Ultimate Guide for 2024 Iowa Hunting Season Dates & Bags!

Iowa has a variety of hunting seasons to suit all types of hunters, and its diverse topography serves as a haven for white-tailed deer. Even though it may be challenging to figure out the complex system of dates and bags, this comprehensive resource will provide you the whole timetable you would need to plan your outdoor activity.

Content Highlights

Iowa Hunting Season Dates

Deer

Season	Dates
Youth	Sept 16 – Oct 1
Disabled Hunter	Sept 16 – Oct 1
Archery, Early Split	Oct 1 – Dec 1
Archery, Late Split	Dec 18 – Jan 10
Early Muzzleloader (residents only)	Oct 14 – 22
Late Muzzleloader	Dec 18 – Jan 10
Shotgun, Season 1	Dec 2 – 6
Shotgun, Season 2	Dec 9 – 17
Nonresident Holiday	Dec 24 – Jan 2

Sales of licenses start on August 15 and run until the conclusion of the season or when the quota is met.

Other Big Games

Elk	Rathbun Wildlife Area	Oct 1 – Dec 31	1 either-sex tag
Elk	Loess Hills State Forest	Oct 1 – Dec 31	1 either-sex tag
Moose	Yellow River State Forest	Oct 1 – Dec 31	1 either-sex tag

Turkey

Fall	Oct 14 – Dec 1
Spring	Apr 14 – 18
	Apr 19 – 23
	Apr 24 – May 2
	May 3 – 18
Spring, Archery Only	Apr 14 – May 18

Fall permits are available from August 15 until the conclusion of the season, and spring licenses from February 15 to the end.

Migratory & Waterfowl Birds

Season	North Zone	Central Zone	South Zone
Youth Waterfowl	Sept. 23-24	Sept. 30 – Oct. 1	Oct. 7-8
Ducks, Mergansers & Coots	Sep. 30 – Oct. 6, Oct. 14 – Dec. 5	Oct. 7 – Oct. 13, Oct. 21 – Dec. 12	Oct. 14 – Oct. 20, Oct. 28 – Dec. 19
Dark Geese & Light Geese	Sep. 23 – Oct. 8, Oct. 14 – Dec. 5, Dec. 16 – Jan. 13	Sep. 30 – Oct. 15, Oct. 21 – Dec. 12, Dec. 23 – Jan. 20	Oct. 7 – Oct. 22, Oct. 28 – Dec. 19, Dec. 30 – Jan. 27
Special September Teal	Sep. 1 – 16	Sep. 1 – 16	Sep. 1 – 16
Doves	Sep. 1 – Nov. 29	Sep. 1 – Nov. 29	Sep. 1 – Nov. 29
Snipe	Sep. 2 – Nov. 30	Sep. 2 – Nov. 30	Sep. 2 – Nov. 30
Rail	Sep. 2 – Nov. 10	Sep. 2 – Nov. 10	Sep. 2 – Nov. 10
Woodcock	Oct. 7 – Nov. 20	Oct. 7 – Nov. 20	Oct. 7 – Nov. 20
Metropolitan Goose Hunting (in specified areas)	Sep. 9-17	Sep. 9-17	Sep. 9-17
Light Geese Conservation Order (additional regulations apply)	Jan. 28 – May 1	Jan. 28 – May 1	Jan. 28 – May 1

Upland Games

Rooster Pheasant (Youth)	Oct. 22-23
Rooster Pheasant	Oct. 29 – Jan. 10
Bobwhite Quail	Oct. 29 – Jan. 31
Gray Partridge	Oct. 8 – Jan. 31
Ruffed Grouse	Oct. 1 – Jan. 31
Rabbit (Cottontail)	Sep. 3 – Feb. 28
Squirrel (Fox and Gray)	Sep. 3 – Jan. 31
Crow	Oct. 14 – Nov. 29 Jan. 13 – March 31
Pigeon	Continuous open season

Furbearers

Badger	Nov 2 – Jan 31	No limit
Beaver	Nov 2 – Apr 15	No limit
Bobcat	Nov 2 – Jan 31	1 per furharvester
Coyote	Continuous open season	No limit
Fox (red and gray)	Nov 2 – Jan 31	No limit
Mink, Muskrat, Opossum, Raccoon, Weasel	Nov 2 – Jan 31	No limit
River Otter	Nov 2 – Jan 31	2 per furharvester
Spotted Skunk	Closed	N/A
Striped Skunk	Continuous open season	No limit

Other Bag Limits

Species	Daily Limit	Possession Limit
Deer	1 deer per license tag	1
Turkey	1 per license	2 per fall season
Migratory and Waterfowl birds	Varies by species	Varies by species
Upland Games	Varies by species	Varies by species
Furbearers	No limit (except for bobcat and otter)	No limit (except for bobcat and otter)

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Mason Miller

Mason Miller founded and leads WildlifeForum.org, a forum promoting ethical hunting and conservation. Mason, an avid outdoorsman and naturalist, studies and protects animals via activism, instructing, and research. His love of nature and dedication to sustainability inspired him to start WildlifeForum.org for responsible hunters, anglers, and outdoor lovers.