Home › Wisconsin › Counties › Iowa County
South Central Region · 2026-27
Iowa County Hunting
Deer units and bonus tags, Holiday Hunt status, CWD test results by year, the baiting rule, bear, turkey and waterfowl zones and every public property in Iowa County, from DNR data.
Photo: Joe K Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Iowa County covers 763 square miles of land and 5 of lakes and rivers, with the courthouse in Dodgeville. It counted 23,963 people in 2024, about 31 for each square mile of land. For deer it is entirely Southern Farmland ground, split into 1 DMU. The DNR Fitchburg Service Center in Fitchburg is the nearest of the twelve DNR service centers. 20 public propertys on the DNR, county and federal lists sit at least partly inside the line, 3 state wildlife areas among them.
Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates (population), DNR region from the DNR staff pages, deer zones from the DNR deer zone layer, service centers from DNR office locations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Iowa County DMUs and antlerless authorizations
For 2026 the antlerless target in these units is 3,000 deer, set by unit before bonus sales opened in August. Free Farmland tags here: 1 per license, specific to the unit and to public-access or private land. A bonus authorization costs $12 (resident) or $20 (nonresident) on Go Wild, one per hunter per day while they last.
| DMU | Management zone | Quota | Public-land bonus | Private-land bonus | Left at Oct 19 | Farmland tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | Southern Farmland | 3,000 | 650 | 2,000 | 650 / 2,000 | 1 |
Late hunts
No Holiday Hunt and no extended bow season here; archery closes Jan 3, 2027.
The nine-day
Rifles and shotguns: Nov 21 to Nov 29, 2026. Muzzleloaders: Nov 30 to Dec 9, 2026. Antlerless only: Dec 10 to Dec 13, 2026.
Quotas and initial bonus counts from the DNR 2026 antlerless quota and initial permit availability (approved June 24, 2026); unsold counts and free Farmland tags from the bonus availability page as of Oct. 19, 2026; Holiday Hunt and extended archery from the 2026 season map; dates from the deer regulations. Checked October 19, 2026.
Deer registrations, Iowa County
2,948 deer were registered in Iowa County in 2025, ranking it 44th of 61 units with county names. Against 5,204 in 2015, the 2025 count is down 43%.
| Year | Buck harvest | Antlerless harvest | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,578 | 1,370 | 2,948 |
| 2024 | 1,555 | 1,465 | 3,020 |
| 2023 | 1,879 | 1,654 | 3,533 |
| 2022 | 1,731 | 1,919 | 3,650 |
| 2021 | 1,780 | 1,963 | 3,743 |
| 2020 | 2,325 | 3,085 | 5,410 |
| 2019 | 2,147 | 2,500 | 4,647 |
| 2018 | 2,503 | 2,921 | 5,424 |
| 2017 | 2,214 | 2,546 | 4,760 |
| 2016 | 2,509 | 2,601 | 5,110 |
Iowa County so far in 2026 (preliminary)
| Unit | Bucks | Antlerless | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 85 | 83 | 168 |
DNR Deer Metrics harvest history (registered deer, all seasons and weapons; values read from the DNR chart), 2025 forest DMU figures from the same source, and the DNR 2026 total harvest to date (preliminary). Checked October 19, 2026.
Has CWD reached Iowa County?
Wild deer that tested positive for chronic wasting disease have been found in Iowa County: 4,732 of 54,695 sampled since 1999. The 2025 CWD year brought 724 samples and 170 positives. No bait and no feeding: Iowa County sits under the deer baiting and feeding ban. Deer donated here must be CWD tested.
| Year | Tested | Positive |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | 34 | 12 |
| 2025 | 724 | 170 |
| 2024 | 694 | 175 |
| 2023 | 885 | 243 |
| 2022 | 934 | 264 |
| 2021 | 1,047 | 324 |
| 2020 | 1,613 | 464 |
| 2019 | 1,491 | 419 |
| 2018 | 1,505 | 397 |
| 2017 | 1,080 | 250 |
| 2016 | 879 | 220 |
| 2015 | 662 | 152 |
More on CWD · Ban map and limits
CWD sampling from the DNR CWD summary by county (wild deer, data released through Oct. 18, 2026; CWD year runs April 1-March 31, 2026 partial); baiting from the DNR baiting and feeding page and its map; donation testing from the Deer Donation Program. Checked October 19, 2026.
