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DNR News Releases

Archive by tag: HuntingReturn

2024 Iowa deer hunting off to a good start

• 10/15/2024 1:13:00 PM
• View Count 6623

Despite warm weather persisting in much of the state, roughly 6,000 deer have been registered so far through the youth and disabled hunter seasons, and the opening of the archery and early muzzleloader seasons, which is slightly higher than both last year and the five-year average.

Iowa’s much anticipated pheasant season opens Oct. 26

• 10/15/2024 1:11:00 PM
• View Count 5335

Success during the 2023 pheasant season has Iowa hunters eagerly awaiting this year’s opening day and with bird population estimates similar to two years ago, hunters are expecting another great fall afield.

Iowa’s statewide teal only season begins Sept. 1

• 8/20/2024 3:39:00 PM
• View Count 5030

“Teal are often abundant this time of year and not wary, they will come in to decoys and be accessible to hunters,” said Orrin Jones, state waterfowl biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Iowa’s dove season begins Sept. 1

• 8/20/2024 3:34:00 PM
• View Count 6570

Iowa’s sunflower and wheat fields will be popular places on Sept. 1, when thousands of hunters slip into the standing flowers and field edges in the early morning darkness for the opening day of dove hunting season.

2023 saw Iowa’s best pheasant harvest in 16 years

• 8/20/2024 3:28:00 PM
• View Count 5031

Iowa’s pheasant hunters bagged more than 590,000 roosters last fall, the most since 2007. The 62 percent increase in harvest was due to a strong population of pheasants and to a 32 percent increase in the number of pheasant hunters.

Iowa pheasant population survey begins Aug. 1

• 7/30/2024 1:57:00 PM
• View Count 5919

Pheasant hunters across the northern half of Iowa had an excellent season last year, and many are looking forward to what 2024 has in store.

Changes to note ahead of Iowa's hunting seasons

• 6/24/2024 4:08:00 PM
• View Count 12348

Hunters will notice a few regulation changes for the upcoming 2024-2025 hunting seasons. These changes could impact deer hunters, waterfowl hunters and furharvesters.

2024 spring turkey season was one for the record books

• 5/14/2024 12:21:00 PM
• View Count 2597

The final segment of Iowa’s spring turkey hunting season closed Sunday, ending the spring season with a record harvest of 16,059 birds reported, surpassing the 2023 record harvest of 14,843.

As other seasons close, hunters turn attention to coyotes

• 2/6/2024 12:01:00 PM
• View Count 5958

Coyote hunting moves to center stage for an estimated 10,000 hunters, after most of Iowa’s other hunting seasons have now closed.

DNR sets public meetings to recap hunting, trapping seasons, discuss possible rule changes

• 1/30/2024 11:42:00 AM
• View Count 5317

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting and trapping rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested.

2023 hunting, fishing, trapping license sales

• 1/16/2024 3:23:00 PM
• View Count 4536

In 2023, Iowa residents purchased…

Learn to Hunt program opens registration for Field To Fork deer hunting program

• 1/16/2024 3:16:00 PM
• View Count 4086

DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a six-month workshop to teach skills needed to hunt, field dress and cook white-tailed deer to individuals who have little to no archery hunting experience.

Last chance to hunt deer until fall

• 1/11/2024 5:02:00 PM
• View Count 4064

Iowa’s final deer seasons are now open - the Population Management January Antlerless Season and the Excess Tag January Antlerless Season.

DNR sets public meetings to recap hunting, trapping seasons, discuss possible rule changes

• 1/9/2024 3:31:00 PM
• View Count 3611

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting and trapping rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested.

Outdoor Notes

• 1/2/2024 12:01:00 PM
• View Count 3384

Hunting seasons will begin closing soon in early January. Pheasant, archery turkey and deer seasons, and late muzzleloader deer season close on Jan. 10. Goose seasons start closing first in the north zone on Jan. 13, followed by the central zone on Jan. 20, and the south zone on Jan. 27.

