Iowa sold more hunting and fishing licenses in several major categories in 2025 compared with the previous year, with resident and nonresident fishing sales posting notable gains, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Resident anglers purchased 198,202 annual fishing licenses in 2025, up about 2,600 from 2024. Sales of three-year fishing licenses rose by more than 1,200 to 17,405, and single-day licenses increased by nearly 400 to 3,586. Nonresident fishing licenses also climbed, including annual licenses, which rose by more than 900 to 28,076, and three-day licenses, which increased by about 1,650 to 13,411. Trout fees dipped by about four percent to 41,850. Resident hunting license trends were mixed. Annual hunting licenses increased by more than 2,400 to 42,868, and habitat fees climbed by about 2,300 to 42,789. However, hunting and habitat annual combination licenses declined by roughly 3,000 to 47,185, and lifetime hunting licenses fell by about 200 to 3,466. Nonresident hunting licenses generally increased, including annual adult licenses and five-day options, but the gains were marginal. The figures suggest that interest in Iowa’s recreational hunting and fishing opportunities remains strong, but growth potential remains.