Iowa County bear and turkey numbers
Black bears
Iowa County lies in bear zone E (55%) and F (45%). Class A bear licenses come by preference-point drawing, and hounds are not allowed. The 2024-25 bear reports list no harvest for Iowa County.
| Bear zone | Target 2026 | Licenses drawn | Points needed | Applicants | Harvest 2025 | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone E | 185 | 2,628 | 1 | 2,628 | 128 | No |
| Zone F | 50 | 764 | 1 | 764 | 27 | No |
Turkey zone and permits
Turkey zone 1 covers the county. Spring 2027 permit levels have not been published; the table gives 2025 levels by zone. 64,574 spring authorizations went to zone 1 in 2025.
| Spring zone | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 rate | Registered 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 61,121 | 60,523 | 62,058 | 62,329 | 64,574 | 21% | 13,813 |
Birds and small game in Iowa County
For ruffed grouse, Zone B applies (Oct 17 to Dec 8, 2026). Pheasant stocking in Iowa County for 2026: Blackhawk Lake Wildlife Area (360).
Bear zones · Compare turkey zones
Bear zones from the DNR bear zone layer; targets, permits and points from the 2026 bear drawing summary; harvest from the DNR 2025 bear report and 2024 report; turkey levels from the DNR turkey reports (2025 levels; 2027 not yet published); elk from the DNR elk page; bird zones from the DNR zone layers. Checked October 19, 2026.
Iowa County wildlife areas, forests and natural areas
Iowa County overlaps 20 properties on the land list, from state wildlife areas to natural areas and trails. Private land enrolled in Managed Forest Law and open to the public adds 255 acres in Iowa County. Look up the 2 leased private parcels in Iowa County through VPA-HIP and THAP.
- State parks (3)Governor Dodge State Park (5,278 ac), Blue Mound State Park (1,162 ac*), Tower Hill State Park (96 ac)
- State natural areas (7 here)Avoca Prairie and Savanna State Natural Area (2,208 ac), Ridgeway Pine Relict State Natural Area (542 ac), Tower Hill Bottoms State Natural Area (481 ac), Orion Mussel Bed State Natural Area (175 ac*), Pecatonica River Woods State Natural Area (106 ac), Arena Pines and Sand Barrens State Natural Area (93 ac), Pine Cliff State Natural Area (23 ac)
- State wildlife areas in the county (3)Blackhawk Lake Wildlife Area (2,041 ac), Barreltown Grassland and Stream Conservation Area (Southwest Grassland and Stream Conservation Area) (361 ac), Smith-Conley Creek State Habitat Area (10 ac)
- State fishery areas: 4Trout Creek Fishery Area (Iowa County) (953 ac), Love & Strutt Creeks (578 ac), Big Spring Creek (Branch) (287 ac), Pompey Pillar Creek Fishery Area (Remnant) (83 ac)
- State trail in the county (1)Military Ridge State Trail (518 ac*)
- State habitat area, 1 listedCox Hollow Streambank Protection Area (124 ac)
- 1 demonstration forestJames J Rule Timber Demonstration Forest (81 ac)
Statewide groupings with parcels here: Natural Area – Dedication, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway.
Close by, across the boundary: Bakken's Pond State Natural Area (12 miles, 153 ac), Smith Slough and Sand Prairie State Natural Area (13 miles, 397 ac).
No hunting at Rem-Dickinson Creek, Rem-Harker Creek and Rem-Otters Creek.
Public land hub · Open MFL land · Leased access land
Public land from the DNR managed lands layer and property pages, DNR state natural area, county forest and federal records; county forest acres from the DNR county forest acreage report (July 1, 2021); MFL open acres from the DNR MFL report; leases from the DNR VPA-HIP and THAP lists. Acres within 10 miles of the county seat are a GIS measure. Checked October 19, 2026.
