Iowa Deer Shotgun Season 2025, 2026
Shotgun deer hunting dates for Iowa.
Recorded dates, not hunting permission
Status assessment: 2026-10-14 UTC (static build snapshot). Static activity badges and day counts use this build assessment, not a live check. Interactive finder results show their own UTC assessment day.
2 of 4 recorded windows have date-review evidence. Other rows remain unverified. Historical records are retained and are not a current-season promise.
Check your current agency regulations, GMU or zone, hunt code, license and access restrictions before hunting. An agency link or successful publication fetch does not verify a row. Reviewed base dates do not cover every license-specific exception.
Date evidence: Official date source. Review dates apply only to the stated row scope, not an entire state or current license eligibility.
Iowa Deer Shotgun Season
Find shotgun deer hunting season dates for Iowa. Plan your 2025, 2026 shotgun hunt with dates, zones, and equipment requirements.
Shotgun Season Coming Soon
2 shotgun seasons opening within 60 days
Dec 5-9, 2026
Actual 2026–27 Iowa guide printed/PDF page 6: antlered Regular Gun 1 base window for Zone A/B, shown in the shotgun view. Matching season-specific license/tag, hunting license and habitat fee are required subject to current exemptions; quotas apply. Participating in both listed seasons is not permission granted by these dates. The guide adds Audubon, Carroll and Greene to western first-gun antlered-buck-only areas; antlerless eligibility is not reviewed. Check current resident/nonresident eligibility, zone/county boundaries, legal devices/ammunition, sex/bag limits, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission and closures. Not youth/disabled, muzzleloader, management, nonresident-holiday or January antlerless dates.
Dec 12-20, 2026
Actual 2026–27 Iowa guide printed/PDF page 6: antlered Regular Gun 2 base window for Zone A/B, shown in the shotgun view. The December 10–11 gap is not open under these records. Matching season-specific license/tag, hunting license and habitat fee are required subject to current exemptions; quotas apply. Participating in both listed seasons is not permission granted by these dates. Check current resident/nonresident eligibility, zone/county boundaries, legal devices/ammunition, sex/bag limits, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission and closures. Antlerless eligibility, youth/disabled, muzzleloader, management, nonresident-holiday and January antlerless dates are not reviewed.
Shotgun Deer Season Dates
4 shotgun seasons in Iowa
| Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 6-10, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded | Historical record | Unverified historical first-shotgun summary; tag/sex/zone scope was not recorded. | |
| Dec 5-9, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | Regular Gun 1 (Shotgun 1) — antlered Zone A/B base window | Upcoming | Actual 2026–27 Iowa guide printed/PDF page 6: antlered Regular Gun 1 base window for Zone A/B, shown in the shotgun view. Matching season-specific license/tag, hunting license and habitat fee are required subject to current exemptions; quotas apply. Participating in both listed seasons is not permission granted by these dates. The guide adds Audubon, Carroll and Greene to western first-gun antlered-buck-only areas; antlerless eligibility is not reviewed. Check current resident/nonresident eligibility, zone/county boundaries, legal devices/ammunition, sex/bag limits, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission and closures. Not youth/disabled, muzzleloader, management, nonresident-holiday or January antlerless dates. | |
| Dec 12-20, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | Regular Gun 2 (Shotgun 2) — antlered Zone A/B base window | Upcoming | Actual 2026–27 Iowa guide printed/PDF page 6: antlered Regular Gun 2 base window for Zone A/B, shown in the shotgun view. The December 10–11 gap is not open under these records. Matching season-specific license/tag, hunting license and habitat fee are required subject to current exemptions; quotas apply. Participating in both listed seasons is not permission granted by these dates. Check current resident/nonresident eligibility, zone/county boundaries, legal devices/ammunition, sex/bag limits, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission and closures. Antlerless eligibility, youth/disabled, muzzleloader, management, nonresident-holiday and January antlerless dates are not reviewed. | |
| Dec 13-21, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded | Historical record | Second shotgun | |
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Compare Other Deer Hunting Methods
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Zone-Specific Shotgun Dates
Iowa has different shotgun deer dates by zone. Zones include: Regular Gun 1 (Shotgun 1) — antlered Zone A/B base window, Regular Gun 2 (Shotgun 2) — antlered Zone A/B base window. Check official state regulations for zone boundaries.
Important Note for Iowa
Only the two 2026 antlered Regular Gun 1/2 Zone A/B base windows were reviewed in the shotgun view. Matching season-specific license/tag and current resident/nonresident, quota, zone/county, sex/bag, legal devices, tagging/reporting, CWD, permission/access and closure rules require agency checks. Both listed windows do not authorize one hunter to hunt both. Antlerless/other hunt types, historical records and license-year metadata remain unverified.
Iowa Deer Shotgun Hunting FAQ
Common questions about shotgun deer hunting in Iowa
When does shotgun deer season start in Iowa?
Recorded windows, not one continuous season: 2025-12-06 to 2025-12-10; 2026-12-05 to 2026-12-09; 2026-12-12 to 2026-12-20; 2025-12-13 to 2025-12-21. Historical and unverified records may be included. Check each row's evidence and your current GMU/hunt code and license before hunting.
What shot size is legal for deer in Iowa?
Iowa regulates shot size and shot type for deer hunting. Many states require non-toxic shot for waterfowl and may have specific pellet size requirements for other game. Verify current shotgun regulations with the state.
Are there different shotgun deer zones in Iowa?
Yes, Iowa has zone-specific shotgun deer seasons. Zones include: Regular Gun 1 (Shotgun 1) — antlered Zone A/B base window, Regular Gun 2 (Shotgun 2) — antlered Zone A/B base window. Each zone may have different dates and regulations.
Do I need a special tag for shotgun deer hunting in Iowa?
You need a valid Iowa hunting license and applicable deer tags or permits. Some states offer shotgun-specific tags or have separate quotas. Check current license requirements and availability.
What other methods can I use to hunt deer in Iowa?
Besides shotgun, Iowa offers deer seasons for: Archery, Muzzleloader. Each method has different season dates and regulations.
Shotgun Deer in Other States
Compare shotgun seasons across states
View All Iowa Deer Seasons
See all hunting methods for deer in Iowa.
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