Iowa Code § 483A.24 — IA Code / Title XI / Chapter 483A / Section 483A.24
When license not required — special licenses.
Status: in_force

(1) Owners or tenants of land, and their minor children, may hunt, fish or trap upon such lands and may shoot by lawful means ground squirrels, gophers, or woodchucks upon adjacent roads without securing a license so to do; except, special licenses to hunt deer and wild turkey shall be required of owners and tenants but they shall not be required to have a special wild turkey hunting license to hunt wild turkey on a hunting preserve licensed under chapter 484B.

(2) (a) As used in this subsection:

(2) (a) “Family member” means a resident of Iowa who is the spouse or child of the owner or tenant and who resides with the owner or tenant.

(2) (a) “Farm unit” means all parcels of land which are certified by the commission pursuant to rule as meeting all of the following requirements:

(2) (a) Are in tracts of two or more contiguous acres.

(2) (a) Are operated as a unit for agricultural purposes.

(2) (a) Are under the lawful control of the owner or the tenant.

(2) (a) “Owner” means an owner of a farm unit who is a resident of Iowa and who is one of the following:

(2) (a) Is the sole operator of the farm unit.

(2) (a) Makes all of the farm operation decisions but contracts for custom farming or hires labor for all or part of the work on the farm unit.

(2) (a) Participates annually in farm operation decisions or cropping practices on specific fields of the farm unit that are rented to a tenant.

(2) (a) Raises specialty crops on the farm unit including but not limited to orchards, nurseries, or tree farms that do not always produce annual income but require annual operating decisions about maintenance or improvement.

(2) (a) Has all or part of the farm unit enrolled in a long-term agricultural land retirement program of the federal government.

(2) (a) An “owner” does not mean a person who owns a farm unit and who employs a farm manager or third party to operate the farm unit, or a person who owns a farm unit and who rents the entire farm unit to a tenant who is responsible for all farm operations. However, this subparagraph division does not apply to an owner who is a parent of the tenant and who resides in this state.

(2) (a) “Tenant” means a person who is a resident of Iowa and who rents and actively farms a farm unit owned by another person. A member of the owner’s family may be a tenant. A person who works on the farm for a wage and is not a family member does not qualify as a tenant.

(2) (b) Upon written application on forms furnished by the department, the department shall issue annually without fee one wild turkey license to the owner of a farm unit or to a member of the owner’s family, but not to both, and to the tenant or to a member of the tenant’s family, but not to both. The wild turkey hunting licenses issued shall be valid only on the farm unit for which an applicant qualifies pursuant to this subsection and shall be equivalent to the least restrictive license issued under section 481A.38. The owner or the tenant need not reside on the farm unit to qualify for a free license to hunt on that farm unit. The free turkey hunting licenses issued pursuant to this paragraph shall be valid and may be used during any open turkey hunting season using a method of take authorized for that season, subject to any other restrictions that may apply, without first designating a season of use for the license. Each license issued under this paragraph authorizes the person issued the license to harvest one wild turkey.

(2) (c) Upon written application on forms furnished by the department, the department shall issue annually without fee two deer hunting licenses, one antlered or any sex deer hunting license and one antlerless deer only deer hunting license, to the owner of a farm unit or a member of the owner’s family, but only a total of two licenses for both, and to the tenant of a farm unit or a member of the tenant’s family, but only a total of two licenses for both. The deer hunting licenses issued shall be valid only for use on the farm unit for which the applicant applies pursuant to this paragraph. The owner or the tenant need not reside on the farm unit to qualify for the free deer hunting licenses to hunt on that farm unit. The free deer hunting licenses issued pursuant to this paragraph shall be valid and may be used during any open season using a method of take authorized for that season, subject to any other restrictions that may apply, without first designating a season of use for the license, but only one deer shall be harvested for each license. In addition, a person who receives a free deer hunting license pursuant to this paragraph shall pay a one dollar fee for each license that shall be used and is appropriated for the purpose of deer herd population management, including assisting with the cost of processing deer donated to the help us stop hunger program administered by the commission.

