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Iowa Hunting Season Dates 2026–27

Season openers, closers, and tag requirements by species. Always confirm against Iowa Dept of Natural Resources before you hunt. Dates can change.

License: resident $22 · nonresident $131. Species tags and permits are extra. See each section below.

White-tailed Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
YouthSep 19, 2026Oct 4, 2026Youth Deer License + Tag
Disabled HunterSep 19, 2026Oct 4, 2026Disabled Hunter Deer License + Tag
Archery (early split)Oct 1, 2026Dec 4, 2026Deer License + Tag
Archery (late split)Dec 21, 2026Jan 10, 2027Deer License + Tag
Early MuzzleloaderOct 17, 2026Oct 25, 2026Deer License + Tag
Late MuzzleloaderDec 21, 2026Jan 10, 2027Deer License + Tag
Regular Gun (Shotgun 1)Dec 5, 2026Dec 9, 2026Deer License + Tag
Regular Gun (Shotgun 2)Dec 12, 2026Dec 20, 2026Deer License + Tag
Nonresident HolidayDec 24, 2026Jan 2, 2027Nonresident Holiday Deer License + Tag
Population Management January AntlerlessJan 11, 2027Jan 24, 2027Population Management Antlerless License
Excess Tag January AntlerlessJan 11, 2027Jan 24, 2027Excess Antlerless Tag

Wild Turkey Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Fall Combination Gun/BowOct 12, 2026Dec 4, 2026Fall Turkey License + Tag
Fall Resident Archery-only (first split)Oct 1, 2026Dec 4, 2026Resident Archery-only Fall Turkey License + Tag
Fall Resident Archery-only (second split)Dec 21, 2026Jan 10, 2027Resident Archery-only Fall Turkey License + Tag
Spring Youth (residents only)Apr 9, 2027Apr 11, 2027Youth Spring Turkey License + Tag
Spring Combination Gun/Bow, Season 1Apr 12, 2027Apr 15, 2027Spring Turkey License + Tag
Spring Combination Gun/Bow, Season 2Apr 16, 2027Apr 20, 2027Spring Turkey License + Tag
Spring Combination Gun/Bow, Season 3Apr 21, 2027Apr 27, 2027Spring Turkey License + Tag
Spring Combination Gun/Bow, Season 4Apr 28, 2027May 16, 2027Spring Turkey License + Tag
Spring Resident Archery-onlyApr 12, 2027May 16, 2027Resident Archery-only Spring Turkey License + Tag

Badger Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee
TrappingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

Beaver Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 7, 2026Apr 15, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee
TrappingNov 7, 2026Apr 15, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

Bobcat Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee (a regular hunting license is NOT sufficient)
TrappingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

Coyote Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Hunting - continuous open season (bounded by the Iowa license year for representation only)Jan 11, 2026Jan 10, 2027Hunting License + Habitat Fee
TrappingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

Crow Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (first segment)Oct 15, 2026Nov 30, 2026Hunting License + Habitat Fee
Regular (second segment)Jan 14, 2027Mar 31, 2027Hunting License + Habitat Fee

Mourning Dove Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (single statewide segment)Sep 1, 2026Nov 29, 2026Hunting License + Habitat Fee + HIP Registration

Fox (Red and Gray) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee
TrappingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

Groundhog (Woodchuck) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Continuous open season (bounded by the Iowa license year for representation only)Jan 11, 2026Jan 10, 2027Hunting License + Habitat Fee

Ruffed Grouse Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularOct 3, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Habitat Fee

Mink Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee
TrappingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

Muskrat Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee
TrappingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

Opossum Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee
TrappingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

River Otter Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee
TrappingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

Gray (Hungarian) Partridge Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularOct 10, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Habitat Fee

Ring-necked Pheasant Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth Rooster PheasantOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Youth License + Habitat Fee
Regular Rooster PheasantOct 31, 2026Jan 10, 2027Hunting License + Habitat Fee

