CHAPTER 483A
FISHING AND HUNTING LICENSES, CONTRABAND, AND GUNS

Referred to in §142C.2, 232.8, 321K.1, 350.5, 455A.4, 455A.5, 456A.14, 456A.24, 481A.1, 481A.6A, 481A.134, 481A.135, 482.1, 484B.3, 805.16, 903.1

This chapter not enacted as a part of this title;

transferred from chapter 110 in Code 1993
See §481A.134 and 481A.135 for point system and additional

penalties

SUBCHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

  
     
483A.1  Licenses — fees — rules.
  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person shall not fish, trap, hunt, pursue, catch, kill, take in any manner, use, have possession of, sell, or transport all or a part of any wild animal, bird, game, turtle, or fish, the protection and regulation of which is desirable for the conservation of resources of the state, without first obtaining a license for that purpose, and the payment of a fee as established by rules adopted by the commission pursuant to chapter 17A.
  2.  a.  The fees established by rule pursuant to subsection 1 shall be periodically evaluated by the department, but not less often than once every three years, to ensure that the fees paid are sufficient to meet the needs of natural resource management and the public.
  b.  By December 15 of each year on and after December 15, 2019, that an evaluation of the license fees is completed, the department shall file a written report with the commission and the general assembly which shall include the evaluation and recommendations for changes, if any. Any fee increase proposed in such a report shall not take effect until on or after December 15 of the year succeeding the report and an individual license fee shall not be increased in any calendar year in an amount that exceeds five percent.
[S13, §2563-a2, -o, -p; SS15, §2547-a, 2562-b, 2563-a1; C24, §1706, 1718, 1719, 1748, 1752, 1756, 1779; C27, §1706, 1718, 1719, 1719-a1, 1748, 1752, 1756, 1779; C31, §1706, 1718, 1718-c1, 1719, 1719-a1, 1748, 1752, 1756, 1766-c3, 1779; C35, §1794-e1; C39, §1794.082; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §110.1]
84 Acts, ch 1199, §2; 84 Acts, ch 1260, §2; 86 Acts, ch 1114, §1; 86 Acts, ch 1141, §17; 86 Acts, ch 1240, §1; 89 Acts, ch 90, §2; 89 Acts, ch 237, §1; 89 Acts, ch 238, §1; 91 Acts, ch 237, §3; 92 Acts, ch 1216, §10, 11
C93, §483A.1
95 Acts, ch 12, §1; 95 Acts, ch 46, §2; 98 Acts, ch 1199, §5, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30; 2001 Acts, ch 137, §5; 2001 Acts, ch 148, §1 – 3, 9; 2002 Acts, ch 1141, §1; 2003 Acts, ch 120, §1 – 4, 6; 2003 Acts, ch 152, §1 – 3, 6; 2005 Acts, ch 139, §3; 2007 Acts, ch 194, §1, 2; 2009 Acts, ch 144, §32, 33; 2009 Acts, ch 179, §147, 214, 215, 217; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §5, 23; 2012 Acts, ch 1118, §14; 2013 Acts, ch 62, §1; 2014 Acts, ch 1058, §1, 2; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §1, 28
Referred to in §331.605, 481A.93, 483A.1A, 483A.3, 483A.6B, 483A.7, 483A.8, 483A.9A, 483A.17, 483A.24, 483A.28, 717F.7, 805.8B(3)(o)
Commercial fishing licenses, see §482.4 
For applicable scheduled fines, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph o 
Changes made to fees and terms of licenses by 2018 Acts, ch 1159, do not affect the validity of a license issued prior to December 15, 2018; 
2018 Acts, ch 1159, §28

  
     
483A.1A  Definitions.
  As used in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:
  1.  “Boundary waters” means the waters of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Big Sioux rivers.
  2.  “Commission” means the natural resource commission.
  3.  “Department” means the department of natural resources created under section 455A.2.
  4.  “Director” means the director of the department.
  5.  “License” means a privilege granted by the commission to fish, hunt, fur harvest, pursue, catch, kill, take in any manner, use, have possession of, sell, or transport all or part of a wild animal, bird, game, or fish, including any privilege related to a license granted by issuance of a stamp or a payment of a fee.
  6.  “License agent” means an individual, business, or governmental agency authorized to sell a license.
  7.  “License document” means an authorization, certificate, or permit issued by the department or a license agent that lists and confers one or more license privileges.
  8.  “Nonresident” means a person who is not a resident as defined in subsection 10.
  9.  “Principal and primary residence or domicile” means the one and only place where a person has a true, fixed, and permanent home, and to where, whenever the person is briefly and temporarily absent, the person intends to return. Relevant factors in determining a person’s principal and primary residence or domicile include but are not limited to proof of place of employment, mailing address, utility records, land ownership records, vehicle registration, and address listed on the person’s state and federal income tax returns. A person shall submit documentation to establish the person’s principal and primary residence or domicile to the department or its designee upon request. The department or its designee shall keep confidential any document received pursuant to such a request if the document is required to be kept confidential by state or federal law.
  10.  “Resident” means a natural person who meets any of the following criteria during each year in which the person claims status as a resident:
  a.  Has physically resided in this state as the person’s principal and primary residence or domicile for a period of not less than ninety consecutive days immediately before applying for or purchasing a resident license, tag, or permit under this chapter and has been issued an Iowa driver’s license or an Iowa nonoperator’s identification card. A person is not considered a resident under this paragraph if the person is residing in the state only for a special or temporary purpose including but not limited to engaging in hunting, fishing, or trapping.
  b.  Is a full-time student at either of the following:
  (1)  An accredited educational institution located in this state and resides in this state while attending the educational institution.
  (2)  An accredited educational institution located outside of this state, if the person is under the age of twenty-five and has at least one parent or legal guardian who maintains a principal and primary residence or domicile in this state.
  c.  Is a student who qualifies as a resident pursuant to paragraph “b” only for the purpose of purchasing any resident license specified in rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1.
  d.  Is a nonresident under eighteen years of age whose parent is a resident of this state.
  e.  Is a member of the armed forces of the United States who is serving on active duty and meets any of the following qualifications:
  (1)  Claims residency in this state and has filed a state individual income tax return as a resident pursuant to chapter 422, subchapter II, for the preceding tax year.
  (2)  Is stationed at a federal military installation in this state, or at a federal military installation contiguous to a county in this state, and is domiciled within this state.
  (3)  Is stationed at and resides or is domiciled within a federal military installation located contiguous to a county in this state.
  f.  Is the spouse of a person included in paragraph “e”.
86 Acts, ch 1245, §1858
C87, §110.1A
C93, §483A.1A
95 Acts, ch 76, §1; 2000 Acts, ch 1116, §3 – 5; 2000 Acts, ch 1175, §1, 2; 2001 Acts, ch 134, §3; 2003 Acts, ch 37, §1; 2009 Acts, ch 144, §34, 35; 2011 Acts, ch 34, §112; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §15, 28; 2020 Acts, ch 1062, §94; 2020 Acts, ch 1073, §1, 2
Referred to in §321G.1, 321I.1, 482.2, 483A.2
See Code editor’s note on simple harmonization at the beginning of this Code volume
Code editor directive applied
Subsection 10, paragraph e stricken and rewritten
Subsection 10, NEW paragraph f

     
483A.2  Dual residency.
  A resident license shall be limited to persons who do not claim any resident privileges, except as defined in section 483A.1A, subsection 10, paragraphs “b”, “c”, “d”, and “e”, in another state or country. A person shall not purchase or apply for any resident license or permit if that person has claimed residency in any other state or country.
2000 Acts, ch 1116, §6; 2009 Acts, ch 144, §36

  
     
483A.3  Wildlife habitat fee.
  1.  a.  A resident or nonresident person required to have a hunting or fur harvester license shall not hunt or trap unless the person purchases a hunting or fur harvester license that includes the wildlife habitat fee, in an amount established by rules adopted by the commission pursuant to section 483A.1. 
  b.  Residents who have permanent disabilities or who are younger than sixteen or older than sixty-five years of age may purchase a hunting or fur harvester license that does not include the wildlife habitat fee. 
  c.  All wildlife habitat fees shall be administered in the same manner as hunting and fur harvester licenses except all revenue derived from wildlife habitat fees shall be used within the state of Iowa for habitat development and shall be deposited in the state fish and game protection fund, except as provided in subsection 2. The revenue may be used for the matching of federal funds. The revenues and any matched federal funds shall be used for acquisition of land, leasing of land, or obtaining of easements from willing sellers for use as wildlife habitats. Notwithstanding the exemption provided by section 427.1, any land acquired with the revenues and matched federal funds shall be subject to the full consolidated levy of property taxes, which shall be paid from the income generated from those lands or, if no such income is generated, from the wildlife habitat fee revenues. In addition the revenue may be used for the development and enhancement of wildlife lands and habitat areas.
  d.  Not less than three dollars from each wildlife habitat fee shall be allocated as specified in section 483A.3B and not less than fifty percent of the balance of each fee shall be used by the commission to enter into agreements with county conservation boards or other public agencies in order to carry out the purposes of this section. However, the state share of funding of those agreements provided by the revenue from wildlife habitat fees shall not exceed seventy-five percent.
  2.  Up to sixty percent of the revenues from wildlife habitat fees which are not required under subsection 1 to be used by the commission to enter into agreements with county conservation boards or other public agencies may be credited to the wildlife habitat bond fund as provided in section 483A.53.
  3.  Notwithstanding subsections 1 and 2, any increase in wildlife habitat fee revenues collected on or after December 15, 2018, pursuant to this section as a result of wildlife habitat fee increases established by rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1, shall be used by the commission for any of the purposes set forth in this section or in section 483A.3B, except that such increases in revenues collected shall not be used by the commission for the purpose of land acquisition. The commission shall not reduce on an annual basis for these purposes the amount of other funds being expended as of December 15, 2018.
  4.  A multi-year hunting license purchased pursuant to section 483A.9A, includes the payment of a wildlife habitat fee for each of the years for which the license is valid and those fees shall be used as provided in this section.
[C79, 81, §110.3]
84 Acts, ch 1260, §3; 86 Acts, ch 1114, §2; 86 Acts, ch 1231, §1
C93, §483A.3
96 Acts, ch 1129, §98; 98 Acts, ch 1199, §6, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30; 2007 Acts, ch 194, §3; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §6, 23; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §2 – 5, 28
Referred to in §427.1(24)(a), 483A.3B, 805.8B(3)(b)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph b 

