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Hunting in Iowa

Iowa's Hunting Regulations

Hunting and Trapping Regulations

Requirements for Hunting Licensed Hunting Preserves in Iowa

All hunters hunting licensed hunting preserves must obtain an Iowa small game hunting license and habitat fee, or obtain the hunting preserve hunting license valid only on licensed preserves, and the habitat fee. Resident Iowa youth under the age of 16 are not required to have a license, but must be accompanied by a licensed adult 18 years of age or older. Non-resident youth under the age of 16 are required to possess a non-resident youth preserve license and habitat fee. The non-resident youth under 16 years of age are not required to have completed a hunter safety/education course.

All preserve game birds and game animals harvested on the licensed preserve must be properly tagged with transportation/kill tags as required by law. Hunting preserve operators are responsible for tagging the harvested game bird or animal before it is transported from the licensed preserve.

TIP HOTLINE

Turn In Poachers Hotline is 800-532-2020If you witness or hear of poaching activity call the TIP HOTLINE (800) 532-2020 or visit our site and report it immediately.

https://www.iowadnr.gov/tip

Combo Licenses

Adventure Ready, more information on combo licenses below

Bonus Line License
Resident and nonresident anglers can fish with one additional line (with the purchase of the annual fishing license, which allows two lines), for $14.

Outdoor Combo License 
Annual resident hunting/fishing/habitat combo license for $55.

Angler’s Special
Three-year fishing license for $62.

Hunter’s Special
Three-year hunting license with habitat included for $101.

Residents and nonresidents can also now purchase:  
  • Resident hunting/habitat combo license for $35.
  • Resident fur harvester/habitat (age 16 and over) combo license for $39.
  • Nonresident hunting/habitat (age 18 and over) annual for $144.
  • Nonresident hunting/habitat (under age 18) annual for $45.
  • Nonresident fur harvester/habitat annual for $247.
  • Nonresident fur dealer one day, one location for $294.50.
Buy your new license today online or at your Local License Retailer.

Recreational Licenses and Fees

** Any resident or nonresident born after January 1, 1972, must have completed an approved hunter education program in Iowa or another state to buy a hunting license. If your hunter education certification is not on your customer record, you need to show proof of hunter education when purchasing your license at a local vendor to complete the order.

Purchase Your License Online

 

 

List of Recreational Licenses and Fees, Iowa Resident Fishing
RESIDENT FISHING LICENSES Cost Purchase Online Online Delivery Point of Sale (POS)
Resident Fishing $22.00 Y Y Y
Angler's Special - 3 Year Fish $62.00 Y Y Y
Bonus Line - 3rd Fish Line $14.00 Y Y Y
Lifetime Fishing (65 years old & older) $61.50 Y Y Y
Lifetime Trout Fee (65 years old & older) $65.00 Y Y Y
Outdoor Combo - Hunting / Fishing / Habitat $55.00 Y Y Y
Resident Trout Fish Fee $14.50 Y Y Y
Resident 1-Day Fishing $10.50 Y Y Y
Resident 7-Day Fishing $15.50 Y Y Y
Resident Boundary Water Trotline $26.00 Y Y Y

 

List of Recreational Licenses and Fees, Nonresident Fishing
NONRESIDENT FISHING LICENSES Cost Purchase Online Online Delivery Point of Sale (POS)
Nonresident Fishing $48.00 Y Y Y
Bonus Line - 3rd Fish Line $14.00 Y Y Y
Nonresident Trout Fish Fee $17.50 Y Y Y
Nonresident 1-Day Fishing $12.00 Y Y Y
Nonresident 3-Day Fishing $20.50 Y Y Y
Nonresident 7-Day Fishing $37.50 Y Y Y
Nonresident Boundary Water Trotline $49.50 Y Y Y
List of Recreational Licenses and Fees
RESIDENT HUNTING & TRAPPING LICENSES Cost Purchase Online Online Delivery Point of Sale (POS)
Resident Hunting ** $22.00 Y Y Y
Lifetime Hunting ** $61.50 Y Y Y
Resident Hunting / Habitat $35.00 Y Y Y
Resident Apprentice License *** $35.00 Y Y Y
Resident Fur Harvest 16+ $26.00 Y Y Y
Resident Fur Harvest <16> $7.50 Y Y Y
Hunter's Special** - 3yr Hunting / Habitat $101.00 Y Y Y
Outdoor Combo** - Hunting / Fishing / Habitat $55.00 Y Y Y
Resident Fur Harvester / Habitat 16+ $39.00 Y Y Y
Resident Migratory Bird Fee $11.50 Y Y Y
Resident Habitat Fee $15.00 Y Y Y

*** The Resident Apprentice License was introduced in 2016. For more information please refer to the Hunting Regulations Booklet.

