Deer Hunting Regulations

TAGGING REQUIREMENTS

The head and antlers (if any) must remain at-tached to the carcass until it is processed for con-sumption. Hunters in the Youth, Disabled Hunter, Bow, Early Muzzleloader, and Late Muzzleloader seasons must shoot their own deer and tag only the deer they shoot.

Hunters in both shotgun seasons may shoot deer for each other, provided that all tagging require-ments are followed, and the deer will be considered in the possession of the hunter whose tag is affixed to it.

No person shall tag a deer with a tag that was pur-chased after the deer was taken.

A hunter may not carry a deer license or trans-portation tag issued to another hunter while deer hunting

PAID DEER LICENSES

Resident hunters may obtain the following types of deer licenses:

General Deer Licenses are valid statewide in the season selected by the hunter at the time the license is purchased. General deer licenses are valid for taking deer of either sex for all counties except those listed. A hunter may have one General deer license for the Bow Season and one General deer license for one of the following seasons: Early Muzzleloader, Late Muzzleloader, Shotgun Season 1, or Shotgun Season 2. Exceptions:

• Youth, Disabled Season hunters
• There is a quota of 7,500 Early Muzzleloader Season General deer licenses. These are sold first-come first-served until the quota is filled or until the last day of the Early Muzzleloader Season.

Paid Antlerless-only Licenses are valid for taking only antlerless deer. An antlerless deer is a deer with no forked antler. These licenses are valid only in the county and season or deer population management zone and season selected by the hunter at the time the license is purchased.

Quotas for Antlerless-only Licenses are set for each county to direct the additional harvest of does to areas with the greatest number of deer. The quota is the maximum number of Antlerless-only Licenses that will be sold for each county for all deer seasons. Licenses are sold first-come first-served until the quota is reached.

BAG & POSSESSION LIMIT

For Shotgun Season 1 and Shotgun Season 2 seasons, the daily bag and possession limit is one deer for each unfilled transportation tag issued to a hunter who is present in the party.

For all other deer seasons, the daily bag and possession limit is one deer for each license and transportation tag issued to the hunter for that season.

The annual possession limit is one deer for each license and transportation tag obtained by the hunter for all seasons.

HELPING OTHER HUNTERS

Resident and nonresident deer hunters with a valid deer hunting license may hunt with and assist other deer hunters only in the season specified on their license. Party hunting is allowed in the Shotgun 1 and Shotgun 2 seasons. Helping does not include retrieval of game on private property. Hunters must have a valid tag for the county in which they are hunting.

BLOOD TRACKING WOUNDED DEER WITH A DOG

A person having a valid hunting license and a valid deer hunting license who has wounded a deer while hunting may use a dog to track and retrieve the wounded deer. The person must maintain physical control of the dog at all times during the search by means of a maximum 50-foot lead attached to the dog’s collar or harness. The person may dispatch the deer using a legal method of take authorized by the person’s deer hunting license. A person shall not use that method of take to hunt, wound, or kill any animal other than the deer that the hunter is tracking, except in self-defense. Using a dog to track a wounded deer on private property is permissible at any hour with

consent of the property owner. A person using a dog to track a wounded deer outside of legal deer hunting hours shall not be in possession of a firearm or archery device. An unarmed dog handler assisting in the recovery of a wounded deer is exempt from licensing requirements as long as the handler is accompanied by the licensed hunter who wounded the deer.

BLAZE ORANGE REQUIRED

To hunt deer with a firearm in any season you must wear one of the following articles of external, visible, solid blaze orange clothing: vest, jacket, coat, sweatshirt, sweater, shirt or coveralls. An orange hat alone is not sufficient. No person shall use a blind for hunting deer during the regular shotgun deer seasons unless such blind exhibits a solid blaze orange marking with a minimum of 144 square inches visible in all directions.

A blind is defined as a place of concealment constructed, either wholly or partially from man-made materials, which is used for the purpose of hiding a person who is hunting from sight. A blind is not a naturally occurring landscape feature or an arrangement of natural or agricultural plant material that a hunter uses for concealment. In addition to the requirements above, hunters using blinds must also satisfy the requirements of wearing blaze orange.

TREE STANDS

You may not construct a permanent tree stand on state public hunting areas. You may not drive or in any other way place any nail, spike, pin, or any other metal object into a tree on state public hunting areas to construct a blind or to provide hunting access to a location above the ground.

Tree stands may be left on a state public hunting area from 7 days prior to the start of deer hunting season until 7 days after the final day of that open season.