  
     
483A.3A  Fish habitat development funding.
  Three dollars from each resident and nonresident annual and seven-day fishing license and nine dollars from each resident multi-year fishing license sold shall be deposited in the state fish and game protection fund and shall be used within this state for fish habitat development. Not less than fifty percent of this amount shall be used by the commission to enter into agreements with county conservation boards to carry out the purposes of this section.
2001 Acts, ch 148, §4, 9; 2003 Acts, ch 152, §4, 6; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §7, 23; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §6, 28

  
     
483A.3B  Game bird habitat development programs.
  1.  Allocation of revenue — accounts.  All revenue collected from wildlife habitat fees as provided in section 483A.3, subsection 1, paragraph “d”, that is deposited in the state fish and game protection fund and that is allocated pursuant to this section shall be allocated as follows:
  a.  Not less than two dollars of each wildlife habitat fee collected shall be allocated to the game bird wetlands conservation account.
  b.  Not less than one dollar of each wildlife habitat fee collected shall be allocated to the game bird buffer strip assistance account.
  c.  Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys collected from wildlife habitat fees that are deposited in each account created under this section shall be credited to that account. Notwithstanding section 8.33 or section 456A.17, moneys credited to each account created under this section shall not revert to the state general fund at the close of a fiscal year.
  d.  All revenue collected from wildlife habitat fees as provided in section 483A.3, subsection 1, paragraph “d”, that is allocated pursuant to this section shall be used as provided in this section, except for that part which is specified by the department for use in paying administrative expenses as provided in section 456A.17.
  2.  Game bird wetlands conservation program.
  a.  All moneys allocated to the game bird wetlands conservation account shall be used by the department only to carry out the purposes of the game bird wetlands conservation program and shall be used in addition to funds already being expended by the department each year for wetlands conservation purposes.
  b.  The purpose of the game bird wetlands conservation program is to create a sustained source of revenue to be used by the department to qualify for federal matching funds that are available for wetlands conservation and to undertake projects in conjunction with soil and water conservation districts, county conservation boards, and other partners that will aid in wetlands and associated habitat conservation in the state, including the acquisition, restoration, maintenance, or preservation of wetlands and associated habitat.
  c.  (1)  All moneys that are allocated to the game bird wetlands conservation account shall accumulate in the account until the account balance is equal to one million dollars or an amount sufficient to be used by the department to qualify for federal matching funds. Each time the account balance reaches an amount sufficient to be used by the department to qualify for federal matching funds, the department shall apply for such matching funds, and upon obtaining such funds, shall expend the state and federal revenues available at that time to undertake projects as set forth in paragraph “b”.
  (2)  Additional moneys that are generated by game bird wildlife habitat fees and allocated to the game bird wetlands conservation account shall again accumulate in the account, and each time the account balance is equal to one million dollars or an amount sufficient to be used by the department to qualify for federal matching funds, the department shall again apply for federal matching funds, and upon obtaining such funds, shall expend the state and federal revenues available at that time to undertake projects as set forth in paragraph “b”.
  d.  The department shall use all state revenue and federal matching funds obtained under the federal North American Wetlands Conservation Act to undertake the purposes of the game bird wetlands conservation program as set forth in paragraph “b”. State revenue allocated to the account shall be used by the department only for projects that increase public recreational hunting opportunities in the state and shall not be used for projects on private land that is not accessible to the public for recreational hunting.
  3.  Game bird buffer strip assistance program.
  a.  All moneys allocated to the game bird buffer strip assistance account shall be used by the department only to carry out the purposes of the game bird buffer strip assistance program and shall be used in addition to funds already being expended by the department each year for such purposes. The department shall not reduce the amount of other funds being expended for these purposes as of July 1, 2007.
  b.  The purpose of the game bird buffer strip assistance program is to increase landowner participation in federally funded conservation programs that benefit game birds and to increase opportunities for recreational hunting on private lands. To the extent possible, moneys allocated to the game bird buffer strip assistance account shall be used in conjunction with and to qualify for additional funding from private conservation organizations and other state and federal agencies to accomplish the purposes of the program. The funds may be used to provide private landowners with cost-sharing assistance for habitat improvement practices on projects that are not eligible for federal programs or where federal funding for such projects is not adequate. The department may utilize the funds to provide marketing and outreach efforts to landowners in order to maximize landowners’ use of federal conservation programs. The department may coordinate such marketing and outreach efforts with soil and water conservation districts and other partners.
  c.  (1)  All moneys that are allocated to the game bird buffer strip assistance account shall accumulate in the account for a period of three years. At the end of the three-year period, the moneys in the account shall be used by the department to carry out the purposes of the game bird buffer strip assistance program as set forth in paragraph “b”. The department shall, by rule pursuant to chapter 17A, establish eligibility requirements for the program and procedures for applications for and approval of projects to be funded under the program. The department shall expend moneys from the account only for projects on private land that is accessible to the public for recreational hunting.
  (2)  Additional moneys that are generated by game bird wildlife habitat fees and allocated to the game bird buffer strip assistance account shall accumulate in the account and shall be used by the department every three years as set forth in subparagraph (1).
2007 Acts, ch 194, §4; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §7, 28
Referred to in §483A.3

     
483A.4  “Permanent disability” defined.
  For the purpose of obtaining a license, a person has a “permanent disability” if any of the following apply:
  1.  The person has been found under the provisions of the federal Social Security Act, Tit. II, or any other public or private pension system to have a total, permanent physical or mental condition which prevents that person from engaging in the person’s occupation or qualifies that person for retirement.
  2.  The person has a severe physical disability and has qualified for a special license under section 483A.24.
[C79, 81, §110.4]
84 Acts, ch 1260, §4
C93, §483A.4
96 Acts, ch 1129, §99; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §180

  
     
483A.5  Fur harvester license.
  A fur harvester license is required to hunt and to trap any fur-bearing animal. A hunting license is not required when hunting furbearers with a fur harvester license. However, coyote and groundhog may be hunted with a hunting or a fur harvester license.
84 Acts, ch 1260, §12
C85, §110.5
85 Acts, ch 10, §2; 86 Acts, ch 1114, §3
C93, §483A.5
98 Acts, ch 1199, §7, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30

     
483A.6  Trout fishing fee.
  Any person required to have a fishing license shall not fish for or possess trout unless that person has paid the trout fishing fee. The proceeds from the fee shall be used exclusively for the trout program designated by the commission. The commission may grant a permit to a community event in which trout will be stocked in water which is not designated trout water and a person may catch and possess trout during the period and from the water covered by the permit without having paid the trout fishing fee.
[C62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.1; C79, 81, §110.6]
86 Acts, ch 1240, §2; 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1877
C93, §483A.6
98 Acts, ch 1199, §8, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30; 2003 Acts, ch 152, §5, 6
Referred to in §805.8B(3)(b)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph b 
Special licenses, see §483A.24

  
     
483A.6A  Paddlefish fishing license and tag.
  1.  A resident fishing for paddlefish on the Missouri or Big Sioux river who is required to have a fishing license must purchase a paddlefish fishing license, in addition to a resident fishing license.
  2.  A nonresident fishing for paddlefish on the Missouri or Big Sioux river is required to have a fishing license that is valid in Iowa and, in addition, purchase a nonresident paddlefish fishing license.
  3.  The commission shall establish the number of annual paddlefish fishing licenses that may be issued pursuant to section 481A.39 for use on the Missouri or Big Sioux river. A paddlefish fishing license shall be accompanied by a tag designed to be used only once. If a paddlefish is taken pursuant to a paddlefish fishing license, the paddlefish shall be tagged immediately and the tag shall be dated.
2014 Acts, ch 1058, §3
Referred to in §805.8B(3)(c)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph c
Special licenses, see §483A.24

     
483A.6B  Nonresident five-day hunting license — fee.
  1.  A nonresident may be issued a five-day hunting license that costs an amount as set by rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1, including the wildlife habitat fee. A nonresident hunting with a license issued under this section shall be otherwise qualified to hunt in this state.
  2.  This section is repealed on December 15, 2021.
2018 Acts, ch 1159, §8, 28

  
     
