Iowa’s late summer and early fall hunting seasons are set to begin next weekend. The rabbit and squirrel seasons open Saturday, Aug. 31, and are considered the lowest cost-of-entry seasons that Iowa offers. A .22-caliber rifle or shotgun and a hunting license is all somebody needs to get their start in hunting. Squirrel season runs through Jan. 31, with a daily bag limit of six total or combination of red fox squirrels or eastern grey squirrels and a possession limit of 12. Cottontail rabbit season is open through Feb. 28, 2025. The daily limit is 10 rabbits, with a possession limit of 20. Iowa’s dove and teal seasons also open next weekend, on Sunday, Sept. 1. The teal-only hunting season is Sept. 1 through Sept. 16, and the daily bag limit is six teal, blue-winged, green-winged, or cinnamon teal combined. Dove season is Sept. 1 through Nov. 29. Daily bag limit is 15 with a possession limit of 30. Hunters must have the state migratory game bird fee, federal duck stamp, and their hunting license and habitat fee. Hunters are reminded to register for the Harvest Information Program (HIP) before hunting migratory game birds. For more information on the upcoming seasons, log on to www.iowadnr.gov/hunting.