 
Resident Deer Hunting Licenses
RESIDENT DEER HUNTING LICENSES Cost Purchase Online Online Delivery Point of Sale (POS)
Resident Any-Sex Tags $33.00 Y N Y
Resident 1st Antlerless Tag $28.50 Y N Y
Resident Additional Antlerless $15.00 Y N Y
Resident Landowner / Tenant Any-Sex $2.00 Y N Y
Resident Landowner / Tenant Doe Tag $2.00 Y N Y
Resident Landowner / Tenant Additional Doe Tags =2 $15.00ea Y N Y
List of Recreational Licenses and Fees
RESIDENT TURKEY HUNTING LICENSES Cost Purchase Online Online Delivery Point of Sale (POS)
Resident Turkey Tags $28.50 Y N Y
Resident Landowner / Tenant Turkey $1.00 Y N Y
Nonresident Hunting and Trapping Licenses
NONRESIDENT HUNTING & TRAPPING Cost Purchase Online Online Delivery Point of Sale (POS)
Nonresident Hunting / Habitat 18+ ** $144.00 Y Y Y
Nonresident Hunting / Habitat <18 ** $45.00 Y Y Y
Nonresident Apprentice License *** $144.00 Y Y Y
Nonresident 5-day Hunting 18+ (not applicable to deer or turkey seasons) $77.00 Y Y Y
Nonresident 5-day Hunting/Habitat 18+ (not applicable to deer or turkey seasons) $90.00 Y Y Y
Nonresident Migratory Bird Fee $11.50 Y Y Y
Nonresident Fur Harvester / Habitat $247.00 Y Y Y
Nonresident Fur Dealer 1 Day Only $294.50 Y Y Y
Nonresident Fur Dealer $588.50 Y Y Y
Nonresident Buck Tag ( Pending Lottery Results) $348.50 Y N N
Nonresident Mandatory Antlerless $149.50 Y N N
Nonresident Antlerless by County $266.50 Y N N
Nonresident Holiday Tag $91.00 N N Y
Nonresident Preference Point $60.50 Y Y N
Nonresident Landowner Tag $266.50 Y N N
Nonresident Turkey Tags ( Pending Lottery Results) $119.00 Y N N

*** The Nonresident Apprentice License was introduced in 2016 and may not be used for deer or turkey hunting. For more information please refer to the Hunting Regulations Booklet.

Recreational Vehicle Permits
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PERMITS Cost Purchase Online Online Delivery Point of Sale (POS)
Resident Snow User Permit $17.75 Y N Y
Nonresident OHV User Permit $17.50 Y N Y
Nonresident Snow User Permit $17.50 Y N Y
Other Licenses and Products
  Cost Purchase Online Online Delivery Point of Sale (POS)
1 Year Iowa Outdoors Magazine $15.00 Y N Y
2 Year Iowa Outdoors Magazine $24.00 Y N Y
3 Year Iowa Outdoors Magazine $30.00 Y N Y
Ginseng Harvest $37.00 Y Y Y
Nonresident Ginseng Harvest $67.00 Y Y Y
Nonresident Falconry $28.00 Y Y Y
Resident Taxidermy $20.00 Y Y Y
Deer Book $12.00 Y N N
Retail Bait Dealer $38.00 Y Y Y
Replacement / Duplicates $4.50 Y Y Y

 

 

Dog Trials

The Iowa DNR is required to authorize a club or individual to hold an organized dog trial (e.g. bird dog, retriever, coon dog, fox hound) within the state, regardless of whether the event is held on public or private ground.

At least 30 days before the scheduled date of the dog trial, an application must be filed with the DNR using the Special Events web-based application found at  https://programs.iowadnr.gov/specialevents/.

For more information, contact your local conservation officer or wildlife management biologist.