Iowa Chickens

I was on my first pheasant hunt in Iowa yesterday. All is I can say is wow!

It was simply a wonderful hunt. We hunted around the Decorah (sp?) area. What a neat little city. We hunted from 830 to 430 and hunted hard. We ended up getting 4 rooster chickens and a chucker.

We saw over 100 birds more hens then roosters but it was a blast.

Talking with some of the farmers about deer hunting was nuts. They told me that they let their deer grow out there and will not shoot one until it is over 140!! That is a huge Buck!

I did not beleive these guys until I saw it for my own eyes.

My uncle was walking a drainge ditch with the muts and I was standing post on the other end. It was only about a 500 yard walk for to him to meet me. He stepped in and out runs the biggest thickest mainframe 8 I have ever seen. Trotted within 50 yards on me and looked like a cow with antlers. I am still seeing that buck when I close my eyes. My uncle has been mounting deer heads for 25 years and told me that he went 160 easy. He is a good judge on the hoof.

You Iowa boys have some huge bucks!!! WOW

I grew up in Decorah, the hunting around that area was awesome. I don’t remember going a year without filling all of our deer tags. I always remember there being a great pheasant population around the area, but I never went bird hunting. As far as Decorah goes – it’s ok to visit once in a while

I grew up in Decorah, the hunting around that area was awesome. I don’t remember going a year without filling all of our deer tags. I always remember there being a great pheasant population around the area, but I never went bird hunting. As far as Decorah goes – it’s ok to visit once in a while

I have been charged by an honest 200″ typical in Iowa. I have a 150″ 8 on my wall from Central IA Have missed several alot bigger. Both my brothers have 160 or better bucks on their walls to.

I guess living here and seeing them all the time when you say big to your buddy your talking 180 or better anything less is just a good one.

I have been charged by an honest 200″ typical in Iowa. I have a 150″ 8 on my wall from Central IA Have missed several alot bigger. Both my brothers have 160 or better bucks on their walls to.

I guess living here and seeing them all the time when you say big to your buddy your talking 180 or better anything less is just a good one.

Thats how those guys were talking

I was like yeah ok you guys drink a little to often

But they were not joking around. One farmer took me to his wall of fame. My eyes dropped! Then to the wall of shame. They were some deer around the 103’s and those were “LITTLE”

Wow I have to work some guys down there to maybe get a chance. Perfect deer country.

I am still shocked!!!!!

Thats how those guys were talking

I was like yeah ok you guys drink a little to often

But they were not joking around. One farmer took me to his wall of fame. My eyes dropped! Then to the wall of shame. They were some deer around the 103’s and those were “LITTLE”

Wow I have to work some guys down there to maybe get a chance. Perfect deer country.

I am still shocked!!!!!

Did Iowa change the laws on shooting times for pheasant.It was always 8:00 am untill 4:00 pm.When did they change it to 4:30?

Did Iowa change the laws on shooting times for pheasant.It was always 8:00 am untill 4:00 pm.When did they change it to 4:30?

Not sure when they changed the hours but you can look for yourself

Hours on page 20

http://www.iowadnr.com/law/regs/06huntingregs.pdf

Not sure when they changed the hours but you can look for yourself

Hours on page 20

http://www.iowadnr.com/law/regs/06huntingregs.pdf

Yep, Iowa has some unreal sized bucks. But, they are making there NR deer tags a rich man’s game. As big as some of the bucks get, I sure wouldn’t give them the $400 bucks for a tag. Here is to the IDNR

Yep, Iowa has some unreal sized bucks. But, they are making there NR deer tags a rich man’s game. As big as some of the bucks get, I sure wouldn’t give them the $400 bucks for a tag. Here is to the IDNR

its always been 8-4:30 since I have hunted them and thats going on 30 years.

its always been 8-4:30 since I have hunted them and thats going on 30 years.

