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Nov. 21, 2024Des Moines, Iowa |  By: Jeremy Werner

Iowa's first gun hunting season coming up

a deer

DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa’s busiest deer hunting seasons are just around the corner, with the state’s first gun season running December 7-11 and the second from December 14-22.

These two seasons typically account for more than half of Iowa’s total deer harvest, which wildlife experts expect to reach similar numbers to last year’s 60,000 deer.

So far, hunters have reported over 25,000 deer hunted this fall, but the total is about six percentlower than last year.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) attributes the decline to population challenges in western Iowa and warm weather reducing deer activity.

This is the second year Iowa hunters are required to measure main beam antlers when reporting deer, offering valuable data about the age of harvested bucks.

Last year, yearling bucks made up 38% of the total buck harvest statewide. Meanwhile, chronic wasting disease has impacted deer populations in 93 counties, with the hardest-hit areas in central and western Iowa.