Iowa Administrative Code

Ferruginous hawk, American goshawk, Great horned owl, Gyrfalcon, Harris’s hawk, Merlin, Prairie falcon, Red-tailed hawk, Rough-legged hawk, and Sharp-shinned hawk from the wild by resident falconers shall be limited to the following conditions: 101.3(1) Young birds not yet capabl…

possession and use of a wild Peregrine falcon in hunting, subject to 571—Chapter 101. In addition to the following provisions, the holder of a wild Peregrine falcon permit shall comply with 571—101.1(481A), 571—101.2(481A), and 571—101.5(481A) through 571—101.7(481A) as well as o…

department by July 31 of each year. This report shall list all raptors in possession on the preceding thirtieth day of June and any raptor held during the year by species, sex (if known), age (if known), date acquired and where or from whom acquired, and whether the raptor escape…

101.6(1) Any raptor captured with a research radio transmitter attached must be reported to the department within five days, and the raptor shall be released immediately. 101.6(2) No permittee may take, purchase, receive or otherwise acquire, sell, barter, transfer, or otherwise …

provisions of these rules. [ARC 9241C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25] These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 481A.39 and 481A.42. [Filed 11/18/76, Notice 9/22/76—published 12/15/76, effective 1/19/77] [Filed emergency 4/6/77—published 5/4/77, effective 4/6/77] …

“Commission” means the natural resource commission. “Department” means the department of natural resources. “Special deer management zones” means defined units of public and private land, including state parks, state recreation areas, county parks, urban areas, and areas managed …

permitted weapons, license quotas, and other conditions for hunting shall be designated annually by the commission. 105.2(1) Seasons. Deer hunting in a special deer management zone may occur only on dates established by the commission. Season dates may or may not coincide with se…

with other recommendations to the commission related to hunting in a state park or state recreation area. [ARC 9242C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

105.4(1) Special restrictions. Cities, deer task forces, or other public entities may require hunters to do one or more of the following: pass a hunter safety and education course, pass a weapons proficiency test, or be approved by the appropriate police department or conservatio…

may require hunters to do one or more of the following: pass a hunter safety and education course, pass a weapons proficiency test, or be approved by the appropriate county sheriff or conservation officer. [ARC 9242C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

may be established on private land when approved by the commission. Zones, seasons, and other conditions for hunting will be determined by the commission. Hunters will be required to comply with all applicable regulations specified in 571—Chapter 106. [ARC 9242C, IAB 5/14/25, eff…

hunting license and a valid resident or nonresident hunting license and must have paid the habitat fee (if normally required to have a hunting license and to pay the habitat fee to hunt). No person while hunting deer shall carry or have in possession any license or transportation…

antlerless-deer-only licenses, will be restricted in the type and number that may be purchased. 106.10(1) Paid general deer licenses. Residents may purchase no more than two paid general deer licenses, one for the bow season and one for one of the following seasons: early muzzlel…

106.11(1) Bow season. Only longbow, compound, or recurve bows shooting broadhead arrows are permitted during the bow season. Arrows must be at least 18 inches long. a. Crossbows, as described in 106.11(1)“b,” may be used during the bow season in the following two situations: (1) …

using the ELSI. Licenses may be purchased from ELSI license agents, or online at www.iowadnr.com, or by calling the ELSI telephone ordering system. 106.12(1) Licenses with quotas. All paid deer hunting licenses for which a quota is established may be obtained from the ELSI system…

106.13(1) Use of transportation tag. A transportation tag bearing the license number of the licensee, year of issuance, and date of kill properly shown shall be visibly attached to one leg of each antlerless deer or on the main beam between two points, if present, on one of the a…

106.14(1) Licenses. a. Youth deer hunt. A youth deer license shall be valid for taking a deer of either sex zonewide. A youth deer license may be issued to any Iowa resident who is not over 15 years old on the day the youth obtains the license. The youth license may be paid or fr…

106.15(1) Licenses. A nonresident meeting the requirements of Iowa Code section 321L.1(8) may apply for or purchase a nonresident deer hunting license to participate in a special deer hunting season for severely disabled persons. Nonresidents applying for this license must have o…

provides assistance to producers through technical advice and additional deer licenses and permits where the localized reduction of female deer is needed to reduce damage. Upon signing a depredation management agreement with the department, producers of agricultural or high-value…

106.17(1) Who qualifies for free deer hunting licenses. a. Owners and tenants of a farm unit and the spouse and juvenile child of an owner or tenant who reside with the owner or tenant are eligible for free deer licenses. The owner or tenant does not have to reside on the farm un…

procedures described in 571—95.1(481A). [ARC 7915C, IAB 5/1/24, effective 6/5/24] These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 481C. [Filed 7/16/75] [Filed emergency 6/11/76—published 6/28/76, effective 6/11/76] [Filed emergency 6/13/77—published 7/13/77, effective 6/1…

106.2(1) Bow season. Deer may be taken in accordance with the type of license issued from October 1 through the Friday before the first Saturday in December and from the Monday following the third Saturday in December through January 10 of the following year. 106.2(2) Regular gun…

one-half hour after sunset in all seasons. [ARC 7915C, IAB 5/1/24, effective 6/5/24]