483A.7  Wild turkey hunting license and tag.
  1.  A resident hunting wild turkey who is required to have a license must purchase a resident hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee in addition to the wild turkey hunting license. Upon application and payment of the required fees for archery-only licenses, a resident archer shall be issued two wild turkey licenses for the spring season.
  2.  The wild turkey hunting license shall be accompanied by a tag designed to be used only once. If a wild turkey is taken, the wild turkey shall be tagged and the tag shall be dated.
  3.  a.  A nonresident wild turkey hunter is required to purchase a nonresident hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee and a nonresident wild turkey hunting license. The commission shall annually limit to two thousand three hundred licenses the number of nonresidents allowed to have wild turkey hunting licenses. Of the two thousand three hundred licenses, one hundred fifty licenses shall be valid for hunting with muzzle loading shotguns only. The commission shall allocate the nonresident wild turkey hunting licenses issued among the zones based on the populations of wild turkey. A nonresident applying for a wild turkey hunting license must exhibit proof of having successfully completed a hunter education program as provided in section 483A.27 or its equivalent as determined by the department before the license is issued.
  b.  The commission shall assign one preference point to a nonresident whose application for a nonresident wild turkey hunting license is denied due to limitations on the number of nonresident wild turkey hunting licenses available for issuance that year. An additional preference point shall be assigned to that person each subsequent year the person’s license application is denied for that reason. A nonresident may purchase additional preference points pursuant to rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1. The first nonresident wild turkey hunting license drawing each year shall be made from the pool of applicants with the most preference points and continue to pools of applicants with successively fewer preference points until all available nonresident wild turkey hunting licenses have been issued. If a nonresident applicant receives a wild turkey hunting license, all of the applicant’s assigned preference points at that time shall be removed.
  4.  A person who is issued a youth spring wild turkey hunting license and does not take a wild turkey during the youth spring wild turkey hunting season may use the wild turkey hunting license and unused tag during any other wild turkey hunting season that is established by the commission.
86 Acts, ch 1240, §3
C87, §110.7
89 Acts, ch 237, §2; 90 Acts, ch 1003, §1
C93, §483A.7
94 Acts, ch 1111, §1; 98 Acts, ch 1199, §9, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30; 2001 Acts, ch 134, §4; 2001 Acts, ch 148, §5, 9; 2002 Acts, ch 1119, §63; 2009 Acts, ch 144, §37; 2009 Acts, ch 179, §147; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §8, 9, 23; 2014 Acts, ch 1015, §1, 2; 2015 Acts, ch 26, §1; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §16, 28
Referred to in §483A.24, 805.8B(3)(c)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph c 
Special licenses, see §483A.24

  
     
483A.8  Deer hunting license and tag.
  1.  A resident hunting deer who is required to have a hunting license must purchase a resident hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee, in addition to the deer hunting license. In addition, a resident who purchases a deer hunting license shall 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.
  2.  a.  The deer hunting license shall be accompanied by a tag designed to be used only once. When a deer is taken, the deer shall be tagged and the tag shall be dated. The tag shall be attached to the carcass of a deer taken within fifteen minutes of the time the deer carcass is located after being taken, or before the carcass is moved to be transported by any means from the place where the deer was taken, whichever occurs first. For each antlered deer taken, the tag shall be affixed to the deer’s antlers.
  b.  For purposes of the tagging requirements in this subsection, a deer carcass may be moved away from an obstacle, entanglement, waterway, or any other area, including but not limited to a roadway, if tagging the carcass at that location would be a safety hazard to the hunter or a third person, before the tag is attached to the carcass. However, the carcass shall not be moved from the immediate vicinity of where the deer was taken, shall be moved only so far as is necessary to avoid the obstacle, entanglement, waterway, or other safety hazard, and shall be tagged immediately upon being so moved and before being moved to be transported.
  3.  a.  A nonresident hunting deer is required to purchase a nonresident annual hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee and a nonresident deer hunting license. In addition, a nonresident who purchases a deer hunting license shall 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.
  b.  A nonresident who purchases an antlered or any sex deer hunting license pursuant to rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1, is required to purchase an antlerless deer only deer hunting license at the same time, pursuant to rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1.
  c.  The commission shall annually limit to six thousand the number of nonresidents allowed to have antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses. Of the six thousand nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses issued, not more than thirty-five percent of the licenses shall be bow season licenses. After the six thousand antlered or any sex nonresident deer hunting licenses have been issued, all additional licenses shall be issued for antlerless deer only. The commission shall annually determine the number of nonresident antlerless deer only deer hunting licenses that will be available for issuance.
  d.  The commission shall allocate all nonresident deer hunting licenses issued among the zones based on the populations of deer. However, a nonresident applicant may request one or more hunting zones, in order of preference, in which the applicant wishes to hunt. If the request cannot be fulfilled, the applicable fees shall be returned to the applicant. A nonresident applying for a deer hunting license must exhibit proof of having successfully completed a hunter education program as provided in section 483A.27 or its equivalent as determined by the department before the license is issued.
  e.  The commission shall assign one preference point to a nonresident whose application for a nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting license is denied due to limitations on the number of nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses available for issuance that year. An additional preference point shall be assigned to that person each subsequent year the person’s license application is denied for that reason. A nonresident may purchase additional preference points pursuant to rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1. The first nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting license drawing each year shall be made from the pool of applicants with the most preference points and continue to pools of applicants with successively fewer preference points until all available nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses have been issued. If a nonresident applicant receives an antlered or any sex deer hunting license, all of the applicant’s assigned preference points at that time shall be removed.
  4.  The commission may provide, by rule, for the issuance of an additional antlerless deer hunting license to a person who has been issued an antlerless deer hunting license. The rules shall specify the number of additional antlerless deer hunting licenses which may be issued, and the season and zone in which the license is valid. The fee for an additional antlerless deer hunting license shall be an amount established by rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1 for residents.
  5.  A nonresident owning land in this state may apply for a nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting license, and the provisions of subsection 3 shall apply. However, if a nonresident owning land in this state is unsuccessful in obtaining one of the nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses, the landowner shall be given preference for one of the antlerless deer only nonresident deer hunting licenses available pursuant to subsection 3. A nonresident owning land in this state shall pay the fee for a nonresident antlerless only deer hunting license and the license shall be valid to hunt on the nonresident’s land only. If one or more parcels of land have multiple nonresident owners, only one of the nonresident owners is eligible for a nonresident antlerless only deer hunting license. If a nonresident jointly owns land in this state with a resident, the nonresident shall not be given preference for a nonresident antlerless only deer hunting license. The department may require proof of land ownership from a nonresident landowner applying for a nonresident antlerless only deer hunting license.
  6.  The commission shall provide by rule for the annual issuance to a nonresident of a nonresident antlerless deer hunting license that is valid for use only during the period beginning on December 24 and ending at sunset on January 2 of the following year and costs an amount established by rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1. A nonresident hunting deer with a license issued under this subsection shall be otherwise qualified to hunt deer in this state and shall purchase a nonresident annual hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee, and pay the one dollar fee for the purpose of deer herd population management as provided in subsection 3. Pursuant to this subsection, the commission shall make available for issuance only the remaining nonresident antlerless deer hunting licenses allocated under subsection 3 that have not yet been issued for the current year’s nonresident antlerless deer hunting seasons.
  7.  A person who is issued a youth deer hunting license may use the deer hunting license and tag during any established deer hunting season using the method of take authorized by rule for each season being hunted. If the tag is filled during one of the seasons, the license will not be valid in subsequent seasons.
  8.  The commission shall adopt a rule permitting a resident to use a crossbow for taking deer during the late season that is designated for taking deer by muzzleloading rifle or muzzleloading pistol.
[C79, 81, §110.8]
86 Acts, ch 1240, §4; 89 Acts, ch 237, §3; 90 Acts, ch 1003, §2
C93, §483A.8
94 Acts, ch 1111, §2; 98 Acts, ch 1199, §10, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1203, §5 – 7; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §28 – 30; 2001 Acts, ch 134, §5; 2001 Acts, ch 148, §6, 7, 9; 2002 Acts, ch 1119, §64; 2003 Acts, ch 85, §1; 2005 Acts, ch 139, §4; 2005 Acts, ch 179, §132; 2007 Acts, ch 129, §1; 2008 Acts, ch 1158, §1; 2009 Acts, ch 144, §38; 2009 Acts, ch 179, §216, 217; 2011 Acts, ch 103, §1; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §10 – 12, 23; 2014 Acts, ch 1100, §1; 2015 Acts, ch 26, §2; 2017 Acts, ch 48, §1; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §9, 17, 18, 28
Referred to in §483A.24, 805.8B(3)(c)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph c 
Special licenses, see §483A.8B, 483A.8C, 483A.24 

  
     
483A.8A  Deer and wild turkey harvest reporting system.
  1.  The commission shall provide, by rule, for the establishment of a deer and wild turkey harvest reporting system for the purpose of collecting information from hunters concerning the deer and wild turkey population in this state. Each person who is issued a deer or wild turkey hunting license in this state shall report such information pursuant to this section. Information collected by the commission pursuant to the deer and wild turkey harvest reporting system from a hunter who takes a deer or wild turkey shall be limited to the following:
  a.  The county where the deer or wild turkey was taken.
  b.  The season during which the deer or wild turkey was taken.
  c.  The sex of the deer or wild turkey taken.
  d.  The age of the deer or wild turkey taken.
  e.  The type of weapon used.
  f.  The hunting license number of the hunter.
  g.  The number of days the hunter hunted.
  h.  The total number of deer or wild turkey taken by the hunter.
  2.  The deer and wild turkey harvest reporting system established by the commission shall utilize and is limited to utilizing one or more of the following methods of reporting deer or wild turkey taken by hunters:
  a.  A toll-free telephone number.
  b.  A postcard.
  c.  Reporting at an electronic licensing location.
  d.  Electronic internet communication.
2005 Acts, ch 139, §5; 2009 Acts, ch 144, §39
Referred to in §481C.2A, 805.8B(3)(b)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph b

  
     
483A.8B  Senior crossbow deer hunting licenses.
  1.  A person who is a resident and who is sixty-five years of age or older may be issued one special senior statewide antlerless deer only crossbow deer hunting license to hunt deer during bow season as established by rule by the commission. A person who obtains a license to hunt deer under this section is not required to pay the wildlife habitat fee but shall be otherwise qualified to hunt deer in this state and shall purchase a resident hunting license that does not include the wildlife habitat fee.
  2.  A person may obtain a license under this section in addition to a statewide antlered or any sex deer hunting bow season license. Season dates, shooting hours, limits, license quotas, and other regulations for this license shall be the same as set forth by the commission by rule for bow season deer hunts.
2006 Acts, ch 1064, §1; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §13, 23; 2020 Acts, ch 1091, §1
Subsection 1 amended

