Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-98.2 - Means and method of take

(1) Permitted weapons. Wild turkey may be taken in accordance with the type of license issued as follows:
a. Combination shotgun-or-archery license. Wild turkey may be taken by shotgun or muzzleloading shotgun not smaller than caliber .410 and shooting only shot sizes number 4 through 10 (lead or nontoxic) shot; or archery equipment as described in 98.2(1)"b." A person shall not have shotshells containing shot of any size other than number 4 through 10 (lead or nontoxic) shot on the person while hunting wild turkey.
b. Archery-only license. Except for crossbows for persons with certain afflictions of the upper body, as provided in 571-15.22 (481A), only longbows, compound bows, or recurve bows shooting broadhead arrows are permitted. Blunthead arrows with a minimum diameter of 9/16 inch may also be used. Arrows must be at least 18 inches long. Arrows with chemical or explosive pods are not permitted.
(2) Prohibited devices. The use of live decoys, dogs (except for fall licenses), horses, motorized vehicles, aircraft, bait, or crossbows, except as otherwise provided, and the use or aid of recorded or electronically amplified bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electronically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds, are prohibited. Paraplegics and single or double amputees of the legs may hunt from any stationary motor-driven land conveyance. "Paraplegic" means an individual afflicted with paralysis of the lower half of the body with the involvement of both legs, usually due to disease of or injury to the spinal cord. "Bait" means grain, fruit, vegetables, nuts or any other natural food materials; commercial products containing natural food products; or by-products of such materials transported to or placed in an area for the intent of attracting wildlife.
(3) Zones, quotas and seasons. A person with a resident wild turkey spring hunting license may take wild turkey statewide during the spring seasons. Fall resident hunting is limited to zones and permits as designated by the natural resource commission. Fall resident zones and quotas for combination shotgun-or-archery licenses will be issued by zone as follows:
a. Zone 4: 1,500.
b. Zone 5: 650.
c. Zone 6: 1,400.
d. Zone 7: 250.
e. Zone 8: 200.
f. Zone 9: 200.
(4) Archery-only licenses. The number of fall archery-only licenses shall not be limited.
(5) Landowner/tenant licenses. The total number of fall landowner/tenant licenses shall not be limited.
(6) Additional licenses. Additional combination shotgun-or-archery licenses may be added to zone quotas if turkey surveys indicate that annual brood production and turkey populations are high enough to warrant additional hunting opportunity. The licenses will be added at the discretion of the commission upon advice from the wildlife bureau.
(7) Seasons. Seasons will be established in accordance with the type of license issued.
a. Spring combination shotgun-or-archery licenses. Consecutive seasons are 4, 5, 7, and 19 days, respectively, with the first season beginning on the second Monday of April. These seasons shall be designated as seasons 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.
b. Spring archery-only licenses. The season shall be 35 days beginning on the second Monday of April.
c. Fall combination shotgun-or-archery licenses. The dates for the fall combination shotgun-or-archery season shall be from the Monday following the second Saturday in October through the Friday before the first Saturday in December of the same year. Wild turkey may be taken with a combination shotgun-or-archery license only in the following zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 as defined by the department of natural resources.
d. Fall archery-only licenses. The dates for the fall archery-only wild turkey hunting season shall be the same as the dates for the bow season for deer as described in 571-Chapter 106.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-98.2
ARC 9656B, IAB 8/10/11, effective 9/14/11 Amended by IAB June 6, 2018/Volume XL, Number 25, effective 7/11/2018 Amended by IAB July 1, 2020/Volume XLIII, Number 1, effective 8/5/2020 Amended by IAB January 11, 2023/Volume XLV, Number 14, effective 2/15/2023 Adopted by IAB May 14, 2025/Volume XLVII, Number 23, effective 6/18/2025

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