(2) (d) In addition to the free deer hunting licenses received pursuant to paragraph “c”, an owner of a farm unit or a member of the owner’s family and the tenant or a member of the tenant’s family may purchase a deer hunting license for any option offered to paying deer hunting licensees. An owner of a farm unit or a member of the owner’s family and the tenant or a member of the tenant’s family may also purchase two additional antlerless deer hunting licenses which are valid only on the farm unit for a fee established by rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1.

(2) (e) If the commission establishes a deer hunting season to occur in the first quarter of a calendar year that is separate from a deer hunting season that continues from the last quarter of the preceding calendar year, each owner and each tenant of a farm unit located within a zone where a deer hunting season is established, upon application, shall be issued a free deer hunting license for each of the two calendar quarters. Each license is valid only for hunting on the farm unit of the owner and tenant.

(2) (f) A deer hunting license or wild turkey hunting license issued pursuant to this subsection shall be attested by the signature of the person to whom the license is issued and shall contain a statement in substantially the following form:By signing this license I certify that I qualify as an owner or tenant under Iowa Code section 483A.24.

(2) (f) A person who makes a false attestation under this paragraph “f” is guilty of a simple misdemeanor. In addition, the person’s hunting license shall be revoked and the person shall not be issued a hunting license for a period of one year.

(3) The director shall provide up to one hundred twenty-five nonresident deer hunting licenses for allocation as provided in this subsection.

(3) (a) Fifty of the nonresident deer hunting licenses shall be allocated as determined by the department. The licenses provided pursuant to this subsection shall be in addition to the number of nonresident licenses authorized pursuant to section 483A.8. The purpose of the special nonresident licenses is to allow state officials and local development groups to promote the state and its natural resources to nonresident guests and dignitaries. Photographs, videotapes, or any other form of media resulting from the hunting visitation shall not be used for political campaign purposes. The nonresident licenses shall be issued without application upon purchase of a nonresident annual hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee and the purchase of a nonresident deer hunting license. The licenses are valid in all zones open to deer hunting. The hunter education certificate requirement pursuant to section 483A.27 is waived for a nonresident issued a license pursuant to this subsection.

(3) (b) Seventy-five of the nonresident deer hunting licenses shall be allocated as provided in subsection 5.

(4) The director shall provide up to one hundred twenty-five nonresident wild turkey hunting licenses for allocation as provided in this subsection.

(4) (a) Fifty of the nonresident wild turkey hunting licenses shall be allocated as determined by the department. The licenses provided pursuant to this subsection shall be in addition to the number of nonresident licenses authorized pursuant to section 483A.7. The purpose of the special nonresident licenses is to allow state officials and local development groups to promote the state and its natural resources to nonresident guests and dignitaries. Photographs, videotapes, or any other form of media resulting from the hunting visitation shall not be used for political campaign purposes. The nonresident licenses shall be issued without application upon purchase of a nonresident annual hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee and the purchase of a nonresident wild turkey hunting license. The licenses are valid in all zones open to wild turkey hunting. The hunter education certificate requirement pursuant to section 483A.27 is waived for a nonresident issued a license pursuant to this subsection.

(4) (b) Seventy-five of the nonresident wild turkey hunting licenses shall be allocated as provided in subsection 5.

(5) Seventy-five of the nonresident deer hunting licenses allocated under subsection 3 and seventy-five of the wild turkey hunting licenses allocated under subsection 4 shall be available for issuance to nonresidents who have served in the armed forces of the United States on active federal service and who were disabled during the veteran’s military service or who are serving in the armed forces of the United States on active federal service and have been disabled during military service to enable the disabled person to participate in a hunt that is conducted by an organization that conducts hunting experiences in this state for disabled persons. The licenses shall be issued as follows:

(5) (a) The department shall prepare an application to be used by a person requesting a special license under this subsection.