PROHIBITED DEVICES & ACTIVITIES

You may not use dogs, domestic animals, bait, radios, handguns, rifles and crossbows, automobiles, aircraft, drones, electronic calls or any mechanical conveyance or device to hunt deer. Persons who meet one or more of the following conditions would be considered eligible for a non-ambulatory deer license and able to hunt from a stationary motor driven conveyance: paralyzed from the waist down; the loss or partial loss of both legs; or any other physical affliction which makes it impossible to walk from place to place successfully.

“Bait” means grain, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay, salt, mineral blocks, or any other natural food materials, commercial products containing natural food materials, or by-products of such materials transported to or placed in an area for the purpose of attracting wildlife. Bait does not include livestock feed placed during normal agricultural activities.

SHOOTING FIREARMS OVER WATER OR HIGHWAY

You cannot shoot any rifle on or over any of the public highways or waters of the state or any railroad right-of-way. You cannot discharge a shotgun shooting a slug, pistol or revolver on or over a public roadway (see diagram).

Additionally, no person shall discharge a rifle, including a muzzleloading rifle or musket, or a handgun from a highway; or discharge a shotgun shooting slugs from a highway north of U.S. Highway 30, while deer hunting.

LEGAL METHOD OF TAKE

ARCHERY: Longbows, recurve bows, and compound bows shooting broadhead arrows are permitted. No explosive or chemical devices maybe attached to the arrow or broadhead. There are no minimum draw weights for bows or minimum diameter for broadheads. Arrows must be at least 18 inches long.

Crossbows are not legal except that a physically handicapped person may obtain a permit from the DNR to use a crossbow. Applications are available at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting – click on “Licenses and Laws” and then on “License Applications,”

or by visiting the DNR central office or any of the district offices, or by calling the DNR at 515-725-8200. Residents 65 and older may obtain one Antlerless-only statewide crossbow deer license. Hunters may not carry a handgun while hunting under an archery tag, unless they have an unfilled transportation tag for a season that allows handguns or a valid permit to carry.

SHOTGUNS: 10-, 12-, 16-, and 20-gauge shotguns shooting single slugs only.

MUZZLELOADERS: Only muzzleloading rifles, muzzleloading muskets, muzzleloading pistols, and muzzleloading revolvers between .44 and .775 of an inch shooting a single projectile. Muzzleloaders equipped with electronic ignition are not allowed. Inline and disk-type muzzleloaders are allowed. Riflescopes may also be used.

HANDGUNS: Any pistol or revolver with a barrel length of at least four inches and firing straight wall or other centerfire ammunition propelling an expanding-type bullet with a maximum diameter of no less than .350 of an inch and no larger than .500 of an inch and with a published or calculated muzzle energy of 500 foot pounds or higher is legal for hunting deer during the pistol or revolver seasons.

A person who is 20 years of age or less shallnot hunt deer with a pistol or revolver unless that person is accompanied and under direct supervision throughout the hunt by a responsible person with a valid hunting license who is at least 21 years of age, with the consent of a parent, guardian, or spouse who is at least 21 years of age. The responsible person with a valid hunting license who is at least 21 years of age shall be responsible for the conveyance of the pistol or revolver while the pistol or revolver is not actively being used for hunting.

RIFLES: Rifles firing straight wall or other centerfire ammunition propelling an expanding-type bullet with a maximum diameter of no less than .350 of an inch and no larger than .500 of an inch and with a published or calculated muzzle energy of 500 foot pounds or higher is legal for hunting deer during the youth and disabled hunting season and first and second shotgun seasons.

The following is a partial list of allowable cartridges that has generated the most questions on legality. Cartridges meeting the criteria defined above are legal whether listed here or not.

• .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
• .500 S&W

CROSSBOW: A legal weapon for residents during the Late Muzzleloader season. A crossbow consists of a bow mounted transversely on a stock or frame and designed to fire a bolt, arrow or quarrel by the release of the bow string, which is controlled by a mechanical trigger and working safety. Crossbows equipped with pistol grips and designed to be fired with one hand are illegal for taking or attempting to take deer or turkey. All projectiles used in conjunction with a crossbow for deer hunting must be equipped with a broadhead.

CARING FOR DEER AFTER HARVEST

• Knowhowthelockerwantstoreceivethemeat.
• Properly field-dress within 30 minutes of harvest with special attention to removing the intestines, especially important above 45 degrees.
• Weardisposableglovesandusecleantools-keep the meat clean.
• ONLYusebagsandcontainersdesignedforfood – NOT garbage bags.
• A link to a guide on proper field-dressing is available at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting.

