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Iowa Hunting Seasons 2023

We set out to create the most simplified guide to Iowa hunting seasons for 2023.

Want to find out season dates, learn about regulations and bag limits, understand license requirements, and get access helpful links?

Then you’ll love the info outlined in today’s guide. Let’s dive right in.

Iowa Hunting Seasons

Iowa Hunting

With great lakes accessible throughout the state, Iowa offers natural beauty unlike any other! Iowa’s County Parks offer over 215,000 acres featuring close to 2000 miles of trails and a lot of programs and events Including some unique lodging as well.

Iowa Deer Season 2023

SeasonsDates
Youth SeasonSept 18 - Oct 3
Disabled Hunter Season (Requires permit)Sept 18 - Oct 3
Archery Season, Early SplitOct 1 - Dec 3
Archery Season, Late SplitDec 20 - Jan 10, 2022
Early Muzzleloader (residents only)Oct 16 - 24
Late MuzzleloaderDec 20 - Jan 10, 2022
Shotgun, Season 1Dec 4 - 8
Shotgun, Season 2Dec 11 - 19

Iowa Turkey Season 2023

Fall turkey season 2023

License TypeDatesDetails
Gun/BowOct 11 - Dec 3Sold until quotas are filled.
Archery OnlyOct 1 - Dec 3
Dec 20 - Jan 10 2022
Sold until last day of the season.
No quota.
Bag Limit: Daily Bag & Season Possession Limit is one wild turkey of either sex for each valid license
and transportation tag issued to the hunter.

Spring Turkey Season 2024

Iowa Game Bird Season 2023

Doves: Sept 1 - Nov 29

Snipe: Sept 4 - Nov 30

Rail: Sept 4 - Nov 12

Woodcock: Oct 2 - Nov 15

Iowa Hunting Zones 2023

See the map below for a breakdown of Iowa's hunting zones:

Iowa Bag Limits 2023

Turkey bag limit: Daily bag and season possession limit is one bearded or male wild turkey for each valid license and transportation tag issued to the hunter.

Iowa Hunting License 2023

Licenses are available from the sales date of Aug 15 through the end of the season, or until quota fills.

Applications for general deer/ Antlerless only license will be accepted May 1- June 6. All Deer licenses required to hunt in the state go on sale August 15th till the end of the season. Non resident holiday season goes on sale Dec 15 till the end of the season.

First General LicenseSecond General Deer License
Shotgun Season OneBow Season
Shotgun Season TwoBow Season
BowShotgun season One
Early MuzzleloaderEarly Muzzleloader
Late Muzzleloader

Iowa Hunting Regulations 2023

Iowa hunting hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.

Helpful Resources

Official State Site: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting

FAQs
When is deer season in Iowa?

Early Archery deer season opens October 1 and first shotgun open December 4th.

Can you hunt deer with a rifle in Iowa?

Yes, new regulations expanded what is legal for deer hunting. Hunters are no longer limited to using straight-walled cartridge rifles.

When is second season deer hunting in Iowa?

Second shotgun deer season opens December 11 in Iowa.

Read more
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Born in the northeast, Hunters Guides originally began as a resource to help hunters navigate complex season regulations. After a few months, we realized there was a greater opportunity to help promote hunting. So we started creating the resource we wish existed - a site rich with videos, tutorials and how-to's.

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