With our Illinois bow season winding to a close, I am already beginning to think about next year. I have two preference points for Iowa, and hope to draw a tag for next season. While we have some pretty good hunting in parts of Illinois, things have changed in the last 10 years, and the quality has gone down. My trail cameras have confirmed this.  Hopefully things will bounce back with the possibility of future legislation promoting age structure. Anyway, I simply cannot wait to see what Iowa offers.  Any other non-residents hoping to hunt Iowa next season?  If any of us are close to each other, it would be great to get together to swap hunting stories!

Have a pocket full of preference points.....just biding my time......probably won't make it out there this year.....pretty focused on 2011 if all goes well.

Good luck to you guys that head there this year.

What are you a smart adz? Don't get me all worked up about the Iowa draw already!!

Biggie, if you are going to draw and are hunting anywhere near me...I'd love to meet you.  I'll even buy dinner!

I did not draw in 2009 with 2pts; so I will have 3pts for 2010. Haven't decided, if I will try or not.

If I understood the NR licenses for 2010, the cost will be around $850.00. Anyone have any information?

Dennis

I hopefully will get drawn too,haven't been back
since 2007.Can't wait.Going to Iowa from Pa. is like hunting in another world.

I wouldn't be surprised if the price of NR tags went up sharply here in Iowa.  Our resident licenses have been on a steady rise for many years!!

Jon, If you buy Biggie supper, you won't have enough money to get home.

I've got 3pts. I'll have to see about a place to hunt before it's time to apply.

Jon, P.M.sent.

2 points and hoping to draw again.

Joe

I have 2 points and plan on hunting in Union County next year. An old friend from high school moved out there to farm and has been buying land over the years. It won't cost much of anything for me to hunt the land but man that archery tag sure will.

I'll be there.  The tough part is deciding where to hunt, so many good options.  I guess thats a good thing though.  Good luck to all those that go.  Sam

Jon, you're on!
If I don't draw, it won't be because I don't want to come up.
We're losing our number one ranch but still have some good options.

$850.00 for a license to hunt deer? I had no idea it was that expensive.

I bought a house this morning. I'll fix it up and sell it in June. That will be my hunting $$$ for this year.

It's all it what you percieve to be a priority in your life. If it goes to $2,000 for a tag I'll buy TWO houses next year.......

i live in iowa and dont know how the point system works.seems like every hunting show i watch has iowa deer hunting on it.how do they get their tags?are they hunting private ranches all the time.hope you guys get your tags,if anyone hunts in north central iowa shoot me a message.more than likely if your hunting you will be in the south where the big ones are more plentiful.good luck.greg

I live in Southeast Iowa and I have a small guide service. I had four hunters last year and they only paid $525 for a Buck and a doe tag with a small game hunting license which is required.

I've got a good 3 or 4 points, just have to make the time to go.  Plus I'll have college bills this fall     That'll be a new experience!

Ok Biggie.  I'll hold you to that! I've got two points and am hoping to draw this may.

I'll take a contrarian view to Altiman94 on the price of Iowa resident tags.   $27 each for the first two tags and  $12 per tag for as many doe tags as you can possibly want seems incredibly cheap to me.  Especially since a resident can take two archery bucks ( one early and one late).  If you are a landowner you can take another buck and two does for the princely sum of $2 apiece.  It appears that Iowa DNR budget constraints will result in as many as 20% of the conservation positions being vacant in 2010.  That's bad news for all ethical sportsmen.  A resident can bowhunt for deer during an 83 day season for as little as 67 cents per day.  In my mind, that's mighty cheap at twice the price.  Hope I haven't started something.
 Gene Hall