{"data":{"id":"us-ia/iowa-code-481a.56a","jurisdiction":"us-ia","citation":"Iowa Code § 481A.56A","heading":"Retrieval of wounded deer by leashed dogs.","body":"A person having a valid hunting license and a valid deer hunting license who has wounded a deer while hunting may use a dog to track and retrieve the wounded deer. An unarmed dog handler assisting in the recovery of a wounded deer is exempt from the licensing requirements as long as the handler is associated with the licensed hunter who wounded the deer. Any person using a dog for tracking wounded deer must maintain physical control of the dog at all times during the search by means of a maximum fifty-foot lead attached to the dog’s collar or harness. The licensed hunter who wounded the deer may dispatch the deer using a legal method of take authorized by the person’s deer hunting license consistent with all rules and regulations for that season. A person shall not chase, hunt, wound, or kill any animal other than the deer that the hunter is tracking, except in self-defense. Using a dog to track a wounded deer on private property is permissible with consent of the property owner. A person using a dog to track a wounded deer outside of legal deer hunting hours shall not be in possession of a firearm or archery device. The commission may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to implement this section.","path":["Title XI - NATURAL RESOURCES (Ch. 455 - 485)","Chapter 481A - WILDLIFE CONSERVATION","Subchapter III - TERRITORIES, OPEN SEASONS, AND BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS FOR GAME"],"source_url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/2026/481A.56A.pdf","current_through":"Iowa Code 2026 edition","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:40:12Z","sha256":"23c62a5331e9bb37d603624e50844203519e1894f19a34da4b622c61466930b5","source_id":"us-ia","stale":false,"prev":"us-ia/iowa-code-481a.56","next":"us-ia/iowa-code-481a.57"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}