Iowa Administrative Code

78.10(1) No person shall harvest a plant unless the plant possesses three or more true leaves or prongs and a flowering or fruiting stalk with red berries. If, after a person removes a plant from the soil with the requisite leaves or prongs, it is determined the root has less tha…

78.11(1) All persons harvesting wild or wild simulated ginseng shall plant all seeds collected from such plants within 100 feet of the parent plant. Seeds collected for planting pursuant to this subrule should be collected from the fruit by gently pressing the fruit of the ginsen…

harvesting, dealing or shipping ginseng. [ARC 0268D, IAB 5/13/26, effective 6/17/26]

78.13(1) A person violating this chapter shall be subject to a scheduled fine pursuant to Iowa Code section 805.8B(4) and permit suspension, modification and revocation pursuant to 571—78.17(456A). 78.13(2) Each ginseng plant or part thereof, including any ginseng, unlawfully har…

78.14(1) When a person is in possession of ginseng, including the shipping or transporting of ginseng, if one or more parts of ginseng are deemed unlawful, the entire contents of possession shall be deemed unlawful. 78.14(2) Any person or dealer who has in possession any ginseng …

these rules shall be based on the current market value, as determined by the department. [ARC 0268D, IAB 5/13/26, effective 6/17/26]

in whole or in part, by written notice if the department determines that the permit holder has violated any provision of this chapter and determines that continuation of the permit is not in the public interest. Such revocation shall become effective upon a date specified in the …

American Ginseng by allowing the harvesting, cultivating and dealing in American Ginseng but that prohibit Iowa harvesters, growers and dealers to lawfully operate in those states are not eligible for permits issued by the department. [ARC 0268D, IAB 5/13/26, effective 6/17/26] T…

through October 31. [ARC 0268D, IAB 5/13/26, effective 6/17/26]

78.3(1) Harvest. From November 1 through the following August 31, no person shall harvest, dig, cut, uproot, gather, intentionally disturb, or destroy ginseng, whether the ginseng is wild, wild simulated, or cultivated ginseng. This prohibition shall not apply to the transplantat…

and complete application. An application shall be submitted on the form provided by the department, and payment of the appropriate fee shall be included with the application. Grower’s and harvester’s permits are available for sale through the department’s electronic licensing sys…

business of ginseng, its seeds, or its parts: 1. If the dealer knows or should have known that the ginseng was harvested illegally. 2. Without inspecting the permit of the harvester or dealer. 3. If the dealer knows or should have known that the harvester or dealer has violated t…

78.6(1) Contents of records. Each permitted ginseng dealer shall keep individual, accurate, legible and complete records of each ginseng transaction. The records shall be on forms prescribed by the department and completed in their entirety by the ginseng dealer or a representati…

78.7(1) Transact business. Ginseng dealers shall transact business only at the location specified on the dealer’s permit or at the place of business specified on the permit of any other dealer who holds a dealer’s permit in Iowa and is involved in the transaction. 78.7(2) Locatio…

78.8(1) Shipments. Every shipment of ginseng to a location outside the state of Iowa by a grower, harvester or dealer shall be accompanied by a certificate of origin, or shipping certificate, that certifies that the ginseng was lawfully harvested. a. The department will issue a c…

shall be produced for inspection upon request by the department, director, officer appointed by the department, or peace officer. All records under this chapter must be retained for a period of three years after the expiration of the grower’s, harvester’s, or dealer’s permit. Fai…

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 17A.3, 455A.4, and 573.12(13). [ARC 9902C, IAB 1/7/26, effective 12/15/25] [Filed 8/2/77, Notice 5/4/77—published 8/24/77, effective 9/28/77] [Filed 1/5/84, Notice 11/23/83—published 2/1/84, effective 3/7/84] [Filed 9/2/88, No…

accidentally killed by a motor vehicle on a public highway for the purpose of human consumption or the feeding of domestic animals. Any other benefits derived from the possession of legally salvaged game (such as legal sale of hides, plumage, or antlers) is a secondary benefit on…

80.2(1) Any person wanting to possess game accidentally killed by a motor vehicle on a highway shall immediately contact the nearest conservation officer, Iowa state trooper, sheriff’s department, or police department to request and receive a salvage tag prior to taking possessio…

80.3(1) The following conditions shall apply to a person being allowed to take possession of fish or game confiscated by the department of natural resources or a court. 80.3(2) Confiscated fish or game, when salvageable, shall be disposed of in accordance with the following prior…

80.4(1) Naturally shed deer antlers may be collected and possessed at any time of year. 80.4(2) Found-dead deer heads with attached antlers, also known as deadheads, may be collected and possessed by individuals who possess a valid hunting license and have paid the habitat fee pu…

INLAND WATERS BOUNDARY RIVERS Lake Sturgeon Closed 0 0 0 Same as inland waters Shovelnose Sturgeon Continuous None None None Same as inland waters except no harvest allowed in the Big Sioux River and aggregate daily bag limit 10, aggregate possession limit 20, in the Missouri Riv…

81.2(1) Exception closed season. In lakes West Okoboji, East Okoboji and Spirit, there shall be a closed season on walleye beginning February 15 each year through the first Saturday in May. Open season for muskellunge and tiger muskie shall be from May 21 through November 30. 81.…

81.3(1) Where permitted. It shall be lawful to use trotlines or throw lines in all rivers and streams of the state, except in Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Fayette, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, and Jackson counties. Trotlines or throw lines may be used in the above nine…

on a competitive basis to the maximum practical extent subject to the following provisions. Commercial fishers licensed with the state may enter into contract with owners of private water bodies for the removal of injurious fish provided approval is received from the director or …

