DNR TO HOLD LISTENING SESSION ON FALL HUNTING AND TRAPPING REGULATIONS

DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting a public

meeting over the Iowa Communications Network on February 25 from 6 to 9 p.m., to listen to the public’s thoughts on the hunting and trapping regulations for this fall.  

These meetings are part of the process for making rules in state government.

“Any rule changes must be discussed with Iowa’s citizens who might be impacted by the changes before the rule changes are proposed. The process helps ensure that rule changes serve the public’s wishes and do not impact Iowa’s economy,” said Dr. Dale Garner, chief of the wildlife bureau.

At each meeting DNR staff will facilitate a discussion about what went well last fall, what didn’t, and what changes hunters and trappers would like to see for this fall.

These discussions along with the data that the wildlife bureau collects on harvest and population numbers will be used to develop recommendations for any rule changes this fall. Any changes must be approved by the Natural Resource Commission and then go back to the public for further comment before taking effect next fall.

Meetings will be held in Atlantic, Boone, Chariton, Clear Lake, Council Bluffs, Creston, Davenport, Decorah, Dubuque, Marshalltown, Monroe, Ottumwa, Sac City, Sergeant Bluff, Sheldon, Spencer, Tiffin, Waverly and West Burlington.

Complete ICN locations are available online at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting

2015 - 2016 General Hunting Season Framework  (if no changes are made)

Species                                  Season Dates                        Shooting Hours        Bag Limit

Daily/Possess

Rooster Pheasant (Youth)      Oct. 24 – 25                            8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.       1          2

Rooster Pheasant                   Oct. 31 - Jan. 10, 2016           8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.       3         12

Bobwhite Quail                        Oct. 31 - Jan. 31, 2016           8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.       8         16

Gray Partridge                        Oct. 10 - Jan. 31, 2016           8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.       8         16

Ruffed Grouse                        Oct. 3 - Jan. 31, 2016             Sunrise to Sunset         3          6

Rabbit (Cottontail)                   Sept 5 - Feb. 28, 2016            Sunrise to Sunset        10        20

Squirrel (Fox and Gray)          Sept 5 - Jan. 31, 2016           No Restrictions            6         12

Groundhog                              Continuous Open Season       No Restrictions     No Limit No Limit

Crow                                       Oct. 15 - Nov. 30 and                         No Restrictions     No Limit No Limit

                                                Jan. 14 - March 31, 2016

Groundhog, Pigeon                 Continuous Open Season       No Restrictions     No Limit No Limit

Coyote (hunting)                     Continuous Open Season       No Restrictions     No Limit No Limit

2015 Deer Hunting Seasons (if no changes are made)

Season                                   Season Dates           

Youth Season                        Sept. 19 - Oct. 4

Disabled Hunter Season         Sept. 19 - Oct. 4

Archery Season                      Oct. 1 - Dec. 4 & Dec. 21 - Jan. 10, 2016

Early Muzzleloader                 Oct. 17 - 25

Regular Gun Season 1           Dec. 5 - 9

Regular Gun Season 2           Dec. 12 - 20

Late Muzzleloader                   Dec. 21 - Jan. 10, 2016

Nonresident Holiday Season  Dec. 24 - Jan. 2, 2016

BAG LIMIT: Daily Bag and Season Possession Limit is one deer for each valid license and transportation tag issued to the hunter.

SHOOTING HOURS: 1/2 hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset

2015 – 2016 Furbearer Hunting Seasons (if no changes are made)

Species                      Seasons                         Shooting Hours                Daily      Possession

Raccoon, Opossum,   Nov. 7 - Jan. 31, 2016    8 a.m. on First Day             No Limit   No Limit

Badger, Striped Skunk

Fox (Red and Gray)

Bobcats                                              Nov. 7 - Jan. 31, 2016    8 a.m. on First Day                  1               1

2015 – 2016 Furbearer Trapping Seasons (if no changes are made)

Species                                  Season                              Hours                   Daily     Possession

Coyote, Mink, Muskrat,          Nov. 7 - Jan. 31, 2016   8 a.m. on 1^st Day    No Limit    No Limit

Weasel, Striped Skunk,

Badger,Opossum, Raccoon,

Fox(Red and Gray)

