Everything you need to plan your hunting trips in Iowa, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and non-resident deer zones. Plus much more! Start your research right here.
Overview
Known For
Iowa is known for being a top, if not the top, destination for whitetail hunting. With over 700,000 acres of agricultural crops and three million acres of forestland, no other states compare with the pound-for-pound availability of natural and crop food sources for whitetail deer.
Terrain
Iowa’s terrain is a mix of rolling hills and flat plains. Its tallest spot, Hawkeye Point, is 1,673 feet above sea level. Its fertile soil makes it one of the most agriculturally-abundant states in the country.
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Bag limit 1. Requires special reporting and tagging.
Nov 4, 2023
Feb 28, 2024
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2024
Coyote
No limit. No closed season.
Jan 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2024
Sep 16, 2023 – Oct 1, 2023
Deer – Youth
Sep 16, 2023
Oct 1, 2023
Oct 1, 2023 – Dec 1, 2023
Deer – Early Archery
Non-residents need to apply for special permit.
Oct 1, 2023
Dec 1, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Deer – Early Muzzleloader
Residents only.
Oct 14, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Dec 2, 2023 – Dec 6, 2023
Deer – First Shotgun
Non-residents need to apply for special permit.
Dec 2, 2023
Dec 6, 2023
Dec 9, 2023 – Dec 17, 2023
Deer – Second Shotgun
Non-residents need to apply for special permit.
Dec 9, 2023
Dec 17, 2023
Dec 18, 2023 – Jan 10, 2024
Deer – Late Muzzleloader
Non-residents need to apply for special permit.
Dec 18, 2023
Jan 10, 2024
Dec 18, 2023 – Jan 10, 2024
Deer – Late Archery
Non-residents need to apply for special permit.
Dec 18, 2023
Jan 10, 2024
Dec 24, 2023 – Jan 2, 2024
Deer – Nonresident Holiday
Non-residents need to apply for special permit.
Dec 24, 2023
Jan 2, 2024
Sep 1, 2023 – Nov 29, 2023
Dove
Bag limit 15 per day.
Sep 1, 2023
Nov 29, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 16, 2023
Duck – Teal
Statewide. Bag limit 6 per day.
Sep 1, 2023
Sep 16, 2023
Sep 23, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023
Duck – North Youth
Bag limit 6 per day.
Sep 23, 2023
Sep 24, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 1, 2023
Duck – Central Youth
Bag limit 6 per day.
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 1, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 6, 2023
Duck – Early North
Bag limit 6 per day.
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 6, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023
Duck – South Youth
Bag limit 6 per day.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 8, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 13, 2023
Duck – Early Central
Bag limit 6 per day.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 13, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Duck – Early South
Bag limit 6 per day.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Oct 12, 2023 – Dec 5, 2023
Duck – Late North
Bag limit 6 per day.
Oct 12, 2023
Dec 5, 2023
Oct 21, 2023 – Dec 12, 2023
Duck – Late Central
Bag limit 6 per day.
Oct 21, 2023
Dec 12, 2023
Oct 28, 2023 – Dec 19, 2023
Duck – Late South
Bag limit 6 per day.
Oct 28, 2023
Dec 19, 2023
Nov 4, 2023 – Feb 28, 2024
Fox – Red and Gray
No limit.
Nov 4, 2023
Feb 28, 2024
Sep 23, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023
Goose – First North
Dark geese bag limit 5 per day. Light geese bag limit 20 per day.
Sep 23, 2023
Oct 8, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Goose – First Central
Dark geese bag limit 5 per day. Light geese bag limit 20 per day.
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Goose – First South
Dark geese bag limit 5 per day. Light geese bag limit 20 per day.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Dec 5, 2023
Goose – Second North
Dark geese bag limit 5 per day. Light geese bag limit 20 per day.
Oct 14, 2023
Dec 5, 2023
Oct 21, 2023 – Dec 12, 2023
Goose – Second Central
Dark geese bag limit 5 per day. Light geese bag limit 20 per day.
Oct 21, 2023
Dec 12, 2023
Oct 28, 2023 – Dec 19, 2023
Goose – Second South
Dark geese bag limit 5 per day. Light geese bag limit 20 per day.
