Iowa Archery 2016

rcfireninja

rcfireninja

Active Member
Mar 3, 2014
389
12
Rapid City, SD
Looking at going out to Iowa from South Dakota during November of 2016. I will have two years preference. I am thinking about zone 4, specificlly the Ringgold Wildlife Area that borders Missouri. I plan on taking a trip there during the summer to scout and set up cameras. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
7 Mag

7 Mag

New Member
Dec 22, 2015
41
0
Indiana
I can't help you with your research but I'll be trying to draw a zone 5 tag this coming year I have 3 points so hopefully i'll draw. I'm going to hunt with an outfitter so I can hunt private land. Good luck to you.
 
go_deep

go_deep

Veteran member
Nov 30, 2014
2,650
1,984
Wyoming
Got a few guys I know from Wisconsin that hunt unit 4. They tag out on some good bucks, 150"type. They do have one small piece of private they can hunt, but most of the hunting they do is on public. Don't over look the small parcels, they killed a giant one year on a 40 acre public land parcel it didn't have a tree on it. The Guy just went and set on some trails in the CRP grass and this 180"ish buck just come strolling along.
 
K

Kevin W

Member
Jan 26, 2013
140
28
If anyone draws a deer tag for hunting the western part of Iowa along the Missouri River from Sioux City south to Omaha shoot me a pm I can give some advice.
 
rcfireninja

rcfireninja

Active Member
Mar 3, 2014
389
12
Rapid City, SD
Thanks guys. I did find some good parcels on that site. I read that the deer herds are on the way back up after ehd in 2013 and 2014. Just bringing up Iowa at work has guys wanting to go scout in August or September if I draw. Will be a great time .


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Don K

Don K

Very Active Member
Sep 10, 2011
664
22
Northern Illinois
A great time to scout is right after the snow is gone, and before everything greens up. You can see the trails real good, scrapes, and rubs. No leaves on the trees allows you to see real good and you can shed hunt at the same time.

As stared earlier don't overlook the small parcels, and the out of the ordinary places.
 
Fink

Fink

Veteran member
Apr 7, 2011
1,961
204
West Side, MoMo
If you don't draw, buy a Missouri deer tag, over the counter, for about 1/3 of the price, and go hunt some of the MDC ground just south of the Iowa state line. Then go scout your Iowa spot on the way back home
 
grant_stricklin

grant_stricklin

Active Member
Sep 11, 2015
167
0
If I where going to scout I'd pick a good week in march and go do it for next fall. See funnels and old sign better. Everything be the same next year. Best week usually nov6-13

If you have plenty of time I'd hunt oct28-nov20 if your holding out for mature buck. May kill first night though hard to tell.

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kluesnerb

kluesnerb

New Member
Mar 25, 2016
4
0
37
rcfireninja said:
Looking at going out to Iowa from South Dakota during November of 2016. I will have two years preference. I am thinking about zone 4, specificlly the Ringgold Wildlife Area that borders Missouri. I plan on taking a trip there during the summer to scout and set up cameras. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
There are no deer here in Iowa, Mountain lions have killed them all......... :)

I hear there are some in Kansas tho.

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Zim

Zim

Very Active Member
Feb 28, 2011
738
67
LaPorte, IN
ninja,
I'm a nonresident who's hunted southern Iowa public land since 1989. Used to hunt a parcel on the far south side (Sedan Bottoms) in zone 5, until I figured out it was getting poached a lot due to it's easy access from the "midnight raiders" from Missouri, as the CO's I spoke with called them. It was a real problem back in the 90's to where the CO's were setting up stings. I'd at least phone a couple CO's in charge of that area you were considering. If there's no roads going down the center of the property maybe this is not a concern. You really need to get down there and scout even if it's just a weekend.

I have 3 points and can draw this year if I want, but it will depend on my western state applications.
 
rcfireninja

rcfireninja

Active Member
Mar 3, 2014
389
12
Rapid City, SD
Zim said:
ninja,
I'm a nonresident who's hunted southern Iowa public land since 1989. Used to hunt a parcel on the far south side (Sedan Bottoms) in zone 5, until I figured out it was getting poached a lot due to it's easy access from the "midnight raiders" from Missouri, as the CO's I spoke with called them. It was a real problem back in the 90's to where the CO's were setting up stings. I'd at least phone a couple CO's in charge of that area you were considering. If there's no roads going down the center of the property maybe this is not a concern. You really need to get down there and scout even if it's just a weekend.

I have 3 points and can draw this year if I want, but it will depend on my western state applications.
Click to expand...
Thank you. If I draw I plan on getting out a few times to set up cameras and scout. From Google earth it appears there are no roads through the area. What western states you putting in for?
 
crock239

crock239

New Member
Sep 18, 2012
12
3
Iowa City, IA
rcfireninja,

I'm a relatively new resident to IA (4 years) so have been hunting public land for a while. I live in east central IA though so not in Zone 4. as stated above, easiest scouting is now when leaves are off and sign is fresh.

Also +1 on prime dates being Oct28-Nov20....my experience has been that first cold snap after last week of oct will get bucks moving and it is truly like a switch has been thrown...

Shoot me a PM if you want. I can share some strategies that have been successful for me in my area.
 
Zim

Zim

Very Active Member
Feb 28, 2011
738
67
LaPorte, IN
rcfireninja said:
Thank you. If I draw I plan on getting out a few times to set up cameras and scout. From Google earth it appears there are no roads through the area. What western states you putting in for?
Click to expand...
CO, WY, NM, AZ, NV, UT, OR & ME only premium hunts. I have ~20 points in most states. Now if I can just get enough mileage out of my heart to burn them! Getting a pacemaker tomorrow. I may actually pass on Iowa this year if I draw a western tag.
 
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B

boiler

Active Member
Dec 26, 2015
302
130
Indiana
Zim said:
CO, WY, NM, AZ, NV, UT, OR & ME only premium hunts. I have ~20 points in most states. Now if I can just get enough mileage out of my heart to burn them! Getting a pacemaker tomorrow. I may actually pass on Iowa this year if I draw a western tag.
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Zim, I hope everything goes well tomorrow! I'll be praying for ya!
 
rcfireninja

rcfireninja

Active Member
Mar 3, 2014
389
12
Rapid City, SD
Zim said:
CO, WY, NM, AZ, NV, UT, OR & ME only premium hunts. I have ~20 points in most states. Now if I can just get enough mileage out of my heart to burn them! Getting a pacemaker tomorrow. I may actually pass on Iowa this year if I draw a western tag.
Click to expand...
Prayers for you on the surgery tomorrow. Hope to hear from you once your discharged that all is well.
 
rcfireninja

rcfireninja

Active Member
Mar 3, 2014
389
12
Rapid City, SD
crock239 said:
rcfireninja,

I'm a relatively new resident to IA (4 years) so have been hunting public land for a while. I live in east central IA though so not in Zone 4. as stated above, easiest scouting is now when leaves are off and sign is fresh.

Also +1 on prime dates being Oct28-Nov20....my experience has been that first cold snap after last week of oct will get bucks moving and it is truly like a switch has been thrown...

Shoot me a PM if you want. I can share some strategies that have been successful for me in my area.
Click to expand...
Thanks I will definately let you know if I draw this year.
 
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