Many hunting seasons are nearing their closing date as the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) welcomes a new year. All 2017 hunting and fishing licenses expire on Wednesday, Jan. 10. The most popular winter seasons, pheasant and deer, end in a week. Pheasant season concludes on Jan. 10 with late muzzleloader and archery deer seasons also ending that same day. Furbearer hunting and trapping seasons for raccoon, opossum, badger, striped skunk, fox and bobcat all close at the end of January while trapping season for otter, mink, muskrat, weasel and coyote close Jan. 31. The DNR reminds hunters they have many other options to enjoy the outdoors after these seasons end. Crow season opens Jan. 14 and continues to the end of March. Coyote, groundhog and pigeon hunting are continuous seasons that are open year round. A full list of end dates can be found included below this story.
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Small Game
Pheasant: Jan. 10
Quail, gray partridge, ruffed grouse and squirrel: Jan. 31
Cottontail rabbit: Feb. 28
Deer
Nonresident holiday season: Jan. 2
Late muzzleloader and archery: Jan. 10
Turkey
Archery: Jan. 10
Waterfowl: Duck seasons are closed in all zones.
North Zone – Dark Geese, including Canada geese, Brant and white-fronted geese: Jan. 1; Light Geese, including white and blue phase snow geese and Ross’ geese: Jan. 10.
South Zone – Dark Geese, including Canada geese, Brant and white-fronted geese: Jan. 15; Light Geese, including white and blue phase snow geese and Ross’ geese: Jan. 24.
Missouri River Zone – Dark Geese, including Canada geese, Brant and white-fronted geese: Jan. 15; Light Geese, including white and blue phase snow geese and Ross’ geese: Jan. 24.
Furbearer
Hunting and trapping – Raccoon, opossum, badger, striped skunk, fox, bobcat: Jan. 31
Trapping – Otter, mink, muskrat, weasel, coyote: Jan. 31
Hunting, trapping opportunities available through winter
Crow season opens Jan. 14 and closes on March 31
Special light goose conservation order for white and blue phase snow geese and Ross’ geese: Jan. 25-April 15.
Beaver trapping season closes April 15.
Coyote: Continuous open
Groundhog: Continuous open
Pigeon: Continuous open
