Iowa Drawing odds

[Big Shooter 1981]

Numbers are the lowest I've seen here in Central IA. If people keep killing as many does as they can it won't get better. But I did manage a big mature 9pt this year, tough hunting though

[rlc1959]

I also am on the fence this year. I have drawn the tag 3 times and have 2 points going into the draw this year. Did not hear much good from last years hunters. I may get another point and then wait till things turn around. ?????

[mnbwhtr]

Heres's a link to your odds  http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/Hunting/drawing_statistics.pdf

[lt-m-grow]

Originally posted by Steve O:
Mike, be fair. You get that "free" doe tag with your  $551 buck tag. Oh, and don't forget the $150-200 additional you spent on points...

It is a sad state of affairs really.  And I know Steve was joking, but the tag isn't free as they force you to buy a mandatory doe tag after you draw.  It is a dirty process that leaves a bad taste in your mouth.  I will draw this year w/4 pts, and I am fairly sure, this will be the last.  Beautiful state.  Nice deer. Nice people.  They just have a crappy way to treat you when you spend lot's (too much) money to hunt there.

I don't know if there are better places, but there are very good places that are cheaper and you can draw or get over the counter often.

[Flatshooter]

Drew Unit 7 twice. In both cases it took 2yrs. Having said that, after several trips out there, we are done with Iowa! Land is locked up. leases way too high and deer #'s are down. Add to that,the cost of a license is ridiculous.

[Paul_R]

My how things change. I grew up in Iowa in 60's & 70 ' s and deer were pretty much non existent. People came from all over the world for the pheasant back then.

[Altiman94]

I think we're getting close to the bottom of our cycle (I hope).  Maybe we'll see some tag # changes for next year and start to see some of our herd come back.  With a huge influx of hunters since the mid 1990's, my feeling is that we need to keep a healthier herd # to sustain all the hunters.  We also don't have enough public land to go around in my opinion.  Hopefully we'll see the herd come back in the next couple years but if we continue to over harvest it's not going to end well.

[Keb]

I spent 25 days in iowa this time I drew a tag, best year ever for encounters, hunted public land saw 5 deer in the 140 to 150 range, missed 2 of them.

Iowa is still better than any OTC counter state in a bad year. I ran into folks not seeing as many deer locals, but they are still around.

I saw very few people.

[bowtough]

A lot of taxidermists in our area of Il are also way down. Some as high as 50% and are looking for part-time jobs.    :(