     
483A.8C  Nonambulatory persons — deer hunting licenses.
  1.  A nonambulatory person who is a resident may be issued one any sex deer hunting license to hunt deer during any established deer hunting season using the method of take authorized by rule for each season being hunted. If the tag is filled during one of the seasons, the license will not be valid in subsequent seasons. A person who applies for a license pursuant to this section shall complete a form, as required by rule, that is signed by a physician who verifies that the person is nonambulatory.
  2.  A person who obtains a deer hunting license under this section is not required to pay the wildlife habitat fee but shall purchase a deer hunting license and hunting license that does not include the wildlife habitat fee, be otherwise qualified to hunt, and 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.
  3.  A person may obtain a license under this section in addition to any other deer hunting licenses for which the person is eligible.
  4.  For the purposes of this section, “nonambulatory person” means an individual who has received a nonambulatory person’s permit from the department as provided by rule, and at a minimum has one or more of the following conditions:
  a.  Paralysis of the lower half of the body, usually due to disease or a spinal cord injury.
  b.  Loss or partial loss of both legs.
  c.  Any other physical affliction which makes it impossible for the person to ambulate successfully.
2009 Acts, ch 83, §1; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §14, 23; 2019 Acts, ch 70, §1

     
483A.9  Blanks.
  The director shall provide blanks for, and determine the method, means, and requirements of issuing licenses including the issuance of licenses by electronic means.
[S13, §2563-a3; C24, 27, 31, §1722; C35, §1794-e2; C39, §1794.083; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.2; C79, 81, §110.9]
86 Acts, ch 1245, §1878
C93, §483A.9
98 Acts, ch 1199, §11, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30

  
     
483A.9A  Combination packages of licenses.
  1.  The commission is authorized, pursuant to rules adopted under chapter 17A, to develop combination packages of licenses in order to offer incentives to residents to purchase additional licenses or for the specific purpose of increasing sales of licenses that will help to recruit or retain hunters, anglers, and trappers in the state.
  2.  The total cost of each combination package of licenses offered shall be less than the total cost of the licenses if each were purchased separately.
  3.  The commission shall offer to residents a combination package of an annual fishing license and an annual hunting license, as provided in rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1, the cost of which includes the wildlife habitat fee.
2009 Acts, ch 144, §40; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §15, 23; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §19, 28
Referred to in §483A.3

     
483A.10  Issuance of licenses.
  1.  The licenses and combination packages of licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall be issued by the department or the license agents as specified by rules of the commission. A county recorder may issue licenses or combination packages of licenses subject to the rules of the commission.
  2.  The rules shall include the application procedures as necessary. The licenses and combination packages of licenses shall show the total cost of the license or combination package of licenses, including a writing fee to be retained by the license agent and any administrative fees to be forwarded to the department, if applicable. A person authorized to issue a license or combination package of licenses or collect a fee pursuant to this chapter or chapter 484A shall charge the fee specified in this chapter or chapter 484A only plus a writing fee and administrative fee, if applicable.
  3.  An application for a hunting, fishing, or fur harvester license shall include a section where an applicant may request that the applicant’s license include a symbol that indicates that the applicant is a donor under the revised uniform anatomical gift Act as provided in chapter 142C.
[SS15, §2563-a4; C24, 27, 31, §1724; C35, §1794-e3; C39, §1794.084; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.3; C79, 81, §110.10]
84 Acts, ch 1260, §5
C93, §483A.10
98 Acts, ch 1199, §12, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30; 2000 Acts, ch 1019, §3; 2001 Acts, ch 134, §6; 2009 Acts, ch 144, §41; 2019 Acts, ch 86, §10
Referred to in §331.602, 483A.18

     
483A.11  License agents.
  The director may designate license agents for the sale of licenses, but in so doing the interest of the state shall be fully protected.
[C31, §1724-c1; C35, §1794-e4; C39, §1794.085; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.4; C79, 81, §110.11]
84 Acts, ch 1260, §6
C93, §483A.11
98 Acts, ch 1199, §13, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30; 2001 Acts, ch 134, §7
Referred to in §321G.4A, 321G.6, 321I.5, 321I.7

  
     
483A.12  License agent responsibilities — fees and unused blanks — writing fee.
  1.  The license agent shall be responsible for all fees for the issuance of hunting, fishing, and fur harvester licenses and combination packages of licenses sold by the license agent. All unused license blanks shall be surrendered to the department upon the department’s demand.
  2.  A license agent shall retain a writing fee of fifty cents from the sale of each license or combination package of licenses except that the writing fee for a free deer or wild turkey hunting license as authorized under section 483A.24, subsection 2, shall be one dollar. If a county recorder is a license agent, the writing fees retained by the county recorder shall be deposited in the general fund of the county.
[C31, §1724-c1; C35, §1794-e5; C39, §1794.086; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.5; C79, 81, §110.12]
83 Acts, ch 123, §56, 209; 84 Acts, ch 1260, §7
C93, §483A.12
98 Acts, ch 1199, §14, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30; 2001 Acts, ch 134, §8; 2009 Acts, ch 144, §42; 2011 Acts, ch 34, §113
Referred to in §331.427, 331.602, 331.605

  
     
483A.13  Destroyed license blanks — accountability.
  When license blanks in the possession of a license agent are accidentally destroyed, the holder of the blanks shall only be relieved from accountability upon the presentation of satisfactory explanation and the filing of a bond to the director that the blanks have actually been so destroyed. The commission may determine by rule what shall constitute a satisfactory explanation of the occurrence.
[C35, §1794-e6; C39, §1794.087; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.6; C79, 81, §110.13]
C93, §483A.13
2001 Acts, ch 134, §9
Referred to in §331.602

     
483A.14  Duplicate licenses and permits.
  When any license for which a fee has been set has been lost, destroyed, or stolen, the director or a license agent may issue a replacement license, if evidence is available to demonstrate issuance of the original license and a fee of two dollars is paid, to be placed in the fish and game protection fund. If, on examination of the evidence, the director or the license agent, as the case may be, is satisfied that the license has been lost, destroyed, or stolen, the director or the license agent shall issue a duplicate license which shall be plainly marked “duplicate” and the duplicate shall serve in lieu of the original license and it shall contain the same information and signature as the original. The license agent shall charge a writing fee of one dollar and the departmental administrative fee for each duplicate license issued pursuant to this section. The license agent shall retain the writing fee.
[C39, §1794.088; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.7; C79, 81, §110.14]
C93, §483A.14
98 Acts, ch 1199, §15, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30; 2001 Acts, ch 134, §10
Referred to in §331.602

     
483A.15  Accounting.
  The director shall establish, by rule, specific requirements for remittance of funds, and the necessary accounting and reporting for all types of licenses issued based on the manner and location of the issuance.
[SS15, §2563-a4; C24, 27, 31, §1725; C35, §1794-e7; C39, §1794.089; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.8; C79, 81, §110.15]
C93, §483A.15
98 Acts, ch 1199, §16, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30
Referred to in §331.602

483A.16  Duplicate issuance.  Repealed by 98 Acts, ch 1199, §26, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30. 

  
     
483A.17  Tenure of license.
  Every license, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, is valid from the date issued to January 10 of the succeeding calendar year for which it is issued. A license shall not be issued prior to December 15 for the subsequent calendar year except for a multi-year fishing license or a multi-year hunting license issued to a resident pursuant to rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1.
[S13, §2563-a8; C24, 27, 31, §1727; C35, §1794-e9; C39, §1794.091; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.10; C79, 81, §110.17]
84 Acts, ch 1260, §8
C93, §483A.17
95 Acts, ch 46, §3; 2001 Acts, ch 134, §11; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §16, 23; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §10, 28
Changes made to fees and terms of licenses by 2018 Acts, ch 1159, do not affect the validity of a license issued prior to December 15, 2018; 
2018 Acts, ch 1159, §28

     
483A.18  Form of licenses.
  1.  All hunting, fishing, and fur harvester licenses shall contain a general description of the licensee. Such licenses shall be upon such forms as the commission shall adopt. The address and the signature of the applicant and all signatures and other required information shall be in writing. All licenses shall clearly indicate the nature of the privilege granted.
  2.  Upon request of an applicant pursuant to section 483A.10, the department shall indicate on the license that the applicant is a donor under the revised uniform anatomical gift Act as provided in chapter 142C.
[S13, §2563-a3, -a8; C24, 27, 31, §1722, 1727; C35, §1794-e10; C39, §1794.092; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.11; C79, 81, §110.18]
84 Acts, ch 1260, §9
C93, §483A.18
2016 Acts, ch 1037, §1; 2017 Acts, ch 29, §137; 2019 Acts, ch 86, §11

  
     
483A.19  Showing license document to officer.
  Every person shall, while fishing, hunting, or fur harvesting, show the person’s license document to any peace officer or the owner or person in lawful control of the land or water upon which licensee may be hunting, fishing, or fur harvesting when requested by the persons to do so. Any failure to so carry or refusal to show or so exhibit the person’s license document shall be a violation of this chapter. However, except for possession and exhibition of deer licenses and tags or wild turkey licenses and tags, a person charged with violating this section shall not be convicted if the person produces in court, within a reasonable time, a license document for hunting, fishing, or fur harvesting issued to that person and valid when the person was charged with a violation of this section.
[C39, §1794.093; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.12; C79, 81, §110.19]
C93, §483A.19
96 Acts, ch 1034, §46; 98 Acts, ch 1199, §17, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30; 2001 Acts, ch 134, §12
Referred to in §805.8B(3)(b)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph b 

     
483A.20  Reciprocity.
  Licenses for bait dealers or for fishing, hunting, or fur harvesting shall not be issued to residents of states that do not sell similar licenses or certificates to residents of Iowa. However, this requirement is not applicable to the licensing of nonresident wholesale bait dealers who sell to licensed wholesale bait dealers in Iowa for resale.
86 Acts, ch 1141, §16
C87, §110.20
C93, §483A.20
96 Acts, ch 1034, §47; 2003 Acts, ch 120, §5, 6; 2004 Acts, ch 1105, §1, 2

