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Iowa Hunting & Trapping Licenses
Purchase your hunting licenses, report your harvest, sign up for a hunter education class, check real time quotas, real time harvests, nonresident deer and turkey tags, upgrade to a hard card, & more!
Whether you're a seasoned hunter or a beginner, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors in Iowa. Iowa's hunting seasons can be found below for those looking to plan their hunting trips and activities.
**HUNTERS - Just a reminder, annual licenses, stamps and fees expire on January 10. As the opportunity to hunt extends later into January, be sure to replace those that have expired.
Back to topDeer Seasons
Licenses are available from the sales date (Aug 15) through the end of the season, or until quota fills.
- For resident deer license options, see p. 40 in the 2025/26 Iowa Hunting, Trapping, & Migratory Game Bird Regulations.
- For nonresidents, see our nonresident hunting licenses and applications information.
- Visit our Deer Management Hunts page for information regarding applying for deer management hunts, licenses for zones, and deer management zone maps.
| 2025/26 Deer Hunting Seasons | Season Dates |
|---|---|
| Youth | Sept 20 - Oct 5 |
| Disabled Hunter | Sept 20 - Oct 5 |
| Archery, Early Split | Oct 1 - Dec 5 |
| Archery, Late Split | Dec 22 - Jan 10, 2026 |
| Early Muzzleloader | Oct 11 - 19 |
| Late Muzzleloader | Dec 22 - Jan 10, 2026 |
| Shotgun 1 | Dec 6 - 10 |
| Shotgun 2 | Dec 13 - 21 |
| Nonresident Holiday | Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2026 |
| Population Mgmt. January Antlerless | Jan 11 - 25, 2026 |
| Excess Tag January Antlerless | Jan 11 - 25, 2026 |
SHOOTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
Back to topSmall Game & Upland Seasons
| 2025/26 Small & Upland Game Hunting | Season | Shooting Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster Pheasant (Youth) Daily: 1 / Possession: 2 | Oct 18-19 | 8am - 4:30pm |
| Rooster Pheasant Daily: 3 / Possession: 12 | Oct 25 - Jan 10, 2026 | 8am - 4:30pm |
| Bobwhite Quail Daily: 8 / Possession: 16 | Oct 25 - Jan 31, 2026 | 8am - 4:30pm |
| Gray Partridge Daily: 8 / Possession: 16 | Oct 11 - Jan 31, 2026 | 8am - 4:30pm |
| Ruffed Grouse Daily: 3 / Possession: 6 | Oct 4 - Jan 31, 2026 | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Rabbit (Cottontail) Daily: 10 / Possession: 20 | Aug 30 - Feb 28, 2026 | Sunrise to Sunset |
| Rabbit (Jack) | CLOSED | |
| Squirrel (Fox & Gray) Daily: 6 / Possession: 12 | Aug 30 - Jan 31, 2026 | No restrictions |
| Groundhog Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Continuous open season | No restrictions |
| Crow Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Oct 15 - Nov 30, 2026 | No restrictions |
| Crow Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Jan 14 - Mar 31, 2026 | No restrictions |
| Pigeon Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Continuous open season | No restrictions |
| Coyote Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Continuous open season | No restrictions |
Furbearer Seasons
| 2025/26 Furbearer Seasons, Hunting | Season Dates | Trapping Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Opossum, Badger, Mink, Striped Skunk, Muskrat3, Fox (Red and Gray), Weasel Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Nov 1 - Feb 28, 2026 | 8am on first day |
| Beaver Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Nov 1 - Apr 15, 2026 | 8am on first day |
| Bobcat, otter Daily: Regulations p. 33-34 / Possession: Regulations p. 33-34 | Nov 1 - Feb 28, 2026 | 8am on first day |
| Coyote Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Continuous open season | No restrictions |
| Raccoon - Private land Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Continuous open season | No restrictions |
| Raccoon - Public land Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Nov 1 - Feb 28, 2026 | 8am on first day |
| 2025/26 Furbearer Seasons, Trapping | Season Dates | Trapping Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote, Mink, Muskrat, Weasel, Striped Skunk, Badger, Opossum, Fox (Red and Gray) Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Nov 1 - Feb 28, 2026 | 8am on first day |
| Beaver Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Nov 1 - Apr 15, 2026 | 8am on first day |
| Bobcat, Otter Daily: Regulations p. 33-34 / Possession: Regulations p. 33-34 | Nov 1 - Feb 28, 2026 | 8am on first day |
| Raccoon - Private land Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Continuous open season | No restrictions |
| Raccoon - Public land Daily: No Limit / Possession: No Limit | Nov 1 - Feb 28, 2026 | 8am on first day |
BOBCAT: Hunters and trappers must have a furharvester license and pay the habitat fee to harvest bobcats, if normally required to have them to trap. A regular hunting license will not be adequate.
