January hunts often featured rifles that are not allowed during the regular deer season in December, when shotguns are the weapon of choice. Iowa has had deer hunting seasons in January in the past, but they were limited to a few counties where the deer population was a major concern. Below is a partial list of eligible cartridges that raised the most questions about legality. Cartridges that meet the criteria set out above are legal, whether listed here or not. Chronic wasting disease is caused by abnormal proteins that cause brain damage and death in deer. It has been recorded in 12 counties, mostly in northeastern and extreme Iowa. These counties include: Allamakee, Appanoose, Clayton, Dubuque, Decatur, Fayette, Fremont, Greene, Jackson, Wayne, Winneshiek and Woodbury. 1 Young hunters may hunt with a handgun only under the direct supervision of a licensed adult who is at least 21 years of age. Only 2 muzzle-loading guns.
3 Woodless Seniors (65 years and older) National Crossbow Permit only during bow season. 4 No person shall carry a handgun while hunting with a bow plate unless you have an unfilled transport medal for a season that allows handguns to be carried or a valid licence. 5 Resident hunters only. 6 See more details above.7 If licenses are available. What is allowed? The following cartridges can now be used in rifles for deer hunting in Iowa. A person 20 years of age or younger may not hunt deer with a pistol or revolver unless accompanied and supervised throughout the hunt by a responsible person holding a valid hunting licence and at least 21 years of age, with the consent of a parent, guardian or spouse at least 21 years of age. The responsible person with a valid hunting licence, who is at least 21 years old, is responsible for transporting the pistol or revolver, while the pistol or revolver is not actively used for hunting. In addition, it is prohibited to discharge a rifle, including a muzzle-loading rifle or musket, or a handgun from a road; or unload a shotgun that shoots snails off a highway north of U.S. Route 30 while hunting deer. The parties must work out the details of the transfer.
Donors are responsible for reporting the harvest and are encouraged to take good care of the deer from the field to the receiver. It is illegal to sell game in Iowa. or by visiting MNR head office or one of the county offices, or by calling MNR at 515-725-8200. Residents 65 years of age and older can obtain a national crossbow permit. Hunters cannot carry a handgun under an archery tag while hunting unless they have an unfilled transportation medal for a season that allows handguns or a valid permit. The January antlerless deer season is available on January 10 in all counties where antler-free tags are unsold. County-specific information on timber-free licensing quotas is available online in real time at gooutdoorsiowa.com/Rea. Licences will be available from 11 January until quotas are reached. Due to the compressed schedule, these licenses are not available online. Only antlerless deer can be caught during the January Excess Tag antlerless season. Only medium-fire rifles of .223 to .500 caliber with a published or calculated muzzle energy of 500 feet or more are permitted during the January wood-free season for surplus days.
The Iowa Deer Exchange is a free online database in www.iowadnr.gov/deerhunting where deer hunters who want to provide game can connect with Iowans who want game. Hunters enter their information into the database, including their location. Recipients choose the condition in which they want to have the meat when they register – boneless, whole (quartered), quartered, frozen, dried/sausage or whatever, and in what quantity. They also determine how long their registration is open and can opt out at any time by contacting the Iowa DNR. During both rifle hunting seasons, hunters may shoot deer for each other, provided that all marking requirements are met and the deer is considered to belong to the hunter whose tag is attached to it. Resident hunters can obtain the following types of hunting licenses: shotguns, handguns, muzzle magazines, bows, crossbows and .223 caliber and larger center-firing rifles can be used. The typical small-caliber ammunition of the AR-15 was historically considered too small to hunt deer. A spreadsheet produced by Bass Pro Shops, a major gun and ammunition retailer, says the ammunition is capable of killing small predators such as coyotes at long range, but is not suitable for deer. DIRECTIONS: The following table helps determine which licenses Iowa resident deer hunters can purchase.
To use 1], select the preferred general permit for deer in the left column. 2] Follow the right side and stay in the same horizontal line to determine which additional licenses can be purchased. Bonus licenses, if eligible, [Youth, Disabled, Non-ambulatory, Senior Woodless Crossbow] can be purchased in addition to national licenses. LOT GENERAL DEER permits apply to the removal of a deer of both sexes during the season chosen by the hunter at the time of purchase (you must meet the eligibility criteria for the youth or disability season purchase). If a LOT General Permit is purchased for the shotgun season, it is valid for both shotgun seasons, but only one deer can be harvested and marked. There is one general deer hunting licence per farm unit for eligible landowners and their family members, even if multiple landowners are registered in the same farm unit. There is one purchase permit per General Deer farm unit for eligible tenants and their family members, even if multiple tenants are registered in the same farm unit. Any hunter can donate any legally fished, field-dressed Iowa wild deer of any sex to the HUSH program at any time of the year. A list of lockers participating in HUSH can be found online at www.iowahush.com.
Last year, about 3,700 deer were donated to the HUSH program to provide about 620,000 meals to Iowanese in need. Traps can be added before deer season, so check the website for updates. Supporters say the new law will help control deer populations and address complaints that excess deer eat corn and are dangerous to motorists.