Hunting Season Dates

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Iowa's Hunting Regulations
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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.


2021 Seasons Season Dates License On-Sale Dates
Youth Season Sept 18 - Oct 3 Aug 15 - End of Season
Disabled Hunter Season (Requires permit, Regulations, p. 41) Sept 18 - Oct 3 Aug 15 - End of Season
Archery Season, Early Split Oct 1 - Dec 3 Aug 15 - End of Season
Archery Season, Late Split Dec 20 - Jan 10, 2022 Aug 15 - End of Season
Early Muzzleloader (residents only) Oct 16 - 24 Aug 15 - End of Season (until quota is reached)
Late Muzzleloader Dec 20 - Jan 10, 2022 Aug 15 - End of Season
Shotgun, Season 1 Dec 4 - 8 Aug 15 - End of Season
Shotgun, Season 2 Dec 11 - 19 Aug 15 - End of Season
Nonresident Holiday Season Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2022 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.


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.


2021-2022 North Zone Central Zone South Zone
Youth Waterfowl Sept. 25-26 Oct 2-3 Oct 9-10
Ducks, Mergansers & Coots Oct 2-8 &
Oct 16 - Dec 7 		Oct 9-15 &
Oct 23 - Dec 14 		Oct 16-22 &
Oct 30 - Dec 21
Dark Geese & Light Geese Sept 25 - Oct 10 &
Oct 16 - Dec 7 &
Dec 11 - Jan 8, 2022 		Oct 2-17 &
Oct 23 - Dec 14 &
Dec 18 - Jan 15, 2022 		Oct 9-24 &
Oct 30 - Dec 21 &
Dec 25 - Jan 22, 2022
 2021-2022 Statewide Limit
Special September Teal Sept 1 - 16 Daily limit is 6
Doves Sept 1 - Nov 29 Daily limit is 15
Snipe Sept 4 - Nov 30 Daily limit is 8
Rail Sept 4 - Nov 12 Daily limit is 12
Woodcock Oct 2 - Nov 15 Daily limit is 3
  • Special September Canada Goose (designated areas): Sep. 4-12, 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. Regulations, p. 21): Jan 23 - May 1, 2022
    White & blue phase snow geese & Ross’ geese

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.


2021-2022 Season Dates Hours Daily/Possession
Rooster Pheasant (Youth) Oct 23-24 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 1/ 2
Rooster Pheasant Oct 30 - Jan 10, 2022 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 3/ 12
Bobwhite Quail Oct 30 - Jan 31, 2022 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 8 /16
Gray Partridge Oct 9 - Jan 31, 2022 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 8 /16
Ruffed Grouse Oct 2 - Jan 31, 2022 Sunrise to Sunset 3/ 6
Rabbit (Cottontail) Sept 4 - Feb 28, 2022 Sunrise to Sunset 10 /20
Rabbit (Jack) CLOSED   0/ 0
Squirrel (Fox and Gray) Sept 4 - Jan 31, 2022 No Restrictions 6 /12
Groundhog Continuous Open Season No Restrictions No Limit /No Limit
Crow Oct 15 - Nov 30
and Jan 14 - March 31, 2022 		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.


2021-2022 Furbearer Hunting Season Dates Hours Daily/Possession
Raccoon, Opossum, Badger, Striped Skunk, Fox (Red and Gray) Nov 6 - Jan 31, 2022 8 a.m. on First Day No Limit No Limit
Bobcats Nov 6 - Jan. 31, 2022 8 a.m. on First Day Regulations, see p. 33
Coyote Continuous Open No Restrictions No Limit No Limit

2021-2022 Furbearer Trapping Season Dates Hours Daily/Possession
Coyote, Mink, Muskrat, Weasel, Striped Skunk, Badger, Opossum, Fox (Red and Gray), Raccoon Nov 6 - Jan 31, 2022 8 a.m. on First Day No Limit No Limit
Beaver Nov 6 - Apr 15, 2022 8 a.m. on First Day No Limit No Limit
Otter Nov 6 - Jan 31, 2022 8 a.m. on First Day 3 / 3
Bobcat Nov 6 - Jan 31, 2022 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.


Hunters may purchase up to two licenses beginning Aug. 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.

2021 Fall Turkey Hunting Season Dates License On-Sale Dates
Gun/Bow Oct 11 - Dec 3 Aug 15 - until quotas are filled
Archery Only Oct 1 - Dec 3 &
Dec 20 - Jan 10, 2022 		Aug 15 - End of Season (no quota)

2022 Spring Turkey Hunting Season Dates Shooting Hours
Youth Season (residents only) Apr 8 - 10 Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 1 Apr 11 - 14 Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 2 Apr 15 - 19 Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 3 Apr 20 - 26 Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Season 4 Apr 27 - May 15 Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Resident Archery-Only Apr 11 - May 15 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