Legal Method of Take by Season

Season

Archery

Muzzleloader

Handgun

Shotgun

Crossbow

Rifle

Youth/Disabled

X

X

X1

X

X6

Bow3,4

X

Early Muzzleloader

X

X2

Late Muzzleloader

X

X

X

X5

Shotgun 1

X

X

X

X6

Shotgun 2

X

X

X

X6

Nonresident Holiday Season

X

X

X

Pop Mgmt January Antlerless7XXXXXXExcess Tag January Anterless7X

1 Youth hunters may only hunt with a handgun while under direct supervision of licensed adult who is at least 21 years old. 2 Muzzleloading pistols only. 3 Antlerless Senior (65 years old and older) Statewide Crossbow License during the bow season only. 4 Cannot carry a handgun while hunting with a bow tag, unless hunter has an unfilled transportation tag for a season that allows handguns or a valid permit to carry. 5 Resident hunters only. 6 See further details above.7 If licenses are available.

GOING OUT OF STATE TO HUNT?

DNR regulations prohibit bringing back whole carcasses of deer, elk, moose or caribou into the state from areas where CWD has been identified, whether they were taken from wild, free-ranging animals or shot on a hunting preserve.

Currently, CWD has been detected in free-ranging populations in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. It has been detected in captive facilities in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming, and in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec, Canada.

If you take a deer, elk, moose or caribou in a CWD endemic area, you may bring back only the boned out meat, skin (cape) and antlers. Antlers may be attached only to a clean skull plate from which all brain and connective tissue has been removed. Animals taken outside of identified CWD areas may be transported in any manner that is otherwise legal.

It is very unlikely that CWD could be contracted by eating venison from Iowa deer. However, for concerned hunters, the best preventive measures are:

• Avoid shooting obviously sick or emaciated deer.
• Wear latex or rubber gloves while field dressing to reduce the chance of contracting any disease. n Bone out the meat from your animal.
• Minimize handling and avoid eating the brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils and lymph nodes of harvested animals.
• Wash hands and instruments thoroughly after field dressing is complete.
• Thoroughly cook all meat (or meat products like sausage or jerky) until juices run clear.

Any dead deer that is obviously emaciated or with unnatural lesions or growths on the internal organs or chest cavity should be reported to a DNR wildlife biologist or conservation officer.

IOWA RESIDENT DEER LICENSE OPTIONS 2022-2023 SEASON

BONUS DEER HUNTS

YOUTH DEER SEASON

Iowa residents who are younger than 16 years old on the day they obtain a license are eligible for the Youth Season subject to the following restrictions:

l While hunting, youth hunters must be under the direct supervision of an adult mentor who has a valid Hunting License and has paid the Habitat Fee, if the adult is normally required to have them to hunt. Only one youth hunter may accompany each adult mentor.

l Clothing requirements, method of take and all other deer hunting regulations in effect during the regular deer seasons are in effect during the youth season, if hunting deer with a firearm.

l If a youth hunter turns 16 while utilizing a youth license, they must purchase a hunting license and habitat fee, if normally required.

Youth hunters may hunt with a bow, shotgun, rifle or muzzleloader.

UNFILLED YOUTH TAG

Youth hunters with a Youth Deer License who do not take a deer during the youth deer hunting season may use the Youth Deer License and unused tag during any following deer season. The youth must follow all other rules specified for each season. Party hunting is not allowed while hunting with a youth tag, regardless of the season. The deer must be harvested by the youth whose name is on the tag. Youth hunters may also obtain deer licenses for other seasons like any other hunter.

SEVERELY DISABLED DEER LICENSE

A severely disabled Iowa resident may be issued one General Deer License to hunt deer during the Youth Season with a bow, shotgun, rifle or muzzleloader. A person obtaining this license may obtain any other deer hunting licenses for which they are eligible. Applications for a severely disabled

NON-AMBULATORY DEER LICENSE

A non-ambulatory Iowa resident may be issued one General deer license which may be used to hunt deer during any established deer hunting season using the method of take for that season until the license is filled. A person obtaining this license may obtain any other deer hunting licenses for which they are eligible. Applicationsfor a non-ambulatory license permit are available online at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting then clicking on Licenses and Laws, or any of the regional or district offices, or by calling the DNR at 515-725-8200. After approval and filing of the permit application with the DNR, non-ambulatory hunters may purchase this special license at any ELSI agent.

CROSSBOW LICENSE FOR SENIORS

Resident hunters 65 years old and on the day they purchase a license, may purchase one statewide Antlerless-only License to hunt deer with a crossbow. This license is valid during the bow season and may be obtained in addition to any other deer license.

