Iowa Drawing odds

[Stickbow]

Can someone give me an idea in years applied/preference points needed before you draw a nonresident Deer tag?

Thanks

[macbow]

Last I heard it was the third year for sure.

[Flingblade]

Depends on the unit.  I used to hunt unit 10 in the north central part of the state and out of the 5 or 6 years I only failed to draw once.  I've heard the more popular units in the southern part of the state are 2 or 3 years as macbow said.

[Keb]

You need 2 or 3 for all the southern units, 3,4,5. Not sure on the rest, 2 gives you a fighting chance.

[JGR1269]

It generally takes three points to draw zone 5.

[Lost Creek Bows]

about three year, maybe by then will have some deer back so nows a good time to start buying preference points.

[Stickbow]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. It gives me an idea of what to expect

[Keb]

It's worth the wait, I been 3 times diy public land and have had a ball and killed my best buck there.

[rlc1959]

I will have 3 this year. Looking for a good spot in Unit 4 or 5.

[BAK]

Better check out what's happened to our deer population before you get too excited.

[23feetupandhappy]

Originally posted by BAK:
Better check out what's happened to our deer population before you get too excited.

X2
 

[doug77]

X3    

[Altiman94]

I think part of IA's issue is our small amount of public hunting land.  Most of our hunters are on public land and when our deer #'s were higher and we were shooting a lot of does, it really hurt the population down stream on the public land.  Now 10 years later we're at a pretty bad point on most of the public land (at least where I hunt).  If you have an 'in' with a land owner in a good area, it's still worth the hunt, but our public lands are not nearly as good of hunting as they were (same with a lot of states).  I hunt all season and struggle to fill 2 tags.  It would be really for a NR to come for a week and fill his/her tags.  Not saying it can't be done (it can, surely), but you may be disappointed in what you see vs. what the TV shows say are here.

[mnbwhtr]

It took me 4 pts the last time in NE Iowa zone 9. The 2 previous times it took 3

[iawoody2]

I agree with my other residents above. My taxidermist told me today he down about 50 heads from norm.

[ChuckC]

How much does a non resident archery license cost in Iowa now ?
ChuckC

[Bernie B.]

Yup, deer numbers seem to be down all over Iowa.  I only saw one mature buck while hunting on private land.  Between hunting on my own land in Wisconsin and here in Iowa I was out sixty times.  I saw some really nice bucks in Wisconsin, but it's a different story here.

I hope nonresidents don't set their sights (pun intended) too high!

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[Steve O]

Here is a good read from a guy who has a good pulse on what is going on in your fair state...and he is in nirvana sitting right between Larry Zach and Roger Rothhaar.  That is a GIANT block of the best private/managed land in the state.


  Winke\\'s "Recipe for Collapse"


I'm going to sit on my 4 points for now.

[Yellow Dog]

I'm with Steve on this one. Hunted Iowa in 2008 about 20 miles southeast of the area that Steve is referring to. At that time it was phenomenal. Sitting on 4 points right now, couldn't justify spending another $50 to get number 5 last May when 4 points will get you into zone 5. Don't know if I'll ever go back at this time, the cost of tags and the points needed to get there is astronomical now. Did Missouri this year with 400+ acres to hunt, a cabin to stay in and tags for two archery deer and two fall turkey ALL for a total price less than the cost of a tag in Iowa.

[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...