Iowa duck season 2026-27: dates and free maps
Season dates
Youth waterfowl, North zone: Saturday, September 26 to Sunday, September 27, 2026
Source: Iowa DNR
North zone, first split: Saturday, October 3 to Friday, October 9, 2026
Source: Iowa DNR
Youth waterfowl, Central zone: Saturday, October 3 to Sunday, October 4, 2026
Source: Iowa DNR
Central zone, first split: Saturday, October 10 to Friday, October 16, 2026
Source: Iowa DNR
Youth waterfowl, South zone: Saturday, October 10 to Sunday, October 11, 2026
Source: Iowa DNR
North zone, second split: Saturday, October 17 to Tuesday, December 8, 2026
Source: Iowa DNR
South zone, first split: Saturday, October 17 to Friday, October 23, 2026
Source: Iowa DNR
Central zone, second split: Saturday, October 24 to Tuesday, December 15, 2026
Source: Iowa DNR
South zone, second split: Saturday, October 31 to Tuesday, December 22, 2026
Source: Iowa DNR
Checked on the agency's site November 6, 2026. Licenses, units, bag limits and shooting hours differ, and dates can vary by unit: the regulations are what count, so read them before you go.
Federal migratory bird rules apply on top of state rules: check what your state requires for the federal duck stamp and HIP registration, and your state's shooting hours and bag limits.
Marshes, river bottoms and refuge boundaries are hard to read in the dark, and public and closed areas sit side by side. Download the maps for your marsh ahead of time and Cartahaven shows your GPS position on them offline, so you can find your spot before shooting light and stay out of closed zones.
Free public land maps in Iowa
- Iowa USGS topo maps (1,116)
- Iowa historical topo maps (115)
- Iowa national park maps (1)
Before you go
Cartahaven is not affiliated with or endorsed by Iowa DNR. Season dates come from the agency pages linked above.