Iowa Hunting Laws Licensing & Regulations

Iowa Game Hunting

Iowa hunting includes popular species such as turkeys, deer, and pheasants, as well as possibilities to capture a variety of small game animals.

Iowa provides hunting programs that can help you. The Iowa Hunting and Access program, for example, encourages private landowners in the state to allow hunting on their holdings. These private properties will be open to hunters from September 1st to May 31st of the following year.

Hunting regulations in Iowa

Iowa, like most states in the United States, has hunting restrictions, laws, and standards that hunters must follow.

The taking, trapping, pursuing, searching, shooting, stalking, killing, and snaring of wildlife, games, and fish protected by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is referred to as hunting in this rule. It also makes no difference whether the player is killed or injured during the action.

The following are some of the most notable Iowa hunting regulations:

Hunting Mishaps

If you are engaged in any type of hunting accident involving the use of a firearm and the accident results in a personal injury or property damage worth more than $100, you must report the accident within the next 12 hours.

The accident must be reported to the local county sheriff’s office or any local conservation office. If the sheriff’s office and the local conservation office are not available, you must report the accident to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Obtaining a license

On public or private hunting properties, hunters must have a valid Iowa hunting license with them. You must show the license or any legal permit, tag, and stamp to peace officers and landowners in charge of the property where you are trapping or hunting upon request. The license might be either physical or electronic.

Game animal possession and storage

You may not exceed the bag limit of any game or fur-bearing animal that you obtain legally with a valid license when hunting in Iowa until the first day of the next open season of that game.

In Iowa, you are permitted to possess up to 25 pounds of deer meat, known as venison, as long as the animal is taken legally.

Communication Device Use

It is illegal to utilize two-way communication equipment to direct hunters, stalk game animals, or locate their movement and position. There is an exemption for coyote hunting, where hunters may use 2-way radios. Additionally, falconers with a valid state falconer permit may utilize a one-way mobile transmitter to capture free-flying birds. When using a hunting dog, you can employ a one-way mobile transmitter to track or recover the dog.

Games from other countries

You can legally possess games that were lawfully taken from other states and legitimately imported into Iowa if you can verify that they were both taken and imported legally. However, there are occasional exceptions to this rule for major sporting events.

Games for Retrieving and Wasting

It is illegal to abandon game animals that have been injured while hunting without making any effort to collect them. Similarly, it is illegal to abandon any useable piece of game animal after taking it. This regulation defines the useful portion as follows:

The portion of a game animal that is often prepared for human consumption
The hide and fur of fur-bearing sports

Transport of Hunting Weapons

It is illegal to possess or carry a firearm in your vehicle on Iowa public highways. There are exceptions to this rule for firearms that are enclosed in their container and those that have magazines and ammo that are not attached. In addition, handguns must be transported in a closed container and must be unloaded. Anyone in the vehicle should also be unable to access the firearm.

Muzzleloaders must be either cased or unloaded. When the priming charge is not in the pan or the cap is not in the nipple, muzzleloaders are considered empty.

Hunting near structures

It is illegal to discharge or try to discharge a firearm for the purpose of shooting game animals within 200 yards of a residential building or a building containing feedlots or domestic livestock.

Exceptions to this rule are permitted if you obtain permission from the landowner or a renter living in the residential structure.

According to this rule, a feedlot is a structure used to hold animals and feed them until they reach slaughter size.

While hunting, open carry is permitted.

In Iowa, open carry is permitted while hunting. The state legislation, on the other hand, contains provisions for firearms that are legal for open carry in the state.

In addition, you must obtain a permit to open carry while hunting in the state.

However, you cannot open carry while bow hunting or archery. In this instance, you can conceal carry firearms, but you cannot use the firearm to kill animals during archery sessions.

Iowa has hunter harassment regulations in place to safeguard hunting activities in the state, including fishing and fur harvesting.

