Iowa Bans Baiting Deer for Hunting Statewide

Under Iowa Administrative Code rule 571: 106.7(6), adopted by the Natural Resource Commission under Iowa Code chapter 481A, bait is a prohibited method of taking deer everywhere in Iowa. "Bait" means grain, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay, salt, mineral blocks, or any other natural food materials placed to attract wildlife; it does not include food placed during normal agricultural activities. Iowa DNR conservation officers enforce the rule, and hunting deer over a bait pile is a violation prosecuted under Iowa Code 481A.32. Iowa imposes no statewide restriction on non-hunting feeding of deer; those bans come from individual cities such as Urbandale and Polk City.

Hunting deer with the aid of bait, grain, salt, or mineral blocks placed to attract them, is a prohibited method of take prosecuted under Iowa Code 481A.32.