Why Do Out-of-State Iowa Deer Tags Cost So Darn Much?

If you live in Iowa and want to hunt deer, it doesn't cost much. But if you want to hunt deer and don't live in Iowa, get ready for some real sticker shock!

Ask any Iowa farmer, and they will tell you there are tons of deer in the state.

So why not help cull the herd and attract more hunters spending money in the local communities by charging a reasonable fee for out-of-state deer licenses?

The Price Gap Is Staggering

Resident Iowa deer tags are on sale now for the upcoming 2025-2026 season. Tags are available through the end of the season or until quotas are filled.

Iowa resident deer licenses for 2025 range from $15.00 to $33.00, depending on the type of tag, with a standard any-sex tag costing $33.00 and an antlerless-only tag costing $28.50, plus an additional second antlerless tag at $15.00.

These prices apply to resident deer hunting tags and are part of a larger license system that also includes the standard resident hunting license ($22.00) and a habitat fee ($15.00), which are required for all hunters.

In stark contrast, an Iowa out-of-state deer hunting license and tag combination can cost you around $650.00 for a season, which requires you to also buy the non-resident hunting/habitat combo ($144) and the antlered or any-sex deer tag ($498).