  
     
483A.21  Revocation or suspension.
  1.  Upon the conviction of a licensee of any violation of chapter 481A, or of this chapter, or of any administrative order adopted and published by the commission, the magistrate may, as a part of the judgment, revoke one or more license privileges of the licensee, or suspend the privileges for any definite period.
  2.  The magistrate shall revoke the hunting license or suspend the privilege of procuring a hunting license for a period of one year of any person who has been convicted twice within a year of trespassing while hunting. If any of the license privileges of a licensee who purchased more than one license privilege is revoked, the remaining license privileges of the licensee shall still be valid and the magistrate shall enter on the license document the privilege that is revoked. A person shall not purchase a license for a privilege that was revoked or suspended during the period of revocation or suspension.
  3.  In addition to other civil and criminal penalties imposed for illegally taking or possessing an elk, antelope, buffalo, or moose, the court shall revoke the hunting license of a violator. The violator shall not be allowed to procure a hunting license for the next two calendar years.
[S13, §2563-a9; C24, 27, 31, §1729; C35, §1794-e12; C39, §1794.095; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.14; C79, 81, §110.21]
86 Acts, ch 1245, §1877; 90 Acts, ch 1142, §2
C93, §483A.21
2001 Acts, ch 134, §13; 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §127

     
483A.22  Record of revocation.
  When a license is revoked, the date, cause, and tenure of such revocation shall be kept on file with the license records of the commission. The commission may refuse the issuance of a new license to any person whose license has been revoked.
[S13, §2563-a7; C24, 27, 31, §1726; C35, §1794-e13; C39, §1794.096; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.15; C79, 81, §110.22]
C93, §483A.22
2001 Acts, ch 134, §14
Referred to in §331.602

     
483A.22A  Sale of license lists.
  The department may establish, by rule, fees for lists of licensees. Notwithstanding section 22.3, the fee for a list of licensees may exceed the cost of preparing the list and providing the copying service.
98 Acts, ch 1199, §18, 27; 98 Acts, ch 1223, §30

  
     
483A.23  Game birds or animals as pets.
  Any person may possess not more than two game birds or fur-bearing animals confined as pets without being required to purchase a license as a game breeder, but the person shall not be allowed to increase the person’s stock beyond the original number nor shall the person be allowed to kill or sell such stock. Game birds or animals confined as authorized in this section must be obtained from a licensed game breeder or a legal source outside of this state.
[C24, 27, 31, §1720; C35, §1794-e14; C39, §1794.097; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §110.16; C79, 81, §110.23]
C93, §483A.23
Referred to in §805.8B(3)(c)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph c 

  
     
483A.24  When license not required — special licenses.
  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:
  (1)  “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)  “Farm unit” means all parcels of land which are certified by the commission pursuant to rule as meeting all of the following requirements:
  (a)  Are in tracts of two or more contiguous acres.
  (b)  Are operated as a unit for agricultural purposes.
  (c)  Are under the lawful control of the owner or the tenant.
  (3)  (a)  “Owner” means an owner of a farm unit who is a resident of Iowa and who is one of the following:
  (i)  Is the sole operator of the farm unit.
  (ii)  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.
  (iii)  Participates annually in farm operation decisions or cropping practices on specific fields of the farm unit that are rented to a tenant.
  (iv)  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.
  (v)  Has all or part of the farm unit enrolled in a long-term agricultural land retirement program of the federal government.
  (b)  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.
  (4)  “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.
  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 bow or firearm turkey hunting season.
  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 bow or firearm deer hunting season. The licenses may be used to harvest deer in two different seasons. 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.
  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.
  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.
  f.  (1)  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)  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 seventy-five nonresident deer hunting licenses for allocation as provided in this subsection.
  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.
  b.  Twenty-five of the nonresident deer hunting licenses shall be allocated as provided in subsection 5.
  4.  The director shall provide up to seventy-five nonresident wild turkey hunting licenses for allocation as provided in this subsection.
  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.
  b.  Twenty-five of the nonresident wild turkey hunting licenses shall be allocated as provided in subsection 5.
  5.  Twenty-five of the nonresident deer hunting licenses and wild turkey hunting licenses allocated under subsections 3 and 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:
  a.  The department shall prepare an application to be used by a person requesting a special license under this subsection.
  (1)  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.
  (2)  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.
  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.
  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.
  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.
  e.  A disabled person who receives a special license under this subsection shall complete the hunter education course.
  f.  A license issued under this subsection is valid for use only on a hunt conducted by an organization approved under this subsection.
  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 state school for the blind, Iowa school for the deaf, or of minor residents of other state institutions under the control of an administrator of a division of the department of 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 residents of county care facilities or 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 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; 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 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 raccoons so long as the minor is not hunting 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:
  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.
  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.
  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.
  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.
  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 abuse 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.  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.
  18.  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.
[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, §12
C93, §483A.24
94 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
Referred to in §481A.123, 481C.2A, 483A.4, 483A.12, 805.8B(3)(c)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph c 
Subsection 3, paragraph a amended
Subsection 4, paragraph a amended
Subsections 7 and 8 amended

     
483A.24A  License refunds — military service.
  Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, a service member deployed for military service, as defined in section 29A.1, subsection 3, shall receive a refund of that portion of any license fee paid by the service member representing the service member’s period of military service.
2010 Acts, ch 1170, §5; 2011 Acts, ch 47, §10; 2011 Acts, ch 131, §67, 158

     
483A.24B  Special deer hunts.
  1.  The commission may establish a special season deer hunt for antlerless deer in those counties where paid antlerless only deer hunting licenses remain available for issuance.
  2.  Antlerless deer may be taken by shotgun, muzzleloading rifle, muzzleloading pistol, handgun, or bow during the special season as provided by the commission by rule.
  3.  Prior to December 15, a resident may obtain up to three paid antlerless only deer hunting licenses for the special season regardless of how many paid or free gun or bow deer hunting licenses the person may have already obtained. Beginning December 15, a resident or nonresident may purchase an unlimited number of antlerless only deer hunting licenses for the special season.
  4.  All antlerless deer hunting licenses issued pursuant to this section shall be included in the quotas established by the commission by rule for each county and shall be available in each county only until the quota established by the commission for that county is filled.
  5.  The daily bag and possession limit during the special season is one deer per license. The tagging requirements are the same as for the regular gun season.
  6.  A person who receives a license pursuant to this section shall be otherwise qualified to hunt deer in this state and shall purchase a hunting license that includes the wildlife habitat fee.
  7.  A person violating a provision of this section or a rule adopted pursuant to this section is guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation as provided in section 483A.42.
2005 Acts, ch 139, §11; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §20, 23

483A.24C  Deer depredation management agreements — permits.  Repealed by 
2008 Acts, ch 1037, §5, 6
.  See §481C.2A. 

483A.25  Pheasant and quail restoration program — appropriations.  Repealed by 
2009 Acts, ch 144, §48
. 

     
483A.26  False claims.
  A nonresident shall not obtain a resident license by falsely claiming residency in the state. The use of a license by a person other than the person to whom the license is issued is unlawful and nullifies the license.
[82 Acts, ch 1013, §1]
C83, §110.26
84 Acts, ch 1260, §11; 90 Acts, ch 1216, §8
C93, §483A.26
95 Acts, ch 76, §2
Referred to in §805.8B(3)(p)
For applicable scheduled fines, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph p 

  
     
483A.27  Hunter education program — license requirement.
  1.  A person born after January 1, 1972, shall not obtain a hunting license unless the person has satisfactorily completed a hunter education course approved by the commission. A person who is eleven years of age or more may enroll in an approved hunter education course, but a person who is eleven years of age and who has successfully completed the course shall be issued a certificate of completion which becomes valid on the person’s twelfth birthday. A certificate of completion from an approved hunter education course issued in this state, or a certificate issued by another state, country, or province for completion of a course that meets the standards adopted by the international hunter education association — United States of America, is valid for the requirements of this section.
  2.  a.  A certificate of completion shall not be issued to a person who has not satisfactorily completed an approved hunter education course. The department shall establish the curriculum based on the standards adopted by the international hunter education association — United States of America for the approved hunter education course. The curriculum shall include instruction relating to making an anatomical gift, including of an organ, an eye, or tissue, under the revised uniform anatomical gift Act as provided in chapter 142C. Upon completion of the course, each person shall pass an individual oral test or a written test provided by the department. The department shall establish the criteria for successfully passing the tests. Based on the results of the test and demonstrated safe handling of a firearm, the instructor shall determine the persons who shall be issued a certificate of completion.
  b.  Notwithstanding paragraph “a”, a resident who is eighteen years of age or older may obtain a certificate of completion without demonstrating the safe handling of a firearm.
  3.  The department shall provide a manual regarding hunter education which shall be used by all instructors and persons receiving hunter education training in this state. The department may produce the manual in a print or electronic format accessible from a computer, including from a data storage device or the department’s internet site.
  4.  The department shall provide for the certification of persons who wish to become hunter education instructors. A person shall not act as an instructor in hunter education as provided in this section without first obtaining an instructor’s certificate from the department.
  5.  An officer of the department or a certified instructor may issue a certificate to a person who has not completed the hunter education course but meets the criteria established by the commission.
  6.  A public or private school accredited pursuant to section 256.11 or an organization approved by the department may cooperate with the department in providing a course in hunter education or shooting sports activities as provided in this section.
  7.  A hunting license obtained under this section by a person who gave false information or presented a fraudulent certificate of completion shall be revoked and a new hunting license shall not be issued for at least two years from the date of conviction. A hunting license obtained by a person who was born after January 1, 1972, but has not satisfactorily completed the hunter education course or has not met the requirements established by the commission, shall be revoked.
  8.  The commission shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 17A as necessary to carry out the administration of this section.
  9.  The initial hunter education certificate shall be issued without cost. A duplicate certificate shall be issued upon payment of the writing fee and administrative fee, if applicable.
  10.  A person under eighteen years of age who is required to exhibit a valid hunting license shall also exhibit a valid certificate of completion from a state approved hunter education course upon request of an officer of the department. A failure to carry or refusal to exhibit the certificate of completion as provided in this subsection is a violation of this chapter. A violator is guilty of a simple misdemeanor as provided in section 483A.42.
  11.  An instructor certified by the department shall be allowed to conduct a department-approved hunter education course or shooting sports activities course on public school property with the approval of a majority of the board of directors of the school district. Conducting an approved hunter education course or shooting sports activities course is not a violation of any public policy, rule, regulation, resolution, or ordinance which prohibits the possession, display, or use of a firearm, bow and arrow, or other hunting weapon on public school property or other public property in this state.
[82 Acts, ch 1035, §1]
C83, §110.27
85 Acts, ch 104, §1; 86 Acts, ch 1240, §8; 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1877; 91 Acts, ch 235, §1, 2
C93, §483A.27
97 Acts, ch 96, §1, 2; 2001 Acts, ch 176, §43; 2007 Acts, ch 28, §19; 2008 Acts, ch 1161, §19; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §159; 2013 Acts, ch 75, §1; 2015 Acts, ch 26, §7; 2019 Acts, ch 86, §12
Referred to in §483A.7, 483A.8, 483A.24, 483A.27A, 724.9, 805.8B(3)(b)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph b 