Which seasons are open in Iowa County
Deer dates are statewide in Wisconsin; bear, turkey, grouse, cottontail and waterfowl dates follow zone lines, so only the rows for Iowa County are listed.
| Species | Season | Where it applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery and crossbow | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth and disabled gun deer hunt | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun deer (9-day) | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Statewide antlerless-only (December 4-day hunt) | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear (Class A license by drawing) | Bear Zone E/F | Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall turkey | Turkey Zone 1 | Sep 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth turkey hunt | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period A | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 21, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period B | Turkey Zone 1 | Apr 28, 2027 | May 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period C | Turkey Zone 1 | May 5, 2027 | May 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period D | Turkey Zone 1 | May 12, 2027 | May 18, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period E | Turkey Zone 1 | May 19, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey Period F | Turkey Zone 1 | May 26, 2027 | Jun 1, 2027 | |
| Ruffed Grouse | Ruffed grouse | Grouse Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite Quail | Bobwhite quail | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Hungarian partridge | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | Squirrel | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Cottontail rabbit | Southern cottontail zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Snowshoe Hare | Snowshoe hare | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| American Crow | Crow | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Mar 24, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl hunt | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 1) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular duck (split 2) | Southern Duck Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 9, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 1) | Southern Goose Zone | Sep 16, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (split 2) | Southern Goose Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular goose (holiday split) | Southern Goose Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 2, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (resident) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Raccoon (nonresident) | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red and gray fox | Fox (red and gray) | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote (hunting) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 1 (hunting and trapping) | Northern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 1 (hunting and trapping) | Southern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 2 (hunting and trapping) | Northern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Bobcat Period 2 (hunting and trapping) | Southern Zone (State Hwy. 64 line) | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Unprotected species | Unprotected species (opossum, skunk, weasel, woodchuck, porcupine, starling, English sparrow, chukar, coturnix quail, etc.) | Statewide | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fall 2026-Spring 2027 hunting regulations and season dates, checked October 19, 2026.
From Iowa County towns to the counties around it
Pick a base town in Iowa County; its page lists the closest public properties and legal hours.
- Dodgevillecounty seat · 5,077 people in 2024 · 8,926 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Arena894 people in 2024 · 13,858 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Avoca551 people in 2024 · 13,435 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Edmund7,329 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Highland869 people in 2024 · 4,261 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Blanchardvillemostly next door · 827 people in 2024 · 5,562 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Muscodamostly next door · 1,303 people in 2024 · 15,078 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
Bordering Iowa County: 6 Wisconsin counties.
Towns: Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
When you can shoot at Iowa County
Two tables cover the state, one for the Northern Area and one for the Southern Area, each for Zone A. West of 88 degrees you add 4 minutes per degree of longitude.
| Day | Season | North table | South table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery, fall turkey and grouse opener | 6:07 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Pheasant and duck dates | 6:51 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Early November | 6:12 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opener | 6:40 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Dec 1, 2026 | Muzzleloader week | 6:52 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. |
| Dec 24, 2026 | Holiday Hunt opener | 7:11 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | 7:05 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Archery close (most units) | 7:13 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
Deer, bear, elk, small game and fall turkey table times from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shooting hours tables, plus the Zone D offset of 12 minutes for longitude 90.13 W, checked October 19, 2026. Shooting hours for every county.
Can you burn in Iowa County?
Today's Iowa County status is on the Wisconsin burn ban list.
- Permit season: Within DNR forest fire protection areas, whenever the ground is not completely snow-covered.
- Counties outside DNR burning-permit authority (per DNR daily restrictions on 2026-10-27): Iowa County is not on this list.
- Burn bans come from: The Wisconsin DNR, through daily county burning restrictions and permit suspensions within its forest fire protection areas (NR 30.05 emergency burning regulations; NR 45.07(3) emergency use and burning rules on DNR lands by posted notice).
- Warming fires: DNR-managed lands (NR 45.07): no fire on the ground and no burning refuse except in designated fireplaces or fire rings.
Iowa County ranges and matches
2 ranges in Iowa County, from the DNR range layer and directory listings checked October 19, 2026.
trap, shotgun on file
sporting clays, shotgun on file
Nearest range on the DNR public range map: Yellowstone Shooting Range in Lafayette County, about 18 miles from the county center.