That sounds right, in a decent area its fairly common to see a 140″ 12 and see another later in the day or soon after if driving around during the late afternoon. I know its hard to believe and i give the dnr total appreciation for setting the hunting dates after the first rut is over and planting all the switchgrass they have over the years. I grew up seeing nice bucks within a half hours walking distance from my house, solid 140″ and 150″ 10s and 12s. The states that have a major hunt befor the rut takes place ought to rethink that. Alot of hunters here are selective harvest on trying for only the bigger bucks and leaving the smaller ones go for the next year or two. Development of the important traits by letting the bucks mature and develope right then compete to breed i think compounds to bigger and better racks over a long time sorting out the lesser racks because they can’t compete. In a 20 year span thats alot of nice racks that will be showing up. Ive got a buddy that lives in an area that has seen his fair share of really nice bucks delivering newspapers early in the morning in his area. He said hes lost count but in the last 10 years over 50 real nice ones for sure, maybe 70 he said just in his immediate area within 5 miles of his house. He told me the other day that one of the guys who works for the local power company that is burying lines underground on his road said he went up in the woods to relieve himself and heard a grunt. He said he turned around and seen this buck that was huge and didn’t know weather to stop or keep relieveing himself because he said this buck was so big and around 14 points, he said the buck kinda scared him and didn’t know if he would charge and he just concentrated on getting out of there. Ive heard enough stories and seen some really nice ones to know its probably true. In the real decent areas of Iowa you never know what may step out for you to see, i hope i can get lucky enough to get some pictures of maybe a couple, or some of the really big doe’s here so you can see them even if i can’t get a shot at one. If i do i’ll post, im going to be hunting until late janurary if it takes that long to find out if im going to get a shot at a nice one or not. I know its deer season and that this is the time stories develope that aren’t true but there not stories at all, thier true.

That sounds right, in a decent area its fairly common to see a 140″ 12 and see another later in the day or soon after if driving around during the late afternoon. I know its hard to believe and i give the dnr total appreciation for setting the hunting dates after the first rut is over and planting all the switchgrass they have over the years. I grew up seeing nice bucks within a half hours walking distance from my house, solid 140″ and 150″ 10s and 12s. The states that have a major hunt befor the rut takes place ought to rethink that. Alot of hunters here are selective harvest on trying for only the bigger bucks and leaving the smaller ones go for the next year or two. Development of the important traits by letting the bucks mature and develope right then compete to breed i think compounds to bigger and better racks over a long time sorting out the lesser racks because they can’t compete. In a 20 year span thats alot of nice racks that will be showing up. Ive got a buddy that lives in an area that has seen his fair share of really nice bucks delivering newspapers early in the morning in his area. He said hes lost count but in the last 10 years over 50 real nice ones for sure, maybe 70 he said just in his immediate area within 5 miles of his house. He told me the other day that one of the guys who works for the local power company that is burying lines underground on his road said he went up in the woods to relieve himself and heard a grunt. He said he turned around and seen this buck that was huge and didn’t know weather to stop or keep relieveing himself because he said this buck was so big and around 14 points, he said the buck kinda scared him and didn’t know if he would charge and he just concentrated on getting out of there. Ive heard enough stories and seen some really nice ones to know its probably true. In the real decent areas of Iowa you never know what may step out for you to see, i hope i can get lucky enough to get some pictures of maybe a couple, or some of the really big doe’s here so you can see them even if i can’t get a shot at one. If i do i’ll post, im going to be hunting until late janurary if it takes that long to find out if im going to get a shot at a nice one or not. I know its deer season and that this is the time stories develope that aren’t true but there not stories at all, thier true.

Wats, I don’t dispute some licenses are getting out of reach for the “common man”, but something has to be done to limit the number of non-residents or the numbers of caliber size bucks will suffer. Minnesota should take a lesson and raise the rates on non-res. bear licenses….what a pitiful situation that is, but that’s another story!

Wats, I don’t dispute some licenses are getting out of reach for the “common man”, but something has to be done to limit the number of non-residents or the numbers of caliber size bucks will suffer. Minnesota should take a lesson and raise the rates on non-res. bear licenses….what a pitiful situation that is, but that’s another story!

Iowa limits non res tags anyway so they just gouge as much as they can. Before the Big Buck boom here several years ago my family from MN normaly came down every other year to hunt and could afford to at only $110 tags plus general hunting license at $65.

I paid $135 for my first CO elk tag in 1983 today that same tag cost me almost $500 and theres more elk there today than there was then.

Iowa limits non res tags anyway so they just gouge as much as they can. Before the Big Buck boom here several years ago my family from MN normaly came down every other year to hunt and could afford to at only $110 tags plus general hunting license at $65.

I paid $135 for my first CO elk tag in 1983 today that same tag cost me almost $500 and theres more elk there today than there was then.