  
     
483A.27A  Apprentice hunters.
  1.  Notwithstanding section 483A.27, a person who is sixteen years of age or older may purchase a hunting license with an apprentice hunter designation on the license without first completing a hunter education course if the person meets all the requirements of this section.
  2.  If the apprentice hunter is a minor, the person must be accompanied and aided while hunting by a mentor who is the person’s parent or guardian, or be accompanied and aided by any other competent adult mentor with the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian. If the apprentice hunter is not a minor, the apprentice hunter must be accompanied and aided while hunting by a competent adult mentor.
  3.  The mentor and the apprentice hunter must have valid hunting licenses that include the wildlife habitat fee and that are valid for the same seasons to hunt game.
  a.  A resident mentor and a resident apprentice hunter must also purchase deer hunting licenses and tags to hunt deer and wild turkey hunting licenses and tags to hunt wild turkey. Deer hunting licenses and tags purchased by a resident mentor and a resident apprentice hunter must be valid for the same seasons and zones. When hunting wild turkey, a resident mentor having a license valid for one of the spring wild turkey hunting seasons may accompany and aid a resident apprentice hunter who has a valid wild turkey hunting license for any of the spring seasons as provided by rule. When hunting wild turkey in the fall, a resident mentor and a resident apprentice hunter must each have a fall wild turkey hunting license valid for the current year. A transportation tag issued to a resident apprentice hunter shall not be used to tag a deer or wild turkey taken by another person.
  b.  A nonresident apprentice hunter is not entitled to purchase a deer hunting license to hunt deer or a wild turkey hunting license to hunt wild turkey, or to participate in a hunt for deer or wild turkey.
  4.  While hunting, the apprentice hunter must be under the direct supervision of the mentor. For the purposes of this subsection, “direct supervision” means the mentor must maintain constant direction and control of the apprentice hunter and stay within a distance from the apprentice hunter that enables the mentor to give uninterrupted, unaided visual and auditory communications to the apprentice hunter. There must be one licensed mentor in direct supervision of each apprentice hunter. 
  5.  A hunting license with an apprentice hunter designation issued pursuant to this section is valid from the date issued to January 10 of the succeeding calendar year for which it is issued. A hunting license with an apprentice hunter designation shall contain the address, signature, and a general description of the licensee.
  6.  A person is eligible to obtain a hunting license with an apprentice hunter designation pursuant to this section only two times. Subsequently, the person must meet the requirements of section 483A.27 in order to obtain a hunting license.
  7.  The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
2015 Acts, ch 26, §8
Referred to in §805.8B(3)(b)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph b

  
     
483A.28  Noncommercial harvest of aquatic species.
  1.  A boundary waters sport trotline license entitles the licensee to use a maximum of four trotlines with two hundred hooks in the aggregate and only on boundary waters. All boundary waters sport trotlines shall be tagged with the name and address of the licensee on a weather-resistant tag provided by the licensee and affixed above the waterline. A boundary waters sport trotline licensee is not permitted to sell, barter, or trade fish or turtles taken pursuant to the license.
  2.  A valid fishing license issued pursuant to this chapter entitles the licensee to take and possess a maximum of one hundred pounds of live turtles or fifty pounds of dressed turtles. Any unattended fishing gear used to take turtles pursuant to a fishing license shall be tagged with the name and address of the licensee on a weather-resistant tag provided by the licensee and affixed above the waterline. A fishing licensee is not permitted to sell, barter, or trade live or dressed turtles taken pursuant to the license.
  3.  A valid fishing license issued pursuant to this chapter entitles the licensee to take and possess a maximum amount of mussels or shells daily as authorized by rule under the authority of sections 456A.24, 481A.38, and 481A.39. A fishing licensee shall not sell, barter, or trade freshwater mussels or shells taken pursuant to the fishing license.
  4.  Any person who is issued a valid fishing license pursuant to this chapter may fish with a third line as provided in section 481A.72 only upon the annual purchase of a third line fishing permit as provided in rules adopted pursuant to section 483A.1.
2009 Acts, ch 144, §43; 2012 Acts, ch 1096, §21, 23; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §24, 28
Referred to in §481A.67, 805.8B(3)(c)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph c 
Commercial harvest, see chapter 482

483A.29  Reserved.

483A.30  Nonresident deer and turkey license fees.  Repealed by 97 Acts, ch 180, §7. 

     
483A.31  Reciprocal privileges authorized.
  1.  Reciprocal fishing, hunting, or trapping privileges are contingent upon a grant of similar privileges by another state to residents of this state.
  2.  The commission may negotiate fishing, hunting, or trapping reciprocity agreements with other states.
  3.  When another state confers upon fishing, hunting, or trapping licensees of this state reciprocal rights, privileges, and immunities, a fishing, hunting, or trapping license issued by that state entitles the licensee to all rights, privileges, and immunities in the public waters or public lands of this state enjoyed by the holders of equivalent licenses issued by this state, subject to duties, responsibilities, and liabilities imposed on licensees of this state by the laws of this state.
90 Acts, ch 1178, §3
C91, §110.31
C93, §483A.31
2008 Acts, ch 1161, §17; 2011 Acts, ch 34, §114
Referred to in §481A.19, 483A.24

SUBCHAPTER II
SEIZURE OF CONTRABAND PROPERTY — CONDEMNATION

  
     
483A.32  Public nuisance.
  1.  Subject to subsection 2, any device, contrivance, or material used to violate a rule adopted by the commission, or any other provision of this chapter or chapter 481A, 481B, 482, 484A, or 484B, is a public nuisance and may be condemned by the state. The director, the director’s officers, or any peace officer, shall seize the devices, contrivances, or materials used as a public nuisance, without warrant or process, and deliver them to a magistrate having jurisdiction. An automobile shall not be construed to be a public nuisance under this section.
  2.  The state may only condemn property seized as a public nuisance if the person from whom the property was seized is convicted of the violation for which the property was seized as a public nuisance.
  3.  If the person from whom the property was seized is not convicted of the violation for which the property was seized, the department, law enforcement agency, or other governmental agency in possession of the seized property shall return the seized property to the person within thirty days of any of the following:
  a.  The date the person is found not guilty of the violation.
  b.  The date the action involving the violation is dismissed.
  c.  The date the statute of limitations expires for the alleged violation for which the property was seized.
  4.  For purposes of this section, “convicted” means the same as in section 481A.13A, subsection 3.
[C73, §4052; C97, §2540; SS15, §2539, 2540; C24, 27, 31, §1715; C35, §1794-e16; C39, §1794.099; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §110.18; C71, 73, 75, 77, §110.19; C79, 81, §110.32]
86 Acts, ch 1240, §9; 86 Acts, ch 1245, §1878
C93, §483A.32
98 Acts, ch 1125, §1; 2018 Acts, ch 1150, §5
Referred to in §462A.27, 483A.33
Nuisances in general, chapter 657 
Nonpermanent structure on public land as public nuisance, see §462A.27

  
     
