Iowa’s Deer and Turkey tags now consist of a 2-piece tag. The primary reason for adopting this new tag design was to provide a more convenient format for reporting a deer or turkey. The top part of the tag is the Harvest Report Tag, and is attached only after reporting your deer or turkey. The bottom part of the tag is the Transportation Tag, and is attached within 15 minutes of harvest and before moving your deer or turkey.

Attach the bottom tag before transporting your animal, and the top tag only after reporting your animal.

The DNR is hopeful that this new tag design will address many of the issues and inconveniences associated with the past use of single-piece tags for harvest reporting.

Checklist for tagging and reporting a deer or turkey in Iowa

Iowa requires you to do all of the following after harvesting a deer or turkey.

1. IDENTIFY THE CORRECT TAG to place on the animal. Multiple tag holders must verify that the tag they are about to use is for the correct season, zone, county, and/or sex (e.g., either-sex or antlerless-only). For example, do not use a bow season tag on a deer harvested during the first shotgun season. Also, if you have an either-sex and antlerless-only tag(s) for the same county, do not use the either-sex tag on a doe unless you truly intend to surrender your chance at harvesting a buck.

2. RECORD THE DATE OF KILL in the space provided on your Transportation tag.

3. ATTACH THE TRANSPORTATION TAG to the deer or turkey within 15 minutes and before moving the animal. To attach the transportation tag, remove the paper backing to expose adhesive. Fold the tag over the antler or leg, or through a cut in the hock (deer) or over the leg (turkey). Press the two halves of the tag together to get a tight bond. All information on the tag must be readable after it has been attached to the animal.

4. REPORT YOUR DEER OR TURKEY following the instructions provided on your Harvest Report tag. You must report your animal to the Iowa DNR by midnight on the day after you harvest an animal, before processing the animal, before taking the animal to a locker or taxidermist, or before transporting the animal out of the state, whichever comes first.

5. RECORD THE CONFIRMATION NUMBER in the box provided on your Harvest Report tag. This number will be provided at the end of the reporting process, after all questions have been answered.

6. ATTACH THE HARVEST REPORT TAG to your animal after reporting. The Harvest Report tag, complete with confirmation number, must be attached within the reporting deadlines specified above. When attaching the harvest report tag, be sure the registration number on the harvest report tag matches register number on the transportation tag that is already attached to the animal. In addition, all information contained on this tag must be readable after it has been attached to the animal.

7. After completing all of the steps listed above, you may process your deer or turkey, take your deer or turkey to the locker for processing, or transport your deer or turkey out of the state.

Report your deer or turkey online here: