The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced a series of critical town hall meetings in which staff will provide updates on potential changes to hunting, fishing, and trapping seasons statewide. As members of the Sportsmen’s Alliance, we know that being a sportsman means more than just being in the field and on the water. It means having a seat at the table where the rules are made.
Why Your Attendance is Vital
These meetings aren’t just formal presentations; they are our direct line to the decision-makers. The DNR is currently reviewing the past hunting and trapping seasons and is actively seeking feedback on potential rule changes at these meetings.
Feedback collected during these meetings will be considered by DNR before proposing changes to hunting, fishing, and trapping rules and regulations. History shows that when we show up, things change. In previous years, public input has directly led to:
- Establishing later goose season dates and increased bag limits.
- Expanding raccoon hunting and trapping seasons on private land.
- Extending the regular trapping season through the end of February.
- Modifying antlerless deer quotas in specific regions.
What’s on the Agenda?
Season Reviews: A breakdown of the data from the most recent hunting, fishing, and trapping seasons.
Proposed Regulation Changes: A discussion on potential new rules before they are sent to the Natural Resource Commission.
Open Q&A: An opportunity to ask staff questions and voice concerns regarding the future of Iowa’s wildlife management.
Meeting Locations & Times
In-person meetings are happening across the state this week. Find the session nearest you:
- Iowa City, March 4, 5:30 p.m., Johnson County Extension Office, 3109 Old Hwy 218 South
- Charles City, March 4, 6:30 p.m., Public Library Zastrow Room, 910 Clark Street
- Okoboji, March 4, 6 p.m., Maser Monarch Lodge, 22785 Nature Center Road
- Perry, March 4, 6 p.m., Dallas County Conservation Board, Forest Park Museum administration building, 14581 K Avenue
- Algona, March 5, 7 p.m., Tietz Entrepreneurial Center at the Algona campus of Iowa Lakes Community College, 2111 Hwy 169 North
- Council Bluffs, March 5, 5:30 p.m., Bass Pro Shops, 2901 Bass Pro Drive
- Hinton, March 5, 5 p.m., Dennis L. Sohl Center for Outdoor Learning, Hillview Recreation Area, 25601 C60
- Lake View, March 5, 6:30 p.m., Speaker Park Shelter House, 418 North Blossom Street
- Toledo, March 5, 5:30 p.m., Tama County Nature Center at Otter Creek Lake Park, 2283 Park Road
- Ventura, March 5, 6 p.m., Clear Lake Wildlife Unit Office, 15326 Balsam Ave.
Note: If you require special accommodations (mobility or hearing), please contact the Iowa DNR at 515-725-8200 prior to attending.
Protect Our Sporting Heritage
Don’t forget to forward this email to your hunting buddies, fishing partners, and local clubs. If we don’t speak up for our heritage, others will speak for us. Attending one of these sessions helps ensure the interests of Iowa’s sportsmen and women are protected and prioritized. Our heritage depends on our collective voice. Let’s make sure our voices are heard loud and clear.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing, and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler, and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square, and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions. Stay connected to the Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
