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.
Metropolitan Canada Goose Canada Goose opens Sep 12, 2026 and closes Sep 20, 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 12-20, 2026
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Key seasons by species
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.
Proposed 2026-27
federal openings
in Iowa
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing hunting and fishing access changes at 5 stations in Iowa. Public comment closes June 26, 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
Disabled Hunter
Sep 19-Oct 4, 2026
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Youth
Sep 19-Oct 4, 2026
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Archery Early Split
Oct 1-Dec 4, 2026
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Archery, Early Split
Oct 1-Dec 4, 2026
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Early Muzzleloader
Oct 17-25, 2026
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader Early
Oct 17-25, 2026
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Shotgun 1
Dec 5-9, 2026
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Firearm Shotgun 1
Dec 5-9, 2026
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Firearm Shotgun 2
Dec 12-20, 2026
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Shotgun 2
Dec 12-20, 2026
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Archery, Late Split
Dec 21, 2026-Jan 10, 2027
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Archery Late Split
Dec 21, 2026-Jan 10, 2027
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
Show 6 more deer rows
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader Late
Dec 21, 2026-Jan 10, 2027
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Late Muzzleloader
Dec 21, 2026-Jan 10, 2027
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Nonresident Holiday
Dec 24, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
2026/27 season. Nonresident only. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Population Mgmt. January Antlerless
Jan 11-24, 2027
2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Population Management January Antlerless
Jan 11-24, 2027
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
White-tailed Deer
Excess Tag January Antlerless
Jan 11-24, 2027
2026/27 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
Turkey
18 listed rowsWild Turkey
Spring Youth
Apr 10-12, 2026
Spring 2026 season. Residents only. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Wild Turkey
Spring - Youth (Residents Only)
Apr 10-12, 2026
Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Wild Turkey
Spring Combination Gun/Bow Season 1
Apr 13-16, 2026
Spring 2026 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Wild Turkey
Spring Archery
Apr 13-May 17, 2026
Spring 2026 season. Resident archery-only licenses. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Wild Turkey
Spring - Combination Gun/Bow, Season 1
Apr 13-16, 2026
Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Wild Turkey
Spring - Resident Archery-only
Apr 13-May 17, 2026
Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Wild Turkey
Spring - Combination Gun/Bow, Season 2
Apr 17-21, 2026
Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Wild Turkey
Spring Combination Gun/Bow Season 2
Apr 17-21, 2026
Spring 2026 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Wild Turkey
Spring Combination Gun/Bow Season 3
Apr 22-28, 2026
Spring 2026 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Wild Turkey
Spring - Combination Gun/Bow, Season 3
Apr 22-28, 2026
Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Wild Turkey
Spring Combination Gun/Bow Season 4
Apr 29-May 17, 2026
Spring 2026 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Wild Turkey
Spring - Combination Gun/Bow, Season 4
Apr 29-May 17, 2026
Spring 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Show 6 more turkey rows
Wild Turkey
Fall Archery
Oct 1-Dec 4, 2026
Fall 2026 season. Resident archery-only licenses. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
Wild Turkey
Fall - Resident Archery-only
Oct 1-Dec 4, 2026
Fall 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset
Wild Turkey
Fall Combination Gun/Bow
Oct 12-Dec 4, 2026
Fall 2026 season. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Wild Turkey
Fall - Combination Gun/Bow
Oct 12-Dec 4, 2026
Fall 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset
Wild Turkey
Fall Archery Late Split
Dec 21, 2026-Jan 10, 2027
Fall 2026 season. Resident archery-only licenses. Shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
Wild Turkey
Fall - Resident Archery-only, Late Split
Dec 21, 2026-Jan 10, 2027
Fall 2026 Turkey; Shooting Hours: Half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset
Waterfowl
31 listed rowsCanada Goose
Metropolitan Canada Goose
Sep 12-20, 2026
2026/27 season. Additional regulations apply. Specified areas only.
Zone: Specified metropolitan areas (Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Des Moines, Waterloo/Cedar Falls)
Canada Goose
Metropolitan Canada Goose
Sep 12-20, 2026
2026/27; Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Des Moines, and Waterloo/Cedar Falls zones; additional regulations apply
Zone: Specified Metropolitan Areas
Duck
General Split 1
Oct 3-9, 2026
2026/27 season. First split.
Zone: North Zone
Duck
General Split 1
Oct 10-16, 2026
2026/27 season. First split.
Zone: Central Zone
Duck
General Split 1
Oct 17-23, 2026
2026/27 season. First split.
Zone: South Zone
Duck
General Split 2
Oct 17-Dec 8, 2026
2026/27 season. Second split.
Zone: North Zone
Duck
General Split 2
Oct 24-Dec 15, 2026
2026/27 season. Second split.
Zone: Central Zone
Duck
General Split 2
Oct 31-Dec 22, 2026
2026/27 season. Second split.
