DUBUQUE, Iowa — November 9, 2026 — Iowa’s deer seasons are underway, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has a simple piece of advice for resident hunters trying to sort out their license options: start with your first general (any-deer) tag.

That first tag decides which other seasons you are eligible to hunt. The DNR’s deer hunting cheat sheet lays out the authorized combinations: pick your first any-deer license from the left column, then follow across the same row to see what additional licenses you may buy. Residents may hold up to two general licenses — at most one archery and one firearm — and antlerless-only licenses are sold by county quota. Before September 15, a hunter could buy one antlerless license; from September 15 on, there is no limit until the county quota fills.

New for 2026-27: two zones

Iowa split resident deer hunting into two zones this season. Zone A covers most of the state — including Dubuque County — and the general tag there is any-deer. Zone B covers eight northwest counties (Crawford, Ida, Lyon, O’Brien, Plymouth, Shelby, Sioux, and Woodbury), where the general tag is buck-only, meaning an antlered deer with at least one forked antler. A tag is valid only in its own zone, and party hunting is not allowed in Zone B.

2026-27 deer season dates

• Archery, early split: October 1 – December 4, 2026
• Early muzzleloader: October 17–25, 2026
• Shotgun 1: December 5–9, 2026
• Shotgun 2: December 12–20, 2026
• Archery, late split: December 21, 2026 – January 10, 2027
• Late muzzleloader: December 21, 2026 – January 10, 2027
• January antlerless: January 11–24, 2027

Shooting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Annual licenses, stamps, and fees expire January 10, so hunters heading out in January need to make sure theirs are current.

The January antlerless season depends on county quotas

January antlerless licenses are not available yet — and whether they open at all depends on how many antlerless licenses are left unsold in each county.

There are two versions. The population management season may open only in Allamakee and Winneshiek counties, and only if at least 100 antlerless licenses remain unsold in the county as of the third Monday in December; the department decides on December 21. The excess tag season can open in any county where at least one antlerless license remains unsold through January 10, with licenses available starting at 9 a.m. on January 11.

The DNR’s message to hunters: check the county quota before counting on a January tag — it will not be available until later this winter.

Where to check the details

The full list of license combinations is in the DNR’s deer hunting cheat sheet, and the resident license options are laid out on page 40 of the Iowa hunting regulations booklet. Hunters with questions can call their local DNR conservation officer.