483A.33  Disposition of property seized as public nuisance.
  The disposition of property seized pursuant to section 483A.32 shall be conducted as follows:
  1.  The officer taking possession of property seized as a public nuisance shall make a written inventory of the property and deliver a copy of the inventory to the person from whom the property was seized. The inventory shall include the name of the person taking custody of the seized property, the date and time of seizure, location of the seizure, and the name of the seizing public agency. Property which has been seized shall be safely secured and stored by the public agency which caused its seizure unless directed otherwise by the county attorney of the county where the property was seized or by the attorney general.
  2.  a.  The county attorney or attorney general may file with the clerk of the district court for the county in which the property was seized a notice of condemnation which shall include a description of the property claimed to be condemned by the state, the grounds upon which the state claims that the property has been condemned, the date and place of seizure, and the name of the person from whom the property was seized.
  b.  The notice shall be filed not later than six months after the property was seized. Failure to file within the time limit terminates the state’s right to claim a condemnation of the property.
  c.  The state shall give notice of condemnation to the person from whom the property was seized and any person identified as an owner or lien holder, by certified mail, personal service, or publication.
  3.  a.  The person from whom the property was seized may make application for its return in the office of the clerk of the district court for the county in which the property was seized. The application shall be filed within thirty days after the receipt of the notice of condemnation or the person is convicted of the violation for which the property was seized, whichever occurs later. Failure to file the application within this time period terminates the interest of the person and the ownership of the property shall be transferred to the state, except that a person who is not convicted of the violation for which the property was seized is not required to file an application and is entitled to the return of the property in accordance with section 483A.32.
  b.  The application for return of condemnable property shall be written and shall state the specific item or items sought, the nature and the source of the claimant’s interest in the property, and the grounds upon which the claimant seeks to avoid condemnation. The ownership of property is not sufficient grounds for its return. The written application shall be specific and the claimant shall be limited at the judicial hearing to proof of the grounds set forth in the application for return. The fact that the property is inadmissible as evidence or that it may be suppressed is not grounds for its return. If specific grounds for return are not provided in the application for return, or the grounds are insufficient as a matter of law, the court may enter judgment on the pleadings without further hearing.
  4.  If an application for return of condemnable property is timely and of sufficient grounds, the claim shall be set for hearing. The hearing shall be held not less than ten nor more than thirty days after the claim is filed or the person is convicted for the violation for which the property was seized as a public nuisance, whichever occurs later. The proceeding shall be conducted by a magistrate or a district associate judge. All claims to the same property shall be heard in one proceeding unless it is shown that the proceeding would result in prejudice to one or more of the parties.
  5.  a.  Upon a finding by the court that the property is condemnable, the court shall enter an order transferring title of the property to the state, and placed at the disposal of the director, who may use or sell the property, depositing the proceeds of the sale in the state fish and game protection fund.
  b.  Upon a finding by the court that the property should not be condemned, the property shall be returned to the person from whom it was seized. If the property is necessary for use as evidence in a criminal proceeding, the property shall not be returned until its use as evidence is no longer required.
  c.  On or before December 31, 2018, and on or before December 1 each year thereafter, the department shall report to the general assembly’s standing committees on government oversight regarding the amount of the proceeds deposited to the state fish and game protection fund pursuant to this subsection. The report shall also contain all information recorded pursuant to paragraph “d”.
  d.  A seizing public agency that has custody of any property that is seized pursuant to a provision of this subchapter shall adopt and comply with a written internal control policy that does all of the following:
  (1)  Provides for keeping detailed records as to the amount of property acquired by the agency and the date property was acquired.
  (2)  Provides for keeping detailed records of the disposition of the property, which shall include the manner in which the property was disposed, the date of disposition, and detailed financial records concerning any property sold. The records shall not identify or enable identification of the individual officer who seized any item of property or the name of any person or entity who received any item of property.
  e.  The records kept under the internal control policy shall be open to public inspection during the agency’s regular business hours. The policy adopted under this section is a public record open for inspection under chapter 22.
  6.  a.  An employee of the seizing public agency or a member of the immediate family of the employee shall not purchase a fish, fur, bird, animal, mussel, clam, or frog seized pursuant to section 481A.12, a device, contrivance, or material condemned pursuant to section 483A.32, or a weapon seized pursuant to section 483A.32 and disposed of pursuant to this section or section 809.21. For purposes of this subsection, “member of the immediate family” means a spouse, child, stepchild, brother, brother-in-law, stepbrother, sister, sister-in-law, stepsister, parent, parent-in-law, or stepparent of an employee of the seizing public agency who resides in the same household in the same principal residence of the employee of the seizing public agency.
  b.  The department shall provide a form on which a person purchasing property seized pursuant to section 481A.12 or 483A.32 shall declare that the person is not an employee of the seizing public agency or a member of the immediate family of an employee of the seizing public agency.
  7.  For purposes of this section, “convicted” means the same as in section 481A.13A, subsection 3.
[C35, §1794-e17,-e18; C39, §1794.100, 1794.101; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §110.19, 110.20; C71, 73, 75, 77, §110.20, 110.21; C79, 81, §110.33]
C93, §483A.33
98 Acts, ch 1125, §2; 2018 Acts, ch 1150, §6 – 9
Referred to in §462A.27

     
483A.34  Right to appeal.
  An appeal from a denial of an application for return of condemnable property, or from an order for return of condemnable property, shall be made within ten days after the entry of a judgment order and shall be conducted in the same manner as an appeal in a small claims action. The appellant, other than the state, shall post a bond of a reasonable amount as the court may fix and approve, conditioned to pay all costs of the proceedings if the appellant is unsuccessful on appeal.
[C35, §1794-e19; C39, §1794.102; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §110.21; C71, 73, 75, 77, §110.22; C79, 81, §110.34]
C93, §483A.34
98 Acts, ch 1125, §3
Referred to in §462A.27

SUBCHAPTER III
GUNS

     
483A.35  “Gun” defined.
  The word “gun” as used in this chapter shall include every kind of a gun or rifle, except a revolver or pistol, and shall include those provided with pistol mountings which are designed to shoot shot cartridges.
[C31, §1772-c1; C35, §1794-e20; C39, §1794.103; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §110.22; C71, 73, 75, 77, §110.23; C79, 81, §110.35]
C93, §483A.35

  
     
483A.36  Manner of conveyance.
  A person, except as permitted by law, shall not have or carry a gun in or on a vehicle on a public highway, unless the gun is taken down or totally contained in a securely fastened case, and its barrels and attached magazines are unloaded.
[C24, 27, 31, §1772; C35, §1794-e21; C39, §1794.104; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §110.23; C71, 73, 75, 77, §110.24; C79, 81, §110.36]
86 Acts, ch 1240, §10
C93, §483A.36
2010 Acts, ch 1113, §1
Referred to in §805.8B(3)(q)
For applicable scheduled fines, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph q 

  
     
483A.37  Prohibited guns.
  No person shall use a swivel gun, nor any other firearm, except such as is commonly shot from the shoulder or hand in the hunting, killing, or pursuit of game, and no such gun shall be larger than number 10 gauge.
[C97, §2558; C24, 27, 31, §1771; C35, §1794-e22; C39, §1794.105; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §110.24; C71, 73, 75, 77, §110.25; C79, 81, §110.37]
C93, §483A.37
Referred to in §805.8B(3)(d)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph d 
Section not amended; editorial change applied

SUBCHAPTER IV
FISHING EVENTS

     
483A.38  Free fishing days.
  The commission may designate one period of the year of not more than three days as free fishing days and during that period the residents may fish and lawfully possess fish without a license.
86 Acts, ch 1240, §11
C87, §110.38
C93, §483A.38

     
483A.39  Bass fishing tournaments.
  1.  a.  For the purposes of this section, “bass fishing tournament” means an organized fishing event, except for a fishing event sponsored by the department for educational purposes, involving all of the following:
  (1)  An organized event occurring on public water for the purpose of fishing for bass.
  (2)  Participation of six or more vessels or twelve or more individuals in the event, except for an event on the waters of the Mississippi river, where the number of vessels participating shall be twenty or more and the number of participants shall be forty or more.
  (3)  The award of prizes or other inducements for participation in the event.
  b.  For the purposes of this section, “bass fishing tournament” also includes a planned event on public water for the purpose of fishing for bass.
  2.  A person shall apply for a permit to hold a bass fishing tournament. The commission shall, by rule, specify the requirements to obtain a permit including but not limited to the following:
  a.  Minimum requirements for weigh-in, handling, and release of live bass by tournament participants.
  b.  Measurement of bass to length and release from a vessel.
  c.  Allowance of up to five bass for weigh-in during the tournament.
  d.  Allowance of possession of bass of any length so long as the bass are kept alive and are released after weigh-in.
  e.  Cleaning of vessels used before and after the tournament in compliance with department guidelines to prevent the transportation of aquatic invasive species.
2017 Acts, ch 36, §1
483A.40 and 483A.41Reserved.

SUBCHAPTER V
PENAL PROVISION

     
483A.42  Penalties.
  A person who violates this chapter is guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation under section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph “e”. However, the scheduled fine specified in section 805.8B, subsection 3, paragraph “e”, does not apply to a violation of this chapter for which another scheduled fine is specified in section 805.8B, subsection 3.
[C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, §110.25; C71, 73, 75, 77, §110.26; C79, 81, §110.42]
86 Acts, ch 1240, §12
C93, §483A.42
2000 Acts, ch 1203, §24; 2001 Acts, ch 130, §2; 2001 Acts, ch 137, §5
Referred to in §483A.24B, 483A.27, 805.8B(3)(e)
483A.43 through 483A.49Reserved.

