Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-91.14 - Hunting methods

Migratory game birds may be taken by any method except those prohibited in this rule. No person shall take migratory game birds (brant, wild ducks, geese, rails, coots, woodcock, and snipe):

(1) With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10-gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive or stupefying substance;

(2) With a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells;

(3) On all lands and waters of the state of Iowa while having in one's possession any shot other than nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This subrule shall not apply to the taking of woodcock.

(4) From or by means or use of a sinkbox or any other type of low-floating device, having a depression affording the hunter a means of concealment beneath the surface of the water;

(5) From or by means, aid, or use of any motor vehicle, motor-drive land conveyance, or aircraft of any kind, except that paraplegics and single or double amputees of the legs may take from any stationary motor-driven land conveyance. "Paraplegic" means an individual afflicted with paralysis of the lower half of the body with the involvement of both legs, usually due to disease of or injury to the spinal cord;

(6) From or by means of any motorboat or other craft having a motor attached, or any sailboat, unless the motor has been completely shut off or the sail furled, and its progress therefrom has ceased: Provided, that a craft under power may be used to retrieve dead or crippled birds. However, crippled birds may not be shot from such craft under power;

(7) By the use or aid of live birds as decoys; although not limited to, it shall be a violation of this subrule for any person to take migratory waterfowl on an area where tame or captive live ducks or geese are present unless such birds are and have been for a period of ten consecutive days prior to such taking, confined within an enclosure which substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals such birds from the sight of wild migratory waterfowl;

(8) By the use or aid of recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electrically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds;

(9) By means or aid of any motor-driven land, water, or air conveyance or any sailboat used for the purpose of or resulting in the concentrating, driving, rallying, or stirring up of any migratory bird; or

(10) By the aid of baiting, or on or over any baited area where a person knows or reasonably should know that the area is or has been baited. As used in this subrule, "baited area" means any area on which salt, grain, or other feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered if that salt, grain, or other feed could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them. Any such area will remain a baited area for ten days following the complete removal of all such salt, grain, or other feed. "Baiting" means the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of salt, grain, or other feed that could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take them. However, nothing in this subrule shall prohibit:

a. The taking of all migratory game birds, including waterfowl, on or over standing crops, flooded standing crops (including aquatics), flooded harvested croplands, grain crops properly shocked on the field where grown, or grains found scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural planting or harvesting; and

b. The taking of all migratory game birds, except waterfowl, on or over any lands where shelled, shucked or unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed has been distributed or scattered solely as the result of valid agricultural operations or procedures.

(11) By any of the methods or means prohibited in this rule unless such methods or means have been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the taking of light geese during special light goose-only seasons or light goose-only hunts.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-91.14

Adopted by IAB May 14, 2025/Volume XLVII, Number 23, effective 6/18/2025