Just thought I would throw out some info. The landowner in Iowa can apply through the Iowa DNR for depredation tags, which he can then pass around to hunters of his choice, who will pay the DNR $12 per tag. I have two of them. As far as I know, it is up to the landowner to apply for them, and then it is up to the DNR to allow them. I get twoapplications every year from my friendly farmer and at least six others in my group get two as well. This is on a county by county basis. The quota in Hardin County seems to be set unusually low if your own deer count is accurate. The depredation tags are outside of the quotas set for each county for the over-the-counter ELS purchase of tags. With that many deerbeing counted in Hardin Co., I would think that the DNR and a local hunting groupshould work together to encourage landowners to apply for the depredation tags, and save their crops from the overpopulation in a legal fashion. I would also suggest asking that landowner for permission to hunt his land and try to get any available quota tags early in the year. Here is what the quota sales are as of today:

http://hf.centraltechnology.net/ia_quota/app/locFindPage.do?index=2

I'm hunting in two of the counties with 1900 as a quota, and one of those counties has been sold out for weeks now. The other county has less than 200 left. It is a shame that depredation tags are not very popular in your area, as they are outside the over-the-counter quota numbers. Good luck in getting things squared away.