Iowa Turkey — Zone 8
Zone 8
Iowa Zone 8 covers 9,791,002 acres and lies 35 miles north of Fort Dodge and 46 miles north-east of Storm Lake. 2% of it is public land, mostly state land (1%) and county or city land (1%). The 2026 draw put up 150 nonresident tags here.
Your chance of drawing here
Every turkey license type on offer in Zone 8, with the prior-draw chance for a first-choice nonresident applicant. Type your points in to see your own number.
Chances are from the 2026 draw (the most recent) for a first-choice nonresident. "Points needed" = the cut in the last draw.
Simple view Odds at every point level-
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TML Statewide nonresident spring turkey, muzzleloading shotgun only (hunter declares one zone and season) 150 tags— Cut level
| Hunt | Your odds (0 pts) | Points needed | Tags / applicants | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T8-S1 ↗ Zone 8 season 1 nonresident spring turkey, combination gun/bow Rifle | — Cut level | — | 20 / — | Apr 13–16, 2026 |
| T8-S2 ↗ Zone 8 season 2 nonresident spring turkey, combination gun/bow Rifle | — Cut level | — | 20 / — | Apr 17–21, 2026 |
| T8-S3 ↗ Zone 8 season 3 nonresident spring turkey, combination gun/bow Rifle | — Cut level | — | 20 / — | Apr 22–28, 2026 |
| T8-S4 ↗ Zone 8 season 4 nonresident spring turkey, combination gun/bow Rifle | — Cut level | — | 20 / — | Apr 29 – May 17, 2026 |
| TML ↗ Statewide nonresident spring turkey, muzzleloading shotgun only (hunter declares one zone and season) Muzzleloader | — Cut level | — | 150 / — | Apr 13 – May 17, 2026 |
What these columns mean
- Your odds —
- the share of applicants at your point level who drew this tag in the 2026 draw. Not a forecast: quotas and demand move every year.
- The badge —
- plain language for that number. Likely draw 75% or better · Real chance 40%+ · Long shot 15%+ · Point builder below that, so you are applying mainly to bank a point · Undersubscribed means fewer first-choice applicants than tags, so everyone who applied drew.
- Points needed —
- the lowest point total that still got a tag in the 2026 draw, and how that cut has moved since the earliest draw we hold.
- Tags / applicants —
- tags on offer and first-choice applicants for them, as the agency published them. Under five tags we print counts instead of a percentage, because one applicant either way swings it.
What it costs to apply (2026 nonresident fees)
| License | Up front | Gone if you miss | If you draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per application | $265 | $0 | $265 |
Application window: opens Jan 1, closes Jan 25, 2027 (expected). Full fee breakdown.
The country
Boundaries are drawn for orientation only — the written boundary description in the regulations governs.
Who owns the ground
- State land 116,286 ac · 1%
- County or city land 55,624 ac · 1%
- National Wildlife Refuge 28,092 ac · 0%
- Other public 4,683 ac · 0%
- Private 324 ac · 0%
- Private or other non-public land 9,585,990 ac · 98%
Source: Iowa DNR Boundaries/Public_Lands (Public Areas layer)
What the agency says about the area
North of US Hwy 20, west of US Hwy 63 (571 IAC 106.10 defines each zone by these highway boundaries, not by county)
Source: IAC 571-Chapter 98 Wild Turkey Spring Hunting, IAC 5/13/26 compilation
Boundary: TIGER/Line Primary and Secondary Roads, Iowa (tl_2024_19_prisecroads)