106.4(1) Bow season. The daily bag limit is one deer per license. The possession limit is one deer per license. 106.4(2) Muzzleloader seasons. The daily bag limit is one deer per license. The possession limit is one deer per license. 106.4(3) Regular gun seasons. The bag limit is…

county roads immediately adjacent to or through Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Kossuth County, where posted accordingly. There shall be no open seasons for hunting deer on all portions of rights-of-way on Interstate Highways 29, 35, 80 and 380. [ARC 7915C, IAB 5/1/24, eff…

follows: 106.6(1) Nonresident zone boundaries. As specified in the nonresident deer hunting zones map (dated December 2023) published on the department’s website (www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Deer-Hunting) “Nonresident Deer Hunting Zones.” 106.6(2) Reserved. [ARC 7915C, IAB 5/1/24, ef…

issued in zones as follows: 106.7(1) Zone license quotas. Nonresident license quotas are as follows: Any-deer licenses Mandatory Optional All Methods Bow Antlerless-deer-only Antlerless-deer-only Zone 1 90 31 90 Zone 2 90 31 90 Zone 3 560 196 560 Zone 4 1280 448 1280 Any-deer lic…

licenses must be made through the electronic licensing system for Iowa (ELSI) telephone order system or the ELSI Internet license sales website. 106.8(1) Any-deer licenses. Applications for any-deer and mandatory antlerless-deer-only licenses will be accepted from the first Satur…

maximum of one free general deer license, two free antlerless-deer-only licenses, and two reduced-fee antlerless-deer-only licenses may be issued to a qualifying landowner or eligible family member and a qualifying tenant or eligible family member. Eligibility for licenses is des…

Open season shall be from 8 a.m. on the first Saturday in November through February 28 of the succeeding year. Entire state open. No daily bag or possession limit. 108.1(1) Disturbing muskrat houses. Any department of natural resources officer, natural resource biologist, or coun…

set or maintain any snare or body-gripping type trap within any public road right-of-way within 200 yards of buildings inhabited by human beings unless a resident of the dwelling adjacent to the public road right-of-way has given permission or unless the body-gripping type trap i…

108.11(1) Placement. No person shall set or maintain any snare in any public road right-of-way so that the snare when fully extended can touch any fence. Snares may not be attached to a drag. 108.11(2) Loop size. No snare when set will have a loop larger than 8 inches in horizont…

public road right-of-way within five feet of any fence. [ARC 9243C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

metal-serrated jaws, metal-toothed jaws or a spread inside the set jaws of greater than 7 inches. [ARC 9243C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

in any type of trap or snare, except those that are placed entirely underwater and designed to drown the animal immediately, must be removed from the trap or snare by the trap or snare user immediately upon discovery and within 24 hours of the time the animal is caught. [ARC 9243…

person who can reasonably be presumed to be trapping shall have a metal tag attached plainly labeled with the user’s name and address. [ARC 9243C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

[ARC 9243C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25] These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 481A.6, 481A.38, 481A.39, 481A.87, 481A.90, and 481A.92. [Filed emergency 6/11/76—published 6/28/76, effective 6/11/76] [Filed emergency 7/20/77—published 8/10/77, effective 9/1/7…

limit. [ARC 9243C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

108.3(1) Hunting. Continuous open season on private lands and from 8 a.m. on the first Saturday in November through February 28 of the succeeding year on public lands. Entire state open. No daily bag or possession limit. 108.3(2) Trapping. Continuous open season using cage traps …

April 15 of the succeeding year. No daily bag or possession limit. [ARC 9243C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25; ARC 0117D, IAB 3/4/26, effective 4/8/26]

108.5(1) Hunting. Continuous open season. Entire state open. No daily bag or possession limit. 108.5(2) Trapping. Open season for trapping coyote shall be 8 a.m. on the first Saturday in November through February 28 of the succeeding year. Entire state open. No daily bag or posse…

[ARC 9243C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

108.7(1) License requirements. Each person who takes river otters or bobcats shall have a valid fur harvester license and pay the habitat fee if normally required to have a license to hunt or trap. 108.7(2) Open area. River otters may be taken statewide. Bobcats may be taken in t…

accidentally captures a river otter or bobcat during a closed season or in a closed area or after the person’s individual daily bag limit has been reached shall not be penalized provided that: 1. The river otter or bobcat is captured during a legal trapping season or as part of a…

108.9(1) Exposed bait. No person shall set or maintain any leghold, body-clasping trap, or snare within 20 feet of exposed bait on land anywhere in the state or over water in the following areas: a. Mississippi River corridor—Allamakee, Clayton, Dubuque, Jackson, Clinton, Scott, …

[ARC 9902C, IAB 1/7/26, effective 12/15/25]

for waivers to the commission at its regular meetings. [ARC 9902C, IAB 1/7/26, effective 12/15/25] These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 17A.9A. [Filed 10/12/01, Notice 5/30/01—published 10/31/01, effective 12/5/01] [Filed Emergency After Notice ARC 9902C (Notic…

“Department” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 481A.1. “Educational project permit” means a permit to take, acquire and possess live wildlife for natural resource-based educational programs and displays. “Permit” means a license for the purpose of this chapter. “Perm…

1. Applications will not be approved for private collections or for commercial use of protected species. 2. Any costs incurred by the permittee for the administration of any permit authorized by this chapter are the responsibility of the permittee. 3. Scientific collecting permit…

issued to any business, organization, university, college or person engaged in a scientific project approved by the department. This permit may be issued for a period of up to three years. The application narrative shall include the reason for study, expected conservation benefit…