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Is deer season open in Iowa?
Every Iowa deer season for 2026-27 from Iowa Department of Natural Resources, open or closed on the day you pick, and when the next one opens.
Iowa deer seasons 2026-27
Iowa's Shotgun 1 deer season runs Dec 5 to Dec 9, 2026.
- Youth · youth hunters onlySep 19 to Oct 4
- Disabled Hunter · hunters with disabilities onlySep 19 to Oct 4
- ArcheryOct 1 to Dec 4 · Dec 21 to Jan 10, 2027
- Early MuzzleloaderOct 17 to Oct 25
- Shotgun 1Dec 5 to Dec 9
- Shotgun 2Dec 12 to Dec 20
- Late MuzzleloaderDec 21 to Jan 10, 2027
- Nonresident Holiday · nonresident hunters onlyDec 24 to Jan 2, 2027
- Population Mgmt. January Antlerless · Allamakee and Winneshiek counties onlyJan 11 to Jan 24
- Excess Tag January Antlerless · Counties with excess antlerless tags on Jan. 10 onlyJan 11 to Jan 24
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa Hunting Seasons (2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons), checked November 2026.
Deer season · Iowa · Today. Yes. Iowa's Archery season is open today, Oct 1 to Dec 4.
Deer season · Iowa · Today
Season openYes. Iowa's Archery season is open today, Oct 1 to Dec 4.
- Youth
- Disabled Hunter
- Archery
- Early Muzzleloader
- Shotgun 1
- Shotgun 2
- Late Muzzleloader
- Nonresident Holiday
- Population Mgmt. January Antlerless · Allamakee and Winneshiek counties
- Excess Tag January Antlerless · Counties with excess antlerless tags on Jan. 10
YouthYouth
Sep 19 to Oct 4
Youth hunters only
Iowa's wording
"Youth | Sept 19 - Oct 4"
Disabled HunterOther
Sep 19 to Oct 4
Hunters with disabilities only
Iowa's wording
"Disabled Hunter | Sept 19 - Oct 4"
ArcheryArcheryOpen
Oct 1 to Dec 4 · Dec 21 to Jan 10, 2027
Iowa's wording
"Archery, Early Split | Oct 1 - Dec 4 | Archery, Late Split | Dec 21 - Jan 10, 2027"
Early MuzzleloaderMuzzleloader
Oct 17 to Oct 25
Iowa's wording
"Early Muzzleloader | Oct 17 - 25"
Shotgun 1Firearm
Dec 5 to Dec 9
Iowa's wording
"Shotgun 1 | Dec 5 - 9"
Shotgun 2Firearm
Dec 12 to Dec 20
Iowa's wording
"Shotgun 2 | Dec 12 - 20"
Late MuzzleloaderMuzzleloader
Dec 21 to Jan 10, 2027
Iowa's wording
"Late Muzzleloader | Dec 21 - Jan 10, 2027"
Nonresident HolidayAntlerless
Dec 24 to Jan 2, 2027
Nonresident hunters only
Iowa's wording
"Nonresident Holiday | Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2027"
Population Mgmt. January AntlerlessAntlerless
Jan 11 to Jan 24
Allamakee and Winneshiek counties only
Iowa's wording
"Population Mgmt. January Antlerless | Jan 11 - 24, 2027"
Excess Tag January AntlerlessAntlerless
Jan 11 to Jan 24
Counties with excess antlerless tags on Jan. 10 only
Iowa's wording
"Excess Tag January Antlerless | Jan 11 - 24, 2027"
Hunter orange
"To hunt deer with a firearm in any season you must wear one of the following articles of external, visible, solid blaze orange clothing: vest, jacket, coat, sweatshirt, sweater, shirt or coveralls. An orange hat alone is not sufficient."
More from Iowa's rules
"ZONE B allows hunting for Antlered-buck only (at least one forked antler) in all seasons EXCEPT Youth, Disabled, Landowner-Tenant Depredation, and Zone B County Any-deer licenses."
"The population management season is restricted to Allamakee and Winneshiek counties and is only open if the number of antlerless licenses available exceeds 100 on the third Monday in December."
"The excess tag season was created by the Iowa legislature in 2022 and allows any county with excess antlerless tags on Jan. 10 to be eligible, but restricts the method of take to rifles only."
Source: Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Hunting Seasons (2026/27 Deer Hunting Seasons), checked November 2026.
A guide to the dates each state printed for the year, not the regulations. Bag limits, permits, weapon rules and unit closures are in the state's own digest, which is the authority.
- Each state's own dates, quoted
- Your zone and your day
- When the next season opens
Hunting in Iowa
34 outfitters, guides and lodges listed in Iowa. Legal shooting hours in Iowa today.
Common questions
Deer season questions
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