)
- Fall Turkey Zone 9
- Nonresident Zone 9 (nonresident deer zone)
- Nonresident Zone 10 (nonresident deer zone)
- Central Zone (duck and goose zone)
- North Zone (duck and goose zone)
- Ruffed grouse open area
- South Zone (duck and goose zone)
What HuntGrid shows for Zone A
- Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
- Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
- Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
- Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
- Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.
Questions
How big is Zone A (resident deer zone)?
About 131,734 km² (50,863 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Iowa Department of Natural Resources's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Zone A?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 3,543 km² of public or protected land, 3% of the unit; the largest share is managed by DNR - Wildlife. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for Zone A?
This page lists 7 seasons a person has checked against Iowa Department of Natural Resources's regulations; the official regulations have the final word.
Which units are next to Zone A?
In the same unit system: Zone B.
More on huntgrid.net
Sources
Unit boundary: Iowa Department of Natural Resources (zone definitions); U.S. Census Bureau (county boundaries). Licence: Zones defined in 571 IAC 106.1(2) and the Iowa DNR resident deer hunting zones map (Oct. 2025); county boundaries public domain (U.S. Census Bureau). Boundaries for the 2026 season.
HuntGrid isn't affiliated with Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The official regulations and maps have the final word.