SF 2026 (LSB 5369XS (3) 86)

SENATE FILE 2026

BY  CHELGREN, BEHN, BERTRAND, ANDERSON, SHIPLEY, COSTELLO, KRAAYENBRINK, SCHULTZ, SINCLAIR, KAPUCIAN, KINNEY, BOWMAN, ROZENBOOM, GARRETT, GUTH, WHITVER, and JOHNSON

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to possession and use of certain handguns while hunting deer and including penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 481A.48, subsection 5, Code 2016, is amended to read as follows:
   5.  a.  The commission shall establish one or more pistol or revolver seasons for hunting deer as separate firearm seasons or to coincide with one or more other firearm deer hunting seasons. Any pistol or revolver firing a magnum three hundred fifty-seven thousandths of one inch caliber or larger, centerfire, straight wall ammunition propelling an expanding-type bullet is legal for hunting deer during the pistol or revolver seasons. The commission shall adopt rules to allow black powder pistols or revolvers for hunting deer. The rules shall not allow pistols or revolvers with shoulder stock or long-barrel modifications. The barrel length of a pistol or revolver used for deer hunting shall be at least four inches. The rules may limit types of ammunition. A person who is sixteen years of age or less shall not hunt deer with a pistol or revolver.
   b.  A person with a valid permit to carry weapons pursuant to section 724.7 may possess a pistol or revolver pursuant to that permit while hunting deer. However, a person shall not use a pistol or revolver to hunt deer unless the pistol or revolver meets the requirements of paragraph “a” and the person has a valid hunting license with an unfilled tag that permits use of that pistol or revolver to hunt. 
   c.  A person possessing using a prohibited pistol or revolver while hunting to hunt deer in violation of this subsection commits a scheduled violation under section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph “h”, subparagraph (5).
    Sec. 2.  Section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph h, subparagraph (5), Code 2016, is amended to read as follows:
   (5)  Possession Use of a prohibited pistol or revolver while hunting to hunt deer, the scheduled fine is one hundred dollars.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill amends Code section 481A.48(5) to provide that a person with a valid permit to carry weapons may possess a pistol or revolver pursuant to that permit while hunting deer. However, a person shall not use a pistol or revolver to hunt deer unless the pistol or revolver meets the specifications of the statute and the person has a valid hunting license with an unfilled tag that permits use of that pistol or revolver to hunt deer. A person using a pistol or revolver in violation of the bill’s provisions commits a scheduled violation punishable with a fine of $100.