Youth Deer Season Begins Saturday in Iowa: What You Need to Know

There is something different about your first deer hunt.

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I remember going through hunter safety when I was younger. I had already gotten used to the basics of safe gun handling growing up with a BB gun on my farm, so the idea of handling a firearm wasn't completely foreign to me. But picking up a shotgun for the first time was a different experience. It was exciting. It was new. And, if I'm being honest, there was a little nervousness mixed in there, too. That's probably why I always enjoy seeing Iowa youth deer season roll around; as fathers prepare to take their sons and daughters out for a first deer hunt.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says about 10,000 young hunters are expected to take part in this year's youth deer season, which begins this Saturday, September 19th, and runs through October 4th. The season is designed around a mentor-style hunt, giving young hunters an opportunity to learn about our whitetail deer populations, hunting, and, most importantly, safe hunting practices. This "pre-season" of sorts gives kids the opportunity without the added pressure, with less hunters active in the field.

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Honestly, this is a great opportunity for a young hunter. A true learning experience. There can be a lot going through their minds. Who knows how exactly they will respond when they finally get a deer in their sights.

Maybe it's the "record" buck everyone talks about. Maybe it's simply the first legal deer they have ever seen while sitting in a stand. For me, I've always been more interested in putting meat in the freezer than putting a giant set of antlers on the wall. That's just me; but, I sure do love making homemade deer jerky! Now for a young hunter, that first deer is all of that and a whole lot more.

What You Need For Iowa Youth Deer Season

Firstly, the youth hunter needs a valid youth deer license and habitat fee, when required. The youth must also remain under the direct supervision of a licensed adult mentor during the hunt. The youth license is valid statewide and can be used for any legal deer. If the youth season tag goes unfilled, it can be used during a subsequent deer season, provided the hunter follows the rules for that particular season.

One important rule to remember is that party hunting is not allowed with a youth tag. In other words, the deer has to be harvested by the young hunter whose tag is being used. An adult mentor can help teach, guide and supervise, but the youth has to be the one who takes the deer.  Side note; the youth deer season also coincides with the disabled hunter deer season, for hunters who meet the applicable requirements.

Don't Forget What Happens After the Deer Drops

This is one of those things that can get overlooked when everyone is thinking about getting into the woods. If that young hunter does get a deer, please have a plan before heading out.

The DNR recommends having bags of ice available to help cool the deer cavity, especially because youth season can bring relatively mild to warm temperatures and biting insects. It also recommends contacting a locker ahead of time to make sure they can accept the deer for processing; or that you have a place to hang or portion the deer if you plan to process it yourself. My family usually spends a Saturday de-boning and cutting up meat.

Don't forget the harvest report to the Iowa DNR. Any deer taken during the season must be reported by midnight the day after the deer is recovered. Hunters can report easily online through the Iowa DNR, by calling 1-800-771-4692, or through a license vendor.

Yes, all the legal stuff must be done before the hunt occurs, but let's remember what this season is really about. That first hunt. The first morning sitting quietly in the woods. The first time hearing something moving through the brush or freshly fallen leaves. The first deer that grunts and paws the ground at you. The first time a young hunter has to slow everything down, remember what they were taught and squeeze the trigger. For today's young hunters, Saturday could be the beginning of a lifetime of memories. And if some deer ends up in the freezer, well, that's a pretty good bonus.