Iowa 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Iowa's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Dec 5-9, 2026.
Archery, Early Split White-tailed Deer opens Oct 1, 2026 and closes Dec 4, 2026.
General Split 1 Goose opens Sep 26, 2026 and closes Oct 11, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Iowa DNR.
- firearm deer
- Dec 5-9, 2026
- archery deer
- Oct 1-Dec 4, 2026
- waterfowl
- Sep 26-Oct 11, 2026
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Key seasons by species
How to read Iowa's seasons
Shotgun seasons and limited nonresident tags define it
Iowa's deer calendar centers on its split shotgun seasons alongside archery, muzzleloader, and youth windows. Nonresident tags are capped and drawn, so out-of-state hunters should track the draw as closely as the dates.
Confirm season segments, zone rules, and tag quotas with the official Iowa DNR source before planning.
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Iowa DNR before hunting.
New 2026-27
federal openings
in Iowa
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened or expanded hunting and fishing access at 5 stations in Iowa. The final rule took effect August 31, 2026.
- IA · NWR
Driftless Area NWR
IowaMIGRATORY BIRD: OPEN + EXPANDUPLAND GAME: OPEN + EXPANDBIG GAME: EXPANSION - IA · NWR
Neal Smith NWR
IowaMIGRATORY BIRD: OPEN + EXPANDUPLAND GAME: OPEN + EXPANDBIG GAME: EXPANSIONFISHING: NEW STATION - IA · MN · NWRCA
Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWRCA
Iowa / MinnesotaMIGRATORY BIRD: OPEN + EXPANDUPLAND GAME: OPEN + EXPANDBIG GAME: EXPANSIONFISHING: EXPANSION - IA · IL · NWR
Port Louisa NWR
Iowa / IllinoisMIGRATORY BIRD: OPENINGUPLAND GAME: OPEN + EXPANDBIG GAME: OPENING - IA · NWR
Union Slough NWR
IowaMIGRATORY BIRD: OPENINGUPLAND GAME: OPENING
Deer
18 listed rowsWhite-tailed Deer
Archery, Early Split
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Archery Early Split
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader Early
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Early Muzzleloader
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Firearm Shotgun 1
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Shotgun 1
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Shotgun 2
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Firearm Shotgun 2
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Archery, Late Split
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader Late
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Late Muzzleloader
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Archery Late Split
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed DeerYouth2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset. | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerDisabled Hunter2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset. | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerNonresident Holiday2026/27 season. Nonresident only. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerPopulation Mgmt. January Antlerless2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerPopulation Management January Antlerless2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerExcess Tag January Antlerless2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset. | Upcoming |
Turkey
18 listed rowsWild Turkey
Fall Archery
Fall 2026 season. Resident archery-only licenses. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
Wild Turkey
Fall - Resident Archery-only
Fall 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset
Wild Turkey
Fall Combination Gun/Bow
Fall 2026 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Wild Turkey
Fall - Combination Gun/Bow
Fall 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Wild Turkey
Fall - Resident Archery-only, Late Split
Fall 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset
Wild Turkey
Fall Archery Late Split
Fall 2026 season. Resident archery-only licenses. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
Wild Turkey
Spring Youth
Spring 2026 season. Residents only. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Wild Turkey
Spring - Youth (Residents Only)
Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Wild Turkey
Spring - Resident Archery-only
Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Wild Turkey
Spring Archery
Spring 2026 season. Resident archery-only licenses. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Wild Turkey
Spring - Combination Gun/Bow, Season 1
Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Wild Turkey
Spring Combination Gun/Bow Season 1
Spring 2026 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wild TurkeySpring - Combination Gun/Bow, Season 2Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset | Closed | |
| Wild TurkeySpring Combination Gun/Bow Season 2Spring 2026 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset. | Closed | |
| Wild TurkeySpring Combination Gun/Bow Season 3Spring 2026 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset. | Closed | |
| Wild TurkeySpring - Combination Gun/Bow, Season 3Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset | Closed | |
| Wild TurkeySpring Combination Gun/Bow Season 4Spring 2026 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset. | Closed | |
| Wild TurkeySpring - Combination Gun/Bow, Season 4Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset | Closed |
Waterfowl
31 listed rowsDuck
General Split 1
2026/27 season. First split.
Zone: North Zone
Ducks
General
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons; two splits: Oct. 3-9 and Oct. 17-Dec. 8
Zone: North Zone
Geese
General
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons; three splits: Sep. 26-Oct. 11, Oct. 17-Dec. 8, Dec. 12-Jan. 9
Zone: North Zone
Geese
General
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons; three splits: Oct. 3-18, Oct. 24-Dec. 15, Dec. 19-Jan. 16
Zone: Central Zone
Goose
General Split 1
2026/27 season. First split.
Zone: North Zone
Goose
General Split 1
2026/27 season. First split.
Zone: Central Zone
Duck
General Split 1
2026/27 season. First split.
Zone: Central Zone
Ducks
General
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons; two splits: Oct. 10-16 and Oct. 24-Dec. 15
Zone: Central Zone
Geese
General
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons; three splits: Oct. 10-25, Oct. 31-Dec. 22, Dec. 26-Jan. 23
Zone: South Zone
Goose
General Split 1
2026/27 season. First split.
Zone: South Zone
Waterfowl
Youth Waterfowl
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons
Zone: South Zone
Waterfowl (Duck/Goose)
Youth Waterfowl
2026/27 season.
