Iowa Legal Hunting Hours (2026)

Info: In Iowa, shooting hours for all deer seasons are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

InfoVerified Jun 18, 2026

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Official source: iowadnr.gov →

Iowa legal hunting hours by date

The rule above (deer): 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, worked out from each place’s own sunrise and sunset. Start times are rounded up and end times down to the minute.

Legal hunting hours for Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines	Start (CDT)	End (CDT)
Sat, Oct 17	6:59 AM	6:59 PM
Sun, Oct 18	7:01 AM	6:58 PM
Mon, Oct 19	7:02 AM	6:56 PM
Tue, Oct 20	7:03 AM	6:55 PM
Wed, Oct 21	7:04 AM	6:53 PM
Thu, Oct 22	7:05 AM	6:52 PM
Fri, Oct 23	7:06 AM	6:51 PM
Sat, Oct 24	7:07 AM	6:49 PM
Sun, Oct 25	7:09 AM	6:48 PM
Mon, Oct 26	7:10 AM	6:46 PM
Tue, Oct 27	7:11 AM	6:45 PM
Wed, Oct 28	7:12 AM	6:44 PM
Thu, Oct 29	7:13 AM	6:42 PM
Fri, Oct 30	7:15 AM	6:41 PM

Sunrise moves about 4 minutes for every 50 miles east or west, so times where you hunt can differ from Des Moines. Seasons, species, special areas and Sundays can have their own hours — check the official source before you hunt. Sunday hunting in Iowa

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Legal Hunting Hours in states bordering Iowa

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

IllinoisInfo
In Illinois, deer hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dnr.illinois.gov · Full Illinois rule →
MinnesotaInfo
Minnesota legal shooting hours for deer and big game are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dnr.state.mn.us · Full Minnesota rule →
MissouriInfo
In Missouri, general legal hunting hours are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: mdc.mo.gov · Full Missouri rule →
NebraskaInfo
In Nebraska, legal shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: outdoornebraska.gov · Full Nebraska rule →
South DakotaInfo
In South Dakota, big game hunting hours — archery and firearm — are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, and turkey hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: gfp.sd.gov · Full South Dakota rule →
WisconsinInfo
In Wisconsin, deer, bear and small game may be taken from 30 minutes before sunrise to 20 minutes after sunset, and hours vary by longitude zone (Wis. Admin. Code NR 10.06).
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov · Full Wisconsin rule →

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