I trying to plan a bowhunt to Iowa for next season. I'm hoping some of you could help me out. I'm coming from Mississippi, so I want to stay as far south in Iowa as possible. Do you know of any good public land in southern Iowa. The counties I've looked at are Freemont, Page, Ringold, Decatur, Wayne, Appanoose, Davis, Van Buren and Lee. How is the hunting on public land in these areas. Thanks for any help.

P.S. what dates would be considered peak of the rut? Thanks.

Hunt the thickets

I haven't hunted any of the counties you have listed, I have hunted Union and Clarke counties quite a bit. To find public areas listed by county, go to the Iowa DNR website. It might take a little looking in the fish and wildlife division pages, but you can find it. You should consider northeast counties too. Iowa isn't that large a state, so you won't have to drive much further. There is lots of good public ground on the Upper Iowa River in the Waukon area. I used to gun hunt up there. Jim

Thanks Jim, I'll consider those areas.

Come on guys, give up your secrets

Hunt the thickets

Bump

Hunt the thickets

I live right on the line of Page and Fremont counties in Shenandoah IA. Unfortunetly there is little public land here to hunt and what gets hunted is really slammed hard. However if you can get a hold of a sportman's atlas for these counties, you can find small plots (county owned) that get little pressure. If you are hear to bow hunt you can stop and ask at farm houses. Most of the folks out here will let bowhunters on their land. Right now I have about 3,000 acres I can hunt. There are some huge bucks here. If you need specific help with getting information let me know and I'll help if I can.

THWACK!

I didn't see you question on rut 1rst time around. I prefer late pre rut. I had the best week of activity from Nov 7th-15th but still had a lot of rut activity late into Dec

THWACK!

Belle

I hunt in Central Iowa. I would agree to check out the Iowa DNR web site. It is very specific as to where the public hunting areas are.
Not far North from where you are is lake Red Rock. There is thousands of acres of land there with plent of deer.

Another large area North of where you will be is Saylorville Lake/ Big Creek. There are also thosands of acres of good land to hunt. There is little hunting pressure on all public land outside of opening day. Deer get pushed in and out of public/private land so don't be afraid to hunt public land.

Both of these areas are easy to find with the aid of a map.

Also farmers will allow bow hunters. Just don't show up the day you want to hunt in your camo. Ask a few days in advance. Most farmers welcome bow hunters as there are so many deer around.


GO PACK!

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Do a search for Bowhunting North America Videos. They have a information video(Trophy Ill. Whitetails) WITH maps covering Ill., Iowa & Wis. in one package. All public access info.
Lots of Bowhunting information

always thankful

Thanks for all the help guys, I've ordered a Sportsman's Atlas and anxiously waiting on it to arrive. I may have some more direct questions after I've done some studing of maps and etc. By the way, have any of you guys hunted the Lake Rathbun area?

Hunt the thickets