Iowa’s First Deer Gun Season Opens Saturday with Strong Conditions
Iowa’s first of two shotgun deer seasons opens Saturday, and state wildlife officials say conditions are lining up for a solid start. Iowa DNR state deer biologist Jace Elliott says warm weather slowed harvest numbers early in the youth, archery, and muzzleloader seasons — but that turned around quickly.
“Luckily, things cooled down in the second half of October,” Elliott said. “Conditions stayed really nice for deer harvest throughout November, and we ended up catching up statewide to exactly where we were at this point last year.”
Some parts of Iowa are still seeing reduced deer numbers after significant outbreaks of hemorrhagic disease in 2023 and 2024. Elliott says hunters in central, western, and southern counties may notice lower populations.
“Fortunately, we got a break from it this year,” he said. “But we’re still hearing from a lot of folks that numbers remain quite a bit lower than before those outbreaks.”
This weekend’s colder weather — along with expected snow — could boost hunter success. Elliott says cold temperatures help preserve meat and keep deer moving.
“When we have snow on the ground, that keeps deer on their feet longer during daylight hours,” he said. “They still have the same calorie requirements, so they need to stay more active to meet those energy needs.”
Snow also makes it easier for hunters to observe deer and track any wounded animals.
While the first shotgun season was traditionally the most popular, Elliott says participation has shifted in recent years.
“Over the last few years we’ve seen almost an even split between gun one and gun two,” he said. “A lot of people make last-minute decisions depending on the weather.”
There are no statewide regulation changes this year, but hunters in far western Iowa are reminded to check county-specific rules. Many counties along the Missouri River — including up through Lyon County — still have “buck-only” requirements during the first gun season.
Iowa’s first shotgun deer season runs through December 10th. The second season takes place December 13th through the 21st. Hunters are expected to harvest between 55,000 and 60,000 deer across the two seasons.
