[DOK]

For we Iowans, hunting season(s) are very limited at this time of the year. With the exception of Coyote (continuous open season) and pigeons within 100yds. of building/bridges, nothing else is available. We obviously can't have those coyotes getting in the chicken coups, nor the pigeons bombing our bridges, but the rest of the creatures get time to get a little older. I've listed the "tentative" 2002-2003" seasons below, but find one omission – no handgun deer hunting, which has previously been an approved season as per the following legislative information:

RELATING TO THE HUNTING OF DEER WITH A PISTOL OR REVOLVER
     AND PROVIDING A PENALTY.
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
 
Section 1.  Section 481A.48, Code 1997, is amended by adding the following new unnumbered paragraph:
 1 11 NEW UNNUMBERED PARAGRAPH.  The commission shall establish
 1 12 one or more pistol or revolver seasons for hunting deer as
 1 13 separate firearm seasons or to coincide with one or more other
 1 14 firearm deer hunting seasons.  Any pistol or revolver firing a
 1 15 magnum three hundred fifty-seven thousandths of one inch
 1 16 caliber or larger, centerfire, straight wall ammunition
 1 17 propelling an expanding-type bullet is legal for hunting deer
 1 18 during the pistol or revolver seasons.  The commission shall
 1 19 adopt rules to allow black powder pistols or revolvers for
 1 20 hunting deer.  The rules shall not allow pistols or revolvers
 1 21 with shoulder stock or long-barrel modifications.  The barrel
 1 22 length of a pistol or revolver use for deer hunting shall be
 1 23 at least four inches.  The rules may limit types of
 1 24 ammunition.  A person who is sixteen years of age or less
1 25  shall not hunt deer with a pistol or revolver.  

You will note that the handgun cartridges are limited to straight wall ammunition and “expanding-type” bullets. Previous years have had deer/handgun seasons, so I’m sure the following proposed “tentative” schedule simply has an oversight re the handguns usage.

Iowa 2002-2003 Hunting Seasons

Species                    Dates Inclusive
Youth Rooster Pheasant (age <=15)       Oct 19-20
Rooster Pheasant                   Oct 26-Jan 10
Bobwhite Quail                   Oct 12-Jan 31
Gray Partridge                   Oct 14-Nov 30
Turkey (Gun) *                   Oct 1-Dec 6 & Dec 23-Jan 10
Turkey (Bow only)*                   Oct 1-Dec 6 & Dec 23-Jan 10
Deer (Bow)                   Oct 1-Dec 6 & Dec 23-Jan 10
Deer (Muzzleloader)                   Oct 12-Oct 20 & Dec 23-Jan 10
Youth Deer (12-15yr)                   Sept 21-Oct 6
and severely disabled
Deer (Shotgun)                   Dec 7-Dec 11 (first) or Dec 14-Dec 22 (second)
Late Deer                   Jan 11-17
(Antlerless)**
Ruffed Grouse                   Oct 5-Jan 31
Rabbit (Cottontail)                   Sept 1-Feb 28
Rabbit (Jack)                   Oct 26-Dec 1
Squirrel (Fox/Grey)                   Sept 1-Jan 31
Groundhog                  June 15-Oct 31
Crow                  Oct 15-Nov 30 & Jan 14-March 31
Pigeon ***                  Oct 1-March 31
Raccoon and Opossum                  Nov 2-Jan 31
Rox (Red/Gray)                  Nov 2-Jan 31
Coyote      Continuous Open Season

*     Resident only
**   Restricted by county
*** Within 100yds of building/bridge open year
       around

Dan

 

[IDShooter]

Say,
  Thanks for the info, Dan! You know, I've always wondered why such a big, primarily agricultural state makes you use a shotgun for deer hunting. I know it's fairly flat, but I seem to remember lots of rolling hills from the times I've driven across it.
    Delaware is the same way. Shotguns only for deer. But I'll be honest, the deer hunting there is very good, and if you learn the deer's travel routes the shotgun was not too bad a disadvantage.  ID

 

[DOK]

IDShooter,

I suspect most folks expect Iowa to be flat, and it does have flat spots, but is more frequently as you observed, rolling.  The rolling aspect, wooded and crop fields everywhere, don't offer very many long range shots. Add farm houses dotting the landscape, and you have the problem with longer range rifles. I suspect most Iowa hunters start with the shotgun for birds and are thus familiar and comfortable when they get older and go deer hunting. The muzzle loaders have really taken off, very noticable in October when I can't find any .44/.45 bullets on the shelf. They take over the range in October to get their stuff sighted in, at which time I give the range up. They show up with some form of card board box (or water jugs/pop bottles) and no vision assistance. So they shoot one / three shots and then walk the 50/100 yds. to see if/where they hit, swear (actually some mutter rather than swear) and walk back. This ritual is repeated until they either get a pattern small enough to hit a deer from rest or give up. Adding the five minutes it takes between each shot, you either make it to the range very early or adapt to their schedule -- ten shots an hour! Of course I'm funning, we pistol shooters really appreciate those fun loving woodsmen and look forward to sharing OUR range with them.

Dan



<!--EDIT|DOK|April 25 2002,05:18-->

 

[mcassill]

They never have had a seperate handgun season here.  You just get to use them during the shotgun season.  BTW, my cast bullets expand on impact.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it...  <!--emo&--><img src="http://beartoothbullets.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''><!--endemo-->
Mark

 

[Drifty]

mcassill

Your story will stand the test. I checked with the DNR and they will buy anything but FMJ. They told me the cast bullets were fine but they just couldn't figure out why I would want to use them. That is what you get when you got desk jockys makin the rules!

 

[mcassill]

In this year's hunting regs they have made a list of acceptable calibers for deer hunting. If the round didn't make the list you can't use it. They included such famous deer rounds as the .38 Super and the .40 S&W, but not the .480 Ruger. So I guess I definitely will be using the .500, since it DID make their list, along with the .475 and most of the other classic big game rounds for revolvers.
Mark