(5) (a) The department shall verify that the license will be used by the applicant in connection with a hunt conducted by an approved organization that conducts hunting experiences in this state for disabled veterans and members of the armed forces serving on active federal service who have been disabled during military service. The department shall specify, by rules adopted under chapter 17A, what requirements an organization must meet in order to be approved to conduct hunts for disabled persons who obtain licenses under this subsection.

(5) (a) The department of veterans affairs shall assist the department in verifying the status or claims of applicants under this subsection. As used in this subsection, “disabled” means entitled to a service connected rating under 38 U.S.C. ch. 11 with a degree of disability of thirty percent or more.

(5) (b) A license issued under this subsection shall be in addition to the number of nonresident wild turkey hunting licenses authorized pursuant to section 483A.7 and nonresident deer hunting licenses authorized pursuant to section 483A.8. However, a nonresident who obtains a license pursuant to this subsection is not eligible to obtain a nonresident deer hunting license or wild turkey hunting license under any other provision of law.

(5) (c) A disabled person who receives a special license under this subsection shall purchase a hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee, and a wild turkey hunting license or a deer hunting license, if applicable, all for the same fees that are charged to resident hunters. If hunting deer, the disabled person shall also pay a one dollar fee that shall be used and is appropriated for the purpose of deer herd population management, including assisting with the cost of processing deer donated to the help us stop hunger program administered by the commission.

(5) (d) A special hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee shall be available for issuance under this subsection to a disabled veteran or disabled member of the armed forces serving on active federal service for the same fee that is charged to a resident hunter to enable such a disabled person to participate in a hunt conducted by an organization approved under this subsection for which only a hunting license is required.

(5) (e) A disabled person who receives a special license under this subsection shall complete the hunter education course.

(5) (f) A license issued under this subsection is valid for use only on a hunt conducted by an organization approved under this subsection.

(5) (g) The commission shall adopt rules under chapter 17A for the administration of this subsection.

(6) A resident or nonresident of the state under sixteen years of age is not required to have a license to fish in the waters of the state. However, residents and nonresidents under sixteen years of age must pay the trout fishing fee to possess trout or they must fish for trout with a licensed adult who has paid the trout fishing fee and limit their combined catch to the daily limit established by the commission. A resident or nonresident of the state under sixteen years of age is required to have a paddlefish fishing license to fish for paddlefish on the Missouri or Big Sioux river.

(7) A license shall not be required of minor pupils of the Iowa school for the deaf or of minor residents of other state institutions under the control of the department of health and human services. In addition, a person who is on active duty with the armed forces of the United States, on authorized leave from a duty station located outside of this state, and a resident of the state of Iowa shall not be required to have a license to hunt or fish in this state. The military person shall carry the person’s leave papers and a copy of the person’s current earnings statement showing a deduction for Iowa income taxes while hunting or fishing. In lieu of carrying the person’s earnings statement, the military person may also claim residency if the person is registered to vote in this state. If a deer or wild turkey is taken, the military person shall immediately contact a state conservation officer to obtain an appropriate tag to transport the animal. A license shall not be required of any person who is receiving supplementary assistance under chapter 249.

(8) A person under sixteen years of age is not required to have a hunting license to hunt game or a fur harvester license to trap fur-bearing animals if accompanied by the minor’s parent or guardian or in company with any other competent adult with the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian, if the person accompanying the minor possesses a valid hunting license while hunting game or fur harvester license while trapping fur-bearing animals; however, there must be one licensed adult accompanying each person under sixteen years of age. The minor must have a deer hunting license to hunt deer and a wild turkey hunting license to hunt wild turkey appropriate for the minor’s residency status. This subsection is not restricted by the provisions of section 483A.31.

(9) A resident of the state under sixteen years of age is not required to have a hunting or fur harvester license to accompany the minor’s parent or guardian, or any other competent adult with the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian, while the parent or guardian or other adult is hunting or trapping any game or fur-bearing animal so long as the minor is not hunting or trapping and does not carry or use a firearm or any other weapon.