Hunters encouraged to discuss hunting plan, safety after weekend hunting incidents

• 12/12/2023 11:57:00 AM
• View Count 4178

The opening weekend of Iowa’s second gun deer season saw another 50,000-plus hunters’ enjoying time in the timber in pursuit of legendary whitetails. Unfortunately, there were three hunting incidents that serve as a reminder for hunters to review safety measures before heading out.

2024 hunting, fishing licenses on sale Dec. 15

• 12/5/2023 11:51:00 AM
• View Count 8246

Iowans can buy 2024 resident hunting, fishing and other licenses on Dec. 15. Licenses purchased for 2023 expire on Jan. 10.

First of Iowa’s popular gun deer hunting seasons opens Dec. 2

• 11/21/2023 11:45:00 AM
• View Count 7841

Iowa’s most popular hunting seasons are less than two weeks away when more than 100,000 blaze orange clad hunters will be walking, posting, sitting and standing in Iowa’s timber and field edges hoping to tag an Iowa deer. The first deer gun season is Dec. 2-6; the second deer gun season is Dec. 9-17.

Illinois man fatally shot while waterfowl hunting on Saturday

• 11/13/2023 2:37:00 PM
• View Count 4861

PANORA - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating a fatal hunting incident that occurred Saturday in Guthrie County.

Iowa’s furharvest season began Nov. 4

• 11/7/2023 11:54:00 AM
• View Count 4748

Iowa trappers can expect to find good numbers of furbearers statewide during the 2023-24 season, that began on Nov. 4.

Anticipation is high for Iowa’s 2023 pheasant season

• 10/24/2023 1:24:00 PM
• View Count 9826

Iowa’s pheasant population is up, the crop harvest is advancing quickly and the weekend weather forecast is setting up for an excellent opening weekend for Iowa’s pheasant season.

Think safety before opening day

• 10/24/2023 1:23:00 PM
• View Count 4980

Hunters heading to the field for the opening weekend of pheasant season are encouraged to review safe hunting practices before they head out.

Spirit Lake man identified as victim of Saturday’s hunting incident

• 10/23/2023 1:18:00 PM
• View Count 6757

MILFORD - Joseph Salmon, 18, of Spirit Lake, was injured Saturday morning while waterfowl hunting along the shore of a slough at the Spring Run Wildlife Area, in Dickinson County.

Waterfowl hunting incident under investigation in Dickinson County

• 10/21/2023 1:30:00 PM
• View Count 5051

MILFORD - The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating a hunting incident that occurred this morning in Dickinson County.

Iowa’s youth enjoy special pheasant season Oct. 21-22

• 10/17/2023 11:48:00 AM
• View Count 5051

Iowa’s young hunters will get to experience the first cackle and flush of the year during the youth only pheasant season, Oct. 21-22.

Hardin County man fatally shot while coyote hunting

• 10/9/2023 12:41:00 PM
• View Count 8749

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating a fatal hunting incident that occurred Sunday night in northern Hardin County.

Iowa’s archery deer hunting season began Oct. 1

• 10/3/2023 12:43:00 PM
• View Count 5175

An estimated 60,000 hunters will be heading to the timber in the next few months with Iowa’s archery deer season underway Oct. 1.

Bowhunters encouraged to practice the ABCs of tree stand safety

• 9/26/2023 12:58:00 PM
• View Count 3756

Tree stand incidents can happen to deer hunters regardless of skill level or experience and result in serious injury or even death. Unfortunately, in nearly every case, these incidents were preventable.

Learn to Hunt program opens registration for rabbit workshop

• 9/5/2023 1:09:00 PM
• View Count 5111

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a program to teach skills needed to hunt, field dress and cook rabbits to youth and adults who have little to no small game hunting experience.

Learn to Hunt program opens registration for women’s upland bird hunting workshop and mentored hunt

• 9/5/2023 1:06:00 PM
• View Count 3049

DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a comprehensive program on hunting upland game for women who have little or no upland bird hunting experience or who are looking to return to the field and build a network of female upland hunters.

