ARC 0280D

ARC 0280D

NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION[571]

Adopted and Filed

Rulemaking related to game harvest reporting and landowner-tenant registration

    The Natural Resource Commission (Commission) hereby rescinds Chapter 95, “Game Harvest Reporting and Landowner-Tenant Registration,” Iowa Administrative Code, and adopts a new Chapter 95 with the same title.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

    This rulemaking is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code sections 481A.38, 481A.39, 481A.48, 483A.1, 483A.8, 483A.8A and 483A.24.

State or Federal Law Implemented

    This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code sections 481A.38, 481A.39, 481A.48, 483A.1, 483A.8, 483A.8A and 483A.24 and Executive Order 10.

Purpose and Summary

    Chapter 95 establishes the harvest reporting process for deer and turkey hunters and the eligibility verification process for free landowner or tenant licenses.  The chapter has been reviewed and edited consistent with Executive Order 10. The chapter includes two new methods for hunters to report harvests, making a total of five methods available to hunters to increase efficiency and convenience. 

Public Comment and Changes to Rulemaking

    Notice of Intended Action for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on January 7, 2026, as ARC 9924C. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

     ?   January 28, 2026

     ?   February 2, 2026

    No one attended the public hearings. No public comments were received. 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 has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

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 June 17, 2026.

    The following rulemaking action is adopted:

    ITEM 1.  Rescind 571—Chapter 95 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 95

GAME HARVEST REPORTING AND LANDOWNER-TENANT REGISTRATION

571—95.1(481A) Harvest reporting system. Deer and turkey hunters must report each deer and wild turkey harvested to the department of natural resources (DNR) harvest reporting system. The hunter whose name is on the transportation tag is responsible for making the report. Hunters who do not bag a deer or wild turkey do not report.

    95.1(1) Reporting deadlines for deer and turkey. A harvest report must be made by midnight on the day after the animal is tagged or before the animal is taken to a locker or taxidermist, is processed for consumption, or is transported out of state, whichever occurs first.

    95.1(2) Method of reporting. Hunters may report the harvest in one of five ways:

    a.  Through the electronic licensing system for Iowa (ELSI) application.

    b.  By texting the registration number to 1.800.771.4692 and following the prompts.

    c.  By calling the DNR toll-free harvest reporting telephone number at 1.800.771.4692.

    d.  By reporting through the internet using the DNR online harvest reporting system.

    e.  By visiting an ELSI license agent during the license agent’s normal business hours.

    95.1(3) Report confirmation. The hunter will be given a confirmation number to write on the harvest report tag to verify that the hunter has reported the kill. The harvest report tag and confirmation number must remain attached to the deer or wild turkey until the deer or wild turkey is processed for consumption.

571—95.2(481A) Verifying eligibility for free landowner or tenant licenses. Eligibility for free and reduced-fee deer and wild turkey hunting licenses, hereafter referred to as free licenses, is defined in Iowa Code section 483A.24 and 571—98.6(483A) and 571—106.17(481A). The ELSI will not issue free licenses to persons who have not registered their eligibility with ELSI.

    95.2(1) Farm unit. As provided in 571—subrule 106.17(6), all the land under the lawful control of the landowner or tenant is considered one farm unit no matter how it is subdivided for business purposes. No one may be registered as eligible for free licenses on more than one farm unit. Registering on one parcel of land within the farm unit will allow the landowner, tenant or family member to hunt on all land in the farm unit.

    95.2(2) Who may obtain free licenses. One member of the landowner family (the landowner or an eligible family member) may obtain a free any-deer license. Members of the landowner family may divide the free antlerless-deer-only licenses for which the family is eligible among themselves in any way they choose. If there is a tenant on the same property, one member of the tenant family (the tenant or an eligible family member) may also obtain a free any-deer license. Members of the tenant family may divide the free antlerless-deer-only licenses for which they may be eligible among themselves in any way they choose. One member of the landowner family and one member of the tenant family may each obtain one free spring turkey hunting license and one free fall turkey hunting license.

    95.2(3) Method of registration. A landowner or tenant may register on the internet through ELSI or by mailing an affidavit obtained from DNR. The online system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An online registrant may obtain a free license once the registration process is complete. A person who registers through the mail or by fax may have to wait up to ten business days after the form is received by DNR to obtain a free license.

    95.2(4) Information verifying eligibility. In order to register, a landowner, tenant or qualifying family member must have a customer record in ELSI. When registering, landowners, tenants and family members will be required to provide their ELSI customer number or their Iowa driver’s license number or social security number and their date of birth to identify their ELSI customer record.

    a.  Landowners. A landowner shall provide the parcel identification number (PIN) from the landowner’s current property tax statement for one parcel of qualifying land owned by the landowner and the number of the county where the land is located. Qualifying family members shall be registered to the same parcel of qualifying land as the landowner.

    b.  Partnerships, corporations or other forms of joint land ownership. Each owner of a jointly owned farm unit and the owner’s qualifying family members who wish to receive free licenses for that farm unit shall register with the same county number and PIN. Only one joint owner or family member may obtain the one any-deer license available for the farm unit. The other joint owner(s) and family members may divide any other free licenses to which they are entitled among themselves in any way they choose.

    c.  Tenants. A tenant shall provide an affidavit that contains the name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the qualifying land rented by the tenant; the county number where the land is located; and the landowner’s PIN from one parcel of that qualifying land. If a tenant rents land from more than one landowner, the tenant shall provide the required information about only one landowner. The tenant’s qualifying family members shall be registered to the same parcel of qualifying land as the tenant.

    d.  Signature required. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 483A.24(2)“f,” all affidavits submitted to register eligibility for free licenses shall bear the signature of the landowner, tenant, or family member attesting that the information contained therein is true.

    95.2(5) Forms. Instructions and affidavits may be obtained online at www.iowadnr.gov, at DNR offices, or by calling 515.725.8200.

    95.2(6) Registration expiration and renewal. A registered landowner, tenant, or eligible family member may obtain free licenses as allowed in 95.2(2) provided the registration information and eligibility status remain valid. If the registration information or eligibility status of a registered landowner, tenant, or eligible family member changes, that individual must mail a DNR affidavit form or contact the DNR by telephone. The DNR will periodically review registration information to verify eligibility status and will inactivate registrations when the registration information fails to indicate eligibility.

    95.2(7) Penalties. Free licenses will not be issued to an applicant until a legible and complete affidavit is received by DNR. An illegible or incomplete affidavit will be returned to the applicant for correction. A person who has made a false attestation in obtaining a license in violation of Iowa Code section 483A.24(2)“f” shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor and subject to license revocation as provided in Iowa Code sections 483A.21 and 483A.24(2)“f” and 571—subrule 106.8(3).

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 481A.38, 481A.39, 481A.48, 483A.1, 483A.7, 483A.8, 483A.8A, and 483A.2.

[Filed 4/17/26, effective 6/17/26]

[Published 5/13/26]

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