Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Polk County. Des Moines lies at the confluence of the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers, surrounded by farmland and home to the state capitol and major insurance firms. Orders are shipped to licensed dealers throughout Polk County and nearby suburbs like Ankeny and West Des Moines.
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where Iowa law allows.
Since 2021, Iowa no longer requires a permit to purchase handguns from a dealer. County sheriffs still issue permits for residents who prefer them, which can expedite transactions and assist with reciprocity. Federal background checks are conducted by dealers, and federal age limits apply: 21 for handguns and 18 for long guns. Private handgun transfers are allowed for those 18 and older starting in 2025. Online orders are shipped to the Iowa dealer selected by the buyer.
Dealers in these communities all work for Des Moines-area buyers:
Permitless carry, both open and concealed, has been legal in Iowa since July 1, 2021, with the minimum age dropping to 18 on July 1, 2025. The optional nonprofessional permit to carry weapons, issued by the Polk County Sheriff, is valid for five years. Many Iowa residents retain this permit for recognition in other states. Restrictions apply in schools, courthouses, and on posted private property, and employers may establish their own policies.
Iowa deer hunting focuses on shotguns and straight-wall cartridges rather than conventional rifles. For the 2026-27 season, the first gun season runs December 5 to 9 and the second December 12 to 20, with archery in October and November and late muzzleloader extending into January. Legal firearms include shotguns, handguns with barrels of at least four inches, muzzleloaders, and rifles chambered for expanding straight-wall cartridges from .350 to .500 caliber producing at least 500 foot-pounds. Polk County is in the statewide Zone A.
Polk County is part of Iowa's Zone A, with shotgun seasons running December 5 to 9 and December 12 to 20. The Iowa DNR operates the Butch Olofson shooting range at Saylorville, just north of Des Moines.
Saylorville and Red Rock reservoirs offer waterfowl hunting opportunities near the metro, while Iowa's timbered river valleys are known for producing large whitetails, often taken with slugs or straight-wall rifles.
The public ranges listed on the city pages are run or listed by state wildlife agencies, state forests or the U.S. Forest Service. Many ask for a hunting license, a range pass or a small fee, and hours change with the season, so check the agency page before you drive.
Source: State wildlife agency, state forest and U.S. Forest Service range listings, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Des Moines or anywhere in Polk County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
No. The permit has been optional since 2021, though the Polk County Sheriff still issues it and it can shorten your time at the dealer.
Yes. Since July 1, 2025 the minimum age for permitless carry is 18, although a dealer may still only sell a handgun to a buyer 21 or older.
Rifles chambered for expanding straight-wall cartridges from .350 to .500 caliber with at least 500 foot-pounds of energy, along with shotguns, handguns and muzzleloaders.
A bolt-action in .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270, .308 or .30-06 covers deer almost everywhere; some states require straight-wall cartridges, so read the current regulations.
Each dealer sets its own fee, commonly $20 to $75. Call before you order to confirm the price and that they accept firearms shipped from an online store.
General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our buying guide and check with Polk County Sheriff or a local attorney about your own situation.