IOWA ROAD LAWS

[trapperaddict]

What are the laws for trapping roadsides and bridges can you trap the creek if you enter form the road we can here in Mo I'm thinking of crossing the line next year any pointers would be great

[Bankrunner]

Go to www.iowadnr.com/license/regs.html
scroll down to 2007-08 trapping and hunting regs, I think page 18 or so.
Hope this helps.

[TexA]

NO, you cannot go down or up the creek even if you enter it from the road !

The private ground begins where the Fence Line would usually run. That's where the ROW (Right of Way) signs are usually posted in the ditch. It makes no difference whether there is a fence there or not, that imaginary line IS THE LINE where you stop.

Can you go into a River and trap either side of the river??

That depends on the river. Streams that are classified as Meandering Streams are owned by the landowner on either side of the river., to the center of the river. If you even touch the bottom of the river in such a stream, you are TRESPASSING. You can float through on such a river, but you can't touch ground, tie-up to a fallen tree or just anywhere, you are GUILTY!

On Some rivers, there is Public Access to so many feet on either side of the waterway.

You better know, for sure, before going in.....

[ringtail]

Texa you wouldnt happen to have a list of the rivers that ARE legal to trap here in Iowa? I cant seem to find that information on the DNR web page. Thank you ringtail

[x-demoman]

A meandered lake or stream is one which at the time of the original government survey was so surveyed as to mark, plat and compute the acreage of adjacent fractional sections. On a meandered lake or stream the State owns the river bed up to a normal high water mark.

1. Des Moines River From Mississippi River to west line of township 95 north, range 32 west, Palo Alto County, west branch and north line of township 95 north, range 29 west, Kossuth County east branch apoint near Algona.
2. Iowa River From Mississippi River to west line township 81 north, range 11 west, Iowa County near Koszta
3. Cedar River From Iowa River to west line township 89 north, range 13 west, Black Hawk County at Cedar Falls
4. Raccoon River From Des Moines River west line Polk County
5. Wapsipinicon River From Mississippi River to west line township 86 north range 6 west above Central City in Linn County
6. Maquoketa River From Mississippi River to west line township 84 north, range 3 east near Maquoketa in Jackson County
7. Skunk River From Mississippi River to north line township 95 north range 8 west northeast corner of Jefferson County
8. Turkey River From Mississippi River to west line 95 north range 7 west Fayette County near Clermont
9. Nishnabotna River To north line township 67 range 42 west Fremont County northeast of Hamburg
10 Upper Iowa River From its mouth to west line section 28-104-4 west Allamakee County
11 Little Maquoketa River From Mississippi River to west line section 35-90-2 east Dubuque County

Hope this help and I did not make any typos!!

Gene

[jdrogge]

Gene, is that list the rivers that are public access to the high water mark? I was always wondering that as I have thought of going up the Little Sioux before and didn't know what the laws were as far as permission went. Thanks for the clarification.

[ringtail]

Thanks Gene

[TexA]

thanks-THANKS-thanks Gene for all the info....

I wasn't aware of all those other locations but I've known for many years that the stretch of the West Fork of the Des Moines River, approximately from the Highway #18 bridge North out of Emmetsburg, to the Minnesota border is classed as Meandering and is in that no-no class.

A lot of people don't realize that either....

THANKS AGAIN

[rob]

Feb 16, 2008 7:06:01 GMT -6 TexA said:

NO, you cannot go down or up the creek even if you enter it from the road !

The private ground begins where the Fence Line would usually run. That's where the ROW (Right of Way) signs are usually posted in the ditch. It makes no difference whether there is a fence there or not, that imaginary line IS THE LINE where you stop.

Can you go into a River and trap either side of the river??

That depends on the river. Streams that are classified as Meandering Streams are owned by the landowner on either side of the river., to the center of the river. If you even touch the bottom of the river in such a stream, you are TRESPASSING. You can float through on such a river, but you can't touch ground, tie-up to a fallen tree or just anywhere, you are GUILTY!

On Some rivers, there is Public Access to so many feet on either side of the waterway.

You better know, for sure, before going in.....

Well I don't trap the rivers, and I wouldn't consider trapping without permission anyways.
But I was always under the impression that you could enter a meandering stream.
It was all the other streams and dredges you had to have permission to walk down the waterway. I don't know, ask permission then you have all the bases covered.

[x-demoman]

The list of meandered streams provided gives the only areas of these waterways that can be legally trapped. Yes this is to the normal high water mark. As always you need permission if accessing these bodies of water by private property. The list I quoted also has a map on the other side and should be available from your DNR officer. I got mine from the local County Conservation Director.

Gene

[tommytjf]

With talking to the DNR about my property on the English River I did find out that a person can float a creek or stream as long as it is capable of floating the vessel and the person does not anchor, tie-off, or touch any land or bottom if it is surrounded by private property.
When in dought I guess the best thing to do is ask....
But back to the road laws, I have always wondered about these.
If it is a divide highway and you are on the opposite side than the entrance to a residance, do you still have to be 200 yards away from a driveway? I know gravels and two-lanes are a no brainer. What about highways like these (examples) 218 or 61.
What about interstates?

[Kelly]

My interpetation is 200 yards is 200 yards no matter what type of road.

As far as I've heard Interstates are off limits. Some sort of Federal Law.