The following are the provisions of the law:

No one should purposefully be present in any situation where his or her presence may influence the behaviors of animals with furs, games in wildlife, birds, and aquatic animals.
No one should intentionally interfere with the potential of killing or taking wildlife by disturbing or harassing anybody lawfully engaged in hunting activity in the state.
No one shall purposefully create any form of stimulus that will impact game behavior in order to disrupt or harass authorized hunting activities in the state.
No one in the state shall intentionally damage personal property used for hunting.
Nobody should interfere with another person’s hunting, fishing, or fur harvesting in an area designated for these activities, whether owned or leased by the person.

Hunting Permits, and Tags in Iowa

In Iowa, there are numerous legitimate licenses available. The state issues licenses based on the applicant’s residency and age. Among them are the following:

Iowa Driver’s License

Only Iowa citizens are eligible for these licenses. Among them are the following:

Hunting Licenses

This license is accessible to Iowa residents for hunting within the state. This license requires that you be at least 16 years old. It is priced at $19.

Senior hunting licenses

This license is offered to Iowa elderly citizens for hunting in the state. This license requires that you be at least 64 years old. It is priced at $13.

License for Hunting and Habitat

This license is only available to Iowa residents. The license does not only allow holders to hunt; it also permits them to trap. In terms of validity, there are two types of this license. The one that is valid for a year costs $30, while the one that is valid for three years costs $86.

Permits for Migratory Game Birds

This permit allows Iowa residents to take migratory birds. It costs ten dollars.

The United States Duck Stamp

Residents of Iowa must get federal duck stamps to hunt ducks in the state. The stamp is $25.00.

Apprentice Hunting and Habitat License

Residents and apprentice hunters in Iowa must have this license in order to participate in any hunting season. The license also entitles them to trap games. It will set you back $30.

Furharvester Permit

Residents who hunt fur-bearing game require this license before they can harvest the wildlife. Based on the age criteria, there are two variants of this license. The one for people over the age of 16 is $22.5, while the one for those under the age of 16 is $75.

License for Hunting and Fishing

This license grants people the right to fish and hunt. It is priced at $47.

Hunting Reservation

This license is required for residents who want to hunt in Iowa game reserves. It will set you back $7.

Senior citizens can get a lifetime hunting license.

This license is accessible to older citizens who desire to participate in Iowa’s hunting season. It will be valid for the rest of their lives. It will set you back $52.5.

Senior residents can get a lifetime fur harvester license.

This license is available to senior citizens who wish to participate in furbearer games. It will be valid for the rest of their lives. It will set you back $52.5.

Deer Permit

Residents who only desire to participate in Iowa deer seasons may apply for this license. It will set you back $28.5.

The first license for an antlerless deer

This is the first Iowa deer hunting license required for antlerless deer hunting in Iowa. It will set you back $28.5.

Antlerless Deer License Subsequent

In Iowa, this is the second-and-only license required for deer hunting. It is priced at $13.

Non-resident hunting permit

These are out-of-state hunting licenses provided by Iowa to non-resident hunters who desire to participate in Iowa hunting seasons.

Among them are the following:

Non-resident hunting permits

Non-residents can purchase this license to hunt in the state. This license requires that you be at least 18 years old. It will set you back $112.

Non-resident Junior Hunting License

For hunting in the state, this license is solely available to junior non-residents. This license requires that you be at least 18 years old. It is $32.00.

License for Non-Resident Habitat Fee

This license allows non-residents to participate in trapping. It is priced at $13.

License for Non-Resident Hunting and Habitat Combination

The license does not only allow holders to hunt; it also permits them to trap. It is only available to non-residents who are 18 years of age or older. It is $123.00.

Permits for Non-Resident Migratory Game Birds

Non-residents can participate in migrating bird games in Iowa with this permission. It costs ten dollars.

Federal Duck Stamp Non-Resident

Non-residents must get a federal duck stamp to take ducks into the state. The stamp is $25.00.

