Iowa’s deer hunters are now transitioning to late-season muzzleloader and reopened archery seasons through Jan. 10, following the conclusion of the regular gun seasons. Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Biologist Jace Elliott predicts around 10,000 deer will be harvested by 15,000 to 20,000 late muzzleloader hunters. January brings two antlerless-only seasons: the Population Management January Antlerless Season and the Excess Tag January Antlerless Season, both running Jan. 11-19. The former allows various weapons and is available in seven counties in southern Iowa that met tag requirements. The latter, limited to rifles, is open statewide in counties with unsold antlerless tags. Deer harvests have reached 87,000 so far, with Elliott anticipating totals close to last year’s 104,000. Early data from hunters suggests hemorrhagic disease, also known as EHD, significantly impacted deer populations in Iowa, with deaths reported in 94 counties. Meanwhile, the Iowa DNR has collected over 5,000 deer samples for chronic wasting disease, with 26 positive cases reported, including in three new counties, Davis, Shelby, and Wapello.
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https://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Deer-Hunting