POPULATION MANAGEMENT JANUARY ANTLERLESS-ONLY SEASON

The Population Management January antlerless-deer-only season has been conditionally reinstated in Allamakee, Appanoose, Decatur, Monroe, Wayne and Winneshiek counties. The season will be reinstated in each county ONLY if the number of unsold county antlerless-deer-only licenses exceeds 100 on the third Monday in December. Licenses will be available the same day the season is reinstated. Only antlerless deer may be taken during the Population Management January Antlerless-only season. Hunting is allowed on public land, and private land with permission.

Shotguns, handguns, muzzleloaders, bows, crossbows and center-fire rifles .223 caliber and larger may be used.

EXCESS TAG JANUARY ANTLERLESS-ONLY SEASON

The Excess Tag January antlerless-deer-only season is available in all counties with unsold county antlerless tags on Jan. 10. County specific antlerless license quota information is available in real time online at https://gooutdoorsiowa.com/Rea…. Licenses will be available beginning Jan. 11, until quotas are filled. Due to the compressed timeline, these licenses will not be available online. Only antlerless deer may be taken during the Excess Tag January Antlerless-only season. Only centerfire rifles .223 caliber to .500 caliber with a published or calculated muzzle energy of 500 foot pounds or higher are allowed in the Excess Tag January antlerless season.

LANDOWNERS TENANT DEER LICENSES

Landowners, tenants and their eligible family members must register with the DNR before obtaining Landowner-Tenant Licenses (LOT).

If there is more than one owner, there is still a maximum of four licenses for the farm unit. Li-censes may be divided among qualifying family members. It is illegal to use a LOT deer license to hunt on land owned or controlled by another individual.

LOT GENERAL DEER LICENSES are valid for taking a deer of either sex during the season selected by the hunter at time of purchase (you must meet eligibility requirements to purchase for the Youth or Disabled deer seasons). If a LOT General license is purchased for the shotgun season, it is valid for both shotgun seasons, but only one deer may be harvested and tagged. There is one General Deerlicense available for purchase per farm unit for landowners, and their eligible family members, even if there are multiple landowners registered on the same farm unit. There is one General Deer license available for purchase per farm unit for tenants, and their eligible family members, even if there are multiple tenants registered on the same farm unit.

LOT YOUTH DEER LICENSES A youth age 18 or younger who resides with and is a member of the family of a landowner or tenant who is eligible for Landowner-Tenant Deer Licenses may obtain a Landowner-Tenant License for the Youth Season. The Landowner-Tenant Youth License will count as the one Landowner-Tenant General Deer License the landowner or tenant family is entitled to for all deer seasons.

LOT ANTLERLESS-ONLY LICENSES are valid for taking an antlerless deer during the season selected by the hunter at the time of purchase (you must meet eligibility requirements to purchase for the Youth or Disabled deer seasons).Up to three LOT Antlerless-only licenses are available for purchase per farm unit for landowners, and their eligible family members, even if there are multiple landowners registered on the same farm unity. Up to three LOT antlerless-only license are available for purchase per farm unit for tenants, and their eligible family members, even if there are multiple tenants registered on the same farm unit. One of the three LOT antlerless-only licenses is $2 and the other two are $15 each.

How many LOT licenses can I buy? The landowner, and their eligible family members, and/ or co-owners of a farm unit must be registeredon the same land parcel. Landowners registerd on the same parcel share a maximum of four Landowner-Tenant licenses, one General deer and three Antlerless-only licenses.These licenses may be divided among the registered landowners in any way the family or co-owners choose. If there is no tenant on the property, the maximum number of licenses available is still four for the farm unit.

MANDATORY HARVEST REPORTING FOR DEER AND WILD TURKEY

Hunters who harvest a deer or wild turkey must report the harvest to the DNR by midnight on the day after it is tagged, or before taking it to a locker or taxidermist, or before processing it for consumption, or before transporting it out-of-state, whichever occurs first. The hunter whose name is on the transportation tag is responsible for making the report. If no animal is harvested, no report is necessary. Failureto report or reporting falsely may result in a misdemeanor citation and possible loss of hunting privileges.

There are five options to report the harvest:

1) Online at www.iowadnr.gov, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

2) By phone at the toll-free phone number printed on the harvest report tag, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

3) Through a license vendor during regular business hours.

4) By texting your registration number to 1-800-771-4692 and follow the prompts.

5) Through the Go Iowa Outdoors app.

The Harvest Reporting System will issue a confirmation number to the hunter that must be written on the Harvest Report Tag and attached to the leg of the animal. Failure to do so may result in a misdemeanor citation.

TAGGING REQUIREMENTS

Iowa Deer and Turkey tags consist of two portions. The lower portion of the tag is the Transportation Tag and the upper portion is the Harvest Report Tag. Each performs different functions.

