A bill for an act relating to the allocation of nonresident deer hunting licenses and including effective date provisions.(See HF 388.)
Summary
HF 22 would change how Iowa allocates nonresident deer hunting licenses. The bill keeps the overall cap of 6,000 nonresident antlered or any-sex deer licenses, but requires that 600 of those licenses be reserved for nonresident landowners who own at least 40 acres of agricultural land in Iowa. If fewer than 600 eligible landowners apply by the deadline set by the Natural Resource Commission, the unused reserved licenses would be released and sold alongside other excess nonresident licenses.
The bill also preserves the existing rule that no more than 35 percent of the issued licenses may be bow-season licenses, applying that limit both to the reserved landowner set-aside and to the remaining nonresident licenses. Any nonresident licenses beyond the 6,000 antlered or any-sex cap would continue to be limited to antlerless deer only. The act would take effect on July 1, 2026.
Impact
HF 22 would amend Iowa Code section 483A.8 governing nonresident deer hunting licenses and would direct the Natural Resource Commission to create a mandatory reservation of 600 licenses for qualifying nonresident agricultural landowners. It would affect nonresident hunters, especially those who own Iowa farmland, by giving them priority access to a portion of the limited antlered or any-sex deer licenses. The bill does not change the overall 6,000-license cap, but it changes the distribution of those licenses and preserves the existing bow-season percentage limits.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill had moderate support in committee, passing the House Committee on Natural Resources by a 13-8 vote. That margin indicates the proposal was supported by a majority but not unanimously, consistent with a policy change that benefits one class of nonresident hunters while limiting access for others. No committee transcript is available, so the broader discussion record is limited.
Contention
The main point of contention is the preferential reservation of 600 licenses for nonresident landowners with at least 40 acres of agricultural land in Iowa. Supporters likely view the set-aside as a way to recognize landownership and agricultural investment, while opponents may see it as reducing equal access to a scarce public hunting resource for other nonresident applicants. The bow-season cap and the release of unused reserved licenses appear designed to soften the impact, but the allocation preference itself is the central issue.
A bill for an act relating to deer hunting, including deer depredation and the purchasing of a youth deer hunting license and tag. (Formerly SF 331.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 20.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to nonresident upland and small game licenses; and to amend and reenact section 20.1-03-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to nonresident hunting licenses.