Hunting Season Dates

Iowa's Hunting Regulations

This is not a complete set of hunting and trapping laws but contains the information you are most likely to need to safely participate in these outdoor activities.

2023/24 Iowa Hunting, Trapping, and Migratory Game Bird Regulations [PDF] 2023/24 Hunting Seasons and Limits, Card [PDF] 2023/24 Migratory Game Bird Seasons and Limits, Card [PDF] Waterfowl Hunting Map Book [PDF]
Waterfowl Hunting Zones - South Zone Callout Map [PDF] Chronic Wasting Disease, Hunter Guide [PDF]

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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.

2023 Seasons	Season Dates	License On-Sale Dates
Youth Season	Sept 16 - Oct 1, 2023	Aug 15 - End of Season
Disabled Hunter (Requires a permit)	Sept 16 - Oct 1, 2023	Aug 15 - End of Season
Archery Season, Early Split	Oct 1 - Dec 1, 2023	Aug 15 - End of Season
Archery Season, Late Split	Dec 18 - Jan 10, 2024	Aug 15 - End of Season
Early Muzzleloader (residents only)	Oct 14 - 22, 2023	Aug 15 - End of Season (until quota is reached)
Late Muzzleloader	Dec 18 - Jan 10, 2024	Aug 15 - End of Season
Shotgun, Season 1	Dec 2 - 6, 2023	Aug 15 - End of Season
Shotgun, Season 2	Dec 9 - 17, 2023	Aug 15 - End of Season
Nonresident Holiday Season	Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2024	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.

The Population Management January antlerless-deer-only season has been conditionally reinstated in Allamakee, Appanoose, Decatur, Lucas, Monroe, Wayne and Winneshiek counties. The season will be reinstated in each county ONLY if the number of unsold county antlerless tags exceeds 100 on the third Monday in December. See page 41 of the 2023-24 regulations booklet for more information.

The Excess Tag January antlerless-deer-only season is available in all counties with unsold county antlerless tags on January 10. See page 41 of the 2023-24 regulations booklet for more information.

Migratory Game Bird Season Dates

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

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

2023-2024	Season Dates	Hours	Daily/Possession
Rooster Pheasant (Youth)	Oct 21-22	8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.	1/ 2
Rooster Pheasant	Oct 28 - Jan 10, 2024	8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.	3/ 12
Bobwhite Quail	Oct 28 - Jan 31, 2024	8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.	8 /16
Gray Partridge	Oct 14 - Jan 31, 2024	8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.	8 /16
Ruffed Grouse	Oct 7 - Jan 31, 2024	Sunrise to Sunset	3/ 6
Rabbit (Cottontail)	Sept 2 - Feb 28, 2024	Sunrise to Sunset	10 /20
Rabbit (Jack)	CLOSED		0/ 0
Squirrel (Fox and Gray)	Sept 2 - Jan 31, 2024	No Restrictions	6 /12
Groundhog	Continuous Open Season	No Restrictions	No Limit /No Limit
Crow	Oct 15 - Nov 30, 2023 and Jan 14 - March 31, 2024	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

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

2023-2024 Furbearer Hunting	Season Dates	Hours	Daily/Possession
Opossum, Badger, Striped Skunk, Fox (Red and Gray)	Nov 4 - Feb 28, 2024	8 a.m. on First Day	No Limit / No Limit
Bobcats	Nov 4 - Feb 28, 2024	8 a.m. on First Day	Hunting Regulations
Coyote	Continuous Open	No Restrictions	No Limit / No Limit
Raccoon	Continuous Open	No Restrictions	No Limit / No Limit

2023-2024 Furbearer Trapping	Season Dates	Hours	Daily/Possession
Coyote, Mink, Muskrat, Weasel, Striped Skunk, Badger, Opossum, Fox (Red and Gray)	Nov 4 - Feb 28, 2024	8 a.m. on First Day	No Limit / No Limit
Beaver	Nov 4 - Apr 15, 2024	8 a.m. on First Day	No Limit / No Limit
Otter	Nov 4 - Feb 28, 2024	8 a.m. on First Day	3 / 3
Bobcat	Nov 4 - Feb 28, 2024	8 a.m. on First Day	Hunting Regulations
Raccoon	Continuous Open	No restrictions	No Limit / No Limit
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.

2023 Fall Turkey Hunting	Season Dates	License On-sale Dates
Gun/bow	Oct 16 - Dec 1, 2023	Aug 15 - until quotas are filled
Archery Only	Oct 1 - Dec 1, 2023 & Dec 18 - Jan 10, 2024	Aug 15 - end of season (no quota)

2024 Spring Turkey Hunting	Season Dates	Shooting Hours
Youth season (residents only)	Apr 5 - 7, 2024	half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 1	Apr 8 - 11, 2024	half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 2	Apr 12 - 16, 2024	half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 3	Apr 17 - 23, 2024	half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 4	Apr 24 - May 12, 2024	half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Resident archery-only	Apr 8 - May 12, 2024	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.