Deer Hunting

The return of the white-tailed deer as a major game species in Iowa is a tribute to good landowner attitude and progressive management, research and enforcement programs. Likewise, responsibility for the future of deer in Iowa depends upon the cooperation of hunters and landowners, preservation of critical timber habitat, legislative support and continued professional management of the resource.

• General Deer Information
• A Review of Iowa's Deer Management Program
• 2023 Iowa Deer Hunter Survey
• Deer Health & Chronic Wasting Disease

Report Your Harvest

Share your harvest numbers online, or call 1-800-771-4692 or text your registration number and follow the prompts! Or, check current harvest reports by county.

Report your harvest online

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.

• 2024/25 Iowa Hunting, Trapping, and Migratory Game Bird Regulations
• 2024/25 Hunting Seasons and Limits, Card
• 2024/25 Migratory Game Bird Seasons and Limits, Card
• Waterfowl Hunting Map Book
• Wildlife Refuges
• Proposed 2024-25 County Antlerless Quota Changes
• Waterfowl Hunting Zones - South Zone Callout Map
• Chronic Wasting Disease Hunter Guide 

Hunting

Find a Hunter Education Class

Safety is the first priority in hunting. Find a hunter education and safety course near you to get started.

Get registered for hunter education course

Deer Hunting Season Dates

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

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.

Firearms FAQs

Youth Firearms

Legal firearms for the youth/disabled and shotgun 1 and 2 seasons include:

• Pistols and revolvers (with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches)
• Straight-wall and "necked-down" cartridge rifles shooting an expanding type bullet of at least .350 inches and no greater than .500 inches with at least 500 foot pounds of muzzle energy.

This includes, but is not limited to, the following common calibers: .35 Whelen, .350 Legend, .358 Winchester, .375 Winchester, .40 S&W, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 Long Colt, .45 Raptor, .450 Bushmaster, .450 Marlin, .45-70 Govt, .460 S&W and .500 S&W.

If you’re not sure if your cartridge is allowed, please check with your local DNR conservation officer.

All of them, as long as they have a bullet diameter between 0.350 inches and 0.500 inches.

Doe Hunter Registry (Connecting Farmers with Hunters)

Healthy deer herd management requires doe harvest. Together we strive for a balance between recreational and viewing opportunities, ecological impacts, and the possible damages of white-tailed deer such as agricultural depredation or vehicle collisions. Hunting is the tool for deer population management specifically through antlerless deer harvest. The Doe Hunter Registry is a list of hunters that have expressed an interest in helping farmers and landowners meet their deer harvest goals.

If you are an ethical hunter that is willing to do your part and harvest more does please follow the link below to sign up for the Doe Hunter Registry.

If you are a farmer that wants to increase doe harvest on your farm please follow the link below to get connected with hunters that can help. You can either register specifically as a farmer to be contacted or simply view the hunters that have signed up.

Remember—Private landowners retain the right to refuse access to property. Signing up for the Doe Hunter Registry does not guarantee access or hunting opportunity. It is the landowners responsibility to initiate contact. Please respect private property rights, be responsible advocates for hunting in the field, and report all deer harvest!. Register online: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/2a7deaa8b5de459184389b203c87d98c