(10) A person having a dog entered in a licensed field trial is not required to have a hunting license or fur harvester license to participate in the event or to exercise the person’s dog on the area on which the field trial is to be held during the twenty-four-hour period immediately preceding the trial.

(11) The commission shall issue without charge a special fishing license to residents of Iowa sixteen years or more of age who the commission finds have severe mental or physical disabilities. The commission is hereby authorized to prepare an application to be used by the person requesting the special license, which would require that the person’s attending physician sign the form declaring that the person has a severe mental or physical disability and is eligible for exempt status.

(12) The commission shall issue a special turkey hunting license or any sex deer hunting license to a nonresident twenty-one years of age or younger who the commission finds has a severe physical disability or has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. The licenses shall be issued as follows:

(12) (a) The commission may prepare an application to be used by the person requesting the special license, which requires that the person’s attending physician sign the form declaring that the person has a severe physical disability or has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and is eligible for the special license.

(12) (b) The licenses provided pursuant to this subsection shall be in addition to the number of nonresident turkey hunting licenses authorized pursuant to section 483A.7 and nonresident deer hunting licenses authorized pursuant to section 483A.8.

(12) (c) The turkey hunting licenses are valid in all zones open to turkey hunting and shall be available for issuance and use during any turkey hunting season. The deer hunting licenses are valid in all zones open to deer hunting and shall be available for issuance and use during any deer hunting season.

(12) (d) A nonresident who receives a special license pursuant to this subsection shall purchase a hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee and the applicable nonresident turkey or deer hunting license, but is not required to complete the hunter education course if the person is accompanied and aided by a person who is at least eighteen years of age. The accompanying person must be qualified to hunt and have a hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee. During the hunt, the accompanying adult must be within arm’s reach of the nonresident licensee.

(12) (e) The commission shall adopt rules under chapter 17A for the administration of this subsection.

(13) No person shall be required to have a special wild turkey license to hunt wild turkey on a hunting preserve licensed under chapter 484B.

(14) A lessee of a camping space at a campground may fish on a private lake or pond on the premises of the campground without a license if the lease confers an exclusive right to fish in common with the rights of the owner and other lessees.

(15) The department may issue a permit, subject to conditions established by the department, which authorizes patients of a substance use disorder facility, residents of health care facilities licensed under chapter 135C, tenants of elder group homes licensed under chapter 231B, tenants of assisted living program facilities licensed under chapter 231C, participants who attend adult day services programs licensed under chapter 231D, participants in services funded under a federal home and community-based services waiver implemented under the medical assistance program as defined in chapter 249A, and persons cared for in juvenile shelter care homes as provided for in chapter 232 to fish without a license as a supervised group. A person supervising a group pursuant to this subsection may fish with the group pursuant to the permit and is not required to obtain a fishing license.

(16) Upon payment of the fee established by rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1 for a lifetime fishing license or lifetime hunting and fishing combined license, the department shall issue a lifetime fishing license or lifetime hunting and fishing combined license to a resident of Iowa who has served in the armed forces of the United States on federal active duty and who was disabled or was a prisoner of war during that veteran’s military service. The department shall prepare an application to be used by a person requesting a lifetime fishing license or lifetime hunting and fishing combined license under this subsection. The department of veterans affairs shall assist the department in verifying the status or claims of applicants under this subsection. As used in this subsection, “disabled” means entitled to a service connected rating under 38 U.S.C. ch. 11.

(17) Upon payment of a fee established by rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1 for a lifetime fur harvester license, the department shall issue a lifetime fur harvester license to a resident of Iowa who has served in the armed forces of the United States on federal active duty and who was disabled during that veteran’s military service. The department shall prepare an application to be used by a person requesting a lifetime fur harvester license under this subsection. The department of veterans affairs shall assist the department in verifying the status or claims of applicants under this subsection. As used in this subsection, “disabled” means entitled to a service connected rating under 38 U.S.C. ch. 11.