CONTINUOUS CLOSED SEASON: Gray Wolf, Civet Cat (Spotted Skunk)
Turkey Seasons
| Fall 2025 Turkey Seasons | Season Dates | Shooting Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Combination Gun/Bow Licenses | Oct 13 - Dec 5 | Half-hour before sunrise to sunset |
| Resident Archery-only Licenses | Oct 1 - Dec 5 | Half-hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset |
| Resident Archery-only Licenses | Dec 22 - Jan 10, 2026 | Half-hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset |
| Spring 2026 Turkey Seasons | Season Dates | Shooting Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Season (Residents Only) | Apr 10 - 12, 2026 | Half-hour before sunrise to sunset |
| Combination Gun/Bow, Season 1 | Apr 13 - 15, 2026 | Half-hour before sunrise to sunset |
| Combination Gun/Bow, Season 2 | Apr 17 - 21, 2026 | Half-hour before sunrise to sunset |
| Combination Gun/Bow, Season 3 | Apr 22 - 28, 2026 | Half-hour before sunrise to sunset |
| Combination Gun/Bow, Season 4 | Apr 29 - May 17, 2026 | Half-hour before sunrise to sunset |
| Resident Archery-only Licenses | Apr 13 - May 17, 2026 | 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.
Back to topMigratory Game Bird Seasons
| Seasons by Zone | North | Central | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Waterfowl | Sep. 20 - Sep. 21 | Sep. 27 - Sep. 28 | Oct. 4 - Oct. 5 |
| Ducks, Mergansers & Coots | Sep. 27 - Oct. 3 | Oct. 4 - Oct. 10 | Oct. 11 - Oct. 17 |
| Oct. 11 - Dec. 2 | Oct. 18 - Dec. 9 | Oct. 25 - Dec. 16 | |
| Dark Geese & Light Geese | Sep. 20 - Oct. 5 | Sep. 27 - Oct. 12 | Oct. 4 - Oct. 19 |
| Oct. 11 - Dec. 2 | Oct. 18 - Dec. 9 | Oct. 25 - Dec. 16 | |
| Dec. 13 - Jan. 10 | Dec. 20 - Jan. 17 | Dec. 27 - Jan. 24 |
| Statewide Seasons | Dates |
|---|---|
| Special September Teal | Sep. 6 - 14 |
| Doves | Sep. 1 - Nov. 29 |
| Snipe | Sep. 6 - Nov. 30 |
| Rail | Sep. 6 - Nov. 14 |
| Woodcock | Oct. 4 - Nov. 17 |
- Metropolitan Canada Goose Hunting Season* (in specified areas): Sep. 13 - 21
- Light Goose Conservation Order*: Jan. 25 - May 1, 2026
*Additional regulations apply.
Back to topGoogle Calendar, Seasons
Note: If you use Google Calendar, you can click ‘Add to Google Calendar’ at the bottom left of the calendar to add this dynamic calendar to your personal calendar for easy access on the go.
We work hard to keep our calendars current, but always refer to the Iowa Hunting, Trapping, & Migratory Game Bird Regulations for official, legal season dates.
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