Zone: South Zone
Ducks
General
Oct 3-Dec 8, 2026
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons; two splits: Oct. 3-9 and Oct. 17-Dec. 8
Zone: North Zone
Ducks
General
Oct 10-Dec 15, 2026
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons; two splits: Oct. 10-16 and Oct. 24-Dec. 15
Zone: Central Zone
Ducks
General
Oct 17-Dec 22, 2026
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons; two splits: Oct. 17-23 and Oct. 31-Dec. 22
Zone: South Zone
Geese
General
Sep 26, 2026-Jan 9, 2027
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons; three splits: Sep. 26-Oct. 11, Oct. 17-Dec. 8, Dec. 12-Jan. 9
Zone: North Zone
Show 19 more waterfowl rows
Geese
General
Oct 3, 2026-Jan 16, 2027
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons; three splits: Oct. 3-18, Oct. 24-Dec. 15, Dec. 19-Jan. 16
Zone: Central Zone
Geese
General
Oct 10, 2026-Jan 23, 2027
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
Sep 26-Oct 11, 2026
2026/27 season. First split.
Zone: North Zone
Goose
General Split 1
Oct 3-18, 2026
2026/27 season. First split.
Zone: Central Zone
Goose
General Split 1
Oct 10-25, 2026
2026/27 season. First split.
Zone: South Zone
Goose
General Split 2
Oct 17-Dec 8, 2026
2026/27 season. Second split.
Zone: North Zone
Goose
General Split 2
Oct 24-Dec 15, 2026
2026/27 season. Second split.
Zone: Central Zone
Goose
General Split 2
Oct 31-Dec 22, 2026
2026/27 season. Second split.
Zone: South Zone
Goose
General Split 3
Dec 12, 2026-Jan 9, 2027
2026/27 season. Third split.
Zone: North Zone
Goose
General Split 3
Dec 19, 2026-Jan 16, 2027
2026/27 season. Third split.
Zone: Central Zone
Goose
General Split 3
Dec 26, 2026-Jan 23, 2027
2026/27 season. Third split.
Zone: South Zone
Light Goose
Conservation Order
Jan 24-May 1, 2027
2026/27 season. Light Goose Conservation Order. Additional regulations apply.
Zone: Statewide
Teal
Special September Teal
Sep 5-13, 2026
2026/27 season. Statewide.
Zone: Statewide
Waterfowl
Youth Waterfowl
Sep 26-27, 2026
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons
Zone: North Zone
Waterfowl
Youth Waterfowl
Oct 3-4, 2026
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons
Zone: Central Zone
Waterfowl
Youth Waterfowl
Oct 10-11, 2026
2026/27 Migratory Game Bird Seasons
Zone: South Zone
Waterfowl (Duck/Goose)
Youth Waterfowl
Sep 26-27, 2026
2026/27 season.
Zone: North Zone
Waterfowl (Duck/Goose)
Youth Waterfowl
Oct 3-4, 2026
2026/27 season.
Zone: Central Zone
Waterfowl (Duck/Goose)
Youth Waterfowl
Oct 10-11, 2026
2026/27 season.
Zone: South Zone
Dove
Mourning Dove
General
Sep 1-Nov 29, 2026
2026/27 season. Statewide.
Zone: Statewide
Pheasant
Rooster Pheasant
Youth
Oct 18-19, 2025
2025/26 season. Shooting hours: 8am - 4:30pm.
Rooster Pheasant
General
Oct 25, 2025-Jan 10, 2026
2025/26 season. Shooting hours: 8am - 4:30pm.
Quail
Bobwhite Quail
General
Oct 25, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
2025/26 season. Shooting hours: 8am - 4:30pm.
Grouse
Gray Partridge
General
Oct 11, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
2025/26 season. Shooting hours: 8am - 4:30pm.
Ruffed Grouse
General
Oct 4, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
2025/26 season. Shooting hours: sunrise to sunset.
Rabbit
Cottontail Rabbit
General
Aug 30, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
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
Aug 30, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
2025/26 season. No shooting hour restrictions.
Furbearer
14 listed rowsBeaver
Hunting
Nov 1, 2025-Apr 15, 2026
2025/26 season. Hunting season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Beaver
Trapping
Nov 1, 2025-Apr 15, 2026
2025/26 season. Trapping season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Bobcat, Otter
Trapping
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
2025/26 season. Trapping season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Bobcat, Otter
Hunting
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
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
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
2025/26 season. Trapping season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Opossum, Badger, Mink, Striped Skunk, Muskrat, Fox (Red and Gray), Weasel
Hunting
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
2025/26 season. Hunting season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
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
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
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 - 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 - Public Land
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
2025/26 Furbearer Hunting; 8am on first day
Zone: Public Land
Raccoon
Trapping - Public Land
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
2025/26 Furbearer Trapping; 8am on first day
Zone: Public Land
Show 2 more furbearer rows
Raccoon
Trapping
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
2025/26 season. Trapping season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Zone: Public land
Raccoon
Hunting
Nov 1, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
2025/26 season. Hunting season. Trapping hours: 8am on first day.
Zone: Public land
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
Sep 5-Nov 13, 2026
2026/27 season. Statewide.
Zone: Statewide
Snipe
General
Sep 5-Nov 30, 2026
2026/27 season. Statewide.
Zone: Statewide
Woodcock
General
Oct 3-Nov 16, 2026
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
Jan 14-Mar 31, 2026
2025/26 season. No shooting hour restrictions.
Crow
General
Oct 15-Nov 30, 2026
2025/26 season listing; dates are Oct 15 - Nov 30, 2026. 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?
September 19, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for Iowa; it is disabled hunter white-tailed deer Sep 19-Oct 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.
When does spring turkey open in Iowa?
A current spring turkey opener is not listed for Iowa yet. Check Iowa DNR for the latest turkey dates.
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.