Iowa’s rabbit, squirrel season opens Sept. 2

• 8/29/2023 2:23:00 PM
• View Count 4077

The good news for Iowa’s cottontail rabbit hunters is that Iowa has an abundant rabbit population, with the south-central part of the state seeing the best overall numbers. The better news for hunters is Iowa’s cottontail rabbit season begins Sept. 2 statewide.

Iowa’s dove season begins Sept. 1

• 8/29/2023 2:11:00 PM
• View Count 4861

Iowa’s sunflower and wheat fields will be popular places on Sept. 1, when thousands of hunters slip into the standing flowers and field edges in the early morning darkness for the opening day of dove hunting season.

Iowa’s teal-only hunting season opens Sept. 1

• 8/29/2023 2:02:00 PM
• View Count 4318

Iowa’s 16-day teal only hunting season begins statewide Sept. 1, offering hunters an opportunity to enjoy Iowa’s wetlands and shallow lakes during the mild late summer weather.

Big Creek Wildlife Area is hidden in plain sight

• 8/9/2023 7:30:00 AM
• View Count 4314

Often overlooked for its similarly named state park or mistaken for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sprawling Saylorville Wildlife Area, Big Creek Wildlife Area is roughly 3,100-acre, one stop outdoor shop just 10 minutes from Ankeny.

DNR seeks comment on proposed license regulations and docks administrative rule revisions

• 7/13/2023 3:17:00 PM
• View Count 3209

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking informal comments on administrative rules for  Private, Commercial and Public Docks (Chapter 16) and General Licenses for hunting, fishing and trapping license regulations (Chapter 15).

Iowa’s spring turkey season is one for the books

• 5/16/2023 1:47:00 PM
• View Count 3537

Despite a rainy cold closing weekend across much of state, Iowa’s wild turkey hunters reported harvesting more than 14,800 birds through the mandatory registration system, an increase of nearly 3,000 versus the 2022 harvest.

New veterans hunting, fishing licenses available April 12

• 4/12/2023 1:24:00 PM
• View Count 17034

The new Armed Forces Hunting and Fishing licenses are now available to residents of Iowa who served in the armed forces of the United States on federal active duty. The new annual fishing license, or hunting and fishing combo license, is $5, with a $2 processing fee.

Iowa DNR cancels public meetings in Ventura, Algona and Okoboji due to weather

• 2/22/2023 12:33:00 PM
• View Count 4985

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is cancelling public meetings planned tonight in Ventura, Algona and Okoboji due to inclement weather. The meetings will not be rescheduled.

DNR annual public meetings recapping hunting, trapping seasons, and possible rule changes begin next week

• 2/17/2023 9:05:00 AM
• View Count 6391

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes, and address other topics as requested.

2022 hunting, fishing license sales

• 2/7/2023 8:13:00 PM
• View Count 7688

In 2022, Iowa residents purchased…

DNR finalizes public meeting locations to recap hunting, trapping seasons, discuss possible rule changes

• 2/7/2023 8:04:00 PM
• View Count 6355

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes, and address other topics as requested.

Iowa DNR accepting comments on proposed new armed forces fishing licenses

• 12/20/2022 11:58:00 AM
• View Count 9264

DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on the proposed new armed forces fishing licenses, through Jan. 24.

Iowa’s late muzzleloader deer season is underway; hunters provide 4,600 deer samples for chronic wasting disease testing

• 12/20/2022 11:55:00 AM
• View Count 10936

With Iowa’s shotgun deer seasons in the rearview mirror, hunting deer returns to a more solidary experience with late muzzleloader season and the reopening of the archery season.

2023 hunting, fishing licenses on sale Dec. 15

• 12/6/2022 9:14:00 PM
• View Count 9511

Iowans can begin buying 2023 resident hunting, fishing and other licenses on Dec. 15.  Licenses purchased for 2022 expire on Jan. 10, 2023.

Four states partner in Operation Early Birds waterfowl hunting enforcement project

• 11/22/2022 11:36:00 AM
• View Count 4769

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) joined its fellow agencies in Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska on a joint project to check waterfowl regulations compliance over a 36-hour period from the evening on Nov. 4 to the morning on Nov. 6.

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