MTElksniper

Ok here is the deal. I have a uncle in Iowa that has alot of farm land and says there is alot of big bucks there. I have only seen the hunting land from the road driving next to it. He has no bow hunters at all.Two of my friends and myslef are wanting to go back there and hunt next fall, bow only. What sohould we do. Pay the price for the tag and go? Scout first and then see what we think(live in Montana)? Take my uncles word for it and that Iowa is one of the best buck places there is? What do you think about this and what would you do. Would you go late season or try to get the big bucks early? What is better Oct. or Dec. Thanks for you thoughts on this.If going to Iowa should we shoot 100 class bucks or wait for the big ones? Is Iowa that good?

masterbuck

Iowa is THAT GOOD. If you don't want to go, then I'll go in your place. The catch is, you'll have to remember to get in the draw for tags...if you're not drawn, you can't hunt Iowa. I put in this past year, and didn't get drawn, but they use preference points, so hopefully, I'll get drawn this year. I hear they're going up to about $300 for a license and tag this year, but if you've got a free place to hunt, by all means, go. Truly, one of the lands of the giants.

buckhunter3

Hey Cardeer,Where are you at,looking at all your big bucks from Iowa.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Help this man out.

Two Beards

MTElksniper, Big bucks in Iowa? Where? <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Seriously, this is &quot;bowhunter heaven&quot; if you want to hunt big whitetails...if you've got a chance to hunt quality land that doesn't get any pressure...consider yourself fortunate...it doesn't get any better! If that is the case I would certainly hold out for P&Y or better. Probably noone knows better than your uncle...I've learned to pay attention when a farmer around here tells me he's seen a big buck.

As far as nonresident tags, the fee is $308 and there is a drawing. I would recommend coming during the first 2 weeks of November, though slightly before and after can be good also. We have no firearms season until after the rut<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>(Dec.) so I would definitely try and hunt during that time if at all possible.

If you can a scouting trip and some arial photos would probably make a world of difference in having a successfull bowhunt.

http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/fwdiv.htm

Good Luck
TB

Edited by - Two Beards on 01/27/2002 02:37:11

cardeer

Im here Buck 3, And yes to the other guy ,you have a chance to go ,Man your crazy not to. But you must be drawn first for the zone the land is in. Dont let the open land fool you.Thm deer out there live in the drainage ditchs.I've seen them cross under roads thru the drainage pipe.300 for NR tag plus 8 dollars for habitate tag.That is what they were going to try and make it last time I heard. Your problem is getting drawn,they now have a system that the people that did not get draw last year get first tags this year.Each zone is different.Tags drawn by zone ,not the whole state.

2eagles

Yes, Iowa can be a great place to hunt. Some places in the state are much better than others though. Since you live too far away to preseason scout, just tell me where it is and I'll check out the place and show you where to hang your stands.Of course, I'll keep the best spot for me.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> I am kidding! From what I've seen the last two years, I would rather hunt late October because the bucks are moving around more, looking for does. By November, they seem to be spending more time with a certain doe they've hooked up with and don't move as much. I would not hunt late season after the gun hunts are over, the deer really get pushed around and spooked out of any normal routines. I didn't realize a nonresident license cost so much. Jim

IL-Cornfed

NO bowhunter should pass at a chance to hunt Iowa!!! That's the only state that could drag me out of Illinois to chase monster bucks.Good luck in the draw.

445 supermag

Man you don't want to go there small deer and barely any trees too much corn deer hate that. Hey by the way I'll take your place and put up with all that.LOL Man if you don't go Give me a call I will be there.

Brian

2eagles

You guys know the humor in this is the fact that when I was a younger hunter, everyone here in Iowa wanted to go west to hunt deer. Many of my best hunting memories are the trips I took CO or WY to hunt mule deer with my dad. Now he lives in CO and I wish he would spend the money to come back &quot;home&quot; to hunt. Maybe I should spend the money on a Colorado elk license. I think my wife might have an opinion on this.... Jim

Edmund

Iowa does have a lot to offer. I saw at least a dozen bucks over 140 this year but i hunt on some prime peaces of land. Also it doesn't seem like there is vary many bow hunters around either.