Midwest States Revise Deer Hunting Regulations for 2026 Season

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced major changes to the 2026 deer hunting season. License sales begin at 9:00 a.m. on August 15, and the state is divided into two zones. Zone A retains existing rules, while Zone B, covering select north‑west and west‑central counties, will be limited to antlered‑buck‑only tags, prohibit party hunting, and require tags to be used only within the zone. The agency hopes these measures will help restore the western Iowa deer population.

In Minnesota, the Department of Natural Resources introduced a four‑year rotational surveillance plan for chronic wasting disease (CWD), requiring hunters in a designated quadrant to test all deer one year old or older during the firearms opening weekend. New carcass‑disposal rules now allow whole deer to be moved out of CWD management zones using refuse haulers, landfills, or meat processors, ending the previous dumpster program. Thirteen counties have adopted shotgun‑only ordinances for the 2026 season, while the state also launched an electronic licensing system that lets hunters purchase and store licenses via a mobile app or online portal.