571—106.7(481A) Method of take. Permitted weapons and devices vary according to the type of season.
	106.7(1) Bow season. Only longbow, compound, or recurve bows shooting broadhead arrows are permitted during the bow season. Arrows must be at least 18 inches long.
	a. 	Crossbows, as described in 106.7(1)“b,” may be used during the bow season in the following two situations:
	(1)	By persons with certain afflictions of the upper body as provided in 571—15.22(481A); and
	(2)	By persons over the age of 70 with an antlerless-deer-only license as provided in Iowa Code section 483A.8B.
	b. 	Crossbow means a weapon consisting of a bow mounted transversely on a stock or frame and designed to fire a bolt, arrow, or quarrel by the release of the bow string, which is controlled by a mechanical trigger and a working safety. Crossbows equipped with pistol grips and designed to be fired with one hand are illegal for taking or attempting to take deer. All projectiles used in conjunction with a crossbow for deer hunting must be equipped with a broadhead.
	c. 	No explosive or chemical device may be attached to any arrow, broadhead or bolt.
	106.7(2) Regular gun seasons. Only the following shall be used in the regular gun season: 10-, 12-, 16-, and 20-gauge shotguns shooting single slugs; any handgun or rifle as described in Iowa Code section 481A.48; and any muzzleloaders as described in subrule 106.7(3).
	106.7(3) Muzzleloader seasons. Only muzzleloading rifles, muzzleloading muskets, muzzleloading pistols, and muzzleloading revolvers will be permitted for taking deer during the early muzzleloader season. During the late muzzleloader season, deer may be taken with a muzzleloading rifle, muzzleloading musket, muzzleloading pistol, muzzleloading revolver, any handgun as defined in 106.7(2), crossbow as described in 106.7(1)“b,” or bow as described in 106.7(1). All muzzleloaders as described in this subrule shall only shoot a single projectile between .44 and .775 of an inch.
	106.7(4) November antlerless-deer-only season. Rescinded IAB 7/11/12, effective 8/15/12.
	106.7(5) January antlerless-deer-only season. Bows, crossbows, shotguns, muzzleloaders, rifles, and handguns as described in this rule may be used during the January antlerless-deer-only season.
	106.7(6) Prohibited weapons and devices. The use of dogs, domestic animals, bait, firearms except as provided for in this chapter, crossbows except as provided in 106.7(1), automobiles, aircraft, or any mechanical conveyance or device, including electronic calls, is prohibited, except that paraplegics and single or double amputees of the legs may hunt from any stationary motor-driven land conveyance. “Bait” means grain, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay, salt, mineral blocks, or any other natural food materials; commercial products containing natural food materials; or by-products of such materials transported to or placed in an area for the intent of attracting wildlife. Bait does not include food placed during normal agricultural activities. “Paraplegic” means an individual with paralysis of the lower half of the body with involvement of both legs, usually due to disease of or injury to the spinal cord. It shall be unlawful for a person, while hunting deer, to carry or have in possession a rifle except as provided in 106.7(2) or 106.7(3). A person in possession of a valid permit to carry weapons may carry a handgun while hunting. However, only handguns as described in 106.7(2) may be used to hunt deer and only when a handgun is a lawful method of take.
	106.7(7) Discharge of firearms from roadway. 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. A “highway” means 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).
	106.7(8) Hunting from blinds. No person shall use a blind for hunting deer during the regular gun deer seasons as defined in 106.2(2), unless such blind exhibits a solid blaze orange marking which is a minimum of 144 square inches in size and is visible in all directions. Such blaze orange shall be affixed directly on or directly on top of the blind. For the purposes of this subrule, the term “blind” is defined as an enclosure used for concealment while hunting, constructed either wholly or partially from man-made materials, and used by a person who is hunting for the purpose of hiding from sight. A blind is not a naturally occurring landscape feature or an arrangement of natural or agricultural plant material that a hunter uses for concealment. In addition to the requirements in this subrule, hunters using blinds must also satisfy the requirements of wearing blaze orange as prescribed in Iowa Code section 481A.122.
[ARC 9717B, IAB 9/7/11, effective 10/12/11; ARC 0189C, IAB 7/11/12, effective 8/15/12; ARC 1562C, IAB 8/6/14, effective 9/10/14; ARC 2086C, IAB 8/5/15, effective 9/9/15; ARC 3098C, IAB 6/7/17, effective 7/12/17; ARC 3831C, IAB 6/6/18, effective 7/11/18; ARC 5601C, IAB 5/5/21, effective 6/9/21]