Hunting Seasons

Hunting Season is always a special time of the year. Whether you are planning on waiting patiently in a deer stand to bag that trophy buck or sitting knee deep in the marsh hoping to bag a band. Being able to take advantage of all the hunting seasons is why The Waterfowl Hunter has put together the hunting dates for Iowa.

These dates serve as a general guide for more specific hunting visit Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

Deer

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DateLatest Closing Date
YouthSep. 16,2017Oct. 1,2017
Disabled HunterSep. 16,2017Oct. 1,2017
BowOct. 1,2017Dec. 1,2017
Dec. 18,2017Jan. 10,2018
Early MuzzleloaderOct. 14,2017Oct. 22,2017
Late MuzzleloaderDec. 18,2017Jan. 10,2018
Shotgun 1Dec. 2,2017Dec. 6,2017
Shotgun 2Dec. 9,2017Dec. 17,2017
Nonresident Holiday Antlerless-OnlyDec. 24,2017Jan. 2,2018

2017 Spring Turkey Seasons

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DateLatest Closing Date
Youth (Gun/Bow)April 8,2017April 16,2017
Season 1 (Gun/Bow)April 17,2017April 20,2017
Season 2 (Gun/Bow)April 21,2017April 25,2017
Season 3 (Gun/Bow)April 26,2017May 2,2017
Season 4 (Gun/Bow)May 3,2017May 21,2017
Resident ArcheryApril 17,2017May 21,2017

2017 Fall Turkey Seasons

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DateLatest Closing Date
Gun/BowOct. 16,2017Dec. 1,2017
Archery OnlyOct. 1,2017Dec. 1,2017
Dec. 18,2017Jan. 10,2018

Furbearer Hunting Seasons

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DateLatest Closing Date
RaccoonNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
OpossumNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
BadgerNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
Striped SkunkNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
Fox (Red & Gray)Nov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
BobcatNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018

Trapping Seasons

SpeciesEarliest Opening DateLatest Closing Date
RaccoonNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
MuskratNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
Fox (Red & Gray)Nov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
CoyoteNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
BadgerNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
MinkNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
WeasalNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
OpossumNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
Striped SkunkNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
BeaverNov. 4,2017April 15,2018
OtterNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018
BobcatNov. 4,2017Jan. 31,2018

Small Game

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DateLatest Closing Date
Pheasant (Youth)Oct. 21,2017Oct. 22,2017
PheasantOct. 28,2017Jan. 10,2018
Bobwhite QuailOct. 28,2017Jan. 31,2018
Gray PartridgeOct. 14,2017Jan. 31,2018
Ruffed GrouseOct. 7,2017Jan. 31,2018
Rabbit (Cottontail)Sep. 2,2017Feb. 28,2018
Squirrel (Fox & Gray)Sep. 2,2017Jan. 31,2018
GroundhogContinuous Open
CrowOct. 15,2017Nov. 30,2017
Jan. 14,2018March 31,2018
PigeonContinuous Open
CoyoteContinuous Open

Migratory Seasons

ZoneHunt TypeEarliest Opening DateLatest Closing Date
North ZoneSeptember TealSep. 2,2017Sep. 10,2017
Ducks, Coots & MergansersSep. 23,2017Oct. 1,2017
Oct. 14,2017Dec. 3,2017
Youth WaterfowlSep. 16,2017Sep. 17,2017
Dark GeeseSep. 23,2017Oct. 8,2017
Oct. 14,2017Jan. 1,2018
Light GeeseSep. 23,2017Jan. 10,2018
Oct. 14,2017Jan. 10,2018
South ZoneSeptember TealSep. 2,2017Sep. 10,2017
Ducks, Coots & MergansersSep. 30,2017Oct. 4,2017
Oct. 21,2017Dec. 14,2017
Youth WaterfowlSep. 23,2017Sep. 24,2017
Dark GeeseSep. 30,2017Oct. 8,2017
Oct. 21,2017Jan. 15,2018
Light GeeseSep. 30,2017Oct. 8,2018
Oct. 21,2017Jan. 24,2018
Missouri RiverSeptember TealSep. 2,2017Sep. 17,2017
Ducks, Coots & MergansersOct. 7,2017Oct. 8,2017
Oct. 21,2017Dec. 17,2017
Youth WaterfowlSep. 30,2017Oct. 1,2017
Dark GeeseOct. 7,2017Oct. 15,2017
Oct. 21,2017Jan. 15,2018
Light GeeseOct. 7,2017Oct. 15,2017
Oct. 21,2017Jan. 15,2018
Statewide SeasonsDovesSep. 1,2017Nov. 29,2017
SnipeSep. 2,2017Nov. 30,2017
RailsSep. 2,2017Nov. 10,2017
WoodcockOct. 7,2017Nov. 20,2017