Friend needs some help in Iowa

[tim roberts]

This is some sad but funny stuff, if there is anyone that can help please send me a PM and I will get you in touch with Billy, yes he is a Trad Hunter.

Greetings All,
Hope the season is treating everyone well on all counts, and a little better than yours truly's at the present time, which was looking great until last PM when I finally got the directions to the farm I was supposed to go hunt in IA about 10 days from now.
     The good news was that after applying for IA archery deer for the last 3 years my hunting partner and I finally drew tags and are slated to leave on Nov 4th to go hunt a small farm a friend of his owns in SE Iowa. The very bad news I learned last PM, is that the same partner REALLY messed up and had us apply for Zone 4 in SW Iowa (which we drew) rather than zone 5 in SE Iowa which is where our farm to hunt is actually located.
      This certainly goes down as the mother of all screw ups on his part and I'm sure I'll have to empty a quiver full of blunt tipped birches on his sorry ass the next time I see him. However, with that being said and essentially irrelevant at this point we're sitting here with a couple of very expensive NR Zone 4 licenses in our pockets and nowhere to go use them.  I don't even know the first thing about SW IA and I'm simply just trying to salvage some sort of a hunt at this point.  
     I don't know if any of you are from or have hunted IA,  but I figured it was worth a shot sending a message out to beg for any help or guidance someone might be able to offer. Never having hunted IA, I haven't the foggiest idea how hard access is to come by from simply tapping on some doors, or if the majority of it is leased up like so much of our deer hunting here in MT. I see that there are a few state parks in Z4 that allow hunting around them but I don't know what deer numbers are like and/or if these places get pounded by archers or not?? We might even be able to try and come up with some kind of a modest trespass fee if that is the only option and the norm, but we're both pretty blue collared sort of guys, who prefer and frankly have to do the "do it yourselves" kind of hunts most all the time, because we usually can't afford otherwise.  We could even offer a swap hunt kind of deal with a local IA bowhunter for either archery elk or antelope hunting in MT, bird hunting in ND or archery elk in ID if you can think of anyone down that way who might be interested in something like that. Any help of any sort is graciously accepted and much, much appreciated. Hope all is well and many Thanks again folks
Cheers,
Billy

Thanks,

[Scarne]

sent you a PM

[katie]

Wish I could help out.  I am in zone 5.  I will ask around.

[doug77]

PM sent

[tim roberts]

Got the PM's this morning..........Thanks for the help!  
Katie, I think that Zone 5 was where they were planning to go?
Thanks,

[Tom Leemans]

If there are state parks that offer deer hunting, I'd do it. The deer numbers are fine. Your biggest problem will be other hunters, but it's doable. Surf the Iowa DNR website and write down some numbers and make some calls. There's at least half dozen public areas in zone 4.

[thp]

Isn't there some large tracts of public ground in the Mt. Ayr area?  Just around the border?

best wishes finding some good hunting.  don't despair there's lots of really great whitetail hunting in the SW.

[IndianaBowman]

I know and have hunted with Billy and he would be welcome in any camp. Great guy with strong traditional ethics.

[Lefty]

Wish could help.  I am in SE Iowa and would gladly help out, but I don't know any land owners that far west.  Good luck and if I can help out some other way, just PM me.

[JohnV]

Iowa does not have much public lands but there tends to be some very good hunting on the limited amounts that are around.  See Iowa DNR website for locations.  Hunting pressure tends to be very light on most public areas that are not close to the big cities, especially during bow season. One out of state friend looked over several public hunting areas in southeast Iowa in early November a few years back and saw almost no vehicles or hunters in the area even though it was prime time to hunt.  I have also been told by out of state friends that a polite person knocking on doors can often find a place to hunt without too much problem, except in those few counties where a lot of land is leased or owned by non-residents.  Don't be afraid to give public lands a try.  In most cases, Iowa public lands are better than private lands in most other states.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Maybe I just put 2 and 2 together and got 8, but would that be the redheaded Billy with the ugly (I mean "dandy") moustache?  If so tell him to give Dad a call and see what he might be able to tell him about zone 4 - I gave him the ol' man's number when I was out in MT in August.  Let me know if I've got the right Billy and I'll call Dad tonite and give him the heads up.

R

[Jim Wright]

P.M. sent

[Joseph]

Ryan you have the right Billy and since I didn't know this thread was here disregard that part of the PM I sent you   :D  Joseph

[Tom Leemans]

Ya see? There's always help here!

[Ham]

I don't hunt there, but you might try the Riverton area.  This is mostly a water fowl area, but that translates into very little competiton for a public area.  From that base, you shouldn't have much trouble gaining access to near by spots that might look more promising.  No fees should be required.  We have gotten a lot of rain that has kept the farmers out of the fields. Your best hope would be if that continues; because when they can get back into their fields, you will be hard pressed to find anyone to ask permision.  I don't have my DNR guide handy; so I don't even know exactly how far E your zone goes.  If you don't have that guide, get one when you get here.  It will have the area's DNR officer's phone number.  He would be most likely to give you some good info.  He will know who is complaining about crop damage. I hope you have a great time here; shoot a big one!