Hunting & Fishing

Poaching

Poaching is the illegal harvest of wildlife. This may include hunting or fishing without a license, hunting in a wildlife preserve, hunting non-game animals, and more. To report suspected poaching, you may contact:

• Park Officer Riley Conrad at 641-481-2061
• DNR Consevation Officer Brett Reece at 641-751-0931
• OR the Turn In Poachers hotline at 800-532-2020

Hunter Education

Mandatory hunter education is provided through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Classes are typically held from March to November each year. For more information, please refer to the Iowa DNR Hunter Education page.

Hunt & Fish Lead-Free

Did you know that hunting and fishing with lead harms not only wildlife, but also you? Fragments of lead bullets may be found in deer venison, and even very low levels of lead can cause learning disorders in humans. According to the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, over 130 different species of wildlife have been impacted by eating lead. Lead bullets and bobbers are known to cause lead poisoning in a variety of birds including pheasants and turkeys, who may mistake lead fragments for food, and eagles, who may feed on lead-infected wildlife. 

• Hunt and Fish Lead-Free: Learn the importance of hunting and fishing lead-free.
• Lead Poisoning in Wild Birds - US Geological Survey (USGS) Handout
• Reasons to Consider Getting the Lead Out of Your Hunt: Regardless of who's saying what, most of us want to see the evidence behind an argument. This site is intended to act as a place to gather that information together and take a look at reasons to hunt with non-lead ammo.

Lead-free alternatives for hunting and fishing include copper, tin, and tungsten. 

Licenses

The Tama County Recorder is responsible for selling or issuing: Hunting and Fishing Licenses, Deer and Wild Turkey Tags, Fur Harvester Licenses, Habitat, Duck and Trout Fees, Landowner/Tenant Gun & Archery Permits. For more information on hunting & fishing licenses in Tama County, please click here.

Hunting and fishing licenses may be purchased from a variety of local businesses. See the table below for more information.