Nominations are now being accepted for 2025 awards. See the below information for a description of each award.  All nominations are to be completed online using the form found on this page. Please be sure to include the correct spelling of the nominee's name. Award nominations must be submitted by November 7, 2025 to be considered. If you have questions, contact the Awards Committee chair, Kelsey Fleming (Kelsey.fleming@dnr.iowa.gov). Previous Award Winners can be found under the History Tab. Please make nominations below.

After its founding, one of the chapter's first activities was to establish an Iowa Conservation Award of Merit. This award was designed to recognize a living individual for his/her contributions in the field of wildlife conservation including education, enforcement, management, policy and research. The award may be bestowed on any individual who is, or has been active in the State, whether or not he/she is a natural resource processional. The award is designed to recognize a wide variety of deeds from a single outstanding act to long term commitments or dedication to wildlife conservation.

In 1966, the first Iowa Conservation Hall of Fame Award winners were named. This award is the highest award that may be bestowed upon an individual by the Iowa Chapter of The Wildlife Society. The award is designed to recognize outstanding and continued contributions by a natural resource processional through education, enforcement, management, policy, and research that have ultimately impacted the wildlife resources of Iowa. The award may be bestowed to honor individuals ranging from local to national influence but the person must have been associated with Iowa at some point in their career. This award may be given posthumously.