Iowa hunting regulations cover seasons, transport, and firearm use. Unload and case guns in vehicles without permits; know road rules and Highway 30 restrictions.
October 2, 2024
Iowa hunting regulations cover seasons, transport, and firearm use. Unload and case guns in vehicles without permits; know road rules and Highway 30 restrictions.
Hunting is a sport where even if you do not partake in the sport itself, you or someone you know likely plays an active part in one of the many hunting seasons throughout the year. The hunting seasons in the state of Iowa are fairly ongoing, with various time periods for each kind of game, such as migratory game bird season, small game season, turkey season, and deer season.
It may be expected that there are rules and regulations as it relates to the actual hunting during each specific season, such as ensuring you are hunting within the permissible time frame to ensure there is enough daylight, possessing a valid stating hunting license, and having the necessary tags to shoot and harvest the given animal for the season. The less highlighted area of regulation is when it comes to before and after the hunt and how the hunters are supposed to transport their guns to and from the area they are hunting. This article will address both best practices for safety and the legal expectations when transporting firearms.
If you do not have a permit to carry, always unload firearms before transporting them. Keep in mind that even unloaded guns should be treated as if they are loaded. Under Iowa law, individuals are not permitted to carry or possess a firearm in a vehicle on a public highway unless the firearm is entirely taken down or contained in a case that is securely fastened in the vehicle. The barrels and attached magazines must be unloaded as well.
There are key exceptions to the expectation of discharging firearms while driving. Specifically, those with valid permits under Iowa Code Section 724.7 may carry their firearms uncases and unloaded in the vehicle. While there may not be legal implications to carrying a vehicle uncased and loaded as long as you have the necessary permits, safety concerns still need to be considered. It is strongly urged for those with permits to carry to continue transporting their firearms in a carrying case and unloaded.
While a permit to carry may allow you more flexibility regarding quick access to your rifle or handgun, it does not grant any additional leave regarding hunting near a roadway.
571 Iowa Administrative Code 106.7(7) states, "No person shall discharge a rifle, including a muzzleloading rifle or musket, or a handgun from a highway while deer hunting. In addition, no person shall discharge a shotgun shooting slugs from a highway north of U.S. Highway 30.” The Administrative Code defines “highway” to mean the way between property lines open to the public for vehicle traffic, including the road ditch, as defined in Iowa Code section 321.1(78).
The expectation for hunters remains the same – whether they have a permit to carry or not, they may not discharge a weapon from a highway. As for how far the hunter must be from the highway, that varies depending on where you are located in Iowa.
If you are hunting north of U.S. Highway 30, the expectation remains the same. The hunter is not permitted to shoot a gun from the highway. If you are located south of U.S. Highway 30, a hunter may discharge a shotgun from the ditch of the roadway. So long as you are discharging your weapon in an area that is not the actual travel portion of the road, you are abiding by the state's law.
U.S. Highway 30 runs almost directly through the center of the state of Iowa. The road begins at the Mississippi River crossing in Blair, Nebraska, and ends at the Mississippi River Crossing in Clinton, Iowa. So long as you are in the state's southern half, you are likely in an area that permits the legal discharge of a weapon from the ditch portion of a roadway.
In short, there are varieties of expectations while traveling and hunting. The legality of your actions may vary depending on if you have not just a permit to hunt but also a permit to carry. There are also variations as to what the best practice is versus the legal expectation.
To ensure that you are following all safety and legal requirements when hunting, be sure to comply with all laws and regulations published by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and when in doubt, refrain from shooting from public roadways if you are unaware of where you are located in relation to U.S. Highway 30.
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