Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
01-11-2005, 02:01 PM
#11
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Whitetail Ridge Iowa
Posts: 949
RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
Swamp Dawg, I think the DNR is more concerned about maintaining a quality experience for the residents and the limited non-residents that are lucky enough to draw. You will not find the older age class of bucks we have here in states that offer unlimited over the counter tags. Our problem with deer numbers is caused from the reluctance of our hunters to shoot enough does. However, the last couple of years there have been thousands of "bonus" doe tags sold at reduced prices and record numbers harvested. How many nonresidents are coming to hunt does? I would guess very few if any. As a resident, I am happy with the DNR's efforts and our hunting is good because of them. It is really no different than my having to put in for years and years of points to hunt bull elk in a trophy zone in Colorado.
Like most states that are difficult to draw a tag for, it's usually nonresidents that feel there is a problem with the system. I'm no different myself.Mid-Vermont,
I'd agree with btomlin. The big boys are on the move around Thanksgiving, trying to find those last few estrous does. More times than not things usually don't 'start up' until a few days before Halloween. I've never had much luck the 3rd week of October.
01-11-2005, 06:57 PM
#12
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Kansas
Posts: 6,598
RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
I would go on the October hunt. It is a little early but there should be plenty of buck movement ( scrapes, rubbing, fighting, ) I see most big bucks before Thanksgiving here in Kansas.
01-11-2005, 09:00 PM
#13
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: North Texas
Posts: 932
RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
I understand where ya'll are coming from and what you say has validity. I would not want out of staters coming in my back yard bringing the herd #s down either. It is just very frustrating for me personally. I have an uncle that farms 5000 acres and I am welcome to bow hunt there as much as I like IF I can get a license. In fact there is only one other guy that bowhunts the entire property. The only problem is I can only get a license about every 3 years. Maybe there is a common ground that makes more sense for everyone. I think they are just a little too conservative with the amount of licenses they give out each year.
01-12-2005, 08:32 AM
#16
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Inverness, MS
Posts: 3,982
RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
Don't worry fellow non-residents, if we keep waving money, the rules will change. Their is a huge demand for IA tags and the amount of money that will circulate through these little farm towns is significant. The times they are a changing, and I expect the tag system to change as well within the next few years.
01-17-2005, 01:58 PM
#19
Fork Horn
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IOWA
Posts: 400
RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
October is my choice also. The deer will respond pretty well to calling then. In response to Double Creek, if the rules change to allow a lot more nonresidents you had better be prepared to wave A LOT more money. Leasing and nonresident land ownership is just starting to become a problem now. If more nonresident tags are allowed, the days of knocking on a door and gaining permission (common now) will be gone for good. We'll be no different than Texas and Illinois, etc. I hate to see it but have bought a farm because I am afraid that it is only a matter of time. I had lost a couple of good spots to nonresident land ownership and they arent even guaranteed a tag. Just think about how bad it will get if they are able to get a tag each year. We have the deer to justify huge money. No sour grapes here, I hunt in several states myself, but have talked to hunters in Illinois that feel their state has been "ruined". Just makes me think that what we have right now might be as good as it can be for anyone lucky enough to get a tag.