I will not dispute how the DNR manages the herd because they are definitely doing some things right
But, if the intent was to limit the NR’s, the draw system alone would have taken care of that. Since the inception of the draw system, they have increased the price on the tags. That tells me they are exploiting the whitetail for the almighty dollar. But, they can do as they want, because there are enough people out there with deep pockets that will keep driving the price up. I have just about givin up on deer hunting totally. I may possibly take my money and head west for mulies, long before I pay the prices certain states want for a whitetail. They are nothing more than gov’t sheep

I will not dispute how the DNR manages the herd because they are definitely doing some things right
But, if the intent was to limit the NR’s, the draw system alone would have taken care of that. Since the inception of the draw system, they have increased the price on the tags. That tells me they are exploiting the whitetail for the almighty dollar. But, they can do as they want, because there are enough people out there with deep pockets that will keep driving the price up. I have just about givin up on deer hunting totally. I may possibly take my money and head west for mulies, long before I pay the prices certain states want for a whitetail. They are nothing more than gov’t sheep

I totaly agree that our state exploits Non Residents. Guess thats one reason a few border states charge Iowans more than other states for a non resident tag.

I do my out of state hunting out west chasing the elusive wapiti..

I totaly agree that our state exploits Non Residents. Guess thats one reason a few border states charge Iowans more than other states for a non resident tag.

I do my out of state hunting out west chasing the elusive wapiti..

I agree that $400 smackers is pretty high. But I also pay a total of $320 to hunt WI gun and bow. We have some decent deer around and in our land but nothing like what I saw in IA.

I do not think that I will ever hunt there but the dream is real.

IA must be doing something right………

There is something to be said about the hunters there as well. What a show of true sportsmenship to be able to withhold from shooting a deer that to me would be and is a trophy! Hats off to those guys that are the locals down there. From what I saw scrapes and rubs there is some true MONSTERS! I mean come on when I walked past a highline pole and it was rubbed up to my neck??? MY NECK about 2′ across???? That is a one big bad deer I do not care where you are from! I have never seen anything like that!

I asked a farmer about that highline pole and he told me that he has been on that deer for 4 years! He just keeps getting bigger. He has had plenty of good clean killing shots at it but has let it go to harvest it in it’s prime. Can you blame the guy? He owns 1500 acres that deer does not need to leave his land. Everything is there that it needs to grow to be a 200 + buck. I wish I had the will power for that.

I will admitt that I am a meat hunter. As long as I can make some brats, burger, steaks, jerky to last me till next season I am 100% happy.

That is the choice I have made. That could all change if I ever had the time to stick into bow hunting. But when your stressed for time as most people are the first deer that comes by in going to be hanging………………

I agree that $400 smackers is pretty high. But I also pay a total of $320 to hunt WI gun and bow. We have some decent deer around and in our land but nothing like what I saw in IA.

I do not think that I will ever hunt there but the dream is real.

IA must be doing something right………

There is something to be said about the hunters there as well. What a show of true sportsmenship to be able to withhold from shooting a deer that to me would be and is a trophy! Hats off to those guys that are the locals down there. From what I saw scrapes and rubs there is some true MONSTERS! I mean come on when I walked past a highline pole and it was rubbed up to my neck??? MY NECK about 2′ across???? That is a one big bad deer I do not care where you are from! I have never seen anything like that!

I asked a farmer about that highline pole and he told me that he has been on that deer for 4 years! He just keeps getting bigger. He has had plenty of good clean killing shots at it but has let it go to harvest it in it’s prime. Can you blame the guy? He owns 1500 acres that deer does not need to leave his land. Everything is there that it needs to grow to be a 200 + buck. I wish I had the will power for that.

I will admitt that I am a meat hunter. As long as I can make some brats, burger, steaks, jerky to last me till next season I am 100% happy.

That is the choice I have made. That could all change if I ever had the time to stick into bow hunting. But when your stressed for time as most people are the first deer that comes by in going to be hanging………………

Yep, the reciprocal tag costs are starting to make their way all around us So far WI has not jumped on the NR gouging yet. But, give them time and they will
The sad part is it isn’t just the deer that this is happening with. For me as a WI resident to go hunt coon or coyotes in MN, I have to pay $236 What the heck is that all about I believe IA has a steep fee for NR to hunt furbearers as well. I can’t win for losing

Yep, the reciprocal tag costs are starting to make their way all around us So far WI has not jumped on the NR gouging yet. But, give them time and they will
The sad part is it isn’t just the deer that this is happening with. For me as a WI resident to go hunt coon or coyotes in MN, I have to pay $236 What the heck is that all about I believe IA has a steep fee for NR to hunt furbearers as well. I can’t win for losing

I like my ID elk hunts I can hunt grouse, yotes and small game as well as elk but of course for a price of just short of $500, With my CO elk tag as long as the tags open I can shoot all the yotes I want. THey do make good targets to check zero with