Jim,
I'm in Iowa to, and from what I understand it's kind of like this, Bow hunting is a primitive weapon hunting, so you get more time to hunt, and muzzleloaders are to, so you can hunt early before the regular gun season. I like the December gun season, but I think it is kind of silly to have two short seasons so close, I do understand how that was set up though, they figured if you want first crack at the deer you should have to give up a few days, if your willing to wait, you get a few more.
The thing that bugs me is that if you get a early muzzleloader tag, you can not in any way (other then being a land owner) have a tag for ether of the shot gun seasons. I would like to be able to hut Bow season, Early muzzleloader season, and the shotgun season, along with the special late doe only season. I think that they could make it where you can only have two buck tags for ether bow and muzzle loader, or Bow and shotgun. (I see there point on giving up your chance at a buck in shotgun season if you want to hunt early muzzleloader) But why in the world should I not be able to get a doe tag for shotgun season? There are more then enough deer, and the DNR is whining about us not taking enough any way, let me have my tags and I will fill them! Sorry for the rant.
IATRKYHNTR
Nathan