Title XI, NATURAL RESOURCES (Ch. 455 - 485)

The director, after investigation, may issue to any person a scientific collector’s license, a wildlife salvage permit, educational project permit, or a wildlife rehabilitation permit. A scientific collector’s license will authorize the licensee to collect for scientific purposes…

It shall be unlawful for any person to capture birds or animals for banding purposes except that the commission may, after investigation, issue a permit to any person permitting the person to capture birds or animals for the purpose of banding or marking same for scientific study…

1. It is unlawful for a person, except as otherwise expressly provided, to take, capture, or kill fish, frogs, or turtles except during the open season established by the commission. It is unlawful during open season to take in any one day an amount in excess of the daily catch l…

1. As used in this section , “tip-up fishing device” means an ice fishing mechanism with an attached flag or signal to indicate fishing action, used to hold a fishing rod or pole with line and hook. 2. A person shall not use more than three tip-up fishing devices for fishing in t…

The commission may adopt rules designating game fish, commercial fish, and rough fish. 88 Acts, ch 1216, §25 C89, §109.69 C93, §481A.69 Referred to in §805.8B(3)(b) For applicable scheduled fines, see §805.8B , subsection 3, paragraph b

1. As used in this section , “pen-reared pheasant” means a Chinese ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus torquatus) and its subspecies which originates from a captive population and which has been propagated and held by a hatchery. For the purposes of this section “pen-reared…

1. It shall be unlawful to hunt, pursue, kill, trap or take any wild animal, bird, or game on any state game refuge so established at any time of the year, and no one shall carry firearms thereon, providing, however, that predatory birds and animals may be killed or trapped under…

Any fish caught that is less than lawful minimum length or weight shall be handled with wet hands and released under water immediately with as little injury as possible. [C39, § 1794.033; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §109.71 ] C93, §481A.71 Referred to in §805…

1. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter , a person shall not at any time take from the waters of the state any fish except with hook, line, and bait. A person shall not use more than three lines nor more than two hooks on each line in still fishing or trolling. In fly fis…

In the waters of the state open to their use, a person shall not use more than five tagged lines set to take fish such as trotlines or throw lines. Such tagged lines shall not have in the aggregate more than fifteen hooks. Each separate line when in use shall have attached a tag …

Trotlines and throw lines may be used in the border rivers of the state and in the inland waters. However, the commission may by rule prohibit the use of trotlines or throw lines in certain inland waters. [C73, §4052; C97, §2540, 2542; C24, 27, 31, §1734; C39, § 1794.036; C46, 50…

It is unlawful, except as otherwise provided, to use on or in the waters of the state any grabhook, snaghook, any kind of a net, seine, trap, firearm, dynamite, or other explosives, or poisonous or stupefying substances, lime, ashes, electricity, or hand fishing in the taking or …

No private water may be stocked by the commission unless the owner agrees that such waters shall be open to the public for fishing, except that the commission may, after investigation to determine their suitability as to size, depth, living conditions for fish, and management, pr…

When any such refuge or preserve is established by the commission, it shall post notices of such establishment in conspicuous places around the refuge. [C27, 31, 35, §1709-a3; C39, § 1709.4; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §109.8 ] C93, §481A.8

A person shall not stock or introduce into the waters of the state a live fish, except for hooked bait, without the permission of the director. This section does not apply to privately owned ponds and lakes. 88 Acts, ch 1216, §30 C89, §109.83 C93, §481A.83 Referred to in §805.8B(…

1. Frogs may be taken by holders of a fishing license only and they may be used for bait or food purposes, but no person shall take more than four dozen frogs in any one day or have in possession at any one time more than eight dozen frogs. Licensed bait dealers authorized by law…

It shall be unlawful for any person at any time, except as otherwise provided, to take any fish, minnows, frogs, or other aquatic, biological life from any state fish hatchery, nursery, or other area under the jurisdiction of the commission operated for fish production purposes. …

Authorized employees of the United States bureau of sport fisheries and wildlife are hereby authorized to conduct fish culture operations, rescue work on the boundary waters of the state, and other operations necessary for rescue and hatchery work. [C39, § 1794.048; C46, 50, 54, …

1. Except as otherwise provided, a person shall not take, capture, kill, or have in possession a fur-bearing animal or any of its parts at any time except during the open season as set by the commission. 2. A person may shoot, trap, or ensnare a fur-bearing animal when the killin…

Upon application, which shall be filed with the commission within ten days after the close of the open season, any person may be permitted to hold hides or skins of fur-bearing animals lawfully taken for a longer time than specified in section 481A.87 . Such application shall be …

To effect sound wildlife management and maintain biological balance as provided in section 481A.39 , the commission may set aside certain portions of any state waters for spawning grounds where the same are suitable for this purpose for such length of time as it may deem advisabl…

1. A person shall not molest or disturb, in any manner, any den, lodge, or house of a fur-bearing animal or beaver dam except by written permission of an officer appointed by the director. 2. This section does not prohibit the owner from destroying a den to protect the owner’s pr…

