Iowa 2026

[Rackseeker]

I know season hasn't even ended for 2025 but it's never too early to start planning for next season. Anyone planning on drawing a tag in 2026. I haven't decided if I'm hunting public or with an outfitter. It may be hard to get in with a decent outfitter, some book out a couple years. If you have any suggestions on a good outfitter and don't mind sharing send me a PM. I'm planning a scout/shed hunting trip late February.

 

[timberjack86]

I don't know anything about hunting in Iowa but I wish you the best of luck and hope you share your hunt here, win or lose.

 

[Dennis]

I've got some preference points banked. I was thinking about hunting Iowa next year. If I do, I was thinking I'd do some research and find some promising public land and then go without an outfitter. If I go during gun season I might have to buy a 35 whelen.

 

[CrossVolle]

Was the plan but we're pushing it back to 27.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I have the points. Just going to have to see if I can figure the time in.

 

[chris1976]

I know season hasn't even ended for 2025 but it's never too early to start planning for next season. Anyone planning on drawing a tag in 2026. I haven't decided if I'm hunting public or with an outfitter. It may be hard to get in with a decent outfitter, some book out a couple years. If you have any suggestions on a good outfitter and don't mind sharing send me a PM. I'm planning a scout/shed hunting trip late February.

Save your money and hunt public. Public land in Iowa is outstanding and not heavily pressured, especially during bow season. Don't overlook the small parcels around 100 acres. In my experience they all hold big deer and they act like the deer on tv shows

 

[Rackseeker]

Save your money and hunt public. Public land in Iowa is outstanding and not heavily pressured, especially during bow season. Don't overlook the small parcels around 100 acres. In my experience they all hold big deer and they act like the deer on tv shows

I wouldn't know I don't watch hunting tv shows. :D But will probably hunt public, I enjoy the scouting about as much as hunting.

 

[Lincoln Co Archer]

In the same boat as you. Sitting on 5pts.

 

[Deer Assassin]

I really want to hunt Iowa late gun
Heated blind and my long range ml

 

[yellalinehunter]

Bow or late muzzle loader was my favorite time to hunt. Public was also empty during that time. Gun season was stupid.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Know nothing about Iowa hunting, but best of luck to you.

 

[Roost 1]

I'm sitting on 5 as well

 

[Bushape]

I know season hasn't even ended for 2025 but it's never too early to start planning for next season. Anyone planning on drawing a tag in 2026. I haven't decided if I'm hunting public or with an outfitter. It may be hard to get in with a decent outfitter, some book out a couple years. If you have any suggestions on a good outfitter and don't mind sharing send me a PM. I'm planning a scout/shed hunting trip late February.

I have a buddy that took a 170"+ in Iowa this year. Not sure how far out they stay with bookings but judging by the website he dropped close to $10k. I can send you that info if that's something you're interested in.

 

[fairchaser]

Check the areas first. EHD has hit some areas hard. The area I used to hunt does not have huntable populations now.

 

[nwsg76]

I have hunted Iowa for over 20 years now. The state is good. But it is no where as good as it used to be. The deer numbers are down as a whole. Harvest numbers are well below normal. Iowa is still a good hunt. Archery you can see alot of deer and some good ones. Seeing and killing are 2 different things.
Iowa is a great place to kill a 130 in deer and an opportunity for a monster.
I have always hunted private land. But spend alot of time scouting public. The public always looks good. But remember, the deer in Iowa are allot bigger and trails look huge because the deer are huge bodied compared to our woods goats.
I am seriously considering skipping a few years even though I have the points because it's not so good right now.

 

[jrbarnes]

We plan to draw with 5 points! Not a 100% guarantee, but still high odds

 

[EastTNboy]

I'm sitting on 5 as well. Anyone know if Iowa was hit with the EHD that Indiana and Ohio got? Seems like I remember reading maybe they had got hit pretty hard too.