Matches and shows here
| When and what | Kind | Go |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6-7, 2026: Dodgeville Gun Show | Gun show | Details |
| Jan 8-9, 2027: Dodgeville Gun Show | Gun show | Details |
Ranges from the DNR public range map and directory listings, checked October 19, 2026.
Iowa County hunting services
Each group starts with Iowa County listings and fills in from neighbours.
Who to call at the DNR
Walk in at a service center on weekdays (8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.); call ahead for a field office.
Deer processors
Mounts and taxidermy
Guided hunts
Outdoor stores
DNR service centers and field offices from DNR office locations; processors from the Deer Donation Program list, DNR CWD sampling station partners and directory listings; shops from the DNR license agent layer and directories. Checked October 19, 2026; call ahead. All Wisconsin hunting services.
Iowa County on the Wisconsin events calendar
On file here: 1 upcoming event (NWTF banquet).
Still to come
| Held | What | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 2027 | Southwest Wisconsin Chapter NWTF Banquet / NWTF banquet | Dodgeville Iowa Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Smaller public tracts in Iowa County
4 smaller public areas in Iowa County, 578 acres together, each with its own section below: acres, office, zones, DNR map and the facts its agency documents give.
Barreltown Grassland and Stream Conservation Area (Southwest Grassland and Stream Conservation Area)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Wildlife Area |
| Acres | 361 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Iowa |
| Map point | 42.9028, -90.1978 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone F (hound hunting prohibited) |
Cox Hollow Streambank Protection Area
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Habitat Area |
| Acres | 124 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Iowa |
| Map point | 43.0072, -90.1295 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone E (hound hunting prohibited) |
Pompey Pillar Creek Fishery Area (Remnant)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Fishery Area |
| Acres | 83 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Iowa |
| Map point | 43.0781, -90.3346 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone E (hound hunting prohibited) |
Smith-Conley Creek State Habitat Area
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | State Wildlife Area |
| Acres | 10 (WI DNR Managed Lands GIS ACRES field, sum of parcels open to hunting) |
| County | Iowa |
| Map point | 42.9449, -89.9254 (directions) |
| Zones | Southern Farmland Zone; Bear Zone F (hound hunting prohibited) |
Iowa County questions from hunters
How many bucks were registered in Iowa County in 2025?
1,578 antlered deer.
Has chronic wasting disease turned up in Iowa County?
Yes: 4,732 CWD-positive wild deer on record since 1999.
Can I feed deer in my yard in Iowa County?
No; feeding deer is banned along with baiting.
How many bear permits are there for Iowa County?
Zone E drew 2,628 permits for 2026 against a harvest target of 185.
When is spring turkey season in Iowa County?
Youth hunt Apr 17 to Apr 18, 2027, then Periods A to F from Apr 21 to Jun 1, 2027.
Is there a county forest in Iowa County?
No. It is not one of the 30 county forest counties.
What is the deadline to register a deer in Iowa County?
5 p.m. the day after you recover it; the confirmation number starts with W.
Do bowhunters wear orange in Iowa County?
Yes, whenever a firearm deer season is open.
Which venison processors are nearest Iowa County?
Prem Meats Self-Service Kiosk, Evenson Processing and Bucky's Smokehouse, in order of distance.
When does deer season end in Iowa County?
Jan 3, 2027, the archery close.
Answers from the DNR Fall 2026-Spring 2027 regulations, registration rules, blaze orange rules, DNR harvest and CWD data and the sources cited above. Checked October 19, 2026.
Double-check before Iowa County
The DNR can change quotas, bonus sales and bans between seasons. The regulations booklet is the legal reference.
Sources: DNR Fall 2026-Spring 2027 hunting regulations, season dates, Wisconsin DNR hunting, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 19, 2026.
Other photos on this page: aliivibrio (CC BY 2.0); USDA NRCS Montana (Public Domain Mark 1.0); royal_broil (CC BY-SA 2.0); Anne Marie Peterson from Madison, WI, US (CC BY-SA 2.0); Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA (CC BY 2.0); xulescu_g (CC BY-SA 2.0); NPS Natural Resources (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).