On this page...
We work hard to keep our calendar current, but always refer to the hunting regulation booklet for official, legal season dates.
Back to topDeer Hunting
| 2025 Seasons | Season Dates | License On-Sale Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Season | Sept 20 - Oct 5, 2025 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Disabled Hunter (Requires a permit) | Sept 20 - Oct 5, 2025 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Archery Season, Early Split | Oct 1 - Dec 5, 2025 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Archery Season, Late Split | Dec 22 - Jan 10, 2026 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Early Muzzleloader (residents only) | Oct 11 - 19, 2025 | Aug 15 - End of Season (until quota is reached) |
| Late Muzzleloader | Dec 22 - Jan 10, 2026 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Gun, Season 1 | Dec 6 - 10, 2025 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Gun, Season 2 | Dec 13 - 21, 2025 | Aug 15 - End of Season |
| Nonresident Holiday Season | Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2026 | Dec 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.
Waterfowl Hunting Dates
| 2025-2026 | North Zone | Central Zone | South Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Waterfowl | Sept. 20-21 | Sept. 27-28 | Oct. 4-5 |
| Ducks, Mergansers & Coots | Sep. 27 - Oct. 3 Oct. 11 - Dec. 2 | Oct. 4 - 10 Oct. 18 - Dec. 9 | Oct. 11 - 17 Oct. 25 - Dec. 16 |
| Dark Geese & Light Geese | Sep. 20 - Oct. 5 Oct. 11 - Dec. 2 Dec. 13 - Jan. 10, 2026 | Sep. 27 - Oct. 12 Oct. 18 - Dec. 9 Dec. 20 - Jan. 17, 2026 | Oct. 4 - 19 Oct. 25 - Dec. 16 Dec. 27 - Jan. 24, 2026 |
Migratory Bird Hunting Dates
| 2024-2025 | Statewide | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Special September Teal | Sept. 1 - 16 | Daily limit is 6 |
| Doves | Sept. 1 - Nov. 29 | Daily limit is 15 |
| Snipe | Sept. 6 - Nov. 30 | Daily limit is 8 |
| Rail | Sept. 6 - Nov. 14 | Daily limit is 12 |
| Woodcock | Oct. 4 - Nov. 17 | Daily limit is 3 |
- Metropolitan Goose Hunting Season (in specified areas): 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. 26 - May 1, 2025
Small Game & Upland Hunting Season Dates
| 2025-2026 | Season Dates | Hours | Daily/Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooster Pheasant (Youth) | Oct 18 - 19, 2025 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 1/ 2 |
| Rooster Pheasant | Oct 25 - Jan 10, 2026 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 3/ 12 |
| Bobwhite Quail | Oct 25 - Jan 31, 2026 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 8 /16 |
| Gray Partridge | Oct 11 - Jan 31, 2026 | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 8 /16 |
| Ruffed Grouse | Oct 4 - Jan 31, 2026 | Sunrise to Sunset | 3/ 6 |
| Rabbit (Cottontail) | Aug 30 - Feb 28, 2026 | Sunrise to Sunset | 10 /20 |
| Rabbit (Jack) | CLOSED | 0/ 0 | |
| Squirrel (Fox and Gray) | Aug 30 - Jan 31, 2026 | No Restrictions | 6 /12 |
| Groundhog | Continuous Open Season | No Restrictions | No Limit /No Limit |
| Crow | Oct 15 - Nov 30, 2025 and Jan 14 - March 31, 2026 | 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
- General Trapping: November 1, 2025 - February 28, 2026
- Beaver: November 1, 2024 - April 15, 2026
Turkey Hunting Season Dates
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.
Shooting Hours
Gun shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Bow shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
| 2025 Fall Turkey Hunting | Season Dates | License On-sale Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Gun/bow | Oct 13 - Dec 5, 2025 | Aug 15 - until quotas are filled |
| Archery Only | Oct 1 - Dec 5, 2025 & Dec 22 - Jan 10, 2026 | Aug 15 - end of season (no quota) |
| 2026 Spring Turkey Hunting | Season Dates | Shooting Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Youth season (residents only) | Apr 10 - 12, 2026 | half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
| Season 1 | Apr 13 - 16, 2026 | half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
| Season 2 | Apr 17 - 21, 2026 | half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
| Season 3 | Apr 22 - 28, 2026 | half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
| Season 4 | Apr 29 - May 17, 2026 | half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
| Resident archery-only | 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.
The nonresident spring turkey application period is Jan. 1 to the last Sunday in January. the application is available in December.
Back to top