ARC 0263D

ARC 0263D

NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION[571]

Adopted and Filed

Rulemaking related to licenses

    The Natural Resource Commission (Commission) hereby amends Chapter 15, “General License Regulations,” Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

    This rulemaking is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 483A.1.

State or Federal Law Implemented

    This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code section 483A.1.

Purpose and Summary

    Chapter 15 governs hunting, fishing, and trapping license sales, fees, and general administration and a framework for license revocation and suspension. This rulemaking increases hunting, fishing, and trapping resident and nonresident license fees by 5 percent, consistent with the statutory cap. These fees are only paid by persons who choose to participate in these recreational activities. License fees are deposited into the State Fish and Game Protection Fund (commonly known as the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund), which also receives certain federal funds generated by excise taxes on outdoor sporting equipment. The Trust Fund is dedicated to Iowa’s natural resources by and protected by the Iowa Constitution. The Department of Natural Resources (Department) is charged by law to use Trust Fund dollars to fund its natural resource protection, management, research, and enhancement activities.

    While funded by a specific user group, the Trust Fund pays significant dividends to all Iowans. The Department’s three Trust Fund-managing bureaus (Wildlife, Fisheries, and Law Enforcement) ensure the health and abundance of Iowa’s natural resources, which underpins substantial economic activity. Simply put, the fees paid by sportsmen and sportswomen support the conservation infrastructure that benefits the State’s economy, the environment, and Iowans’ quality of life.

Public Comment and Changes to Rulemaking

    Notice of Intended Action for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on March 4, 2026, as ARC 0103D. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

     ?   March 24, 2026

    No one attended the public hearing. However, 126 comments were received. Seventy-one percent (90) of the comments supported a license fee increase while 29 percent (36) were opposed.

    No changes from the Notice have been made.

Adoption of Rulemaking

    This rulemaking was adopted by the Commission on April 9, 2026.

Fiscal Impact

     This rulemaking will generate revenue for the Trust Fund. Revenue is constrained by the Iowa Code to a 5 percent increase. This is a modest increase per license; for example, current resident fishing licenses will change from $20 to $21. However, every cent is important: license fees are a vital source of revenue for the Department’s active promotion, management, research, and protection of Iowa’s natural resources.

Jobs Impact

    After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

    This rulemaking is subject to the waiver provisions of 571—Chapter 11. Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Commission for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

    The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

Effective Date

    This rulemaking will become effective on December 15, 2026.

    The following rulemaking action is adopted:

    ITEM 1.  Amend rule 571—15.10(483A) as follows:

571—15.10(483A) Licenses—fees. Except as otherwise provided by law, a person shall not fish, trap, hunt, harvest, pursue, catch, kill, take in any manner, use, have possession of, sell, or transport all or a part of any wild animal, bird, game, turtle, or fish, the protection and regulation of which is desirable for the conservation of resources of the state, without first obtaining a license for that purpose and paying a fee as follows:

    15.10(1) Residents.

    a.  Fishing license, annual — $20 $21.

    b.  Fishing license, three-year — $60 $63.

    c.  Fishing license, seven-day — $13.50 $14.

    d.  Fishing license, one-day — $8.50 $8.75.

    e.  Third-line fishing permit, annual — $12 $12.50.

    f.  Fishing license, lifetime, 65 years of age or older — $59.50 $62.

    g.  Fishing license, lifetime, disabled veteran or POW — $5.

    h.  Paddlefish fishing license, annual — $23.50 $24.50.

    i.  Trout fishing fee — $12.50 $13.

    j.  Boundary waters sport trotline license, annual — $24 $25.

    k.  Hunting license, annual — $20 $21.

    l.  Hunting license, annual, including the wildlife habitat fee — $33 $34.50.

    m.  Hunting license, three-year, including the wildlife habitat fee — $99 $103.75.

    n.  Hunting license, lifetime, 65 years of age or older — $59.50 $62.

    o.  Combination hunting and fishing license, annual, including the wildlife habitat fee — $53 $55.50.

