Iowa 2018/2020

[tracker12]

I have enough points to draw an Iowa archery deer tag.  Is it possible for a NR to travel to Iowa and kill a good buck on public land.  I would be more then willing to pay a trespass fee to hunt private land.  Just not interested in a guided hunt for whitetail.

[30coupe]

Yes. It's also possible to eat tag soup. We do have lots of deer, but don't let the TV hype fool you into thinking there's a 150 class buck behind every tree because it just isn't so.

That said, one of the biggest bucks I ever encountered was on public land. I didn't get a shot at him, but he did chase a doe by me at about 20 yards. So it is possible. I'm not sure it is exactly likely, but definitely possible. Last fall there was supposedly a 200+ class buck on some public land near me. I never heard that he was killed, but I did hear that the DNR was keeping a very close eye on the area to make sure he didn't get poached. Yeah, we have those here too.

Good luck to you if you do decide to get a tag. I am more of a put them in the freezer hunter, so the antlers are of lesser concern...too crunchy. I would shoot a big buck if he gave me the chance, but it's not all that important to me. Then again, I usually just walk out my back door and hunt my own ground. Maryland is kind of a haul, so I understand your wanting to put something on the wall.

Russ

[23feetupandhappy]

You can absolutely shoot a P&Y buck on Iowa public ground, there are local guys that do it often.  Scouting is the key though, your not going to walk into just any piece of public
and get it done!
There are parts of the state that are better then others and I’d say a mid to late October hunt would produce less hunting pressure/undisturbed deer, versus waiting for the rut, it will get crowded in a hurry!

Good luck!

[tracker12]

I am luck here in Maryland that we have lots of Deer and liberal bag limits. This past season I took 8 deer so I do not need to drive to Iowa for a meat hunt.  I have no problem with tag soup I have a taste for it over the years. Especially on OTC elk hunts in Colorado.  Plus I’m retired and have time to invest in a hunt out of the area.  Is there available land throughout the state

There is a Pope and Young buck hiding behind every third tree in Iowa.  They hide really good.  Those big bucks do not exactly run in groups and they know where all of the border lines run.  Tag soup and antler stew are not exactly nutritious, but a very common meal for trophy chasers.

[J. Holden]

If you spend a little time on the state's DNR website you can get a good idea as to what zone has the higher densities vs. other zones.

Then you can look at public land within that zone.  They have a great interactive map for public land.

I too am looking at an Iowa hunt in the future, I'm buying my first point this year, but for now I'm just reasearching.

Good luck with your adventures and keep us posted.

-Jeremy

[tracker12]

Pavan
Do you suggest I set a stand where I can see three trees together and wait em out.  lol

JH
I have been looking thru the DNR website that you mentioned.  Trick is weighing densities vice quality.  Sometimes lower density areas will produce better quality.  Tuff to find a honey hole from a far but I am working on it.  I am hoping to make a scouting trip out this spring/summer and try to find a spot.

Just wanted to thank everyone for the help.  PM's I received from tadgangers was very helpful.  Even got a great offer to hunt a nice little nice of private property.

[Biggie Hoffman]

There aren't any deer in Iowa...stop putting in

[tracker12]

Well may not be any Deer but some nice people so I’ll put in this year and visit them during the fall rut

I find that on real busy public tracks is the last place you want to be is where there are many tree stands.  Deer get conditioned very early in the season to the habitual travel patterns of hunters. I try to hunt where no one can put up a tree stand, brushy areas adjacent streams are my favorites.

[creekwood]

Tony (tracker12) and his Iowa buck

[BAK]

Nice deer John.

[tracker12]

Since Creekwood brought this old thread back up I guess I should respond.  Back in 2018 I posted asking for help on a future Iowa deer hunt.  Creekwood reached out to me and we discussed what I was wanting to do.  I guess I passed the screening test so after our discussion he offered to let me come on out and hunt his property.  Do to shoulder issues and then another hunt I had planned I never made the hunt in 2018 or 2019. 

Fast forward to 2020 I recontacted John and he said his offer still stood so I put in for and received an Iowa archery deer tag.  Except of driving thru the State on I80 I have never spent any time in Iowa.  Obviously after this trip that was clearly a mistake.  The Northeast part of is amazingly beautiful with rolling hills filled with beautiful timber and lots and lots for corn fields interspersed with CRP fields.  Perfect for growing big whitetails. 

I took a couple stands with me but never took them out of the truck.  John had one up already in all the good spots.  I got in on a Monday and did an evening hunt.  I knew it would be a good hunt when a nice 8 visited a scrap 12 yards away the first evening.  The next day I saw several deer and one true Iowa beasts out in a CRP field.  Wed morning I let it get a little light so I could find my way up to a new stand.  I was almost to the stand when I noticed a monster of a buck 50 yards to my right.  He saw me and took off.  I took 10 steps and saw another shooter buck go by in front of me and a few minutes later another.  I hurried up and got in the ladder stand and settled in.  By 650AM I had seen 6 different bucks. 

Just before 7 I saw a deer about 80 yards below me.  I could see thru the bino that he was a nice buck but was walking away.  I picked up the grunt call and after two sessions he started to just casually walk my way.  10 minutes later he was 10 yards away on a trail that went right by the stand.  I debated passing on him since I had several days to hunt and I was in Iowa but he would be the biggest trad kill so I took the shot. He ran 50 yards stopped and I watched him fall. Im pretty sure he broke off the right side tip when he fell but couldn't find it in the leaves. 

Big thanks to Creekwood for the opportunity. 

[creekwood]

Nice deer John.

Bruce, that picture is of Tony (tracker12) and his buck.