50 C.F.R. § 32.34
Iowa
The following refuge units are open for hunting and/or fishing as governed by applicable Federal and State regulations, and are listed in alphabetical order with additional refuge-specific regulations.
(a) De Soto National Wildlife Refuge. (1) [Reserved]
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow youth hunting of ring-necked pheasant on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: The refuge will annually determine hunting seasons, dates, and designated areas, and publish them in the refuge brochure.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and wild turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The refuge manager will annually determine and publish hunting seasons and dates, and will include them in the refuge access permit (signed brochure).
(ii) You must possess and carry a refuge access permit (signed brochure) at all times while in the hunting area. Hunters may enter the hunting areas only within the dates listed on the refuge access permit (signed brochure).
(iii) Hunters with a valid Iowa or Nebraska resident hunting permit may access all areas open to hunting. Reciprocity exists, with both States allowing hunters with either resident permit to access refuge hunting land in either State.
(iv) Hunters holding nonresident Nebraska or nonresident Iowa permits may hunt only on the ground that lies within the State that issued the nonresident permit.
(v) We allow hunters in the designated area from 2 hours before legal sunrise until 2 hours after legal sunset.
(vi) We prohibit the use of a crossbow as archery equipment unless the hunter has obtained a State-issued disability crossbow permit.
(vii) All hunters must be in possession of a valid entrance fee permit.
(viii) Hunters must remove hunting blinds or stands and other property by the close of the season (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(ix) We prohibit shooting on or over any refuge road open to vehicle traffic within 30 feet (9 meters (m)) of the centerline.
(x) We prohibit field dressing of any big game within 100 feet (30 m) of the centerline of any refuge road.
(xi) We prohibit organized drives. We define a “drive” as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise frighten or cause game to move in the direction of any person(s) who is part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the game.
(xii) We allow two portable tree stands/blinds per hunter within the hunt area. Of those, only one stand/blind can be left on the refuge from 1 week prior to the start of the designated hunt season to 1 week after the end of the designated hunt season.
(xiii) Unattended stands and blinds must be plainly labeled with the full name and/or hunting license number of the owner. Labels must be visible from ground level.
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow ice fishing in DeSoto Lake from January 2 through the end of February.
(ii) We allow the use of pole and line or rod and reel fishing in DeSoto Lake from April 15 through October 14.
(iii) We allow the use of archery and spear fishing for nongame fish only from April 15 through October 14.
(iv) When the lake is open to ice fishing, we prohibit motor- or wind-driven conveyances on the lake.
(v) We allow the use of portable ice fishing shelters on a daily basis from January 2 through the end of February.
(vi) Anglers may use no more than two lines and two hooks per line, including ice fishing.
(vii) We prohibit the use of trotlines, float lines, bank lines, or setlines.
(viii) Anglers must adhere to minimum length and creel limits as posted.
(ix) We prohibit anglers leaving any personal property, litter, fish, or fish parts on the banks, in the water, or on the ice (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(x) We prohibit digging or seining for bait.
(xi) We prohibit take or possession of turtle or frog at any time (see §§ 27.21 of this chapter).
(xii) We allow anglers on the refuge from
(b) Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of all migratory birds authorized by the State on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) In areas open to hunting, we allow hunting beginning November 1 until the close of State hunting seasons or March 15, whichever comes first.
(ii) We prohibit leaving boats, decoys, or other personal property unattended at any time. You must remove all personal property, which includes boats, decoys, and blinds, brought onto the refuge at the end of each day's hunt (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(iii) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
(iv) We allow entry into the refuge 1 hour before legal sunrise and require hunters to leave the refuge no later than 1 hour after legal sunset. Shooting hours are in accordance with state regulations.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of upland game species authorized by the State, except for European starling, house sparrow, and common garter snake, on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section apply.
(ii) In areas open to hunting, we allow hunting beginning November 1 until the close of State hunting season or March 15, whichever occurs first.
(iii) We prohibit night hunting of upland game from 30 minutes after legal sunset until 30 minutes before legal sunrise the following day.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (b)(1)(i), (ii), and (iv) of this section apply.
