Several Hunting Seasons About to Begin in Iowa

(Lewis) Late summer and early fall brings with it a handful of hunting seasons. John Lorenzen, appearing on the KSOM Radio DNR Report, mentioned the Dove and Teal Seasons start on September 1, and the squirrel and Rabbit seasons begin on August 31.

Lorenzen says that one year ago, 19,600 hunters harvested 68,500 cottontail rabbits in Iowa. He says the daily bag limit is ten rabbits, with possession of 20. The shooting hours are sunrise to sunset.

Lorenzen says last year was a good year for squirrel hunters, with 22,000 hunters participating and harvesting 94,000 squirrels in Iowa. The daily bag limit is six, with possession of 12, and there are no restrictions on shooting hours.

Lorenzen says 2023 boasted the highest number of doves harvested since Iowa began holding morning dove seasons in 2011-nearly 195,000 birds, and hunters are optimistic again this season.

The daily bag limit is 15, and the possession limit is 30. Shotguns must have plugs so that no more than three shells can be held in the gun.

Lastly, the teal-only season begins on September 1 and runs through September 16th. This is an early waterfowl hunting season only for Teal, as they migrate ahead of most waterfowl and can otherwise be gone by the time the normal waterfowl seasons open.