Fall hunting season is underway in Iowa. Here's when you can hunt deer, turkeys.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez, Des Moines Register

Fall is here, and so is hunting and trapping season in Iowa.

Yearly hunting seasons and limits can be found at iowadnr.gov, with both calendars and printable pamphlets.

Here's the schedule for the season:

When is deer hunting season in Iowa?

  • Archery: Oct. 1 - Dec. 1 and Dec. 18 - Jan. 10

  • Muzzleloader: Dec. 18 - Jan. 10

  • Shotgun: Dec. 2 - 6 and Dec. 9 - 17

What do you need to do if you kill a deer hunting in Iowa?

Iowa hunters are required to report their harvest. According to Iowa DNR, all deer taken must be reported using the harvest reporting system by midnight the day after the deer is recovered.

Accurately reporting kills is an important part of Iowa’s deer management program and plays a vital role in managing deer populations and future hunting opportunities.

Hunters can report their deer on the DNR website iowadnr.gov, by calling the toll-free reporting number 1-800-771-4692 or at any license vendor.

When is fall turkey hunting in Iowa?

  • Gun/Bow: Oct. 16 - Dec. 1

  • Archery: Oct. 1 - Dec. 1 and Dec. 18 - Jan. 10

Iowa bird hunting seasons

  • Ducks, coots and mergansers: Oct. 14 - Dec. 5 (north zone), Oct. 21 - Dec. 12 (central zone) and Oct. 28 - Dec. 19 (south zone)

  • Dark and light geese: Oct. 14 - Dec. 5 and Dec. 16 - Jan. 13 (north zone), Oct. 21 - Dec. 12 and Dec. 23 - Jan 20 (central zone) and Oct. 28 - Dec. 19 and Dec. 30 - Jan. 27 (south zone)

  • Doves: Sept. 1-Nov. 29

  • Snipe: Sept. 2-Nov. 30

  • Rails(Virginia and Sora): Sept. 2-Nov. 10

  • Woodcock: Oct. 7- Nov. 20

When is Iowa's hunting season for pheasants, small game and upland hunting?

  • Rooster Pheasant: Oct. 28 - Jan. 10

  • Bobwhite Quail: Oct. 28 - Jan. 31

  • Gray Partridge: Oct. 14 - Jan. 31

  • Ruffed Grouse: Oct. 7 - Jan. 31

  • Mourning Dove: Sept. 1 - Nov. 29

  • Rabbit (Cottontail): Sept. 2 - Feb. 28

  • Rabbit (Jack): Closed

  • Squirrel (Fox and Gray): Sept. 2 - Jan. 31

  • Crow: Oct. 15 - Nov. 30

  • Pigeon: Continuous open season, no restrictions

Iowa furbearer hunting season

  • Raccoon, coyote and groundhog: Continuous open season, no restrictions

  • Opossum, fox (red and gray), badger and bobcat: Nov. 4 - Feb. 28

Trapping seasons in Iowa

  • Muskrat, fox (red and gray), coyote, badger, mink, weasel, opossum and striped skunk: Nov. 4 - Feb. 28

  • Beaver: Nov. 4 - April 15

  • Otter: Nov. 4 - Feb. 28

  • Bobcat: Nov. 4 - Feb. 28

  • Raccoon: Continuous open season, no restrictions

  • Civet Cat (spotted skunk) and gray wolf: Closed

Iowa DNR encourages hunters to turn in poachers by calling 1-800-532-2020.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa fall hunting season schedule for 2023-2024

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