TRANSPORTATION TAG

A Transportation Tag with the date of kill properly shown shall be visibly attached to the turkey immediatelyor the deer within 15 minutes of the time it is located after being taken or before the carcass is moved to be transported by any means, whichever occurs first, in a manner that the tag cannot be removed without mutilating or destroying it. However, the carcass may be moved awayfrom an obstacle, entanglement, waterway, roadway or otherarea if that location would be asafety hazard, but only so far as necessary to avoid the hazard,then tagged immediately before being moved to be transported.

For antlerless deer, attach the Transportation Tag to the leg as shown.

For antlered deer, attach the Transportation Tag on the main beam between two points as shown.

No person shall tag a deer with a Transportation Tag issued to another person.

Antlerless

During the youth season, disabled hunter season, bow season, early muzzleloader season and late muzzleloader season, the hunter who killed the deer must tag the deer by using the Transportation Tag issued in that person’s name.

During the first and second regular gun seasons, anyone present in the hunting party may tag a deer with a tag issued in that person’s name. Party hunting is not allowed while hunting with a youth tag, regardless of the season.

This tag shall be proof of possession and remain affixed to the carcass until the animal is processed for consumption. The head, and antlers if any, shall remain attached to the deer while being transported from the place where taken to the processor or commercial preservation facility or until the deer has been processed for consumption.

HARVEST REPORT TAG

The Harvest Report Tag, with the confirmation number properly recorded, must be attached to the leg of the animal after reporting and before the reporting deadline (pictured below). The Harvest Report Tag must be attached so that

it is easily visible and cannot be removed without being mutilated or destroyed and remain attached to the carcass until the animal is processed for consumption.

TIPS ON TAGGING/REPORTING DEER AND TURKEYS

turkey leg. Press halves of the tag together to bond. The hunter’s name, registration number and date of harvest must be readable.

1) Remove the Transportation Tag from backing and attach to antlers if it is an antlered deer, otherwise attach to deer or

2) Follow instructions on the Harvest Report Tag to report the animal. When reporting, you will need the harvest registration number from your tag and the Iowa county where

the animal was harvested. For deer, report whether it was a doe, button buck, antlered buck, or shed-antler buck. For turkeys, report the length of the beard (fall) or length of the longest spur (spring).

3) Keep both the Transportation Tag and the Harvest Report Tag attached to the animal until it is processed for consumption.

NOTE: The actual tag may differ slightly in appearance.

GAME CARCASS DISPOSAL

Iowa law allows lawfully taken game carcasses and waste from home meat processing to be disposed with other residential waste, although your solid waste hauler may have some restrictions regarding the maximum size or weight of an individual bag. The waste should be sealed in plastic bags in lots that are similar in size and weight to a typical bag of residential waste. Contact your local waste hauler or landfill for the specific waste disposal requirements in your area.

Dumping a game carcass in a road ditch or on other public property creates a nuisance and is subject to enforcement under Iowa littering laws.

IOWA DEER EXCHANGE

The Iowa Deer Exchange is a free online database at www.iowadnr.gov/deerhunting where deer hunters willing to provide venison can connect with Iowans who want venison. Hunters enter their information into the database, including their location. Recipients choose the condition they want the meat when they register – boned out, whole (field dressed), quartered, frozen, jerky /sausage or any, and in what amount. They also set the length of time their offer is open and may opt out at any time by contacting the Iowa DNR.

The parties work out the details of the transfer. Donors are responsible for reporting the harvest and encouraged to properly care for the deer from the field to the recipient. It is illegal to sell venison in Iowa.

The Iowa Deer Exchange does not replace the HUSH program but offers another way for Iowans to get high quality lean protein.

HUSH

Any hunter may donate any legally taken, field-dressed, wild Iowa deer of any sex from any season to the HUSH program. A list of lockers participating in HUSH is available online at www.iowahush.com. Last year, around 3,700 deer were donated to the HUSH program providing about 620,000 meals to Iowans in need. Lockers may be added before deer season so check the webpage for updates.

PROPERLY CARING FOR DEER

Take care of your harvest especially if donating to HUSH or the Deer Exchange – It’s your job to keep the meat from spoiling. Every Harvest – remove the entrails, reproductive organs, clean out the chest cavity, split the pelvis and remove anal cavity then rinse the cavity well with water as soon as possible and before taking it to the locker or recipient. If air temperature is above 45 degrees, place bags or blocks of ice, or frozen milk jugs of water in the cavity to cool; replace every 24 hours. Place deer on garage floor to pull heat from the animal. Make arrangements with the locker or recipient before dropping off the deer.

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