Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-91.3 - Goose hunting
(1)
Zone boundaries. Zone boundaries are as specified in the
November 2023 Waterfowl Hunting Map Book published on the department's website
(www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds),
chapter 1 "Waterfowl Hunting Zones."
(2)
Season dates - north
zone. For all geese: The first segment of the regular goose season
will begin on the Saturday nearest September 23 and run for a 16-day period.
The second segment of the goose season will open on the Saturday nearest
October 14 and continue for 53 consecutive days. The goose season will reopen
on the Saturday nearest December 13 and remain continuously open until the
total number of days used for goose hunting reaches 107.
(3)
Season dates - central
zone. For all geese: The first segment of the regular goose season
will begin on the Saturday nearest September 30 and run for a 16-day period.
The second segment of the goose season will open on the Saturday nearest
October 21 and continue for 53 consecutive days. The goose season will reopen
on the Saturday nearest December 20 and remain continuously open until the
total number of days used for goose hunting reaches 107.
(4)
Season dates - south
zone. For all geese: The first segment of the regular goose season
will begin on the Saturday nearest October 7 and run for a 16-day period. The
second segment of the goose season will open on the Saturday nearest October 28
and continue for 53 consecutive days. The goose season will reopen on the
Saturday nearest December 27 and remain continuously open until the total
number of days used for goose hunting reaches 107.
(5)
Bag limit. The daily bag
limit for dark geese (Canada geese, white-fronted geese, brant and any other
geese that are not light geese) is five and may include no more than two Canada
geese during the first segment of the statewide season and no more than three
Canada geese during the remainder of the statewide season. The daily bag limit
for light geese (white and blue-phase snow geese and Ross' geese) is
20.
(6)
Possession
limit. The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit for
Canada geese, brant and white-fronted geese. There is no possession limit for
light geese.
(7)
Shooting
hours. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset
each day.
(8)
Light goose
conservation order season. Only light geese (white and blue-phase snow
geese and Ross' geese) may be taken under a conservation order from the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service beginning the day after the regular goose season
closes and continuing until May 1.
a.
Zone boundaries. Statewide.
b.
Shooting hours. One-half
hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
c.
Bag limit. No bag
limit.
d.
Possession
limit. No possession limit.
e.
Other regulations.
Methods of take approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for hunting
light geese during the conservation order season shall be permitted.
(9)
Metropolitan goose
hunting seasons and specified areas.
a.
Season dates. The second
Saturday in September for nine consecutive days.
b.
Bag limit. Daily bag
limit is five Canada geese.
c.
Possession limit. Three times the daily bag limit.
d.
Specified areas.
(1) Cedar Rapids/Iowa City. Areas are as
specified in the November 2023 Waterfowl Hunting Map Book published on the
department's website (www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds),
chapter 2 "Metropolitan Goose Hunting Areas."
(2) Des Moines. Areas are as specified in the
November 2023 Waterfowl Hunting Map Book published on the department's website
(www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds),
chapter 2 "Metropolitan Goose Hunting Areas."
(3) Cedar Falls/Waterloo. Areas are as
specified in the November 2023 Waterfowl Hunting Map Book published on the
department's website (www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds),
chapter 2 "Metropolitan Goose Hunting Areas."
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
(1) Zone boundaries. Zone boundaries are as specified in the November 2023 Waterfowl Hunting Map Book published on the department's website (www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds), chapter 1 "Waterfowl Hunting Zones".
(2) Season dates - north zone. For all geese: The first segment of the regular goose season will begin on the Saturday nearest September 23 and run for a 16-day period. The second segment of the goose season will open on the Saturday nearest October 13 and continue for 53 consecutive days. The goose season will reopen on the Saturday nearest December 13 and remain continuously open until the total number of days used for goose hunting reaches 107.
(3) Season dates - central zone. For all geese: The first segment of the regular goose season will begin on the Saturday nearest September 30 and run for a 16-day period. The second segment of the goose season will open on the Saturday nearest October 20 and continue for 53 consecutive days. The goose season will reopen on the Saturday nearest December 20 and remain continuously open until the total number of days used for goose hunting reaches 107.
(4) Season dates - south zone. For all geese: The first segment of the regular goose season will begin on the Saturday nearest October 6 and run for a 16-day period. The second segment of the goose season will open on the Saturday nearest October 27 and continue for 53 consecutive days. The goose season will reopen on the Saturday nearest December 27 and remain continuously open until the total number of days used for goose hunting reaches 107.
(5) Bag limit. The daily bag limit for dark geese (Canada geese, white-fronted geese, brant and any other geese that are not light geese) is five and may include no more than two Canada geese during the first segment of the statewide season and no more than three Canada geese during the remainder of the statewide season. The daily bag limit for light geese (white and blue-phase snow geese and Ross' geese) is 20.
(6) Possession limit. The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit for Canada geese, brant and white-fronted geese. There is no possession limit for light geese.
(7) Shooting hours. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset each day.
(8) Light goose conservation order season. Only light geese (white and blue-phase snow geese and Ross' geese) may be taken under a conservation order from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service beginning the day after the regular goose season closes and continuing until May 1.
a. Zone boundaries. Statewide.
b. Shooting hours. One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
c. Bag limit. No bag limit.
d. Possession limit. No possession limit.
e. Other regulations. Methods of take approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for hunting light geese during the conservation order season shall be permitted.
(9) Metropolitan goose hunting seasons and specified areas.
a. Season dates. The second Saturday in September for nine consecutive days.
b. Bag limit. Daily bag limit is five Canada geese.
c. Possession limit. Three times the daily bag limit.
d. Specified areas.
(1) Cedar Rapids/Iowa City. Areas are as specified in the November 2023 Waterfowl Hunting Map Book published on the department's website (www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds), chapter 2 "Metropolitan Goose Hunting Areas."
(2) Des Moines. Areas are as specified in the November 2023 Waterfowl Hunting Map Book published on the department's website (www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds), chapter 2 "Metropolitan Goose Hunting Areas."
(3) Cedar Falls/Waterloo. Areas are as specified in the November 2023 Waterfowl Hunting Map Book published on the department's website (www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds), chapter 2 "Metropolitan Goose Hunting Areas."