I started last years post of my Iowa season one year ago today. There is a reason for that. The bucks here in Iowa start showing pre-rut signs about October 15th to 20th. The bucks are almost 100% nocturnal until then. Some scrapes started showing up in early October, but now they are exploding. If you walk a field edge there are branch tips chewed and broken off everywhere. Even if there is not a scrape there you know the bucks have been working the licking branch. It is tempting to hunt early October and some hunters are successful, but by in large you are just educating the deer with your movements to and from your stand locations.
I pulled a card yesterday. I had my first buck daylight picture since late summer on 10-16-20 (Saturday). I went out yesterday evening at 5:30pm about 300 yards north of the house and sat in the Terrace stand. I saw 4 does and 4 bucks between 5:30 and 6:50. They turn on like a light switch every year around October 15-20 and start showing up in daylight (right before dark). Two of the bucks were acting like buddies when I first spotted them and later they got into a pretty good fight across the way on one of my food plots.
I was planning to start hunting around October 25, but it is time to at least start carefully hunting evening stands when the wind if right. The "October Lull" is winding down and pre-rut is in its beginning stages.
I hope to take you thru my season here in Iowa. I will be hunting our farm, several of my neighbors farms, and some public ground. I will be hunting most everyday at least some (weather and my 66 year old body permitting), I still have a lot of chores around our farm heading into the winter.
Despite what you see on TV and have heard, Iowa hunting is not easy. There is abundant food sources everywhere. It's harvest season and a lot depends on what the farmers are doing. You try to set up using all the intel from scouting, game cams, observation at dawn and dusk, etc. You never really know which trail the deer are going to come from. Then you have to be fortunate enough to stop them in your shooting lanes and make the shot.
The deer density is not high. The buck to doe ratio is great, but the actual number of deer is not high at all compared to parts of Texas.
If you have ever hunted Hagerman you will know what I am describing. This is like hunting Hagerman everyday. The potential for a huge buck is always there. You got to be on your toes every second and also have some good luck.
I will do my best to keep this thread updated throughout my season.
Here is a link to my season last year here in Iowa.
I pulled a card yesterday. I had my first buck daylight picture since late summer on 10-16-20 (Saturday). I went out yesterday evening at 5:30pm about 300 yards north of the house and sat in the Terrace stand. I saw 4 does and 4 bucks between 5:30 and 6:50. They turn on like a light switch every year around October 15-20 and start showing up in daylight (right before dark). Two of the bucks were acting like buddies when I first spotted them and later they got into a pretty good fight across the way on one of my food plots.
I was planning to start hunting around October 25, but it is time to at least start carefully hunting evening stands when the wind if right. The "October Lull" is winding down and pre-rut is in its beginning stages.
I hope to take you thru my season here in Iowa. I will be hunting our farm, several of my neighbors farms, and some public ground. I will be hunting most everyday at least some (weather and my 66 year old body permitting), I still have a lot of chores around our farm heading into the winter.
Despite what you see on TV and have heard, Iowa hunting is not easy. There is abundant food sources everywhere. It's harvest season and a lot depends on what the farmers are doing. You try to set up using all the intel from scouting, game cams, observation at dawn and dusk, etc. You never really know which trail the deer are going to come from. Then you have to be fortunate enough to stop them in your shooting lanes and make the shot.
The deer density is not high. The buck to doe ratio is great, but the actual number of deer is not high at all compared to parts of Texas.
If you have ever hunted Hagerman you will know what I am describing. This is like hunting Hagerman everyday. The potential for a huge buck is always there. You got to be on your toes every second and also have some good luck.
I will do my best to keep this thread updated throughout my season.
Here is a link to my season last year here in Iowa.
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