Author Topic: Iowa deer hunting  (Read 3061 times)

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Offline Two Bears

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Iowa deer hunting
« on: November 14, 2008, 02:37:22 AM »
Tell us how your Iowa deer hunt went, and lets see those pictures.


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Offline Shooter 250

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Re: Iowa deer hunting
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2008, 02:56:40 PM »
I hate to say it, but I've only been out with my bow three times this year. Looking forward to Saturday Morning though.
Someone in the group usualy get a real nice buck. If I don't forget my camera I take some pics and post them.
As soon as shotgun seasons done, I'll br planting my butt in the tree stand untill I get my tags filled on the urban hunt here in the Des Moines metro area.
I don't care what my wife says, wow that was close I thought she was walking up behind me. ;D

Offline Pumah25

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Re: Iowa deer hunting
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2008, 08:07:31 AM »
Haven't heard much about 1st season and 2nd starts tomorrow. I will post a little something after the weekend and let you know how we do.

Offline clodbuster

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Re: Iowa deer hunting
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2008, 01:13:53 PM »
It's not cold enough for me yet.  I'm waiting for below zero daytime highs.  Just love that painful cold.
Actually waiting for the centerfire rifle season since meat is the goal and during other seasons the deer walk just out of slug range but the 7 mag will reach out and touch them.
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Offline dpe.ahoy

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Re: Iowa deer hunting
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2008, 01:07:42 PM »
When did Iowa get a centerfire season?  Grew up in Mahaska county, just sold family farms last year.  With all the deer around there, they should really open up the seasons longer.  In Montana we have 5 weeks general rifle season.  DP
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Offline Hairtrigger

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Re: Iowa deer hunting
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2008, 01:27:12 PM »
When did Iowa get a centerfire season?   . 

 A good friend just moved to Pella, he seems to say only some counties are centerfire

Offline clodbuster

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Re: Iowa deer hunting
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2008, 04:58:50 PM »
centerfire rifles can only be used in the two southerly most rows of counties.  And only for the last season for does.
Preserve the Loess Hills!!!

Offline IOWA DON

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Re: Iowa deer hunting
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2008, 10:09:37 AM »

Got the buck under this rack a few days ago during the second shotgun season. It has an outside spread of about 20-1/2 inches and would probably score about 125 or 130, so it is not a large rack for Iowa. But the buck looked like a fairly heavy bodied one with a large neck so I was happy (at the time). As I was returning home after getting him and was going past another place where I have hunting permission there was another buck with a doe. He was much more interested in her than in me and just stood there, and I could easily have got him. He had what appeared to be a significantly larger rack than the buck I got, although his body was more graceful indicating he may have been a younger deer. I sure wished I had not used up my tag. Maybe he will be there next year with an even larger rack. It's fun hunting for a good buck, but if I had to make a choice of only one season it would be the January antlerless season where rifles are allowed in the southern counties. I've got some large farms available to hunt on and a rifle set up for very long range shooting, and can usually get a couple deer or more for each hunting day.


Offline Remmy

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Re: Iowa deer hunting
« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2009, 01:55:48 PM »
I took out my 30-06 last week in southern Iowa and passed up a head shot on a doe. I heard it is better tasting meat to hit em where they can bleed out, is this true? Should i have harvested this doe? I plan on going this weekend again so if u here a cannon go off its me getting supper.

     The last doe I harvested was with my muzzy, i used a 250 grain hornady XTP hp. Made a big hole going in and had pass through at 35 yards and a very nice blood trail. Wiped out the ribs tho.

Offline IOWA DON

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Re: Iowa deer hunting
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2009, 02:27:01 PM »
Guess I don't know about tast in regard to head shots, but I can comment about blood in the muscles of head shot deer or antelope. When a deer or antelope is heart or lung shot much blood bleeds into the chest cavity and the muscles do not contain much blood. When the animals are shot in the brain or spinal column, the muscles have a lot of blood in them which does not seem to drain out. I cut the meat off deer and and antelope soon after shooting so the blood has not clotted so may notice the difference more than people who gut the animals, bring them home to hang for a couple days, then cut them up. Anyway, the taste may not be much different for my processing method as the blood profusly leaks from the legs, shoulders and backstraps of head or spin shot deer when I cut them up. I think that maybe the blood in the muscle tissues of a deer hung for a few days may clot and just stay there. If that is the case, taste may be affected. - DON

Offline Two401Pm

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Re: Iowa deer hunting
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2009, 04:24:17 PM »
For good tasting meat...... Don't run the animal.  Just let it mosey along without a care in the world ... Then drop the hammer on it.  It will hardly know what has happened, and just fall over dead.. bone it out and you will have some of the best tasting venison in all of Iowa. Process your own and know how your deer has been handled, chilled,cut up,wrapped,taken care of by yourself. You will be happy with the better tasting meat. fweiw.  Good hunting..
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Offline Remmy

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Re: Iowa deer hunting
« Reply #11 on: January 23, 2009, 02:43:22 AM »
I processed my first deer back in Late Muzzleloading season it sure beats paying the locker and I know its my deer done cleanly. My wife and I are talking about getting equipment for making deer sausage now.

Guess I will be finding out about head shot deer flavor. Spinal shot a deer yesterday so I had to walk up and shoot it in the head. I said to myself "darn" looks like half the back strap is blown out. I need a range finder! Got this one at only 95 yards or so, with a Hornady btsp 165 grain. I have been wanting to know the performance of these. Seems there was some passthrough, I'll be dressing it later today.

Do you think I should let it hang a few days? Weather here will be cold.

I love January thaws.