Iowa’s archery deer season began October 1, and while the weather was more in line with the Iowa State Fair than deer season, hunters have been out in their tree stands and as of Tuesday morning, reported harvesting more than 5,000 deer.
“We have a really strong contingent of archery hunters in the state,” said Jace Elliott, state deer biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “It’s their passion and they spend a lot of time in the timber. For many, this is their favorite time of year.”
Roughly 70,000 Iowans climb into their tree stands each fall, harvesting an estimated 20,000 deer in 2024. Archery season is the longest of Iowa’s deer seasons, offering hunting opportunities from October 1 through January 10, with a 16-day temporary closure for the regular gun seasons beginning Dec. 6.
Also open is the early muzzleloader season that has a quota of 7,500 any deer licenses. The early muzzleloader season is for Iowa residents only, and closes October 19. Hunters reported harvesting more than 2,500 deer during the 2024 early muzzleloader season.
Many hunters will be targeting acorn rich areas as the oaks had a strong production year. Deer are more active in the low light hours of the early morning and late evening and Elliott said studies suggest deer may be on their feet longer in the morning hours this time of year.
“Mornings are a good time to see deer, harvest deer – research suggests that the morning has a longer movement window than the evening during this early part of the season,” he said.
While the forecast calls for temperatures to be more seasonal, hunters should have a plan for when they harvest a deer.
“If you’re taking it to a locker, be in touch with them before going out. Consider bringing a cooler with ice in it to cool down the chest cavity, and plan to get the hide off early to help it cool down if you plan to butcher yourself,” he said.
Archery hunters spend a lot to time in a tree stand, and because of that, the Iowa DNR has partnered with them to collect information on the wildlife they see as part of the bowhunter observation survey.
The bowhunter observation survey has been conducted each year since 2004, collecting population information on deer, turkeys and select furbearers. And this year, hunter participation in the survey has been really good.
“We’ve had a record response from our bowhunters which is great to see,” Elliott said. “It provides really good data and feedback from our hunters.”
If bowhunters would like to be part of the survey, they need to make sure to have a current email associated with the DNR account, he said. “We are committed to strong partnership with our deer hunters, who are primarily responsible for managing the deer herd in the state.”
Iowa’s deer population varies across the state. In Western Iowa, the herd has seen a significant population decline over the past decade plus. The DNR is working to reverse that trend through regulation changes to reduce doe harvest while still offering hunting opportunities.
In Central Iowa, the population is considered stable with some pockets where the herd has declined due to recent hemorrhagic disease outbreaks in recent years. Eastern Iowa has a stable to increasing population, especially in east central region where antlerless tags were added to increase doe harvest.
“We will continue to monitor local populations to maintain balanced, quality deer herds,” he said.
Hemorrhagic disease has been exceptionally mild this year, with only 16 total suspect reports in the state. The lack of presence of the disease following years of back to back severe outbreaks should help some of the impacted areas to recover.
Information on deer management, chronic wasting disease response plan, deer program reports and more is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/deer
Deer donation program
Hunters may sign up as a deer donor with the Iowa Deer Exchange at www.iowadnr.gov/deer then scroll down to Iowa’s Deer Exchange Program link. There, donors can provide their information on what they are willing to donate. The database creates a map and table with information deer donors and deer recipients can use to get connected. Participants requesting venison far outnumber those willing to donate. There is no cost to participate. It is illegal to sell wild fish and game in Iowa.
The Iowa DNR, the Food Bank of Iowa and 31 meat lockers are participating in the Help Us Stop Hunger program for 2025. Hunters are encouraged to contact a participating locker before they harvest a deer to see if the locker has any additional drop off instructions.
Be sure to report your harvest
Hunters who harvest a deer are required to report their harvest by midnight on the day after it is tagged or before taking it to a locker or taxidermist. The hunter whose name is on the transportation tag is responsible for making the report. If no deer is harvested, no report is necessary.
Successful hunters have the option to report the harvest through the Go Outdoors Iowa app, by texting the registration number to 1-800-771-4692 and follow the prompts, online at www.iowadnr.gov, by phone at the number listed on the tag, or through a license vendor during their regular business hours.
Phone use while hunting
Reminder to hunters that the use of cellphones, one or two-way radios to communicate the location or direction of game or furbearing animals or to coordinate the movement of other hunters is prohibited.
While cell trail cameras are allowed on the landscape, including on public land, they cannot be used on the hunt.
Tree stand safety
Falls associated with tree stand use are the most common hunting incidents during the bow season. Hunters are encouraged to check all their gear to make sure it is in proper working order, especially tree stands and safety harnesses, before heading to the timber.
- Hunters should always wear a safety harness and use caution when climbing. Get familiar with the safety harness and read the instructions for it and for the tree stand so you know how to use it properly and its limitations.
- Select a tree that fits the tree stand recommended limits and follow the three-point rule of tree stand safety – always have three points of contact to the steps or ladder before moving.
- Remember the elements – rain, frost, ice or snow can cause steps to become slippery so check the security of the step before placing any weight on it.
- Use a haul line to pull gear and the unloaded firearm or bow to the stand and to lower the gear on the opposite side of the tree. Never climb with anything in your hands or on your back.
- Falls from tree stands are required to be reported to the DNR if a person seeks medical attention for an injury received while entering, exiting or sitting in a stand.
- Basic rules of tree stand safety don’t apply to just bowhunters, but to firearm hunters using an elevated device or stand.
Hunters are encouraged to keep their phone on their person and not in a backpack for safety reasons.