ARC 9239C - Iowa Administrative Rules

Adopted and Filed

Pheasant, quail and gray (Hungarian) partridge hunting seasons; small game hunting; crow and pigeon regulations; rabbit and squirrel hunting, adopt ch 96; rescind chs 100, 107

Untitled document

ARC 9239C

NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION[571]

Adopted and Filed

Rulemaking related to small game hunting

The Natural Resource Commission (Commission) hereby rescinds Chapter 96, “Pheasant, Quail and Gray (Hungarian) Partridge Hunting Seasons”; adopts a new Chapter 96, “Small Game Hunting”; and rescinds Chapter 100, “Crow and Pigeon Regulations,” and Chapter 107, “Rabbit and Squirrel Hunting,” Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

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

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code sections 481A.38, 481A.39 and 481A.48.

Purpose and Summary

Chapter 96 governs small game hunting by residents and nonresidents in the state of Iowa. This chapter regulates small game hunting and sets forth season dates, bag limits, possession limits, shooting hours, areas open to hunting, and transportation requirements. This chapter is a consolidation of previous Chapters 96, 100, and 107. This rulemaking is adopted consistent with Executive Order 10.

Public Comment and Changes to Rulemaking

Notice of Intended Action for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on January 8, 2025, as ARC 8620C. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

●January 28, 2025

●January 29, 2025

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 8, 2025.

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 18, 2025.

The following rulemaking action is adopted:

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.

[Filed 4/17/25, effective 6/18/25]

[Published 5/14/25]

EDITOR’S NOTE: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 5/14/25.

Natural Resource Commission

502 E 9th St
4th Flr
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 725-8240
Visit Website
Email
Agency Chapters
Agency Rules
RSS

Organization Overview

This Organization is a part of the Natural Resources Department

Official Document

Pheasant, quail and gray (Hungarian) partridge hunting seasons; small game hunting; crow and pigeon regulations; rabbit and squirrel hunting, adopt ch 96; rescind chs 100, 107
Published on 5/14/2025
6 Views
Adopted and Filed

The official published PDF of this document is available from the Iowa General Assembly’s Administrative Rules page.

View Official PDF

View the Iowa Administrative Bulletin for 5/14/2025.

View Bulletin