Changes to Iowa’s Hunting Laws & Notable Dates for the 2018 Hunting Season.
If you’re like me, your favorite time of year is nearly here- FALL! Not only am I a huge fan of the mosquitos being gone and being able to work outside without getting drenched in sweat, Fall is synonymous with hunting.
We received the 2018-19 DNR Regulation booklets about a month ago. These booklets have the laws, season start dates, bag limits and more within its pages. In case you haven’t had a chance to put up the new reg book yet, I wanted to list some notable dates & go over some law changes that took place for this season. Some are good and some are bad (in my opinion), and here they are:
1) Youth Deer Season started this past Saturday. The DNR made changes this year that allow any unfilled Youth tag to be valid for any of the remaining seasons, including archery, but the youth must follow all of the rules specified for each season.
I think this is a GREAT change! Prior to this, if a Youth hadn’t filled their tag, they could use it during the early & late muzzleloader seasons. They could not, however, use it during the archery season and they had to pick one of the two shotgun seasons during which to use it. I never understood this, and I think that youth should be given every opportunity to get into the field, so I applaud this change.
2) 12 counties were added to the open bobcat season. For me, this is awesome news because the counties that were added are counties I hunt in. Basically, the counties that were added are the counties on the western edge of the state north of Woodbury and also Cherokee County. While I’ve never seen one while hunting, I’ve got several bobcat pictures in Plymouth County and am excited to be able to be able to harvest one if given the opportunity. If you are going to be hunting in one of the counties that allows bobcat harvest and would harvest one if given the chance, just make sure you have purchased your furbearer license, which you need to legally take a bobcat.
3) Apprentice License. An ‘Apprentice License’ allows the apprentice to hunt under the direct supervision of a mentor who is 18 or older. The mentor has to have a current hunting license and habitat fee, but the apprentice does not have to have completed a Hunter’s Education course. A person can purchase 2 Apprentice Licenses in their lifetime.
I am not a fan of this change. I think if a person over the age of 16 wants to hunt, they need to have taken a Hunter’s Education Class prior to purchasing it. In my opinion, there is a lot better chance of an accident taking place with someone who is older and has not taken Hunter’s Education because they are more likely to think they ‘know it all’ and be less careful. So thumbs down on this change from me.
And here are some notable dates for the upcoming Hunting Season:
-Dove Season started on September 1, and is already underway!
-Youth Deer Season- Sept 15-30
– Youth Waterfowl- Sept 22-23 in the North Zone; Sept 29-30 for the South Zone and Oct 6-7 on the Missouri River.
– Archery Season starts Oct 1, as always
– Early Muzzleloader for Deer- Oct 13-21
– Youth Pheasant Season Oct 20-21
-Regular Pheasant Season starts Oct 27th
– Trapping Season opens Nov 3rd
– First Shotgun Deer Season is Dec 1-5; 2nd Shotgun is Dec 8-16 and Late Muzzleloader is Dec 17-Jan 10
If I didn’t list your favorite season, I apologize. The duck seasons are really broken up and split between 3 different zones. Regardless, I encourage everyone to get a copy of the regs, read through it and keep it handy if you need to refer to it down the road. You can also view them online and download a copy at http://www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/Hunting/huntingregs.pdf
Here’s hoping that you have a safe, fun, successful season and take a kid! Send us your pics from the field too!
Aim Small, Hit Big!
Dave