ARC 8620C

ARC 8620C

Proposing rulemaking related to small game hunting
and providing an opportunity for public comment

A Regulatory Analysis for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on September 4, 2024. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

●September 24, 2024

Servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística: si habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, los servicios de asistencia lingüística están disponibles de forma gratuita. Comuníquese con el Departamento al chris.ensminger@dnr.iowa.gov.

Any persons who intend to attend a hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the Department and advise of specific needs.

Free language assistance: if you need assistance in a language other than English, contact the Department at chris.ensminger@dnr.iowa.gov or civilrights@dnr.iowa.gov or by telephone at 515.571.4010 at least seven days before the event.

Servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística: si necesita ayuda en un idioma que no sea inglés, comuníquese con el Departamento al chris.ensminger@dnr.iowa.gov o civilrights@dnr.iowa.gov o por teléfono a 515.571.4010 al menos siete días antes del evento.

ITEM 1.Rescind 571—Chapter 96 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 96

SMALL GAME HUNTING

571—96.1(481A) Pheasant season.

96.1(1) Open season. Open season for hunting cock pheasants is the last Saturday in October through January 10 of the succeeding year. Daily bag limit 3 cocks; possession limit 12. Shooting hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entire state open.

96.1(2) Transportation. No person shall transport a pheasant within the state without a leg and foot, or fully feathered wing, or fully feathered head attached to the intact carcass.

96.1(3) Youth pheasant hunt. A special two-day youth pheasant hunt for residents only will be held on the weekend preceding the last Saturday in October. Youth hunters must be 15 years old or younger. Each youth hunter must be accompanied by an adult 18 years old or older. The youth hunter does not need to have a hunting license or stamps. The adult must have a valid hunting license and habitat stamp if normally required to have them to hunt. Only the youth hunter may shoot pheasants. The daily bag limit is 1 cock bird and possession limit is 2 after the first day. All other hunting regulations in effect for the regular pheasant season apply to the youth hunt. Entire state open.

571—96.2(481A) Gray (Hungarian) partridge season. Open season for hunting gray partridge is the second Saturday in October through January 31 of the succeeding year. Daily bag limit 8; possession limit 16. Shooting hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entire state open.

571—96.3(481A) Bobwhite quail season. Open season for hunting quail is the last Saturday in October through January 31 of the succeeding year. Daily bag limit 8; possession limit 16. Shooting hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Entire state open.

571—96.4(481A) Ruffed grouse season. Open season for hunting ruffed grouse is the first Saturday in October through January 31 of the succeeding year. Daily bag limit 3; possession limit 6. Shooting hours are sunrise to sunset.

96.4(1) Portion of the state open to hunting. The area open to hunting shall be that portion of the state lying north and east of a line described as follows: beginning at Sabula, Iowa; thence west along State Highway 64 to U.S. Highway 151; thence west along U.S. Highway 151 to State Highway 13; thence north along State Highway 13 to U.S. Highway 20; thence west along U.S. Highway 20 to U.S. Highway 63; thence north along U.S. Highway 63 to the state line.

96.4(2) Reserved.

571—96.5(481A) Pigeon season. There is a continuous open season for hunting pigeons. No bag or possession limit. There are no restrictions on shooting hours. Entire state open.

571—96.6(481A) Cottontail rabbit season. Open season for hunting cottontail rabbits is the Saturday before Labor Day through February 28 of the succeeding year. Daily bag limit 10; possession limit 20. Shooting hours are sunrise to sunset. Entire state open.

571—96.7(481A) Jackrabbit season. Continuous closed season.

571—96.8(481A) Squirrel season. Open season for hunting squirrels (fox and gray) is the Saturday before Labor Day through January 31 of the succeeding year. Daily bag limit 6; possession limit 12. There are no restrictions on shooting hours. Entire state open.

571—96.9(481A) Small game hunting by falconry.

96.9(1) In addition to the falconry permit, a falconer must have all other licenses, stamps, and permits required by law. A falconry observer is not required to be licensed for hunting, but an observer shall not assist in the hunt.

96.9(2) No falconer or observer may possess a long gun, bow, or crossbow while in the field with a raptor or in the act of falconry.

96.9(3) Seasons.

a.Pheasant (both sexes), quail, gray partridge, ruffed grouse, and jackrabbit. The season for the taking of pheasant, quail, gray partridge, ruffed grouse, and jackrabbit is October 1 of each year through March 31 of the following year.

b.Cottontail rabbit and squirrel. The season for the taking of cottontail rabbits and squirrels is September 1 of each year through March 31 of the following year.

96.9(4) Limits.

a.Pheasants (both sexes) and jackrabbit. The daily limit is two pheasants, no more than one of which may be a hen, and one jackrabbit; the possession limit is four pheasants and two jackrabbits.

b.Quail, gray partridge, ruffed grouse, squirrels and cottontail rabbit. The daily limit is two quail, two gray partridge, two ruffed grouse, four cottontail rabbits and four squirrels; the possession limit is four quail, four gray partridge, four ruffed grouse, eight cottontail rabbits, and eight squirrels.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 481A.38, 481A.39, and 481A.48.

ITEM 2.Rescind and reserve 571—Chapter 100.

ITEM 3.Rescind and reserve 571—Chapter 107.