Beaver                                    Nov. 7 - Apr 15, 2016    8 a.m. on 1st Day   No Limit     No Limit

Otter                                        Nov. 7 - Jan 31, 2016    8 a.m. on 1st Day        2                2

Bobcat                                     Nov. 7 - Jan 31, 2016    8 a.m. on 1st Day        1                1

Civet Cat (Spotted Skunk)      Continuous Closed

Gray Wolf                                Continuous Closed

2015-2016 Migratory Birds seasons (if no changes are made)

Waterfowl Season                      North Zone           South Zone          Missouri River

Ducks, Mergansers and Coots    Oct. 3 – 18             Oct 3 – Oct 7        Oct. 3 – Oct. 7

                                                     Oct. 24 – Dec. 6     Oct 17 – Dec 10   Oct. 24 – Dec. 17

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days   Sept. 26 – 27          Oct 10 – 12          Oct 17 – 18

Canada geese and Brant             Sept. 26 –               Oct. 3 –                Oct. 10 - 

     Jan. 1, 2016            Jan. 8, 2016         Jan. 15, 2016

White-fronted geese                    Sept. 26 – Dec. 8   Oct. 3 – Dec. 15    Oct. 10 – Dec. 22

Light Geese (white and blue        Sept. 26 –               Oct. 3 -                  Oct. 10 –

phase snow geese and               Jan. 10, 2016         Jan. 15, 2016        Jan. 15, 2016

Ross’ geese)  

SPECIAL SEPTEMBER CANADA GOOSE SEASONS Only in designated zones around Des Moines, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City and Cedar Falls/Waterloo.

Canada Geese                                                Sept. 5 – 13

STATEWIDE

Special September Teal Season                    Sept 5 -20

Light Geese Conservation Order                    Jan. 16 - April 15, 2016

(white and blue phase snow geese

and Ross’ geese)

Doves (Mourning and Eurasian Collared)      Sept. 1 - Nov. 9

Woodcock                                                       Oct. 3 - Nov. 16

Snipe                                                               Sept. 5 - Nov. 30

Rail (Sora and Virginia)                                   Sept. 5 - Nov. 13

Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset for all species except woodcock and teal during the special September teal season, which are sunrise to sunset. Daily Bag Limits: Ducks: Daily limit is 6, including no more than 4 mallards (of which no more than 2 may be female), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 3 scaup, 2 pintail, 1 black duck, and 2 canvasback. Mergansers: Daily limit is 5, including no more than 2 hooded mergansers. Coots: Daily limit is 15. Geese: The daily limit for Canada geese is 2 from September 26 through October 31 and 3 Canada geese from November 1 through the end of the season.  During the special September Canada goose season within the Des Moines, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City and Cedar Falls/Waterloo Zones, the daily is 5 Canada geese.  The daily limits for white-fronted geese, brant, and snow geese are 2 white-fronted geese, 1 brant, and 20 snow geese. Doves (Mourning and Eurasian Collared):  Daily limit is 15. Woodcock: Daily limit is 3. Snipe: Daily limit is 8. Rail (Sora and Virginia): Daily limit is 12. Possession Limits: Possession limits are three times the daily bag limit for ducks, coots and geese except light geese for which there is no possession limit and two times the bag limits for doves, woodcock, snipe and rails.

2015 Fall Turkey Hunting (if no changes are made)

License Types             Season Dates

Gun/Bow                     Oct. 12 - Dec. 4

Archery Only              Oct. 1 - Dec. 4 AND

Dec. 21 - Jan. 10, 2016

BAG LIMIT: Daily Bag and Season Possession Limit is one wild turkey for each valid license and transportation tag issued to the hunter.

SHOOTING HOURS:

Gun: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset

Bow: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset

2016 SPRING TURKEY HUNTING SEASON DATES (if no changes are made)

Combination Gun/Bow Licenses

Youth Season (Residents Only) April 9 - 17

Season 1 April 18 - 21

Season 2 April 22 - 26

Season 3 April 27 – May 3

Season 4 May 4 - May 22

Resident Archery-only Licenses: April 18- May 22

BAG LIMIT: Daily Bag and Season Possession Limit is one bearded or male wild turkey for each valid license and transportation tag issued to the hunter.

SHOOTING HOURS: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset