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More than 57,000 hunters are preparing to take the field this Fall for one of Iowa's most popular hunting seasons....Archery deer season.

Many of our Facebook fans wanted to know about the regulations for bow hunting. In the state of Iowa, hunters may use a longbow, a recurve bow or a compound bow using arrows at least 18 inches long. Arrows can use broadheads with no minimum diameter or blunt head with a minimum diameter of 9/16 of an inch. Crossbows, explosive tips and draw locks on compound bows are forbidden.

Hunters may not carry a handgun while hunting under an archery tag, unless they have an unfilled transportation tag for a season that allows a handgun.

A couple of exceptions are available to disabled hunters. If approved by the Department of Natural Resources, hunters with disabilities may use crossbow or draw locks.

The first archery season runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 2. The second season starts on Dec. 19 and runs through Jan. 10.