(ii) We prohibit deer drives. We define a deer drive as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person who is part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the deer.
(iii) For turkey hunting, you may possess only approved nontoxic shot shells (see § 32.2(k)) while in the field.
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge.
(c) Iowa Wetland Management District—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of migratory game birds authorized by the State subject to the following conditions:
(i) We prohibit leaving boats, decoys, or other personal property unattended at any time. You must remove all personal property, which includes, but is not limited to, boats, decoys, blind materials, stands, platforms, and blinds, brought onto the district at the end of each day (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(ii) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
(iii) We allow boats or other floating devices when hunting and fishing.
(iv) We prohibit duck and goose hunting on the Waterfowl Refuge Units. We also prohibit all hunting on the Waterfowl Refuge Units during the State duck season.
(v) All hunting on the Core Area Unit and Buffalo Creak Bottoms Unit is governed by station-specific regulations at subsection (g) of this section for the adjacent Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow upland game species authorized by the State, subject to the following condition: the conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(i) though (v) of this section apply.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow white-tailed deer and turkey hunting subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (iii) through (v) of this section apply, with the exception to paragraph (c)(1)(i) that you may leave tree stands in an area for a continuous period of time beginning 7 days prior to the open season for hunting deer and ending 7 days after the final day of that season. You must clearly mark the stand with your Iowa hunting license number.
(ii) For turkey hunting, you may possess only approved nontoxic shot shells while in the field (see § 32.2(k)).
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing throughout the district subject to the following conditions:
(i) The condition set forth at paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section applies.
(ii) You must remove all ice fishing shelters, boats, and other personal property at the end of each day's fishing (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
(d) Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow the hunting of migratory bird species on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow entry into the refuge 1 hour before legal sunrise and require hunters to leave the refuge no later than 1 hour after legal sunset.
(ii) We prohibit shooting on or over any refuge road within 50 feet (15 meters) from the centerline.
(iii) You must remove personal property, including but not limited to boats, decoys, blinds, blind materials, stands, and platforms, brought onto the refuge at the end of each day's hunt (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(iv) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
(v) We allow hunting by falconry on the refuge in accordance with state regulations.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of upland game species authorized by the State, except for European starling, house sparrow, and common garter snake, on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (v) of this section apply.
(ii) We prohibit night hunting of upland game from 30 minutes after legal sunset until 30 minutes before legal sunrise the following day.
(iii) We allow take of coyote with shotgun only.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and turkey on designated areas of the refuge and subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section apply, with the exception to paragraph (d)(1)(iii) that you may leave tree stands in an area for a continuous period of time beginning 7 days prior to the open season for hunting deer and ending 7 days after the final day of that season. You must clearly mark the stand with your Iowa hunting license number.
(ii) You may only possess approved nontoxic shot when turkey hunting (see § 32.2(k)).
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) Entry into the refuge for fishing is allowed 1 hour before legal sunrise and anglers are required to leave the refuge no later than 1 hour after legal sunset. The bison/elk enclosure is closed to fishing. No night fishing is permitted on the refuge.
(ii) We prohibit the taking of any turtle, frog, snake, lizard, leech, minnow, crayfish, mussel (clam), and any other non-fish species by any method on the refuge (see § 27.21 of this chapter).
(e) Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of migratory game bird species authorized by the State on designated areas subject to the following conditions:
(i) Hunters must remove personal property, including but not limited to boats, decoys, portable or temporary blinds, and other materials brought onto the refuge, at the end of each day's hunt (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(ii) We allow the use of dogs when hunting, except when hunting furbearers, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
(iii) We allow boats or other floating devices while hunting and fishing.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of upland game species authorized by the state, except for European starling, house sparrow, and common garter snake, on designated areas subject to the following condition: the conditions set forth at paragraphs (e)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section apply.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow the hunting of white-tailed deer and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) You may possess only approved nontoxic shot shells while in the field for hunting wild turkey (see § 32.2(k)).
