Iowa Public Land

Hello everybody! I’m planning on drawing in Iowa for either 2013 or 2014. I have a lease in ohio so spending extra money on an outfitter is out of the question so I was hoping I could get some information on a couple public land chunks so I can focus offseason scouting on that area.

I was looking into either the Loess Hills in Monona/Harrison counties or the Shimek State Forest and Lake Sugema area in SE Iowa. I am looking for a buck Iowa is famed for and would really like pointed in the right direction by hunters who have hunted or know of people who hunt the area. Any other ideas on areas are welcome as well!! Only being able to draw every 3-4 years is killer and frustrating trying to find the perfect area to hone in on without actually being able to spend time scouting. I really wish I had the time to drive out and scout multiple zones but unfortunately I won’t. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks!

Welcome to the site! Hopefully someone will chime in here and help you out. Where in OH do you hunt?

Welcome to iDo!! I can’t help you specifically, but we have some Iowan members who will chime in I’m sure.

Good luck!

Thanks for the welcome! I hunt In SE Ohio. Morgan County to be specific. We have some giants running around but we’ve always wanted to make it out to the midwest, especially Iowa.

I can’t give u any info on those areas, because ive never hunted either but there is alot of great public land all along the Mississippi River that is not hunted real hard during bow season. Also just want to throw out there that although there are some great deer here it’s not quite as easy as they make it look on TV. It’s just like anywhere else you gotta put time in on stand to tag a giant. Good luck with where ever you decide to hunt.

Welcome to IDO!!!!

Both of those choices are good ones and are in the southern parts of the state plus the deer herds are larger then some of the other parts of the state. Thier forcating a dry summer here so if it turns out that way take a day or two to find watering spots and hunt around those areas.

I’ve never hunted both of those places but Id set up on the edges of them bordering farmers fields where they would go to feed. Just look for dense cover where they would lay, water and places where they would feed and you’ll see deer, you’ll see deer anyway because that whole area is good. Bring a set of binoculars, good luck.