Pigeon (Rock Dove) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Continuous open season (bounded by the Iowa license year for representation only)Jan 11, 2026Jan 10, 2027Hunting License + Habitat Fee

Northern Bobwhite Quail Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularOct 31, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Habitat Fee

Cottontail Rabbit Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 5, 2026Feb 28, 2027Hunting License + Habitat Fee

Raccoon Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Private land - continuous open season (bounded by the Iowa license year for representation only)Jan 11, 2026Jan 10, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee
Public land - huntingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee
Public land - trappingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

Rails (Virginia and Sora) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (statewide)Sep 5, 2026Nov 13, 2026License + Habitat Fee + HIP Registration

Striped Skunk Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee
TrappingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

Wilson's Snipe Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (statewide)Sep 5, 2026Nov 30, 2026License + Habitat Fee + HIP Registration

Squirrel (Fox and Gray) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 5, 2026Jan 31, 2027Hunting License + Habitat Fee

Ducks, Coots, Mergansers and Geese Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Special September Teal (statewide)Sep 5, 2026Sep 13, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Youth Waterfowl - North Zone: North Waterfowl ZoneSep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026Youth License + Federal Duck Stamp if 16 or older
Youth Waterfowl - Central Zone: Central Waterfowl ZoneOct 3, 2026Oct 4, 2026Youth License + Federal Duck Stamp if 16 or older
Youth Waterfowl - South Zone: South Waterfowl ZoneOct 10, 2026Oct 11, 2026Youth License + Federal Duck Stamp if 16 or older
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers (first segment) - North Zone: North Waterfowl ZoneOct 3, 2026Oct 9, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers (second segment) - North Zone: North Waterfowl ZoneOct 17, 2026Dec 8, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers (first segment) - Central Zone: Central Waterfowl ZoneOct 10, 2026Oct 16, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers (second segment) - Central Zone: Central Waterfowl ZoneOct 24, 2026Dec 15, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers (first segment) - South Zone: South Waterfowl ZoneOct 17, 2026Oct 23, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers (second segment) - South Zone: South Waterfowl ZoneOct 31, 2026Dec 22, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Dark and Light Geese (first segment) - North Zone: North Waterfowl ZoneSep 26, 2026Oct 11, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Dark and Light Geese (second segment) - North Zone: North Waterfowl ZoneOct 17, 2026Dec 8, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Dark and Light Geese (third segment) - North Zone: North Waterfowl ZoneDec 12, 2026Jan 9, 2027License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Dark and Light Geese (first segment) - Central Zone: Central Waterfowl ZoneOct 3, 2026Oct 18, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Dark and Light Geese (second segment) - Central Zone: Central Waterfowl ZoneOct 24, 2026Dec 15, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Dark and Light Geese (third segment) - Central Zone: Central Waterfowl ZoneDec 19, 2026Jan 16, 2027License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Dark and Light Geese (first segment) - South Zone: South Waterfowl ZoneOct 10, 2026Oct 25, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Dark and Light Geese (second segment) - South Zone: South Waterfowl ZoneOct 31, 2026Dec 22, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Dark and Light Geese (third segment) - South Zone: South Waterfowl ZoneDec 26, 2026Jan 23, 2027License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Metropolitan Canada Goose: Metropolitan Canada Goose ZonesSep 12, 2026Sep 20, 2026License + Habitat Fee + State Waterfowl Stamp + Federal Duck Stamp + HIP
Light Goose Conservation OrderJan 24, 2027May 1, 2027Light Goose Conservation Order regulations apply; additional regulations apply

Weasel Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee
TrappingNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027Furharvester License + Habitat Fee

American Woodcock Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (statewide)Oct 3, 2026Nov 16, 2026License + Habitat Fee + HIP Registration
Verify before you hunt. These dates are compiled for planning and can change between when they're published and when the season opens, and many states vary dates by unit, zone, or WMU. Always confirm with Iowa Dept of Natural Resources before heading out. Nothing here is legal advice.
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