What are the laws for hunting fox in Iowa? This article covers many of the fundamental laws you will need to know to get started. It also provides information such as seasons, harvest limits, and required permits for bobcat hunting in Iowa. It is not a legal document and is not intended to cover all hunting laws and regulations.
In Iowa, red and gray fox hunting season runs from Nov. 5 through Jan. 31. A valid hunting license is required. There are no daily or seasonal bag limits.
Purchase an Iowa hunting license here.
Check out the Iowa hunting seasons.
First time hunting fox? Check out these articles:
Read: How to call in a fox.
Read: How to use tracks and scat to hunt a fox.
Related: Read the laws for hunting coyotes in Iowa.
Related: Read the laws for hunting bobcats in Iowa.
General rules for hunting fox in Iowa.
Suppressors. In Iowa suppressor legally owned may be used for hunting purposes.
Decoys and electronic callers. Are permitted for hunting fox. Decoys on public land must be removed 1/2 hour after sunset. Other restrictions may also apply to public land—check with your local game warden.
While electronic callers are expensive, mouth and hand callers are less pricey but take time to learn how to use.
Read this article and watch the video to learn how to use a closed reed rabbit squealer.
You can read about some highly effective but inexpensive ($20) decoys here.
You can check Amazon’s price list for callers and decoys here.
Illegal to use artificial lights when hunting fox in Iowa.
Iowa allows night hunting of foxes, but does not allow the use of artificial light. Fox hunting at night is therefore limited to using the light of the moon, hunting animals on snow, or the use of rifle mounted night vision or thermal riflescopes.
Sights that project a light beam, including laser sights, are not legal for hunting. You cannot cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light on a highway or in a field, woodland, or forest for spotting, locating, taking, or attempting to take or hunt a bird or animal, while having in possession or control, either singly or as one of a group of persons, any firearm, bow or other devices capable of killing or taking a bird or animal. This rule does not apply to hunting raccoons or other furbearing animals when they are treed with the aid of dogs.
Hunting fox in Iowa from planes and snowmobiles is illegal.
HUNTING FROM AIRCRAFT OR SNOWMOBILES PROHIBITED
A person shall not intentionally kill or wound, attempt to kill or wound or pursue any animal, fowl, or fish from or with an aircraft or drone in flight, or from or with any vehicles commonly known as snowmobiles. Drones are considered aircraft by the U.S. Federal Government.
MOTOR VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS
The use of motor vehicles in all game management areas is restricted.
Iowa fox hunting: Areas requiring nontoxic ammunition.
IOWA WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS REQUIRING NONTOXIC SHOT FOR ALL HUNTING [excluding deer and wild turkey].
BENTON County, Iowa River Corridor;
BOONE County, Harrier Marsh WMA;
BUENA VISTA County, all land enrolled in IHAP, all state & federal areas;
CALHOUN County, South Twin Lake;
CERRO GORDO County, all land enrolled in IHAP, all state & federal areas;
CLAY County, all land enrolled in IHAP, all state & federal areas except the Ocheyedan WMA target shooting range;
DICKINSON County, all land enrolled in IHAP, all state & federal areas except the Spring Run WMA target shooting area;
EMMET County, all state & federal areas; FRANKLIN County, all state & federal areas; GREENE County, all land enrolled in IHAP, all
state & federal areas except for Rippey Access & North Raccoon River;
GUTHRIE County, McCord Pond, Lakin Slough & Bays Branch WMAs, excluding the target shooting range at Bays Branch WMA.
HAMILTON County, Little Wall Lake, Gordon Marsh & Bauer Slough WMAs;
HANCOCK County, all land enrolled in IHAP, all state & federal area;
HUMBOLDT County, all state & federal areas; IOWA County, Iowa River Corridor;
JASPER County, Chichaqua WMA; KOSSUTH County, all land enrolled in IHAP, all state & federal areas;
OSCEOLA County, all state & federal areas; PALO ALTO County, all land enrolled in IHAP, all state & federal areas;
POCAHONTAS County; all state & federal areas except Kalsow Prairie;
POLK County, Paul Errington Marsh WMA & Chichaqua WMAs;
SAC County, all state & federal areas except White Horse Access & Sac City Access;
STORY County, Colo Bog & Hendrickson Marsh; TAMA County, all land enrolled in IHAP & Iowa River Corridor;
WINNEBAGO County, all land enrolled in IHAP, all state & federal areas;
WORTH County, all state & federal areas; WRIGHT County, all land enrolled in IHAP, all state & federal areas.
Target shooting on these areas will also require the use of nontoxic shots.