Iowa Passes Law to Allow Hunting with .223 AR-15’s During Special Season
June 23, 2022
Iowa deer hunters will be allowed to use AR-15 rifles in .223 and 5.56mm to hunt deer in more parts of Iowa during a newly created antlerless season in January. Iowa lawmakers passed the bill in May and it was signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday.
Advocates say the new law will help control the deer population and reduce the damage to crops and motor vehicles.Â
Opponents of the bill think that the use of the smaller caliber could be dangerous. They fear that it might be harder to kill a deer and that the bullet might travel far enough to reach populated communities near hunting areas. Both of these ideas have not stopped other states from passing similar laws regarding calibers with no ill effect.Â
Iowa has had January deer hunting seasons in the past but they were limited to a few counties where the deer population was more of a problem. The bill is expected to expand the January hunt counties from five to as many as 15, depending on rules from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Jeremy Mallette is co-founder of International Sportsman. An avid hunter and outdoorsman, he has spent more than a decade in the outdoor industry, from hiking and camping to silencers and hunting. His father taught him to shoot at age six, and he received his first firearm at age eight — a 1942 Colt Commando .38 special revolver. He enjoys yearly trips to Kansas for pheasant hunting, spending time with his children at the deer lease, and collecting unique firearms.