(18) The department shall issue without charge a special annual fishing or combined hunting and fishing license to residents of this state who have permanent disabilities and whose income falls below the federal poverty guidelines as published by the United States department of health and human services or residents of this state who are sixty-five years of age or older and whose income falls below the federal poverty guidelines as published by the United States department of health and human services. The commission shall provide for, by rule, an application to be used by an applicant requesting a special license. The commission shall require proof of age, income, and proof of permanent disability.

(19) The department may issue a permit, subject to conditions established by the department, which authorizes a student sixteen years of age or older attending an Iowa public or accredited nonpublic school who is participating in the Iowa department of natural resources fish Iowa! basic spincasting module to fish without a license as part of a supervised school outing.

(20) Upon payment of a fee established by rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1 for a lifetime trout fishing license, the department shall issue a lifetime trout fishing license to a person who is at least sixty-five years of age or to a person who qualifies for the disabled veteran homestead credit under section 425.15. The department shall prepare an application to be used by a person requesting a lifetime trout fishing license under this subsection.

(21) Upon payment of a fee, not to exceed five dollars, established by rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1 for an annual armed forces fishing license or annual armed forces hunting and fishing combined license, the department shall issue an annual armed forces fishing license or annual armed forces hunting and fishing combined license to a resident of Iowa who has served in the armed forces of the United States on federal active duty. The department shall prepare an application to be used by a person requesting an annual armed forces fishing license or annual armed forces hunting and fishing combined license under this subsection. The department may consult with the department of veterans affairs when adopting rules to verify the status of applicants under this subsection.

[S13, §2563-a3; C24, 27, 31, §1720, 1723; C35, §1794-e15; C39, §1794.098; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.17; C79, 81, §110.24; 82 Acts, ch 1260, §16]83 Acts, ch 96, §59, 159; 84 Acts, ch 1260, §10; 85 Acts, ch 10, §3; 85 Acts, ch 67, §15; 86 Acts, ch 1240, §5 – 7; 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1877; 88 Acts, ch 1216, §42; 89 Acts, ch 74, §1; 89 Acts, ch 87, §2, 3; 90 Acts, ch 1178, §1, 2; 91 Acts, ch 237, §4, 5; 92 Acts, ch 1140, §12C93, §483A.2494 Acts, ch 1018, §1; 94 Acts, ch 1023, §58; 96 Acts, ch 1129, §100; 96 Acts, ch 1172, §1; 97 Acts, ch 180, §6; 98 Acts, ch 1199, §19, 20, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30; 99 Acts, ch 180, §20; 2000 Acts, ch 1175, §3; 2001 Acts, ch 134, §15; 2001 Acts, ch 148, §8, 9; 2005 Acts, ch 115, §35, 40; 2005 Acts, ch 139, §6 – 10; 2005 Acts, ch 172, §24; 2006 Acts, ch 1010, §125; 2006 Acts, ch 1026, §1; 2006 Acts, ch 1043, §1; 2006 Acts, ch 1108, §1; 2007 Acts, ch 66, §1; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §65; 2008 Acts, ch 1036, §1; 2008 Acts, ch 1161, §18; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §63, 64; 2011 Acts, ch 25, §143; 2011 Acts, ch 118, §85, 89; 2012 Acts, ch 1021, §93, 94; 2012 Acts, ch 1072, §38; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §17 – 19, 23; 2013 Acts, ch 61, §1, 2; 2014 Acts, ch 1058, §4; 2015 Acts, ch 26, §3 – 6; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §11, 20 – 23, 28; 2020 Acts, ch 1079, §1; 2020 Acts, ch 1102, §33; 2020 Acts, ch 1103, §40, 41, 51; 2021 Acts, ch 76, §123; 2021 Acts, ch 152, §1; 2022 Acts, ch 1134, §24; 2022 Acts, ch 1137, §5 – 8; 2022 Acts, ch 1141, §1; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1181, 2511; 2024 Acts, ch 1024, §1; 2024 Acts, ch 1066, §1; 2024 Acts, ch 1161, §129, 137; 2025 Acts, ch 49, §1; 2025 Acts, ch 73, §2 – 4; 2025 Acts, ch 128, §1