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DNR News Releases

Archive by tag: deer huntingReturn

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.

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.

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.

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.

For Iowa’s deer hunters, the wait is nearly over, shotgun deer seasons begin Dec. 3

• 11/15/2022 11:37:00 AM
• View Count 9673

Iowa’s most popular deer hunting seasons are just around the corner, when roughly 100,000 blaze orange clad hunters take to the timber and wildlife experts are forecasting another good year.

Apply now for Iowa nonresident deer tags

• 5/23/2022 3:17:00 PM
• View Count 3694

The Iowa nonresident deer hunting application period is currently open. Applications close June 5 at midnight, so there's still plenty of time to apply.

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

• 5/10/2022 1:55:00 PM
• View Count 2852

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.

Partnership aims to empower more Iowans to help slow the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease

• 10/19/2021 9:13:00 AM
• View Count 2221

Fall is upon us, which means more than 160,000 Iowans will soon be hitting the field for Iowa’s famed white-tailed deer hunting season. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) is once again asking hunters to help fight chronic wasting disease in the deer herd.

Iowa’s youth deer season begins September 18

• 9/14/2021 2:58:00 PM
• View Count 3105

The Iowa deer hunting tradition will be passed on to about 10,000 young hunters who are participating in the youth deer season, which opens on Sept. 18.

Deer hunters reminded to brush up on safe firearm handling, safety skills

• 12/8/2020 7:17:00 PM
• View Count 2840

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) responded to six incidents related to shotgun deer hunting over the weekend – five related to property damage and one minor injury.

Basic firearm rules are important for a safe hunt

• 11/18/2020 6:43:00 AM
• View Count 3526

The first of Iowa’s two shotgun deer seasons opens on Dec. 5, and while optimism for a successful hunt is the primary focus, hunters are encouraged to brush up on safe hunting practices.

Iowa’s archery deer hunting season begins Oct. 1

• 9/29/2020 1:02:00 PM
• View Count 6307

An estimated 60,000 hunters will be heading to the timber in the next few weeks as Iowa’s archery deer season gets underway Oct. 1. For hunters in the derecho corridor, this year will not be like seasons past.

Iowa’s youth deer season begins Sept. 19

• 9/15/2020 1:29:00 PM
• View Count 21286

The Iowa deer hunting tradition will be passed on to about 10,000 young hunters who are participating in the youth deer season, which opens on Sept. 19. This season is designed as a mentor-styled hunt, matching young hunters with a licensed adult to teach proper deer hunting techniques, wildlife behavior, and safe hunting practices without the added pressure of other hunters in the field. 

Iowa deer application opens May 2

• 4/23/2020 1:44:00 PM
• View Count 4058

The time to apply for your 2020 Iowa deer tags is less than two weeks away!

Basic firearm rules are important for a safe hunt

• 11/19/2019 2:07:00 PM
• View Count 5181

The first of Iowa’s two shotgun deer seasons opens on Dec. 7, and while optimism for a successful hunt is the primary focus, hunters are encouraged to brush up on safe hunting practices.

Iowa’s archery deer season begins Oct. 1

• 9/25/2018 4:38:00 PM
• View Count 12792

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

Bowhunters encouraged to practice the ABCs of tree stand safety

• 9/25/2018 4:37:00 PM
• View Count 3336

Tree stand accidents 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.

Iowa deer harvest tops 90,000

• 12/19/2017 1:20:00 PM
• View Count 10934

The 2017 Iowa deer harvest is running more than 5 percent ahead of the 2016 totals. So far this fall, 90,955 deer have been reported, compared to 86,506 for the same period last year.

Iowa’s archery deer hunting season opens October 1

• 9/26/2017 11:52:00 AM
• View Count 23943

The days are getting shorter, nights are getting cooler and treestands are being moved into place. For bow hunters, the long wait is nearly over. Iowa’s archery deer season begins Oct. 1.

Oct. 6-8 Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop now accepting registrations

• 7/25/2017 1:17:00 PM
• View Count 5093

Registration is now open for the Oct. 6-8 Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop at Dolliver Memorial State Park, near Otho.

2016 Iowa deer harvest tops 100,000

• 2/28/2017 12:49:00 PM
• View Count 10062

Deer hunters reported harvesting 101,397 deer during the 2016 Iowa deer hunting season, which is about 3,000 fewer than were reported in 2015, but nearly identical to the 2014 harvest.

Hunting tips for a more successful late muzzleloader season

• 12/28/2016 3:48:00 PM
• View Count 11614

The late muzzleloader season is in full swing. Here are a few tips to make your season more successful:

Deer Season Notes

• 12/7/2016 10:11:00 AM
• View Count 10620

Iowa hunters have reported harvesting nearly 54,000 deer through the first weekend of the first shotgun season. First shotgun deer season ends on Dec. 7.

Waterfowl refuges closed to any access until duck seasons end

• 12/2/2016 10:16:00 AM
• View Count 5359

Iowa waterfowl refuges are closed to all access until the day after duck season closes. This year the duck season closes later than previous years and the later season dates may impact some deer hunters who have hunted the areas in the past. 

Register your harvest

• 11/22/2016 1:59:00 PM
• View Count 13626

Your deer is down, tagged and on its way to the truck. Your harvest is not complete, though, until you register it; online, over the phone or at a license vendor.

Hunters use popular program to donate deer meat to Food Bank of Iowa

• 11/22/2016 1:57:00 PM
• View Count 12845

Have an extra deer at the end of the hunt? Maybe you bought an extra tag, to hunt longer? Consider donating to Iowa’s HUSH program. HUSH (Help Us Stop Hunger) works with 81 participating lockers to provide high quality meat to needy Iowans, through the Food Bank of Iowa. 

Don’t wait till the last minute to purchase shotgun deer season licenses

• 11/22/2016 1:53:00 PM
• View Count 14900

Hunters planning to participate in Iowa’s shotgun deer season are encouraged to purchase their licenses ahead of time to avoid long lines at the retailer.