Hunter Resources

Iowa Public Hunting Atlas

Iowa Public Hunting Atlas

The Hunting Atlas is an interactive map that shows all lands open to public hunting in the state, totaling 763,810 acres. The Hunting Atlas also gives basic information about those areas such as: acres, general habitat description, expected species and links to more information. It will also tell a user what hunting zones any area of the state falls into. Check it out to help you plan your next hunt!

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2024 Iowa Pheasant Outlook

2024 Iowa Pheasant Outlook

Pheasant Hunting Forecast 2024: Iowa

BIRDS BEAT THE WET, IT SHOULD STILL BE A GOOD HUNT

By Jennifer Felton

There were very few days this summer that I haven’t thought about this coming pheasant season.

At dawn, five out of seven days, I ride my bike 10 miles on a gravel route that takes me past nine areas of prime upland habitat. Part of the thrill of these rides is the wildlife I encounter when I roll past Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) ground, tallgrass prairie, pasture and wide buffer strips.

Three days ago I saw a skunk kit, a doe and three fawns, a great blue heron, a red-tailed hawk, three coyote pups – and last but not least—a hen pheasant that exploded out of the ditch a few feet from me followed by her brood.

I couldn’t help but smile and shake my head at how startled I was. I had better get used to that explosion again! The rest of my ride was consumed by thoughts of pheasant seasons past and the one quickly approaching. So good!

This year’s annual August roadside survey in Iowa confirmed that weather conditions—primarily a wet spring —gave way to a 14% decrease in pheasant numbers statewide as compared to 2023. While 14% might raise some eyebrows, this fall’s survey results were nearly identical to not only one but two historically good pheasant hunting years—2021 and 2022.

“A combination of the southwestern region being significantly down by 72% and six out of nine of the other regions being slightly down — albeit not in a statistically significant way — factored into a tipping point that affected the lower statewide result,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“Generally there needs to be a 20% change or more in the numbers to be significant,” added Bogenschutz. “It is very likely hunters won’t even notice a decline in many areas of the state. It is shaping up to be another good fall.”

The 2021 and 2022 survey count and harvest numbers were within a run of five seasons with good hunting trends. Taking a closer look at comparable data between 2021, 2022 and 2024, two key takeaways bode well for hunters.

*First, the birds counted per 30-mile route are statistically parallel – with 20.1 birds counted/route in 2021, 19.6 birds counted/route in 2022 and 19.3 birds counted/route in 2024.

*Second, the harvest numbers forecasted for this season are identical to the 2021 and 2022 harvests, which totaled 350,000 to 400,000 roosters — those years exceeding the 10-year average by 31% and 46%, respectively.

The slightly milder than normal winter, followed by a wetter than normal spring, had a significant impact on this year’s lower count numbers juxtaposed to last year.

Comparing 2023 and 2024, there were gains in both winter seasons with average to above average overwinter survival for small game statewide.

But the difference in spring conditions was dramatic. Dry conditions parched 2023, and historic rainfall and flooding hit 2024. It was warmer than usual, but every region reported rainfall during nesting season that was 3 to 7 inches above normal, ending Iowa’s four-year string of dry nesting seasons. The unfavorable spring weather likely offset any gains seen from the milder winter and good carryover of birds that resulted.

“While every region reported above normal rainfall, the northern third of Iowa was the hardest hit with multiple instances of extreme rainfall and significant flooding,” said Josh Divan, Iowa State Coordinator for Pheasants Forever.

Iowa research indicates overwinter hen survival, brood survival and nest success are the major factors in influencing annual changes in pheasant numbers. Total cocks and hens counted on the routes were essentially unchanged from 2023. However, statewide data on total chicks, chicks per brood and the age of a hen’s brood were all lower than last year. The Roadside Survey Report trends match up well with the weather Iowa experienced over the past year.

“Thankfully winter didn’t deliver too many severe storms and when it did, the wind cleared the areas of the fields for birds to find food,” says Nick Thompson, Farm Bill Biologist for Pheasants Forever in southwestern Iowa. “Nesting season has been favorable, and I have flushed multiple groups of broods that are all different sizes from one another.”

“Brood sizes are smaller in this area, but I'm hopeful we'll still benefit from the gains we've seen over the past few years,” says Rose Danaher, Outdoor Skills Specialist with the Iowa DNR. Danaher is located in east-central Iowa, and an active PF volunteer. “Last year we enjoyed expanded ranges on both quail and Hungarian partridge, which, if you're lucky, offered the chance to see three species in a day's hunt!”

The second most critical factor that determines the abundance and distribution of upland game populations in Iowa is habitat. Implementing habitat conservation projects remains critical, with 74,312 enrolled CRP acres set to expire in September 2024 in some portions of the state. Given that news, Terry Haindfield, a Winneshiek County Pheasants Forever Chapter board member and retired DNR biologist, says there are a lot of people signing up now who will be seeding upland habitat this coming spring. In his region, an increase in CRP enrollment is adding diversity interspersing the croplands.

“The condition of the existing habitat is good, with increased height and density because of good moisture. Looking forward, given the input costs for corn, some may be thinking it is conducive to consider going to CRP. It could be an opportune time,” says Haindfield.

Iowa’s quail populations were most prevalent in west-central and southwestern regions – with the west central up 70%. Bogenschutz said that route after route, he had staff recording quail further into the west central region.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources staff reported that coveys appeared very stressed in the south-central region during the mid-January blizzard, but in other regions like west central the blizzard was less severe.

"When I have been out in the countryside, I have been seeing and hearing reports of people who have been both seeing and hearing quite a few quail this year. I am hopeful we will be able to find some birds this fall,” said Holly Shutt, a volunteer for the Louisa County Chapter of PF & QF in southeastern Iowa.

The partridge population was most present in the north-central and northwestern regions of the state. The most favorable counts came from Buchanan, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Pocahontas, Poweshiek and Wright counties.

According to local farmers, Pro Farmer and USDA yield predictions could be bigger this fall — that is, if the weather holds and harvest conditions are steady. I can’t help but think harvest could potentially be slower than average in some areas of Iowa due to larger yields. This could impact the opener.

Regardless, I’m anticipating a cloudy, crisp morning, silently closing the truck door, loading my gun and releasing the dog while chanting in my mind, “Aim for the pupil, not the whole bird … hunt ‘em up!”

See the full 2024 Iowa Roadside Survey Report here.

Jennifer Felton follows her pack of English Labrador Retrievers every fall, chasing west-central Iowa’s ringnecks.

2024-25 Iowa Hunting Regulations

2024-25 Iowa Hunting Regulations

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