Iowa deer self guided hunting

State Choices

Missouri

Kansas

Of Interest

Zones 4 & 5

Iowa whitetail deer hunting in zones 4 & 5 on private deer hunting leases in an agricultural region of Iowa heavily cut by wooded creek bottoms making for much deer habitat and very good Iowa deer hunting.

This map shows county names and acreage under lease for exclusive MAHA hunter use.

As a business and not a "club" we have a customer service orientation that is oriented to the single minded focus of good hunts. That is what brings the hunter back for years of hunts to come. That returning hunter is much better one to work with as he has the understanding that land must be worked for several seasons in order to find those golden nugget spots seemingly so hard to see the first scouting or hunt trip or two.

Typical Iowa whitetail habitat within the agricultural zone where row crop farming is king. There will always be more acreage actively farmed than left to hunting. This recognition of whitetail habitat requirement ordering has been made adamantly clear by all those experts on food plots. First comes food and then the whitetails will make use of any available cover. In this region there is plenty of large grain crop food. The other aspect of this aerial is how the wooded area is isolated from the road. Not only do we seek to limit boots on the ground hunter pressure we also seek those leases that limit casual non-hunter pressure. It is those seemingly small out of the way spots isolated from farm yard, road and house that have the better loafing spots.

Tags

Our do it yourself deer hunters appear to be some of the more dedicated trophy whitetail hunters in terms of their willingness to participate in the draw tag system and with their deer hunts. Amongst all, it is the archery hunter that has had the highest ratio of success hunting this area surpassing the shotgun and muzzleloader hunter.

The Iowa draw tag system has had the past performance of everyone that applies for a tag gets a deer tag at some point.

While some seem to have more luck than others rarely does any one Iowa deer hunter go beyond two non-draw year preference points before successfully drawing an Iowa deer tag regardless of type. This alone seems to separate the more from the less dedicated whitetail deer hunter. Those willing to spend the time from non successful draw years to keep applying seem to also put in above average pre season scouting and during season hunting time as well that all leads to a higher trophy success rate.

As a self guided hunter organization we, the two MAHA field staff, are not at the point of harvest with camera. Each and every picture on this entire website is at the very welcomed courtesy of the Association hunter. To each we are grateful for their support and testimony of the hard work we do to do the best we can to give them the very best hunt possible.

A photo that was sent from a member that has been in the association since 1984. Jerry is a deer only hunter that only hunts deer a couple weekends out of the year but has renewed his dues year after year knowing the opportunity is there but it takes patience and hard work. Note the vehicle he uses to haul out his deer.

Every archery hunters goal is to harvest a P&Y buck. Many hunters consistently achieve this goal year after year, but the majority never accomplish this goal in a lifetime.

With no pressure on his back, he scouted a handful of farms that were under utilized not to step on anyone's toes. Jake put in his time both scouting and in the stand and his efforts paid of with 2 nice bucks in the 150 and 140 class.

A season like this is what it's all about for an avid archery hunter that enjoys the outdoors for all that it is worth.

Congratulations Jake! We enjoy your congenial attitude with reservations and respect for other deer hunters while on the land. Good luck for many years to come. We look forward to your son following your foot steps.

Continue this Whitetail article

Iowa Whitetail Deer Hunting

Hunt Choices

State Choices

Of Interest

Zones 4 & 5

Tags