Deer Numbers Down in Iowa

[TBone07]

I was just wondering if any of you Iowa fellas have not been seeing as many deer as you have in the past? For me at least it seems I am seeing less and less deer and I would attribute this trend to the massive amount of tags being alloted over the last few years. How much longer are they going to be letting so many deer be harvested? I'm not saying we have a shortage of deer by any means but I am afraid that sooner or later we will be killing off too much of our deer herd. Anyone else feel the same? I haven't taken more than two or three deer a year, I limit myself to that but in places like Coralville the DNR gives the incentive to hunters that if they kill 6 does the first few weeks of bow season they will be awarded a bonus buck tag. I think too many deer are getting killed and the DNR can claim they are balancing things out all they want, the fact is I am not seeing the deer numbers I am accustomed to. Anyone agree?

[iacornfed]

I have seen alot. I still see a herd of does every day at my place. Just put out my deer cam sat. night and it captured a buck at 8:05 sunday morning. I saw on the news that Iowa ranked #3 in vehicle deer collisions! Hopefully I  wont hit one this year. Maybe I need to slow my arrows down to 55 mph and put headlights and a blairing horn on them so the deer will stop and let my arrows hit them.

[rascal]

Well Im not sure IM seeing less deer on my lease in southeast Iowa but it is one of the counties that has the highest number of doe tags available in the state.  I think in the long run we will have to accept that the public in general would like to see less car deer incidents and less damage from deer in general.  Its a balancing act with wild resources and the public at large, trying to keep the most people happy.

[flntknp17]

I am still seeing enough deer to keep me entertained every time I go to the woods, but I am not seeing as many as I did say in 2002 or thereabouts when our herd (Story county) was at its peak.  They are giving 500-600 doe tags each year for our county and they always sell out.  I typically shoot 4-6 does a year here.  I know of friends in the Des Moines zone that have shot as many as 37 in one year to get more chances of getting a buck tag.  Last time I hear there was one guy in DSM that had checked in over 30 so far this year!  I think it is very spotty and very closely related to shotgun hunting pressure how many deer you see.  There is no more efficient hunting tactic than the way folks hunt deer with shotguns here in Iowa (driving them).  One group that really knows what they are doing can decimate a section in no time given enough tags.  Over all I think the Iowa DNR does a good job with our deer..........but I do think that we will soon (like say 5 years from now) reach a point where we all only get one or MAYBE two tags a year like it was in the 80's and early 90's when even residents had to apply by mail.  Remember its a cyclical thing, seems we are on the downward slide slowly now.  Maybe we'll get lucky and things will level out 'cause I kinda like the population we have now.

Matt

[Silvertip Marc]

I have been out about 6 times and haven't seen deer only once.  Other times I have seen bucks that would score about 120".  On one occurence, I had 7 bucks at the same time in a pasture next to my land that I can hunt on.  Two bucks came over to check out my decoy.  Little six pointer came over...gave me a slam dunk shot and I choked.  Oh well, lots of season left.  Good luck!!

[Ia Hawkeye]

Nathan,
You're right. I've seen less deer this year since the 60's and 70's.
Too many tags. Lots of coyotes too.! Shotgunners shoot anything they see! (sorry gunners, but tht's the way it is around here.

[chappy]

I'm seeing less deer compared to the last couple years too.  I think that it's a good thing as the numbers were way up.  I did hear the the # of car/deer accidents was down though from an insurance buddy.

Not trying to bash anyone, but the leasing and outfitting in one of my areas I hunt has made the population skyrocket.  I wish they'd take a few does too.

[flntknp17]

Chappy thats a good point that no one really considers.  In some counties it is getting nearly impossible for locals to hunt as all the good land is either leased or owned by someone with the express purpose of deer hunting.  I know this is the way in Decatur county where I hunted in the 90's and late in that decade I lost over 3000 acres that I had permission on to leasing.......can't blame the farmers as they are in the business of making money off the land they have.  

Anyway, the point is all the out of staters come in and hunt the land and only shoot large mature bucks..........very few of them shoot does as part of a management program.  It shows in some counties where the doe tags don't sell out because out of staters don't want to pay the out of state fee for a doe.  Glad I live where I do as we don't get much of this.  

Matt

[JohnV]

I'm seeing fewer deer this year on my private property in Van Buren County but I attribute it to very little corn being harvested to date and warm weather.

Non-resident hunters will shoot does given the chance.  Not many are going to be willing to buy a $250+ tag for one doe and travel great distances to hunt without a chance for a buck.  In my opinion, the way to address too many deer on properties owned by out of staters or leased lands is to have the DNR issue additional doe only tags for those lands for a nominal fee and any licensed hunter, resident or non-resident, can shoot all the deer they want as long as there are unfilled tags.  Other approach is to let locals shoot does during the late season but some owners are reluctant because they are concerned with shed antlered bucks being shot by mistake or people unwilling to pass the temptation to shoot a monster buck when only does are legal.

[Scott S.]

Some areas in the hills in the western part of the state seem to have less deer this year.  Driving in the hills on my way to set up the day before opening day, I saw a litter of four mountain lion cubs...Hmmmm!  Could there be more cougar than the DNR is letting on?  Other areas over here seem to have about the same number of deer as recent years.

[Danny J]

I know for sure there is one less buck in Plymouth County.

[Shaun]

There are no deer in Iowa, its almost impossible to draw a non res tag, way overpriced. Don't come here.

But really, the DNR is doing a fine job and we have plenty. Friend of mine told me tonight that he won't ride his cycle after dark, just too scary with all the deer.

[KELLEY40]

Was out tonight deer everywhere.Drew back on an 8 pt, but off all next week so i will wait.I also seen a few other bucks.I would not ride a cycle after dark,it's bad enough driving my car.  

[30coupe]

There are plenty of deer, but they are mostly in the open sections due to the late harvest. The rain kept the corn in the fields and the deer stayed too. There were tons of them around the timber I hunt during the spring when we were turkey hunting, but there have been very few around this fall. Certainly can't blame that on the gun hunters. They will start to cruise the woods again as soon as the corn is out and the rut picks up. This warm weather has kind of put everything later as well.

I'm not worried about the numbers, I'm just afraid we are going to go from summer to winter in a hurry and I'll freeze my...parts...off before I connect with one.

If you think they are scarce, just drive down the interstate and look at all the blood spots! A guy nailed one with a pickup about a quarter mile in front of me on Tuesday night coming back from Cedar Falls. After that I must have seen at least six spots where deer had been hit. That was from Nashua to the Rudd turnoff (about 15 miles)!

[Ia Hawkeye]

Tbone unfortunately fond a deer. Hit it with his truck! Both deer and truck totaled.

[30coupe]

I wish I could say I haven't done that! All I can say is I haven't done it as often as my wife.

Sorry to hear about the truck TBone.   :(  

Guess he kind of confirmed what I was saying, unfortunately.

[KELLEY40]

Sorry to hear about the truck.
Someone told me a gal drove from ottumwa to iowa city to work and hit 9 deer one year,guess it was hard to get insurance after that.