 

[jrbarnes]

I was just talking to my Aunt and Uncle last night. They own land in Zone 5. They said their deer sightings were way down. The county harvest was also only at 1200 currently and was around 1800 last year

 

[tree_ghost]

me, @ZachMarkus , and Mrs. Ghost are sitting on 4 points as of now. Were on the fence about trying to draw in 2026 or waiting a year or two. Deer numbers are really down in Iowa according to the few local contacts I have there. This past season I know of a bunch of really good whitetail hunters that went there and spent a minimum of 2 weeks and never laid eyes on a buck that would gross 150"...

 

[Turkeychaser]

Anyone reached out to any outfitters? I'm thinking about 2027 maybe.

 

[deerhunter10]

I will have 2 points after this year.

 

[iowavf]

Check the areas first. EHD has hit some areas hard. The area I used to hunt does not have huntable populations now.

EHD killed a lot of big deer in parts of southern and western Iowa. Several counties in SW Iowa, zone 4 are buck only 1st season shotgun and no doe tags available. I think you might see more counties limit, or eliminate doe tags this coming season. 24/25 season, non residents were no longer able to party hunt during the shotgun seasons. Bow tags are harder to draw, and if hunting public, have several areas lined up.

 

[BSK]

EHD killed a lot of big deer in parts of southern and western Iowa.

Hadn't heard about that. That's too bad.

 

[iowavf]

Hadn't heard about that. That's too bad.

There were people finding over twenty deer, dead on 100 acre farms. Most of the deer were the mature bucks and doe, but a way more bucks versus doe. I haven't shot a deer in the last four years. We knew the numbers were down, so doe got a pass and unless it was a nice buck, they got passes too. I still see a few nice bucks, but nothing like it was seven or eight years ago.

 

[Rackseeker]

There were people finding over twenty deer, dead on 100 acre farms. Most of the deer were the mature bucks and doe, but a way more bucks versus doe. I haven't shot a deer in the last four years. We knew the numbers were down, so doe got a pass and unless it was a nice buck, they got passes too. I still see a few nice bucks, but nothing like it was seven or eight years ago.

What parts of Iowa got hit with EHD the least?

 

[iowavf]

What parts of Iowa got hit with EHD the least?

Not sure about eastern Iowa, but western and SW Iowa got hit hard. Counties around Des Moines and south also got hit hard. There are some pockets with good deer numbers, but most of those belong to people who own ground and manage for deer. I'm lucky and my brother bought some really good hunting ground and likes deer hunting too. Been a long time ago, but Babe Winkelman actually hunted the place he bought and made a short segment on one of his TV shows.

 

[BSK]

I just hate EHD. You cannot manage for it. It is a naturally occurring event that defies any management strategy, and can produce MASSIVELY detrimental results that last for years.

 

[deerhunter10]

I just hate EHD. You cannot manage for it. It is a naturally occurring event that defies any management strategy, and can produce MASSIVELY detrimental results that last for years.

Its the worst thing ever. We have dealt with it. But nothing like what we had this year. Within just a month a great farm turned into a ghost town. It'll take years to get back.

 

[iowavf]

Sure hope their approach isn't going to kill every deer they can find, because that is one of the stupidest ideas so-called experts did in areas. Had it hit counties hard, then three years later hit them in the same areas again. Some neighboring counties, or even farms within the county never seem to get hit.

 

[BSK]

Sure hope their approach isn't going to kill every deer they can find, because that is one of the stupidest ideas so-called experts did in areas. Had it hit counties hard, then three years later hit them in the same areas again. Some neighboring counties, or even farms within the county never seem to get hit.

Much has to do with stagnant water sources (where EHD is spread). A lack of mud-banked ponds are wetlands can greatly reduce the EHD deaths in that location.

My place only has tumbling rock-step creeks as water sources. No stagnant water at all. Even during the worst local EHD outbreaks, we rarely if ever find dead deer.