Apprentice Hunting and Habitat License

Non-resident apprentice hunters in Iowa must get this license before participating in any hunting season. The license also entitles them to trap games. It is $123.00.

Licenses, permits, and tags for fishing in Iowa

Fishing permits in Iowa, like hunting licenses, are awarded based on residency and age. The following fishing licenses, permits, and tags are available in Iowa:

Fishing Licenses for Iowa Residents

Among them are the following:

Ordinary Resident Fishing Permit

Before fishing in any of the state’s bodies of water, Iowa residents must obtain this license. It is $22.00.

Angler’s Special Fishing Permit

This license is required for Iowa residents who want to catch anglerfish. It is $62.00.

Seniors can get a lifetime fishing license.

This license is only valid for elderly citizens 65 and over who live in the state. It costs $61.5 for a lifetime license.

License for Hunting and Fishing

Residents of Iowa who want to go hunting and fishing can apply for this license. It will set you back $55.

Trout Fishing Permit

This license is required for Iowa residents who want to catch trout. It is priced at $14.5.

One-Day Fishing Permit

This is a resident fishing license good for one day. It costs $10.5 USD.

7-Day Fishing Permit

This is a resident fishing license with a seven-day validity period. It will set you back $15.5.

License for Residents Boundary Water Trotline

This license permits residents to use up to four trotlines with a total of 200 hooks. It will set you back $26.

Non-Resident Fishing Licenses in Iowa

contains the following:

Non-Resident Ordinary Fishing License

Non-residents who want to fish in Iowa must first obtain this license before they can access Iowa water bodies. It is priced at $48.

Non-resident Trout Fishing Permit

Non-residents who want to catch trout in Iowa must have this license. It will set you back $17.5.

One-Day Non-Resident Fishing License

This is a non-resident fishing license good for one day. It is priced at $12.

Non-residents: a 3-day fishing license is required.

This is a non-resident fishing license good for three days. It will set you back $20.5.

7-Day Non-Resident Fishing License

This is a non-resident fishing license with a seven-day validity period. It will set you back $37.5.

Non-Resident Boundary Waters Permit

This license permits non-residents to use up to four trotlines with a total of 200 hooks. It will set you back $49.5.

Hunting Season in Iowa

Hunting seasons in Iowa vary depending on the game species and the technique of capture.

The following wildlife species will be hunted in Iowa during the 2020-21 hunting season:

Seasons for hunting deer in Iowa

Youth Hunting Season (September 19th to October 4th)
Disabled Hunters Season (September 16th to October 4th)
Seasons for Archery Hunting (1st October to 4th December and 21st October to 10th January)
Early Muzzleloader Firearm Season (October 17th to October 25th)
Late Muzzleloader Firearm Season (December 21st to January 10th)
First Regular Firearm Season (December 5th to December 9th)
Second Regular Firearm Season (12th December to 20th December)
Holiday Antlerless Season (December 24th to January 2nd)

In Iowa, a permit is required for each deer taken.

Seasons for hunting turkey in Iowa

Fall Gun and Bow Hunting Season (12th October to 4th December)
Archery Fall Hunting Season (1st October to 4th December to 21st December to 10th January).

Small Game Hunting Season in Iowa

Hunting Season for Young Rooster Pheasants (October 24 to October 25)
Rooster Pheasant Hunting Season (October 31st to January 10th)
Season of Quail Hunting (October 31st to January 31st)
Grouse Hunting Season (October 3rd to January 31st)
Cottontail Rabbit Hunting Season (September 5th to February 28th)
Season of Fox Hunting (5th of September to 31st of January)
Gray Squirrel Hunting Season (September 5th to January 31st)
Crow hunting seasons are from October 15th to November 30th and from January 14th to March 31st.
Open Season for Pigeon Hunting
Open Season for Groundhog Hunting

Wildlife, Games, and Fishing in Iowa

The following are some of the most frequent wildlife and game animals in Iowa:

Deer hunting in Iowa

Deer hunting is popular in many areas throughout Iowa. The creatures are known to live in forested sections of the state, although they can also survive in other sorts of ecosystems as long as they have appropriate cover. Brushes, grasslands, fencelines, and swampy areas are among of the habitats where they are most common in Iowa.

