08/20/2026
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🦌 BIG CHANGE FOR IOWA DEER HUNTERS IN 2026
Iowa has created a new Zone B for deer hunting, and one of the biggest changes affects resident party hunting.
Beginning with the 2026–27 season, resident party hunting is NOT allowed in these eight Zone B counties:
📍 Lyon
📍 Sioux
📍 O’Brien
📍 Plymouth
📍 Woodbury
📍 Ida
📍 Crawford
📍 Shelby
What does that mean?
Under Iowa’s traditional party-hunting rules, during certain seasons one resident hunter can harvest a deer that is tagged by another eligible resident member of the hunting party.
That is no longer allowed in Zone B. Each hunter must tag the deer they personally harvest.
✅ Group hunting and deer drives are still allowed. Hunters can continue hunting together. They simply cannot pool or share tags under the party-hunting rule.
🌎 NONRESIDENTS: This is not a new restriction for you. Nonresident party hunting was already prohibited statewide in Iowa.
Outside of Zone B, Iowa’s resident party-hunting rules remain in place during applicable seasons.
The DNR says the new Zone B regulations are intended to address lower deer populations in portions of western and northwest Iowa, and the management plan could expand Zone B to additional counties if necessary.
What do you think?
Should Iowa continue allowing traditional resident party hunting throughout the rest of the state, or should every hunter eventually be required to tag only the deer they personally harvest?
👇 Sound off in the comments.
Always verify current regulations with the Iowa DNR before hunting.