(ii) The conditions set forth at paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section apply. Hunters may leave tree stands in an area for a continuous period of time beginning 7 days prior to the open season for hunting deer and ending 7 days after the final day of that season. Hunters must clearly mark the stand with your Iowa hunting license number.
(iii) We prohibit shooting on, from, over, across, or within 30 feet (9 meters) of a roadway open to public vehicle transportation at a big game animal or a decoy of a big game animal.
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) Anglers must remove all ice fishing shelters, boats and other personal property at the end of each day's fishing (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
(ii) We prohibit the taking of any turtle, frog, leech, minnow, crayfish, and mussel (clam) species by any method on the refuge (see § 27.21 of this chapter).
(iii) The conditions set forth at paragraph (e)(1)(iii) of this section apply.
(f) Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of migratory game birds authorized by the State on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) Hunters must remove personal belongings, including but not limited to boats, decoys, portable blinds, blind materials, stands, platforms, and trail cameras, at the end of each day's hunt (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
(ii) We allow access for hunting from 1 hour before legal sunrise until 1 hour after legal sunset. Shooting hours are in accordance with state regulations.
(iii) Hunting is permitted consistent with state seasons annually between January 1 through September 14 on all designated hunt units, except the Iowa River Corridor and Big Timber units which is open to hunting pursuant to state seasons year-round.
(iv) We allow the use of dogs when hunting, provided the dogs are under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of upland game species authorized by the State, except European starling, house sparrow, and common garter snake, on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow shotgun slug or muzzleloading rifle for hunting coyotes.
(ii) We prohibit night hunting of upland game from 30 minutes after legal sunset until 30 minutes before legal sunrise the following day.
(iii) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (f)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section apply.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (f)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section apply.
(ii) You may only use or possess approved nontoxic shot when turkey hunting (see § 32.2(k)).
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We prohibit the taking of turtle or frog (see § 27.21 of this chapter).
(ii) We allow fishing only from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
(iii) Anglers must remove all personal property, including but not limited to boats, ice shacks, and all other fishing devices, at the end of each day's fishing activity (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
(g) Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, coot, rail (Virginia and sora only), woodcock, dove, crow, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow hunters on the refuge from 1 hour before legal sunrise until 1 hour after legal sunset.
(ii) We allow boats or other floating devices when hunting. You may not leave boats unattended.
(iii) We allow the use of dogs while hunting, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
(iv) We prohibit entry into any closed area to retrieve downed game, unless the hunter has received written permission from the refuge manager.
(v) We prohibit hunting on road rights-of-way on any portion of the refuge not open to hunting. The road right-of-way extends to the center of the road.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of upland game species authorized by the State, except for European starling, house sparrow, and common garter snake, on designated areas of the refuge, subject to the following conditions:
(i) We prohibit possession of shotgun slugs.
(ii) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (g)(1)(i), (ii), (iv), and (v) of this section apply.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of deer and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (g)(1)(i), (ii), (iv), and (v) of this section apply.
(ii) We allow portable tree stands, portable blinds, and freestanding elevated platforms to be left on the refuge from 7 days prior to the first deer hunting season; you must remove them prior to 7 days following the last deer hunting season (see § 27.93 of this chapter). Turkey hunters must remove blinds and stands each day (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
(iii) You must label portable tree stands, portable blinds, and freestanding elevated platforms that are left unattended with your hunting license number. The label must be legible from the ground.
(iv) You must remove any other personal property brought onto the refuge at the end of each day (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(v) We allow deer hunters on the refuge from 1 hour before legal sunrise until 2 hours after legal sunset.
(vi) Deer hunters may possess only shot shells that shoot a single projectile (i.e., slugs).
(vii) For wild turkey hunting, you may use or possess only approved nontoxic shot shells while in the field (see § 32.2(k)).
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow fishing from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
(ii) We allow fishing from boats on the Buffalo Creek Bottoms.
(iii) We prohibit the use or possession of lead terminal tackle.
(h) Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Refer to § 32.42(r) for regulations.