Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

Iowa bowhunters: I have an opportunity to bowhunt Zone 6 in Iowa during the 2005 season. My 2 choices are 10/22-10/27 or 11/26-12/1. If you only had one week to bowhunt Iowa and those were your only choices for 2005, which of these two dates would you pick and why?

(As a footnote, if you follow lunar cycles, the Autum Equinox is on 8/22 or 8/23. The first full moon after the Equinox is on 9/18 which some consider to kick-off the pre-rut and the second full moon after is on 10/17 which some consider to kick off the rut. Given the way the lunar cycles are running in '05, this would make for an early rut......or if you buy into this lunar theory and its' affect on deer movement and breeding, it (the rut) could be pushed back to the latter half of November...keying off the 11/16 full moon)

I would very much prefer to hear from those who have some experience hunting Iowa rather than reading conflicting predictions. Thanks!

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

If you want the best probability of seeing the biggest buck of your life I would concentrate around thanksgiving. If you want to see quanity of mature bucks (still poss. the biggest) I would suggest prerut.

Just something about thanksgiving post rut that gets the whoppers traveling. That's the best time to kill deer you have never and prob. will never see again.

me....Thanksgiving!!!!!

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

I would go the opposite way. I have had alot better luck calling them in right before the rut. The october hunt will be about 1 to 1 1/2 weeks before the rut usually starts. The bucks are getting ready even though the does don't know it yet. I think they will be moving more during this time.

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

In 2003 I went out November 2nd through the 11th and we hit the hottest week of the rut in NorthEast Iowa that year. I would look over shotgun/ML seasons and see if their were any early youth seasons or anything else like that before the later November season as this would effect deer movement.

If it were me I'd go the late October dates knowing you'd be hunting pre rut and the deer movement wouldn't be as good as the rut, but some years the rut is done by later in November and hunting them that late with them not chasing does may be a bit tougher than earlier in the season. You'll be hunting Iowa though, and based on my trips there .. you are in deer paradise and should expect a good trip regardless of the week.

One last thought, if it is with a guide, and they are his stands .. the later in the year you go the more butts have been in them previous to you.

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

From my observations, the second week in November is the best time to be hunting in Iowa. I have kept track of most of the deer harvested on the property I hunt and just about all the big ones (125+ P&Y) are killed between November 8th and the 17th. Based on this, I would go 10/22 thru 10/27. How did you already get selected for the out of state lottery? Registration is not until this spring.

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

Oh boy, an Iowa question! I took a week of vacation the first week in November, but really wanted the second week because our bucks seem to be moving better then. Your 10/22 week is maybe a little too early, but that is the one I'd pick. The bucks will be making a lot of scrapes and starting to move a lot. Early m-loader season will just be over, but that season is set up to limit the number of hunters in the woods, so the deer won't be over hunted. The weather will probably be more huntable, we sometimes have late November snowstorms. Your 11/24 week is right after Thanksgiving and that is the second hardest hunted weekend for our pheasants and believe me those guys will push the deer around too. Of course, I've only hunted deer here for 35 years and I'm still learning! By the way, where is zone 6? Residents hunt statewide except for anterless only by county tags. Good luck! Jim

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

I have not already been selected. I have an "opportunity" to hunt Iowa this year. As a non-resident I applied last year and was not drawn but received a preference point. I have a better chance of being drawn this year with the preference point but who knows........?

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

I got selected with one preference point last year. The year before I was not selected. Hopefully you'll get it! :) Iowa's DNR is so screwed up. Every one of my family members has hit hit a deer with their vehicle, they damage crops, etc. and out of staters have to be "selected" to hunt there. Think of the millions of dollars the economy is losing by not letting non residents hunt at will. Go Figure. [:'(]

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

Swamp Dawg, I think the DNR is more concerned about maintaining a quality experience for the residents and the limited non-residents that are lucky enough to draw. You will not find the older age class of bucks we have here in states that offer unlimited over the counter tags. Our problem with deer numbers is caused from the reluctance of our hunters to shoot enough does. However, the last couple of years there have been thousands of "bonus" doe tags sold at reduced prices and record numbers harvested. How many nonresidents are coming to hunt does? I would guess very few if any. As a resident, I am happy with the DNR's efforts and our hunting is good because of them. It is really no different than my having to put in for years and years of points to hunt bull elk in a trophy zone in Colorado.

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

I have to say I agree with fletch. I want my DNR to be worried about the quality of the hunting experience in my state. Le the economic development people worry about bringing in additional revenue. The DNR shouldn't be concerend with making a huge profit nor should they be concerened about the economic impact of wither selling or not selling tags over the counter. They should worry about the deer herds health and let the chips fall where they may.

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

Agreed;) Like most states that are difficult to draw a tag for, it's usually nonresidents that feel there is a problem with the system. I'm no different myself.

Mid-Vermont,
I'd agree with btomlin. The big boys are on the move around Thanksgiving, trying to find those last few estrous does. More times than not things usually don't 'start up' until a few days before Halloween. I've never had much luck the 3rd week of October.

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

I would go on the October hunt. It is a little early but there should be plenty of buck movement ( scrapes, rubbing, fighting, ) I see most big bucks before Thanksgiving here in Kansas.

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

I understand where ya'll are coming from and what you say has validity. I would not want out of staters coming in my back yard bringing the herd #s down either. It is just very frustrating for me personally. I have an uncle that farms 5000 acres and I am welcome to bow hunt there as much as I like IF I can get a license. In fact there is only one other guy that bowhunts the entire property. The only problem is I can only get a license about every 3 years. Maybe there is a common ground that makes more sense for everyone. I think they are just a little too conservative with the amount of licenses they give out each year.

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

Come on guys, you have started a good discusion on the resident / nonresident thing, but that's not the topic of this post. Let's help Mid-Vermont decide when to hunt. Jim

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

I'd do Oct as well.
I'm from Waterloo Ia and I hunt NE Iowa.

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

Don't worry fellow non-residents, if we keep waving money, the rules will change. Their is a huge demand for IA tags and the amount of money that will circulate through these little farm towns is significant. The times they are a changing, and I expect the tag system to change as well within the next few years.

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

early hunt gets my vote....

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

Looks like the October dates win the vote. Thanks to all for the input.

RE: Iowa 2005 Pre-Rut or Rut
 

October is my choice also. The deer will respond pretty well to calling then. In response to Double Creek, if the rules change to allow a lot more nonresidents you had better be prepared to wave A LOT more money. Leasing and nonresident land ownership is just starting to become a problem now. If more nonresident tags are allowed, the days of knocking on a door and gaining permission (common now) will be gone for good. We'll be no different than Texas and Illinois, etc. I hate to see it but have bought a farm because I am afraid that it is only a matter of time. I had lost a couple of good spots to nonresident land ownership and they arent even guaranteed a tag. Just think about how bad it will get if they are able to get a tag each year. We have the deer to justify huge money. No sour grapes here, I hunt in several states myself, but have talked to hunters in Illinois that feel their state has been "ruined". Just makes me think that what we have right now might be as good as it can be for anyone lucky enough to get a tag.