By the early 1900's, unrestricted market hunting and drastic reductions in habitat had eliminated wild turkeys in Iowa. For many years, the thunderous gobbles of the wild turkey were absent from Iowa's woodlands and forests.

This silence was broken in 1966 when the Iowa Department of Natural Resources initiated a program to return the wild turkey to Iowa. Wild turkeys were released at several sites across the state, with the first release occurring in Lee County, Iowa. Over the past 30 years, the restoration of Iowa's wild turkey population has resulted from natural expansion from the early release sites.

To purchase a license: Call 1-800-367-1188, buy your license online or visit any of the 800 license sales agents statewide. - Successful turkey hunters - report your turkey via the Harvest Reporting System.

Find online more information regarding hunting licenses & laws, license applications, places to hunt & shoot, harvest reporting information, left over quota licenses (available options for general quota information will be listed in left side menu) and hunter & safety education.

YouTube Video #1: Turkey Hunting Safety (0:35)
YouTube Video #2: Turkey Hunting Safety (0:35)

2012 Fall Turkey, Resident	Dates	Licenses On Sale
Comb. Shotgun-or-Archery	Oct 15 - Nov 30, 2012	Aug 15 - sold until quotas are filled
Archery only	Oct 1 - Nov 30 Dec 17 - Jan 10, 2013	Aug 15 - last day of season
2013 Spring Turkey
Comb. Shotgun-or-Archery	Apr 6 - 14 (Youth Season - Resident) Apr 15 - 18 (Season 1) Apr 19 - 23 (Season 2) Apr 24 - 30 (Season 3) May 1 - 19 (Season 4)	Dec 15 - last day of season
Archery only (Resident)	April 15 - May 19, 2013	Dec 15 - last day of season
2013 Spring Turkey, Non-Resident
Application period	Jan 1 - 27, 2013 Nonresident Turkey Application Guide (Season Dates/Info, Application Dates, License Fee and Requirements, Application Instructions, Group Info, Landowner Info, Zones, etc…) Hunters may determine their drawing status online. Please do not call the DNR as your drawing status will not be provided over the phone. To look up your drawing status information, you must now go to the online purchasing site. After logging in, please click on the ‘View Application Status’ option on the right side of the page.
Leftover Limited Quota Nonresident licenses	If any license quota has not been filled, the excess licenses will be sold online or through the telephone ordering system beginning 6 a.m. Feb 9, 2013, until the quotas are filled or the last day of the respective season, whichever comes first.