    p.  Combination hunting and fishing license, lifetime, disabled veteran or POW — $5.

    q.  Deer hunting license — $30 $31.50.

    r.  First antlerless deer license — $25.50 $26.75.

    s.  Additional antlerless deer license — $12 $12.50.

    t.  Wildlife habitat fee — $13 $13.50.

    u.  Migratory game bird fee — $10 $10.50.

    v.  Wild turkey hunting license — $26.50 $27.75.

    w.  Fur harvester license, annual — $24 $25.

    x.  Fur harvester license, annual, including the wildlife habitat fee — $37 $38.75.

    y.  Fur harvester license, annual, under 16 years of age — $5.50 $5.75.

    z.  Fur harvester license, lifetime, 65 years of age or older — $59.50 $62.

    aa.  Fur dealer license, annual — $264 $277.

    bb.  Aquaculture unit license, annual — $30 $31.50.

    cc.  Retail bait dealer license, annual — $36 $37.75.

    dd.  Wholesale bait dealer license, annual — $146.50 $153.75.

    ee.  Game breeder license, annual — $18 $18.75.

    ff.  Taxidermy license, annual — $18 $18.75.

    gg.  Trout fishing license, lifetime, 65 years of age or older — $63 $66.

    hh.  Trout fishing license, lifetime, disabled veteran — $63 $66.

    ii.  Fishing license, annual, veteran — $5.

    jj.  Combination hunting and fishing license, annual, veteran — $5.

    15.10(2) Nonresidents.

    a.  Fishing license, annual — $46 $48.

    b.  Fishing license, seven-day — $35.50 $37.

    c.  Fishing license, three-day — $18.50 $19.

    d.  Fishing license, one-day — $10 $10.50.

    e.  Third-line fishing permit, annual — $12 $12.50.

    f.  Paddlefish fishing license, annual — $47 $49.

    g.  Trout fishing fee — $15.50 $16.

    h.  Boundary waters sport trotline license, annual — $47.50 $49.75.

    i.  Hunting license, annual — $129 $135.

    j.  Hunting license, annual, including the wildlife habitat fee — $142 $149.

    k.  Hunting license, annual, under 18 years of age — $30 $31.50.

    l.  Hunting license, annual, under 18 years of age, including the wildlife habitat fee — $43 $45.

    m.  Hunting license, five-day (not applicable to deer or wild turkey seasons) — $75 $78.50.

    n.  Hunting license, five-day, including the wildlife habitat fee (not applicable to deer or wild turkey seasons) — $88 $92.

    o.  Deer hunting license, antlered or any-sex deer — $345.50 $362.75.

    p.  Deer hunting license, antlerless-deer-only, required with the purchase of an antlered or any-sex deer hunting license — $146.50 $153.75.

    q.  Deer hunting license, antlerless-deer-only — $263.50 $276.50.

    r.  Preference point issued under Iowa Code section 483A.7(3)“b” or 483A.8(3)“e” — $58.50 $61.

    s.  Holiday deer hunting license issued under Iowa Code section 483A.8(6),
antlerless-deer-only — $88 $92.

    t.  Wildlife habitat fee — $13 $13.50.

    u.  Migratory game bird fee — $10 $10.50.

    v.  Wild turkey hunting license, annual — $117 $122.75.

    w.  Fur harvester license, annual — $232 $243.50.

    x.  Fur harvester license, annual, including the wildlife habitat fee — $245 $257.

    y.  Fur dealer license, annual — $586.50 $615.75.

    z.  Fur dealer license, one-day, one location — $292.50 $307.

    aa.   Location permit for fur dealer — $66 $69.

    bb.  Aquaculture unit license, annual — $66 $69.

    cc.  Retail bait dealer license, annual — $146.50 $153.75.

    dd.  Wholesale bait dealer license, annual — $292.50 $307.

    ee.  Game breeder license, annual — $30.50 $32.

    ff.  Taxidermy license, annual — $30.50 $32.

[Filed 4/17/26, effective 12/15/26]

[Published 5/13/26]

EDITOR’S NOTE: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 5/13/26.