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Free fishing weekend June 5-7

Iowa residents may fish without a license on June 5, 6 and 7 as part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources free fishing weekend.

Free fishing weekend is the first weekend in June each year. It allows Iowans an opportunity to try fishing without purchasing a license. All other regulations remain in place.

Fishing is an activity that can be done during any stage in life and is a great way to spend time together as a family. “We want people to fish because it is a good, wholesome activity,” said Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Fisheries Bureau.

DNR staff will be at popular fishing spots across the state to help beginner anglers get started. They will assist with setting up fishing poles and distribute small kits with basic terminal tackle for panfishing along with tips and a few fun items.

“If someone needs a little instruction, there are fun, hands-on fishing clinics available to teach parents or kids the basics of fishing,” said Larscheid.

A list of fishing clinics, derbies, and other fun events co-sponsored by the DNR are available on the special events page. Log on to www.iowadnr.gov then click on Special Events Application System under the Event Calendar and Search for Events.

Anyone catching their first fish is encouraged to take a photo of it and send it in to receive the DNR’s first fish award. The DNR will commemorate the event with a certificate suitable for framing and the submitted photo.

Information on the first fish program is available in the Iowa Fishing Regulations and online at www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/MasterAnglerFirstFish.aspx.

A three day hunter education class is being offered in Dysart at the Union Middle School. The class will be held on Wednesday, June 3 from 6-9 PM, Friday June 5 from 6-9 PM and Saturday, June 6 from 8-Noon. Students must attend all sessions and should dress for the weather on Saturday morning during the live firing exercise. All students must preregister at iowadnr.gov and click on the Hunter Ed link on the front page. Parents will need to set up an account through the website and add minor children as dependents to sign them up. This class is a traditional hunter education course and accompanying field day. This course is free.

There are two other options for taking hunter education. An online hunter education course and field day is offered. Upon completion of the online coursework the student is issued a field day admission voucher which is valid for only one year. The student is to print the voucher and present that voucher to the instructor the day of the online field day for which they are registered. Students are highly encouraged to locate a field day and register for the course prior to taking the online portion. There is a fee of $25 to take this course.

The third option for completing hunter education is the adult online only course. This course has the same general content as the traditional classroom course and online/field day course, but requires state specific information to be covered along with a final exam in which the student must achieve a score of 75% or better to pass. This course is designed for adults that have prior and/or firearms handling experience. If you do not have prior hunting or firearms handling experience it is recommended that you take a traditional classroom course or attend a field day in order to receive one on one firearms handling training with a certified hunter education instructor. There is a fee of $25 to take this course.

Iowa accepts all hunter education certificates issued by another state or foreign nation and vice versa as long as the International Hunter Education Association-USA standards are met. All resident and nonresident hunters born after January 1, 1972, must have a valid hunter education certificate to buy a hunting license in Iowa. Students age 11 and older may obtain a certificate immediately upon completion of the course. Eleven-year-olds may take the course for certification, but their certificate will not become valid until their 12th birthday.

Free fishing weekend June 5-7

Iowa residents may fish without a license on June 5, 6 and 7 as part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources free fishing weekend.

Free fishing weekend is the first weekend in June each year. It allows Iowans an opportunity to try fishing without purchasing a license. All other regulations remain in place.

Fishing is an activity that can be done during any stage in life and is a great way to spend time together as a family. “We want people to fish because it is a good, wholesome activity,” said Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Fisheries Bureau.

DNR staff will be at popular fishing spots across the state to help beginner anglers get started. They will assist with setting up fishing poles and distribute small kits with basic terminal tackle for panfishing along with tips and a few fun items.

“If someone needs a little instruction, there are fun, hands-on fishing clinics available to teach parents or kids the basics of fishing,” said Larscheid.

A list of fishing clinics, derbies, and other fun events co-sponsored by the DNR are available on the special events page. Log on to www.iowadnr.gov then click on Special Events Application System under the Event Calendar and Search for Events.

Anyone catching their first fish is encouraged to take a photo of it and send it in to receive the DNR’s first fish award. The DNR will commemorate the event with a certificate suitable for framing and the submitted photo.

Information on the first fish program is available in the Iowa Fishing Regulations and online at www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/MasterAnglerFirstFish.aspx.

A three day hunter education class is being offered in Dysart at the Union Middle School. The class will be held on Wednesday, June 3 from 6-9 PM, Friday June 5 from 6-9 PM and Saturday, June 6 from 8-Noon. Students must attend all sessions and should dress for the weather on Saturday morning during the live firing exercise. All students must preregister at iowadnr.gov and click on the Hunter Ed link on the front page. Parents will need to set up an account through the website and add minor children as dependents to sign them up. This class is a traditional hunter education course and accompanying field day. This course is free.

There are two other options for taking hunter education. An online hunter education course and field day is offered. Upon completion of the online coursework the student is issued a field day admission voucher which is valid for only one year. The student is to print the voucher and present that voucher to the instructor the day of the online field day for which they are registered. Students are highly encouraged to locate a field day and register for the course prior to taking the online portion. There is a fee of $25 to take this course.

The third option for completing hunter education is the adult online only course. This course has the same general content as the traditional classroom course and online/field day course, but requires state specific information to be covered along with a final exam in which the student must achieve a score of 75% or better to pass. This course is designed for adults that have prior and/or firearms handling experience. If you do not have prior hunting or firearms handling experience it is recommended that you take a traditional classroom course or attend a field day in order to receive one on one firearms handling training with a certified hunter education instructor. There is a fee of $25 to take this course.

Iowa accepts all hunter education certificates issued by another state or foreign nation and vice versa as long as the International Hunter Education Association-USA standards are met. All resident and nonresident hunters born after January 1, 1972, must have a valid hunter education certificate to buy a hunting license in Iowa. Students age 11 and older may obtain a certificate immediately upon completion of the course. Eleven-year-olds may take the course for certification, but their certificate will not become valid until their 12th birthday.