Missouri Rivers subject to the following regulations. 82.2(1) Permissive catch. Except for channel catfish, flathead catfish, and shovelnose sturgeon, which cannot be taken from the Missouri River, it shall be lawful to take with licensed commercial fishing gear the following spe…

in accordance with the following seasons and rules. [ARC 0273D, IAB 5/13/26, effective 6/17/26]

lakes and state-owned meandered streams in Iowa year-round. 83.2(1) Scuba and skin spearing shall be permitted in streams or impoundments on private land where access is permitted by owner or lessee. 83.2(2) Scuba and skin spearing is prohibited in all state-owned artificial lake…

be: 1. Hand and pole spears. 2. Spear guns powered by rubber bands, springs, or pneumatically powered springs. 3. If used on powered spear guns, attached to the gun by a cord lanyard or other device. The overall length of spear gun and cord shall not exceed 20 feet. [ARC 0273D, I…

1. No power or exploding spear heads will be permitted. 2. No guns powered by gunpowder explosive or explosives or compressed gas will be permitted. [ARC 0273D, IAB 5/13/26, effective 6/17/26]

of divers on a buoy, float or boat during any underwater spear fishing activity. The diver or group of divers must stay within a 100-foot circle of the flag. [ARC 0273D, IAB 5/13/26, effective 6/17/26]

authorized agents of the department of natural resources when engaged in research or management studies or enforcement. [ARC 0273D, IAB 5/13/26, effective 6/17/26] These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 481A.38, 481A.39, and 481A.67. [Filed 3/8/66] [Filed 12/2/8…

there is imminent danger of loss of fish through natural causes, authorize by public order the taking of fish from any area and by such means as the commission may deem advisable to salvage such imperiled fish populations. 84.1(1) Method of take. Fish may be taken by any means ex…

following regulations. 86.1(1) Species and season. It shall be lawful to commercially and noncommercially (recreationally) harvest spiny softshell Apalone spinifera, smooth softshell Apalone mutica, and painted Chrysemys picta turtles from July 16 through May 14. Common snapping …

public waters of the state shall be limited to the following regulations. 87.1(1) Seasons. There shall be an open season for taking mussels throughout the year. The taking of mussels is restricted to the hours between sunrise and sunset. 87.1(2) Species. Species other than those …

propagated and sold: FISH American Eel Anguilla rostrata Banded Darter Etheostoma zonale Banded Killifish Fundulus diaphanus Bigmouth Buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus Bigmouth Shiner Ericymba dorsalis Black Buffalo Ictiobus niger Black Bullhead Ameiurus melas Black Crappie Pomoxis ni…

the state any aquaculture species not listed in 571—89.1(481A). In addition, aquaculture units shall not import live fish, viable eggs, or semen of any species of the salmonid family (trout, salmon or char) and ictalurid family (catfishes and bullheads) unless the owner or operat…

eggs, or semen of any species of the salmonid family (trout, salmon or char) unless the owner or operator of an aquaculture unit provides a statement certifying the fish, eggs or semen to be free of the following diseases. 89.3(1) Diseases detrimental to the state’s fishery resou…

“Commission” means the natural resource commission. “Department” means the department of natural resources. “Director” means the director of the department of natural resources. “Introduce” means to release a species into waters of the state. “Introduce” does not include the imme…

hybrids, cultivars, or varieties of the species are designated as aquatic invasive species. 90.2(1) Aquatic invasive plants. Brittle naiad Najas minor Curlyleaf pondweed Potamogeton crispus Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum Flowering rush Butomus umbellatus Purple loose…

90.3(1) A person shall not possess, introduce, import, purchase, sell, barter, propagate, or transport aquatic invasive species in any form in this state, except: a. By written permission of the director; b. For disposal as part of a harvest or control activity; c. When a species…

90.4(1) Designation of infested waters. The department will designate infested waters of the state and publish the names of infested waters in the fishing regulations brochure and on the department webpage, www.iowadnr.gov/programs-services/aquatic-invasive-species, and will prov…

91.1(1) Zone boundaries. Zone boundaries are as specified in the November 2023 Waterfowl Hunting Map Book published on the department of natural resources’ (department’s) website (www.iowadnr.gov/ Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds), chapter 1 “Waterfowl Hunting Zones.” 91.1(2) Season …

shall begin on September 1 and continue for 90 consecutive days. Shooting hours shall be from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset each day. Daily bag limit 15; possession limit 45. Entire state open. [ARC 9238C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

November 30 and January 14 through March 31 of each year. No bag or possession limit. Entire state open. [ARC 9238C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

possession limits during the open season and shooting hours as prescribed annually by the natural resource commission. [ARC 9238C, IAB 5/14/25, effective 6/18/25]

take any migratory waterfowl (brant, wild ducks, geese, and swans) unless at the time of such taking that person has with them an unexpired federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp (commonly called duck stamp), validated by the person’s signature written across the f…

prohibited in this rule. No person shall take migratory game birds (brant, wild ducks, geese, rails, coots, woodcock, and snipe): 91.14(1) With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10-gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fish hook, poison, drug…

91.15(1) No person shall possess, have in custody, or transport more than the daily bag limit or aggregate daily bag limit, whichever applies, of migratory game birds, tagged or not tagged, at or between the place, where taken and either: a. The person’s automobile or principal m…

any migratory game birds, unless the head or one fully feathered wing remains attached to each such bird at all times while being transported or shipped from the place where taken until they have arrived at the personal abode of the possessor or a migratory bird preservation faci…