Tradistional only whitetail

[coyotebb]

I have a frined who has 700 acres of great whitetail ground in Iowa's zone 6, and who is starting a deer hunting camp. I have talked him into restricting his clients to traditional bowhunters. He has challanged me to gather him information from traditional hunters as to pricing, how involved would the hunter want to be in picking stand location, how fancy of a camp/lodge, etc. There won't be any restriction as to what a hunter shoots and te property has produce deer in the 160's. In zone 6, where I live, there is aloways a chance for a real toad to come by but kill what you want. Let me know what you think.

[sam barrett]

Hey Bob, sounds like a great idea.  My opinion is that with 700 acres there shouldn't be any more than 3 hunters per week.  I know of much outfitters with alot more land that restrict their hunts to four hunters per week.  As far as how much help should the hunters get, to each their own.  The outfitter should know his land real well and be able to either just guide more experienced hunters to a good area, or maybe have stands pre-set for less experienced hunters.  Camp/lodging for me personally doesn't have to be anything great as long as the hunting is good.  The only luxury I like is a shower for obvious scent control reasons.  Finally, pricing.  I think 2000 to 2500 would be reasonable based on other good places I've been.  I hope this helps and remember these are only my opinions.  I have been on quite a few outfitted hunts though, some good, some not so good.  Best of luck, Sam

[John3]

What part of the state is zone 6?

Price ='s it all depends. Is there a modern "bunkhouse" type to stay in? Modern bathroom/shower? Are meal provided,,, ect...

John III

[Swamp Pygmy]

don't take this the wrong way but are there enough trad bow hunters to do that?

It just seems like a hard prospect. But I have no idea. Literally none. I was just curious. I've seen them for javelina and hog and goats, etc. But It seems like it would be harder to market for elusive deer.

But I suppose if you're only taking a few a week it shouldn't be hard to find people. Please don't take it as criticism I was just wondering how other trad bow lodges have done. I like the idea, but I hope we have the numbers for it.

[gregg dudley]

IMHO I think that 700 acres is a relatively small piece of property to run a commercial operation on.  I assume that you would be able to hang where you want to because I can not imagine paying to bowhunt deer and having to hunt out of permanent stands. I would be reluctant to book a hunt (at the rates that Sam used)there outside the first week of the season or the pre-rut because I would feel like whoever was there before had traipsed all over the place.    

Since you are already talking about charging people to hunt, you might as well consider leasing the whole thing to a group of people who would hunt it for the year.  If you get lucky and have a good group of people you could be in for a long term and mutually beneficial relationship.

[frassettor]

Originally posted by gregg dudley:
- I would be reluctant to book a hunt (at the rates that Sam used)there outside the first week of the season or the pre-rut because I would feel like whoever was there before had traipsed all over the place.    

Since you are already talking about charging people to hunt, you might as well consider leasing the whole thing to a group of people who would hunt it for the year.  If you get lucky and have a good group of people you could be in for a long term and mutually beneficial relationship.

I agree with Gregg

[BOHO]

that and using trad only you sure arent gonna put a big dent in the population. you might could even have a few more hunters to try and shoot enough does.

[coyotebb]

Thanks Guys,

There is a mobile home on the place that would allow for comfortable nights, meals and showering, nothing fancy. The ground surrounding his has great habitat and numbers. The bow season runs from 1 Oct to the end of Nov. The neighbors do not bow hunt but hunt the gun season in Dec. He was thinking about $1500 for  a five day hunt with lodging. 700 acres might not seem like much but with the deer population in SE Iowa and the fact that there is not a gun season during the rut, things really work on smaller tracts of land. Again thanks for the input.

[Adirondack Bowman]

Of the 700 acres how much is woods and how much fields? I would be interested in hunting there.What about licenses?

[GrnMtnTradNut]

All licences are draw only in Iowa and if are not a non-resident who own land it is about 1 in every 3 years you will draw a tag I would have only 3 hunters aweek week 1 of the season and then again 3 a week in November 700 acres sounds like alot to some people but it's not and it can be over hunted easily with people walking all over hanging stands big bucks and lots of them means nothing if the local bucks and does know they are being hunted and being in Iowa there is no reason for anyone unless you have not gotten a buck before to shoot a buck under 3 yrs old my friend lives there and my dad and uncle hunted there shoot does and let the bucks grow up.