Deer season is officially open in Iowa today for bow hunters. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources estimates 60,000 hunters will participate this season.

The season extends until November 30th and then resumes from December 17th to January 10th, 2019. Hunters who harvest a deer are required by law to report it by midnight the day after the deer is recovered. Bow hunters harvested an estimated 23,000 deer in 2017. Guthrie County has a total of 1,950 tags for all methods of take.

For those who do intend on harvesting their deer, in relatively warm temperatures, for consumption, the DNR recommends bringing large chunks of ice to place in the deer cavity. Freezing gallon milk jugs with water is another method often used by hunters to cool the meat.

Hunters must abide by all blaze orange and other safety regulations.