Oct 28, 2023
Dec 19, 2023
Dec 16, 2023 – Jan 13, 2024
Goose – Third North
Dark geese bag limit 5 per day. Light geese bag limit 20 per day.
Dec 16, 2023
Jan 13, 2024
Dec 23, 2023 – Jan 20, 2024
Goose – Third Central
Dark geese bag limit 5 per day. Light geese bag limit 20 per day.
Dec 23, 2023
Jan 20, 2024
Dec 30, 2023 – Jan 27, 2024
Goose – Third South
Dark geese bag limit 5 per day. Light geese bag limit 20 per day.
Dec 30, 2023
Jan 27, 2024
Oct 7, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Ruffed Grouse
Bag limit 3 per day.
Oct 7, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Oct 21, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Pheasant – Youth
Bag limit 1 per day.
Oct 21, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Oct 28, 2023 – Jan 10, 2024
Pheasant – Regular
Bag limit 3 per day.
Oct 28, 2023
Jan 10, 2024
Oct 28, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Bobwhite Quail
Bag limit 8 per day.
Oct 28, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Sep 2, 2023 – Feb 28, 2024
Rabbit – Cottontail
Bag limit 10 per day.
Sep 2, 2023
Feb 28, 2024
Oct 1, 2023 – Dec 1, 2023
Turkey – Fall Archery 1
Daily bag and season possession limit is one bearded or male wild turkey for each valid license and transportation tag issued to the hunter.
Oct 1, 2023
Dec 1, 2023
Oct 10, 2023 – Dec 1, 2023
Turkey – Fall Gun/Bow
Daily bag and season possession limit is one bearded or male wild turkey for each valid license and transportation tag issued to the hunter.
Oct 10, 2023
Dec 1, 2023
Dec 18, 2023 – Jan 10, 2024
Turkey – Fall Archery 2
Daily bag and season possession limit is one bearded or male wild turkey for each valid license and transportation tag issued to the hunter.
Dec 18, 2023
Jan 10, 2024
Apr 5, 2024 – Apr 7, 2024
Turkey – Spring Youth
Daily bag and season possession limit is one bearded or male wild turkey for each valid license and transportation tag issued to the hunter.
Apr 5, 2024
Apr 7, 2024
Apr 8, 2024 – May 12, 2024
Turkey – Spring Archery
Resident hunters only.
Apr 8, 2024
May 12, 2024
Apr 8, 2024 – Apr 11, 2024
Turkey – Spring Season 1
Non-residents need special permit.
Apr 8, 2024
Apr 11, 2024
Apr 12, 2024 – Apr 16, 2024
Turkey – Spring Season 2
Non-residents need special permit.
Apr 12, 2024
Apr 16, 2024
Apr 17, 2024 – Apr 23, 2024
Turkey – Spring Season 3
Non-residents need special permit.
Apr 17, 2024
Apr 23, 2024
Apr 24, 2024 – May 12, 2024
Turkey – Spring Season 4
Non-residents need special permit.
Apr 24, 2024
May 12, 2024
Oct 7, 2023 – Nov 20, 2023
Woodcock
Bag limit 3 per day.
Oct 7, 2023
Nov 20, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Gray Partridge
Bag limit 8 per day.
Oct 14, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Iowa Licenses, Permits, and Regulations
Iowa hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the official website of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Click below to view the website.
Every Iowa hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Iowa hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of non-resident deer zones, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Iowa.
Iowa has 10 unique non-resident deer zones. Each of the 10 zones has different quotas for how many deer can be taken in a season. Those quotas generally range from 180 to 1,600 deer (including both sexes). Non-residents must apply for these tags each year.
Click below to view Iowa’s non-resident deer zones in more detail through an interactive map.
Over 1,500,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Iowa. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
IA Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 1,000,000 acres in Iowa. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.
IA Possible Access
onX has mapped 13,000 acres of possible access lands in Iowa including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
SUBLAYERS (4)
IA Game Mgmt Units
Iowa Game Management Units
Includes 4 Sublayers
IA Non-Resident Deer Zones
Ruffed Grouse Hunting Zones
Fall Turkey Hunt Zones
Duck Hunt Zones
IA Habitat & Access Program (IHAP)
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Habitat & Access Program. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program. Please hunt responsibly and have a safe legal hunt.
