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Trimming Limbs on Iowa Public Land??

I've been reading, and can't find anywhere in the regs that states you can't trim limbs when hunting out of a tree stand (climber, lock on, etc). The only place I can find anything is where it states that you can't trim or cut limbs, is in the Blinds section, no mention of trimming for tree stands.

"You may construct a blind on a game management area using only the natural vegetation found in the area, except that no trees or parts of trees other than willows can be cut for that purpose."

I don't think trimming is allowed but have never heard of anyone being questioned about it. If you keep it to smaller limbs I can't believe you would have a problem. screw in steps and hangers are definitley not allowed and you could be fined per step. You may want to call a game warden and ask them. There phone numbers are listed in hunting regs.

I am guessing that if you cut 2" branches to facilitate getting a climber up higher you could get in trouble. Just how big will probably fall at the discretion of a warden and might depend on how many got cut. Dead branch cutting might be easier to get by with too.

If the law states that you can't cut vegetation for constructing a blind that applies to both ground blinds and elevated stands. Snip or saw some branches and you are giving a law enforcement officer an excuse to bust you.

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