List items for Calendar - Iowa Hunting Seasons
We work hard to keep our calendars current, but always refer to Iowa's hunting regulations booklet for official, legal season dates. For additional information, review Iowa's hunting regulations and laws.
Deer Hunting
| Deer Seasons | Dates |
|---|---|
| Youth | Sept. 20-Oct. 5 |
| Archery | Oct. 1-Dec. 5 |
| Archery | Dec. 22-Jan. 10, 2026 |
| Early Muzzleloader | Oct. 11-19 |
| Shotgun Season 1 | Dec. 6-10 |
| Shotgun Season 2 | Dec. 13-21 |
| Late Muzzleloader | Dec. 22-Jan. 10, 2026 |
| Nonresident Holiday | Dec. 24-Jan. 2, 2026 |
| January Antlerless | Jan. 11-25, 2026 |
- 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.
Migratory Game Bird Hunting
| Season | North Zone | Central Zone | South Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Waterfowl | Sep. 20 - 21 | Sep. 27 - 28 | Oct. 4 - 5 |
| Ducks, Mergansers & Coots | Sep. 27 - Oct. 3 | Oct. 4 - Oct. 10 | Oct. 11 - Oct. 17 |
| Oct. 11 - Dec. 2 | Oct. 18 - Dec. 9 | Oct. 25 -Dec. 16 | |
| Dark Geese & Light Geese | Sep. 20 - Oct. 5 | Sep. 27 - Oct. 12 | Oct. 4 - Oct. 19 |
| Oct. 11 - Dec. 2 | Oct. 18 - Dec. 9 | Oct. 25 - Dec. 16 | |
| Dec. 13 - Jan. 10 | Dec. 20 - Jan. 17 | Dec. 27 - Jan. 24 |
| Statewide Seasons | Dates |
|---|---|
| Special September Teal | Sep. 6 - 14 |
| Doves | Sep. 1 - Nov. 29 |
| Snipe | Sep. 6 - Nov. 30 |
| Rail | Sep. 6 - Nov. 14 |
| Woodcock | Oct. 4 - Nov. 17 |
- Metropolitan Canada Goose Hunting Season* (in specified areas): Sep. 13 - 21
- Light Goose Conservation Order*: Jan. 25 - May 1, 2026
*Additional regulations apply.
Small Game & Upland Hunting
| Small Game & Upland Seasons | Season Dates |
|---|---|
| Rooster Pheasant (Youth) | Oct 18 - 19, 2025 |
| Rooster Pheasant | Oct 25 - Jan 10, 2026 |
| Bobwhite Quail | Oct 25 - Jan 31, 2026 |
| Gray Partridge | Oct 11 - Jan 31, 2026 |
| Ruffed Grouse | Oct 4 - Jan 31, 2026 |
| Rabbit (Cottontail) | Aug 30 - Feb 28, 2026 |
| Rabbit (Jack) | CLOSED |
| Squirrel (Fox and Gray) | Aug 30 - Jan 31, 2026 |
| Groundhog | Continuous Open Season |
| Crow | Oct 15 - Nov 30, 2025 and Jan 14 - March 31, 2026 |
| Pigeon | Continuous Open Season |
| Coyote | Continuous Open Season |
Trapping Seasons
| Trapping Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| General Trapping | Nov. 1-Feb. 28, 2026 |
| Beaver | Nov. 1-April 15, 2026 |
Turkey Hunting
| Turkey Seasons | Dates |
|---|---|
| Fall, Gun-Bow | Oct. 13-Dec. 5 |
| Fall, Archery | Oct. 1-Dec. 5 |
| Fall, Archery | Dec. 22-Jan. 10, 2026 |
| Spring Youth | April 10-12, 2026 |
| Spring Gun-Bow Season 1 | April 13-16, 2026 |
| Spring Gun-Bow Season 2 | April 17-21, 2026 |
| Spring Gun-Bow Season 3 | April 22-28, 2026 |
| Spring Gun-Bow Season 4 | April 29-May 17, 2026 |
| Spring Archery Only | Apr. 13-May 17, 2026 |
- Licenses go on sale August 15.
- The nonresident spring turkey application period is Jan. 1 to the last Sunday in January. the application is available in December.
- Note: nonresidents are not eligible for fall turkey hunting licenses.
- Gun shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset
- Bow shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
- 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.