Hunting Season Dates

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Deer Hunting Season Dates

deer

 

 

We work hard to keep our calendar current, but always refer to the hunting regulation booklet for official, legal season dates.

 

 

 

2022 Seasons Season Dates License On-Sale Dates
Youth Season Sept 17 - Oct 2, 2022 Aug 15 - End of Season
Archery Season, Early Split Oct 1 - Dec 2, 2022 Aug 15 - End of Season
Archery Season, Late Split Dec 19 - Jan 10, 2023 Aug 15 - End of Season
Early Muzzleloader (residents only) Oct 15 - 23, 2022 Aug 15 - End of Season (until quota is reached)
Late Muzzleloader Dec 19 - Jan 10, 2023 Aug 15 - End of Season
Shotgun, Season 1 Dec 3 - 7, 2022 Aug 15 - End of Season
Shotgun, Season 2 Dec 10 - 18, 2022 Aug 15 - End of Season
Nonresident Holiday Season Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2023 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.

 

January antlerless season is only open in counties with antlerless tags remaining on Jan. 10. Only centerfire rifles .223 caliber to .500 caliber with a published or calculated muzzle energy of 500 foot pounds or higher as allowed in this season.

Migratory Game Bird Season Dates

teal

We work hard to keep our calendar current, but always refer to the hunting regulation booklet for official, legal season dates.


2023-2024 North Zone Central Zone South Zone
Youth Waterfowl Sept. 23-24, 2023 Sept. 30 - Oct. 1, 2023 Oct. 7-8, 2023
Ducks, Mergansers & Coots Sep. 30 - Oct. 6
Oct. 14 - Dec. 5
 Oct. 7 - Oct. 13
Oct. 21 - Dec. 12
 Oct. 14 - Oct. 20
Oct. 28 - Dec. 19
Dark Geese & Light Geese Sep. 23 - Oct. 8
Oct. 14 - Dec. 5
Dec. 16 - Jan. 13
 Sep. 30 - Oct. 15
Oct. 21 - Dec. 12
Dec. 23 - Jan. 20
 Oct. 7 - Oct. 22
Oct. 28 - Dec. 19
Dec. 30 - Jan. 27, 2024
 2023-2024 Statewide Limit
Special September Teal Sept. 1 - 16 Daily limit is 6
Doves Sept. 1 - Nov. 29 Daily limit is 15
Snipe Sept. 2 - Nov. 30 Daily limit is 8
Rail Sept. 2 - Nov. 10 Daily limit is 12
Woodcock Oct. 7 - Nov. 20 Daily limit is 3
  • Metropolitan Goose Hunting Season (in specified areas): Sep. 9-17, Daily limit is 5. 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. 28 - May 1, 2023

Small Game and Upland Hunting Season Dates

pheasant

We work hard to keep our calendar current, but always refer to the hunting regulation booklet for official, legal season dates.


2022-2023 Season Dates Hours Daily/Possession
Rooster Pheasant (Youth) Oct 22-23 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 1/ 2
Rooster Pheasant Oct 29 - Jan 10, 2023 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 3/ 12
Bobwhite Quail Oct 29 - Jan 31, 2023 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 8 /16
Gray Partridge Oct 8 - Jan 31, 2023 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 8 /16
Ruffed Grouse Oct 1 - Jan 31, 2022 Sunrise to Sunset 3/ 6
Rabbit (Cottontail) Sept 3 - Feb 28, 2023 Sunrise to Sunset 10 /20
Rabbit (Jack) CLOSED   0/ 0
Squirrel (Fox and Gray) Sept 3 - Jan 31, 2023 No Restrictions 6 /12
Groundhog Continuous Open Season No Restrictions No Limit /No Limit
Crow Oct 15 - Nov 30
and Jan 14 - March 31, 2023 		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

furbearer

We work hard to keep our calendar current, but always refer to the hunting regulation booklet for official, legal season dates.


2022-2023 Furbearer Hunting Season Dates Hours Daily/Possession
Raccoon, Opossum, Badger, Striped Skunk, Fox (Red and Gray) Nov 5 - Jan 31, 2023 8 a.m. on First Day No Limit / No Limit
Bobcats Nov 5 - Jan. 31, 2023 8 a.m. on First Day Regulations, see p. 33
Coyote Continuous Open No Restrictions No Limit / No Limit

2022-2023 Furbearer Trapping Season Dates Hours Daily/Possession
Coyote, Mink, Muskrat, Weasel, Striped Skunk, Badger, Opossum, Fox (Red and Gray), Raccoon Nov 5 - Jan 31, 2023 8 a.m. on First Day No Limit / No Limit
Beaver Nov 5 - Apr 15, 2023 8 a.m. on First Day No Limit / No Limit
Otter Nov 5 - Jan 31, 2023 8 a.m. on First Day 3 / 3
Bobcat Nov 5 - Jan 31, 2023 8 a.m. on First Day Regulations, see p. 33
Civet Cat (Spotted Skunk) Continuous Closed    
Gray Wolf Continuous Closed    

A furharvester license is required to hunt or trap furbearers. Coyote or groundhog may be hunted on a hunting or furharvester license.



Turkey Hunting Season Dates

turkey

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 August 15.
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.

2022 Fall Turkey Hunting Season Dates License On-Sale Dates
Gun/Bow Oct 10 - Dec 2 Aug 15 - until quotas are filled
Archery Only Oct 1 - Dec 2 &
Dec 19 - Jan 10, 2023 		Aug 15 - End of Season (no quota)

2023 Spring Turkey Hunting Season Dates Shooting Hours
Youth Season (residents only) Apr 7 - 9, 2023 Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 1 Apr 10 - 13, 2023 Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 2 Apr 14 - 18, 2023 Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 3 Apr 19 - 25, 2023 Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 4 Apr 26 - May 14, 2023 Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Resident Archery-Only Apr 10 - May 14, 2023 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.


Iowa DNR | Full Hunting Calendar