Hunting in Iowa: 4 Animals to Hunt in the Fall

Hunting in Iowa offers the sportsman many opportunities when it comes to the variety of game available to pursue in the fall. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources manages the state’s expansive area of lands for hunting while they also promote game stability and outdoor recreational activities.

Here are a few of the animals that hunters can aim for when hunting in Iowa during the fall season.

1. Wild Turkey
Hunters are able to buy up to two licenses for hunting wild turkey if they are residents of Iowa. Nonresidents are not eligible for these turkey hunting licenses. Licenses become available for purchase on Aug. 15 and run until the end of the season. Season dates for combination gun and bow begin on Oct. 13 and end Dec. 5. Gun shooting hours start one-half hour before sunrise until sunset with bow hunters getting to hunt from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. Bag limit is either one male or female turkey.

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2. Deer
Many people enjoy taking their kids hunting in Iowa for deer during the fall. Licenses can be purchased starting Aug. 15 until the season end date. Iowa has seven different season dates within different categories based on age, hunting equipment, disability, and other factors. It is necessary for hunters to obtain a current hunting license and pay the habitat fee in order to partake in these hunting opportunities.

3. Pheasant
Pheasant hunting season always beings on the last Saturday in October and ends on Jan. 10. Hunters who take a pheasant must transport the game with at least a foot, fully feathered head, or fully feathered wing attached to the body of the bird. A permit from the DNR for field and retriever meets is necessary and dogs must remain confined to the site listed on the permit.

4. Migratory Game Birds
Migratory game bird hunting regulations can be found in their entirety on the Iowa DNR website for added convenience to hunters. There are many migratory game birds hunters can pursue in the fall that include ducks, coots, mergansers, as well as several geese species.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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