Deer Hunting

The population management season is restricted to Allamakee, Winneshiek, Decatur, Appanoose, Monroe and Wayne and is only open if the number of antlerless licenses available exceeds 100 on the third Monday in December. This season allows hunter options for the method of take. The excess tag season was created by the Iowa legislature in 2022 and allows any county with excess antlerless tags on Jan. 10 to be eligible, but restricts the method of take to rifles only.

The caliber, or bullet diameter, is typically printed on the ammunition box and packaging.

No it's not. We have tried to include common ones in the limited space we have in the regulations, but there are many less popular cartridges not shown on the list. The most important criteria is that it's at least .350 inches, but no greater than .500 inches. If you’re not sure if your cartridge is allowed, please check with your local DNR conservation officer.

Both the .350 and .500 are legal. If it's .349 or less or .501 or more, it's not legal.

It’s legal to use a revolver for deer hunting if the barrel is at least 4 inches long.

The .350 Legend is legal for deer hunting in Iowa.

If you need additional clarification or have other questions, we'd encourage you to call your local DNR conservation officer, who would be happy to chat about this. You can find contact information at iowadnr.gov/officers.

No, there is not a maximum round count for rifle or shotgun magazines for deer hunting in Iowa.

Legal shotguns, handguns, muzzleloaders, bows and center-fire rifles .223 caliber and larger are legal for use during the special January Antlerless-only
deer season in Allamakee, Appanoose, Clayton, Decatur, Lucas, Monroe,
Wayne and Winneshiek counties January 11-19, 2025.