Ice fishing shelters must be removed by March 1st

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 23rd, 2026 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, IA) – A reminder from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Ice fishing shelters, left unattended, must be removed from state-owned lands and waters, including parking lots and boat ramps by before ice melts, or March 1st, whichever comes first.
Ice fishing shelter owners are encouraged not to wait until the last minute to get their shelter off the ice. If a shelter falls through the ice, the owner is responsible for getting it out of the lake.