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News Brief

Nov. 28, 2023Des Moines, Iowa |  By: Jeremy Werner

Iowa hunters gearing for upcoming deer seasons

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DES MOINES, Iowa - Over 100,000 hunters in Iowa are gearing up for the state's most popular hunting seasons, the first running from December 2-6, and the second running from December 9-17.

Preliminary data from the Iowa Department of Conservation indicates a stable to slightly increasing deer population in most areas, excluding certain regions.

These gun seasons are vital for deer herd management, with over 50% of the total harvest typically occurring during this time.

Last year, nearly 110,000 deer were hunted, and this year's prediction is similar. Hunters are encouraged to adapt to variable weather conditions, with the early forecast suggesting above-normal temperatures.

The method of take for gun seasons has expanded over time, now including rifles meeting specific criteria.

Various changes to deer seasons include adjusted antlerless deer quotas, additional antlerless-only seasons, and a new reporting requirement for hunters harvesting antlered deer regarding main antler beam length.