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Iowa's Hunting Regulations
This is not a complete set of hunting and trapping laws but contains the information you are most likely to need to safely participate in these outdoor activities.
2024/25 Iowa Hunting, Trapping, and Migratory Game Bird Regulations [PDF]2023/24 Hunting Seasons and Limits, Card [PDF]2023/24 Migratory Game Bird Seasons and Limits, Card [PDF]Waterfowl Hunting Map Book [PDF]
Proposed 2024-25 County Antlerless Quota Changes [PDF]Waterfowl Hunting Zones - South Zone Callout Map [PDF]Chronic Wasting Disease, Hunter Guide [PDF]
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Deer Hunting Season Dates
We work hard to keep our calendar current, but always refer to the hunting regulation booklet for official, legal season dates.
| 2024Seasons | Season Dates | License On-Sale Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Season | Sept 21- Oct 6, 2024 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Disabled Hunter (Requires a permit) | Sept 21- Oct 6, 2024 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Archery Season, Early Split | Oct 1 - Dec 6, 2024 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Archery Season, Late Split | Dec 23- Jan 10, 2025 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Early Muzzleloader (residents only) | Oct 12- 20, 2024 | Aug 15 - End of Season (until quota is reached) |
| Late Muzzleloader | Dec 23 - Jan 10, 2025 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Shotgun, Season 1 | Dec 7- 11, 2024 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Shotgun, Season 2 | Dec 14- 22, 2024 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Nonresident Holiday Season | Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2025 | Aug 15 - End of Season (until quota is reached) |
Shooting hours for all deer seasons are half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
Find out more regarding Deer Disease Monitoring and the CWD Reporting System.
Nonresidents: The nonresident deer application period is the first Saturday in May through the first Sunday in June. The application is available in December.
Migratory Game Bird Season Dates
We work hard to keep our calendar current, but always refer to the hunting regulation booklet for official, legal season dates.
| 2024-2025 | North Zone | Central Zone | South Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Waterfowl | Sept.21-22 | Sept. 28-29 | Oct. 5-6 |
| Ducks, Mergansers & Coots | Sep. 28- Oct. 4 Oct. 12- Dec. 3 | Oct. 5- 11 Oct. 19 - Dec. 10 | Oct. 12 - 18 Oct. 26 - Dec. 17 |
| Dark Geese & Light Geese | Sep. 21 - Oct. 6 Oct. 12 - Dec. 3 Dec. 14 - Jan. 11, 2025 | Sep. 28 - Oct. 13 Oct. 19 - Dec. 10 Dec. 21 - Jan. 18 | Oct. 5 - 20 Oct. 26 - Dec. 17 Dec. 28 - Jan. 25, 2025 |
| 2024-2025 | Statewide | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Special September Teal | Sept. 1 - 16 | Daily limit is 6 |
| Doves | Sept. 1 - Nov. 29 | Daily limit is 15 |
| Snipe | Sept. 7- Nov. 30 | Daily limit is 8 |
| Rail | Sept. 7- Nov. 15 | Daily limit is 12 |
| Woodco*ck | Oct. 5- Nov. 18 | Daily limit is 3 |
- Metropolitan Goose Hunting Season(in specifiedareas): Only in designated zones around Des Moines, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City and Cedar Falls/Waterloo. Special regulations apply. Maps: Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Zone, Des Moines Zone, and Waterloo/Cedar Falls Zone
- Light Geese Conservation Order (additional regulations apply. Jan. 26 - May 1, 2025
Small Game and Upland Hunting Season Dates
We work hard to keep our calendar current, but always refer to the hunting regulation booklet for official, legal season dates.
| 2024-2025 | Season Dates | Hours | Daily/Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooster Pheasant (Youth) | Oct19- 20, 2024 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 1/ 2 |
| Rooster Pheasant | Oct 26- Jan 10, 2025 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 3/ 12 |
| Bobwhite Quail | Oct 26- Jan 31, 2025 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 8 /16 |
| Gray Partridge | Oct 12- Jan 31, 2025 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 8 /16 |
| Ruffed Grouse | Oct 5- Jan 31, 2025 | Sunrise to Sunset | 3/ 6 |
| Rabbit (Cottontail) | Aug 31 - Feb 28, 2025 | Sunrise to Sunset | 10 /20 |
| Rabbit (Jack) | CLOSED | 0/ 0 | |
| Squirrel (Fox and Gray) | Aug 31 - Jan 31, 2025 | No Restrictions | 6 /12 |
| Groundhog | Continuous Open Season | No Restrictions | No Limit /No Limit |
| Crow | Oct 15 - Nov 30, 2024 and Jan 14 - March 31, 2025 | No Restrictions | No Limit /No Limit |
| Pigeon | Continuous Open Season | No Restrictions | No Limit /No Limit |
| Coyote | Continuous Open Season | No Restrictions | No Limit /No Limit |
Trapping & Fur Harvesting Season Dates
We work hard to keep our calendar current, but always refer to the hunting regulation booklet for official, legal season dates.
- General Trapping Nov. 2-Feb. 28, 2025
- Beaver Nov. 2-April 15, 2025
Turkey Hunting Season Dates
We work hard to keep our calendar current, but always refer to the hunting regulation booklet for official, legal season dates.
Licenses go on sale August15.
Note: nonresidents are not eligible for fall turkey hunting licenses.
Gun shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Bow shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
| 2024 Fall Turkey Hunting | Season Dates | License On-sale Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Gun/bow | Oct 14 - Dec 6, 2024 | Aug 15 - until quotas are filled |
| Archery Only | Oct 1 - Dec 6, 2024& Dec 23- Jan 10, 2025 | Aug 15 - end of season (no quota) |
| 2025Spring Turkey Hunting | Season Dates | Shooting Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Youth season (residents only) | Apr 11 - 13, 2025 | half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
| Season 1 | Apr 14 - 17, 2025 | half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
| Season 2 | Apr 18 - 22, 2025 | half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
| Season 3 | Apr 23 - 29, 2025 | half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
| Season 4 | Apr 30 - May 18, 2025 | half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
| Resident archery-only | Apr 14 - May 18, 2025 | half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
Bag limit: daily bag and season possession limit is one bearded or male wild turkey for each valid license and transportation tag issued to the hunter.
The nonresident spring turkey application period is Jan. 1 to the last Sunday in January. the application is available in December.