Turkey Hunting in Iowa

Hunting for wild turkeys is popular in Iowa. They are woodland birds, and the most frequent in Iowa is the eastern wild turkey. These turkeys have been observed in Iowa’s developed oak woodlands. The loess hills in western Iowa and the yellow river forest in northeast Iowa are the most popular areas for turkey hunting. Turkey hunting is popular in Iowa’s southeast, and they live in the state’s wood forest areas in the east.

Fox Hunting in Iowa

In Iowa, there are two types of foxes: gray foxes and red foxes. The red fox is even more common than the red fox in the state. Red foxes can live in a variety of habitats, but in Iowa, they are most likely to be found in forested and grassland areas.

Coyote Hunting in Iowa

Coyotes are found throughout Iowa, however they are more common in the western section of the state. They are not restricted to a single environment, thus you can find them on grasslands, timberlands, brush heaps, and switchgrass areas.

Pheasant Hunting in Iowa

Pheasant hunting is popular in Iowa due to the state’s large population, particularly in northwest Iowa. Pheasant hunting in the state has been successful in recent years, with 2016 topping the list with 245,000 harvested pheasants.

Hunting for Quail in Iowa

Iowa has some of the best quail hunting in the country. They live in the state’s southern and northern regions, where the bobwhite quail can also be found.

Hunting for Grouse in Iowa

Because of the state’s ideal ecosystems, grouse hunting in Iowa was more common in former years. However, their numbers have fallen due to human encroachment and degradation of these essential ecosystems. They are now only found in a few areas in Iowa’s northeastern region.

Duck Hunting in Iowa

Ducks are typically found in wetland areas of Iowa, remote from human settlement. Wildlife refuge regions are the best places in the state for deer shooting. They are mainly found in shallow areas of bodies of water such as ponds and lakes.

Dove Hunting in Iowa

Doves are widely scattered in Iowa due to their status as migratory birds. They can be found in all counties in the state, but they are particularly common in locations such as the Loess Hills and counties in Iowa’s southern three tiers. Doves thrive in open settings such as lightly wooded areas, farmland, and meadows.

Hunting and shooting ranges in Iowa

The following shooting ranges are open to the general public in Iowa:

Ikaak Walton, Boone Valley
Cedar Falls Rifle Club
Shooting Range and Training Center of Charles “Butch” Olofson
The Colfax Gun Club
Shooting Range and Gun Shop Daryl’s
Shooting Sports on the Road
Hunting in the Highlands
Iowa River Shooting Club
Specialty Firearms by McCunn
Pioneer Gun Club has a new location.
Otter Creek Sportsmen’s Association
Southeastern Iowa Sportsmen’s Association
The Gun Club of Stockdale

Hunting Lands in Iowa for Sale and Lease

The following Iowa hunting lands are for sale:

159 acres in Whittemore, Iowa (Kossuth County).
434 acres in Knoxville, Iowa (Marion County).
66 acres in Donahue, Iowa (Scott County).
19.55 acres in Elkader, Iowa (Clayton County).
4 acres in Ollie, Iowa (Keokuk County).
50 acres in Osceola, Iowa (Clarke County).

The following Iowa hunting lands are available for lease:

Whitetail turkey is accessible on 200 acres just southeast of Tama County.
Ringgold County Whitetail Deer and Turkey Hunting Lease Available, 197 Acres.
Taylor County Deer Hunting Land, 156 Acres.
Tylor County has 155 acres of hunting land available.
113-acre hunting lease in Adams County.
Annual Turkey Lease Available in Albia, Monroe County, on 167 acres.
Riverside Iowa Whitetail Deer Hunting on 480 Acres in Washington County.