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Any resident or nonresident born after January 1, 1972, must have completed an approved hunter education program in Iowa or another state to buy a hunting license.
If your hunter education certification is not on your customer record, you need to show proof of hunter education when purchasing your license at a local vendor to complete the order.
Iowa Hunting & Trapping Licenses
Purchase your hunting licenses, report your harvest, sign up for a hunter education class, check real time quotas, real time harvests, nonresident deer and turkey tags, upgrade to a hard card, & more!
Resident Hunting & Trapping Licenses
- To obtain licenses, visit the online portal or find an Electronic Licensing System (ELSI) agent at a retail location near you.
- These licenses are available for online delivery, as physical products (e.g. tags) are not required.
* The Resident Apprentice License was introduced in 2016. For more information please refer to the Hunting Regulations Booklet (7.53 MB) .pdf .
Back to topResident Deer Hunting Licenses
- To obtain licenses, visit the online portal or find an Electronic Licensing System (ELSI) agent at a retail location near you.
- Physical tags are required for these licenses, so web delivery is not available.
Resident Turkey Hunting Licenses
- To obtain licenses, visit the online portal or find an Electronic Licensing System (ELSI) agent at a retail location near you.
- Physical tags are required for these licenses, so web delivery is not available.
Combination Licenses
- To obtain licenses, visit the online portal or find an Electronic Licensing System (ELSI) agent at a retail location near you.
- These licenses are available for online delivery, as physical products (e.g. tags) are not required.
Other Licenses & Products
- To obtain licenses, visit the online portal or find an Electronic Licensing System (ELSI) agent at a retail location near you.
- These licenses are available for online delivery, as physical products (e.g. tags) are not required.
Hunting Laws & Regulations
Explore and understand Iowa's hunting and trapping regulations, as well as what is required for hunting on licensed preserves.
- Iowa's full hunting and trapping regulation booklet
- Education class requirements
- Hunting maps
- Requirements for hunting licensed preserves in Iowa
- Motor vehicle use in game management areas
- Dog trial authorization
- Additional resources, including closures, hunting guides, and more.
Establishing Residency in Iowa
Are you now permanently living in Iowa? Were the last licenses or tags you purchased in the state of Iowa nonresident tags? Learn more about how to establish residency for Iowa hunting.
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