A person shall not kill a beaver, mink, otter, or muskrat with a shotgun or spear. A person shall not possess a beaver, mink, otter, or muskrat or the carcasses, skins, or parts of any one of those animals that have been killed with a shotgun or spear. [C31, §1767-c2; C39, § 1794…

1. A person shall not use or attempt to use colony traps in taking, capturing, trapping, or killing any game or fur-bearing animals except muskrats as determined by rule of the commission. Box traps capable of capturing more than one game or fur-bearing animal at each setting are…

1. A person who is in possession or control, either singly or as one of a group of persons, of any firearm, bow, or other implement or device whereby a bird or animal could be killed or taken shall not throw or cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light on…

The term “fur dealer” as used in this chapter shall mean any person, firm, partnership, or corporation engaged in the business of buying, bartering, trading, or otherwise obtaining raw hides or skins of fur-bearing animals. [C39, § 1794.055; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 7…

1. A license shall be required of each fur dealer and each employee, agent, or representative of a fur dealer except when the employee, agent, or representative is operating solely on the premises of a licensed fur dealer. A fur dealer shall conduct business only at the location …

A licensed fur dealer may have in possession at any time skins or hides of animals which have been lawfully taken. [C31, §1766-c4; C39, § 1794.058; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §109.96 ] C93, §481A.96

Fur dealers shall keep accurate, current records of their transactions. The records shall show the number and kinds of hides and skins which have been purchased, the date of purchase, and the name and address of the seller. Such records shall be open at all reasonable times to in…

Each fur dealer shall report to the commission the name of any person, if known to the dealer, who attempts to sell any skins or hides which appear to have been unlawfully taken or possessed by that person. [C31, §1766-c2; C39, § 1794.060; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77,…

As used in this chapter : 1. “Commission” means the natural resource commission. 2. “Director” means the director of the department of natural resources. 3. “Endangered species” means any species of fish, plant life, or wildlife which is in danger of extinction throughout all or …

Whoever violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor. [C77, 79, 81, §109A.10 ] C93, §481B.10

The commission shall perform those acts necessary for the conservation, protection, restoration, and propagation of endangered and threatened species in cooperation with the federal government, pursuant to Pub. L. No. 93-205, and pursuant to rules promulgated by the secretary of …

1. The director shall conduct investigations on fish, plants, and wildlife in order to develop information relating to population, distribution, habitat needs, limiting factors, and other biological and ecological data to determine management measures necessary for their continue…

1. The director shall establish programs, including acquisition of land or aquatic habitat, necessary for the management of endangered or threatened species. 2. In carrying out the programs authorized by this section , the commission may enter into cooperative agreements with fed…

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or by rule, a person shall not take, possess, transport, import, export, process, sell or offer for sale, buy or offer to buy, nor shall a common or contract carrier transport or receive for shipment, any species of fish, plants, or wi…

The commission may, by rule, treat any species as an endangered species or threatened species even though it is not listed pursuant to section 481B.3 if it finds that the species so closely resembles in appearance a species which is listed pursuant to section 481B.3 and that enfo…

The director may permit the taking, possession, purchase, sale, transportation, importation, exportation, or shipment of endangered or threatened species which appear on the state list for scientific, zoological, or educational purposes, for propagation in captivity of such fish,…

Upon good cause shown and where necessary to reduce damage to property or to protect human health, endangered or threatened species found on the state list may be removed, captured, or destroyed, but only pursuant to a permit issued by the director. [C77, 79, 81, §109A.8 ] C93, §…

A species of fish, plant, or wildlife appearing on any of the lists of endangered species or threatened species which enters the state from another state or from outside the territorial limits of the United States may enter, be transported, possessed, and sold in accordance with …

A wild animal depredation unit is established within the department of natural resources. The unit shall be comprised of two wild animal depredation biologists. 97 Acts, ch 180, §2 ; 2002 Acts, ch 1162, §72 Referred to in §481C.3

1. The director of the department of natural resources shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the United States department of agriculture, animal damage control division. The wild animal depredation unit shall serve and act as the liaison to the department for the produc…

1. Deer depredation licenses shall be available for issuance as follows: a. Deer depredation licenses shall be available for issuance to resident hunters. b. Depredation licenses issued pursuant to this subsection shall be valid to harvest antlerless deer only. Depredation licens…

The revenue from nonresident deer and wild turkey hunting licenses shall be used to pay the salaries, support, and maintenance of the wild animal depredation unit established pursuant to section 481C.1 . 97 Acts, ch 180, §4 ; 2000 Acts, ch 1154, §33

1. The natural resource commission shall observe, administer, and enforce this chapter . The natural resource commission may adopt and enforce rules under chapter 17A as necessary to carry out this chapter . 2. The natural resource commission may: a. Remove or cause to be removed…

1. All persons who commercially take, attempt to take, possess, transport, sell, barter, trade, or buy commercial fish or their parts shall possess an appropriate, valid commercial fishing license. This subsection does not apply to an individual who buys commercial fish or their …