Zone: South Zone
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Canada GooseMetropolitan Canada Goose · Specified Metropolitan Areas2026/27; Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Des Moines, and Waterloo/Cedar Falls zones; additional regulations apply | Closed | |
| Canada GooseMetropolitan Canada Goose · Specified metropolitan areas (Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Des Moines, Waterloo/Cedar Falls)2026/27 season. Additional regulations apply. Specified areas only. | Closed | |
| DuckGeneral Split 2 · North Zone2026/27 season. Second split. | Upcoming | |
| DuckGeneral Split 1 · South Zone2026/27 season. First split. | Upcoming | |
| DuckGeneral Split 2 · Central Zone2026/27 season. Second split. | Upcoming | |
| DuckGeneral Split 2 · South Zone2026/27 season. Second split. | Upcoming | |
| DucksGeneral · South Zone2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons; two splits: Oct. 17-23 and Oct. 31-Dec. 22 | Upcoming | |
| GooseGeneral Split 2 · North Zone2026/27 season. Second split. | Upcoming | |
| GooseGeneral Split 2 · Central Zone2026/27 season. Second split. | Upcoming | |
| GooseGeneral Split 2 · South Zone2026/27 season. Second split. | Upcoming | |
| GooseGeneral Split 3 · North Zone2026/27 season. Third split. | Upcoming | |
| GooseGeneral Split 3 · Central Zone2026/27 season. Third split. | Upcoming | |
| GooseGeneral Split 3 · South Zone2026/27 season. Third split. | Upcoming | |
| Light GooseConservation Order · Statewide2026/27 season. Light Goose Conservation Order. Additional regulations apply. | Upcoming | |
| TealSpecial September Teal · Statewide2026/27 season. Statewide. | Closed | |
| WaterfowlYouth Waterfowl · North Zone2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons | Closed | |
| WaterfowlYouth Waterfowl · Central Zone2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons | Closed | |
| Waterfowl (Duck/Goose)Youth Waterfowl · North Zone2026/27 season. | Closed | |
| Waterfowl (Duck/Goose)Youth Waterfowl · Central Zone2026/27 season. | Closed |
Dove
Mourning Dove
General
2026/27 season. Statewide.
Zone: Statewide
Pheasant
Rooster Pheasant
Youth
2025/26 season. Shooting hours: 8am - 4:30pm.
Rooster Pheasant
General
2025/26 season. Shooting hours: 8am - 4:30pm.
Quail
Bobwhite Quail
General
2025/26 season. Shooting hours: 8am - 4:30pm.
Grouse
Gray Partridge
General
2025/26 season. Shooting hours: 8am - 4:30pm.
Ruffed Grouse
General
2025/26 season. Shooting hours: sunrise to sunset.
Rabbit
Cottontail Rabbit
General
2025/26 season. Shooting hours: sunrise to sunset.
Jack Rabbit
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
2025/26 season. Season is closed.
Squirrel
Fox & Gray Squirrel
General
2025/26 season. No shooting hour restrictions.
Furbearer
14 listed rowsBeaver
Trapping
2025/26 season. Trapping season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Beaver
Hunting
2025/26 season. Hunting season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Bobcat, Otter
Trapping
2025/26 season. Trapping season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Bobcat, Otter
Hunting
2025/26 season. Hunting season. Hunters must have furharvester license and pay habitat fee to harvest bobcats. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Coyote, Mink, Muskrat, Weasel, Striped Skunk, Badger, Opossum, Fox (Red and Gray)
Trapping
2025/26 season. Trapping season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Opossum, Badger, Mink, Striped Skunk, Muskrat, Fox (Red and Gray), Weasel
Hunting
2025/26 season. Hunting season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Raccoon
Trapping - Private Land
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
2025/26 Furbearer Trapping; Continuous open season
Zone: Private Land
Raccoon
Trapping
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
2025/26 season. Trapping season. Continuous open season. No restrictions.
Zone: Private land
Raccoon
Hunting - Private Land
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
2025/26 Furbearer Hunting; Continuous open season
Zone: Private Land
Raccoon
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
2025/26 season. Hunting season. Continuous open season. No shooting hour restrictions.
Zone: Private land
Raccoon
Hunting - Public Land
2025/26 Furbearer Hunting; 8am on first day
Zone: Public Land
Raccoon
Hunting
2025/26 season. Hunting season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Zone: Public land
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| RaccoonTrapping - Public Land · Public Land2025/26 Furbearer Trapping; 8am on first day | Closed | |
| RaccoonTrapping · Public land2025/26 season. Trapping season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day. | Closed |
Small Game
Groundhog
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
2025/26 season. Continuous open season. No shooting hour restrictions.
Migratory Birds
Rail
General
2026/27 season. Statewide.
Zone: Statewide
Snipe
General
2026/27 season. Statewide.
Zone: Statewide
Woodcock
General
2026/27 season. Statewide.
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Coyote
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
2025/26 Furbearer Hunting; Continuous open season
Coyote
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
2025/26 season. Continuous open season. No shooting hour restrictions. Listed under both Small Game and Furbearer sections.
Other
Crow
General
2025/26 season listing; dates are Oct 15 - Nov 30, 2026. No shooting hour restrictions.
Crow
General
2025/26 season. No shooting hour restrictions.
Groundhog
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
2025/26 Small & Upland Game; Continuous open season
Pigeon
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
2025/26 season. Continuous open season. No shooting hour restrictions.
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Iowa Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Iowa?
October 1, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for Iowa; it is archery, early split white-tailed deer Oct 1-Dec 4, 2026.
When is Iowa's firearm deer season?
Dec 5-9, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for Iowa. Check zone and permit details with Iowa DNR before hunting.
Do I need a license to hunt in Iowa?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Iowa hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Iowa DNR.
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