SUBCHAPTER VI
WILDLIFE HABITAT BONDS

  
     
483A.50  Definitions.
  When used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
  1.  “Bonds” means negotiable wildlife habitat bonds of the commission issued pursuant to this subchapter and includes all bonds, notes, and other obligations issued in anticipation of these bonds or as refunding bonds pursuant to this subchapter.
  2.  “Treasurer” means the treasurer of state of the state of Iowa.
  3.  “Wildlife habitat bond fund” means the fund created by section 483A.53.
86 Acts, ch 1231, §2
C87, §110.50
C93, §483A.50
2014 Acts, ch 1026, §143

  
     
483A.51  Bonds issued by the commission.
  1.  The commission may issue its negotiable bonds in principal amounts as, in the opinion of the commission, are necessary to provide funds for the acquisition of real property for the development and enhancement of wildlife lands and habitat areas, the payment of interest on its bonds and all other expenditures of the commission incident to and necessary or convenient to carry out the acquisition. However, the commission shall not have a total principal amount of bonds outstanding at any time in excess of eight million dollars. The bonds shall be deemed to be investment securities and negotiable instruments within the meaning of and for all purposes of chapter 554, the uniform commercial code.
  2.  Bonds issued by the commission are payable solely and only from the revenues credited to the wildlife habitat bond fund. Taxes or appropriations shall not be pledged for the payment of the bonds. Bonds are not an obligation of this state or any political subdivision of this state other than the commission within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitations, but are special obligations of the commission payable solely and only from the sources provided in this subchapter, and the commission shall not pledge the general credit or taxing power of this state or any political subdivision of this state or make its debts payable out of any moneys except those of the wildlife habitat bond fund.
  3.  Bonds must be authorized by a resolution of the commission. However, a resolution authorizing the issuance of obligations may delegate to an officer of the commission the power to negotiate and fix the details of an issue of bonds or notes by an appropriate certificate of the authorized officer.
  4.  The bond proceedings shall provide for the purpose of the bonds, principal amount and principal maturity or maturities, the interest rate or rates or the maximum interest rate, the date of the bonds and the dates of payment of interest on the bonds, their denomination, the terms and conditions upon which parity bonds may be issued, and the establishment within or without the state of a place or places of payment of principal of and interest on the bonds. The purpose of the bonds may be stated in the bond proceedings in terms describing the general purpose or purposes to be served. The commission may cause to be issued a prospectus or official statement in connection with the offering of the bonds. Bonds may be issued in coupon or in registered form, or both. Provision may be made for the registration of bonds with coupons attached as to principal alone, or as to both principal and interest, their exchange for bonds so registered, and for the conversion or reconversion into bonds with coupons attached of any bonds registered as to both principal and interest, and for reasonable charges for registration, exchange, conversion, and reconversion. Bonds shall be sold in the manner and at the time determined by the commission. Chapter 75 and sections 73A.12 through 73A.16 do not apply to these bonds. The bonds are negotiable instruments. The bond proceedings may contain additional provisions as to:
  a.  The redemption of bonds prior to maturity at the option of the commission at the price and on the terms and conditions provided in the bond proceedings.
  b.  Other terms of the bonds and concerning execution and delivery of the bonds.
  c.  The delegation of responsibility for any act relating to the issuance, execution, sale, redemption, or other matter pertaining to the bonds to any other officer, agency of the state, or other person or body.
  d.  Additional agreements with the bondholders relating to the bonds.
  e.  Payment from the proceeds of the sale of the bonds of all legal and financial expenses incurred by the commission in the issuance, sale, delivery, and payment of the bonds.
  f.  Other matters, alike or different, which may in any way affect the security of the bonds and the protection of the bondholders.
  5.  The power to issue bonds includes the power to issue obligations in the form of bond anticipation notes or other forms of short-term indebtedness and to renew these notes by the issuance of new notes. The holders of notes or interest coupons of notes have a right to be paid solely from those revenues credited to the wildlife habitat bond fund which were pledged to the payment of the bonds anticipated, or from the proceeds of those bonds or renewal notes, or both, as the commission provides in the bond proceedings authorizing the notes. The notes may be additionally secured by covenants of the commission to the effect that the commission will do those acts authorized by this subchapter and necessary for the issuance of the bonds or renewal notes in appropriate amount, and either exchange the bonds or renewal notes for the notes, or apply the proceeds of the notes, to the extent necessary, to make full payment of the principal of and interest on the notes at the time contemplated, as provided in the bond proceedings. For this purpose, the commission may issue bonds or renewal notes in a principal amount and upon terms as authorized by this subchapter and as necessary to provide funds to pay when required the principal of and interest on the outstanding notes. All provisions for and references to bonds in this subchapter are applicable to notes authorized under this subsection to the extent not inconsistent with this subsection.
  6.  The commission may authorize and issue bonds for the refunding, including funding and retirement, and advance refunding with or without payment or redemption prior to maturity, of bonds previously issued by the commission. These bonds may be issued in amounts sufficient for payment of the principal amount of the prior bonds, any redemption premiums on the prior bonds, principal maturities of bonds maturing prior to the redemption of the remaining bonds on a parity with them, interest accrued or to accrue to the maturity date or dates of redemption of the bonds, and project costs including expenses incurred or to be incurred in connection with this issuance, refunding, funding, and retirement. Subject to the bond proceedings, the portion of proceeds of the sale of bonds issued under this subsection to be applied to principal of and interest on the prior bonds shall be credited to the appropriate account for the prior bonds. Bonds authorized under this subsection shall be deemed to be issued for those purposes for which the prior bonds were issued and are subject to the provisions of this subchapter pertaining to other bonds. Refunding bonds may be issued without regard to whether or not the bonds to be refunded are payable on the same date or different dates or due serially or otherwise.
86 Acts, ch 1231, §3
C87, §110.51
C93, §483A.51
2014 Acts, ch 1026, §143

     
483A.52  Additional powers of commission.
  In connection with the issuance of the bonds or in order to secure the payment of the bonds and interest on the bonds, the commission may by resolution:
  1.  Provide that the bonds be secured by a first lien on the revenues and receipts received or to be received into the wildlife habitat bond fund from income from the investment of the wildlife habitat bond fund, from moneys received from the sale of bonds, and from any other moneys which are available for the payment of bond service charges.
  2.  Pledge for the benefit of the bondholders any part of the receipts in the wildlife habitat bond fund. The pledge shall be effective without physical delivery or further act and moneys in the fund may be applied for the purposes as pledged without the necessity of an Act of appropriation.
  3.  Establish, authorize, set aside, regulate, and dispose of reserves and sinking funds.
  4.  Provide that sufficient amounts of the proceeds of the sale of the bonds may be used to fully or partially fund any and all reserves or sinking funds set out by the bond resolution.
  5.  Prescribe the procedure, if any, by which the terms of any contract with bondholders may be amended or abrogated, the amount of the bonds whose holders must consent thereto, and the manner in which the consent may be given.
  6.  Purchase bonds, out of funds available for that purpose, which shall be canceled, at a price not exceeding either of the following:
  a.  If the bonds are then redeemable, the redemption price then applicable plus accrued interest to the next interest payment date.
  b.  If the bonds are not then redeemable, the redemption price applicable on the first date after the purchase upon which the bonds become subject to redemption plus accrued interest to that date.
86 Acts, ch 1231, §4
C87, §110.52
C93, §483A.52
Referred to in §483A.53

  
     
483A.53  Payment of bonds.
  A wildlife habitat bond fund is created in the state treasury. At the direction of the commission as provided in the bond proceedings or pursuant to section 483A.52, subsection 1 or 2, and as certified by the director, the treasurer of state shall credit to the wildlife habitat bond fund from the revenues received from the sale of wildlife habitat stamps a sum at least sufficient to pay interest on the bonds in each fiscal year and principal on the bonds that mature during each fiscal year. In each fiscal year after July 1, 1986, and after bonds are issued, and until all the bonds issued have been retired, in order to provide for the payment of principal of the bonds issued and sold and the interest on them as the same become due and mature, there is pledged and annually appropriated out of the revenues to be credited to the wildlife habitat bond fund an amount sufficient to pay principal and interest on the bonds issued for each of the years the bonds are outstanding. The director shall annually certify to the treasurer the amount of funds required to pay interest on the bonds in the ensuing fiscal year and the principal on the bonds that mature during the ensuing fiscal year.
86 Acts, ch 1231, §5
C87, §110.53
C93, §483A.53
Referred to in §483A.3, 483A.50
Section not amended; editorial change applied

     
483A.54  Nonliability of the state and its officials.
  1.  Bonds issued are special limited obligations of the commission and are not a debt or liability of the state or any other political subdivision within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation and are not a pledge of the state’s credit or taxing power within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation or provision and, except as provided in this subchapter, an appropriation shall not be made, directly or indirectly, by the state or any political subdivision of the state for the payment of bonds. The bonds are special obligations of the commission payable solely from the wildlife habitat bond fund. Funds from the general fund of the state shall not be used to pay interest or principal on the bonds if revenues deposited in the wildlife habitat bond fund are insufficient.
  2.  The members of the commission or other person executing the bonds is not personally liable for the payment of the bonds. The bonds are valid and binding obligations of the commission notwithstanding the fact that before the delivery of the bonds any of the officers whose signatures appear on the bonds cease to be officers of the state. From and after the sale and delivery of the bonds, they shall be incontestable by the commission.
86 Acts, ch 1231, §6
C87, §110.54
C93, §483A.54
2014 Acts, ch 1026, §112

     
483A.55  Bonds as legal investments.
  Bonds are securities in which all public officers and bodies of the state and all municipalities and political subdivisions of this state, all insurance companies and associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business, all banks, bankers, trust companies, and savings associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business, all administrators, guardians, executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries and all other persons who are now or may be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of this state may properly and legally invest funds including capital in their control or belonging to them. The bonds are also securities which may be deposited with and may be received by all public officers and bodies of the state and all municipalities and legal subdivisions of this state for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of the state is now or may be authorized.
86 Acts, ch 1231, §7
C87, §110.55
C93, §483A.55
2012 Acts, ch 1017, §88

  
     
483A.56  Rights of bondholders.
  The bond proceedings may provide that a holder of bonds or a trustee under the bond proceedings, except to the extent that the holder’s rights are restricted by the bond proceedings, may by legal proceedings, protect and enforce any rights under the laws of this state or granted by the bond proceedings. These rights include the right to compel the performance of all duties of the commission required by this subchapter or the bond proceedings; to enjoin unlawful activities; and in the event of default with respect to the payment of any principal of or interest on bonds or in the performance of a covenant or agreement on the part of the commission in bond proceedings, to apply to a court to appoint a receiver to receive and administer the funds which are pledged to the payment of bonds or which are the subject of the covenant or agreement, with full power to pay and to provide for payment of any principal of or interest on bonds and with powers accorded receivers in general equity cases, excluding power to pledge additional funds or other income or moneys of the commission, the state, or governmental agencies of the state to the payment of the bonds.
86 Acts, ch 1231, §8
C87, §110.56
C93, §483A.56
2014 Acts, ch 1026, §143