Iowas Whitetail Deer Hunts, Southeast Iowa Zone 5

Southeast Iowa, Zone 5 was once a well kept secret is rapidly becoming recognized as one of the premiere trophy whitetail deer hunting areas anywhere. Turkeys are also plentiful. This outfitter grew up hunting this area’s rolling hills, creek bottoms, hardwoods, marshes and farm fields and currently has access to over 9,000 private acres of prime hunting habitat. This isn’t a high volume commercial operation, because he believes that large numbers of hunters and quality hunting just don’t mix. Trophy whitetails especially, simply won’t take that kind of pressure. The Iowa property is managed for quality deer and a $500 harvest fee will be charged for any buck taken that scores 135 gross Pope & Young points or less. We're simply trying to maintain the quality of the bucks and our buck-to-doe ratio.

We have property in both Iowa and Missouri to hunt. In doing so you can submit an application for Iowa and if you don’t draw you can hunt Missouri with an over the counter Missouri buck tag. Iowa’s archery season generally runs from October to January. Muzzleloader season generally runs from December to January. Shotgun season is in December. Contact the Iowa DNR for official dates each year.

Missouri’s archery season generally runs off and on from October to January. Muzzleloader season is November / December. Rifle season is in November. Contact the Missouri DNR for official days each year.

Non-resident Iowa licenses are on a draw basis and success rates vary year to year. Application deadline is usually the end of May. Call the Iowa DNR for particulars. Our Iowa hunts are in Appanoose, Davis, and Monroe counties. A hunter’s safety certificate is required in both Iowa and Missouri if a hunter’s birthday is on or after January 1, 1967.

Missouri deer licenses may be purchased over the counter. Hunters not drawn in Iowa may choose to hunt in northern Missouri or may carry their deposit over to the following year.

The hunts are best described as semi-guided. They have tree stands positioned in the traditional travel corridors. There is a ranch house, cabin, and new lodge.  Hunts are available with or without lodging. Hunters are responsible for meals, either cooking in the cabins or eating in local restaurants. In this way it fits everyone’s budget.

The cabins are also available for rent during non-hunting seasons. Quality potential for your properties looks to be good. Even though the weather was warm my buck sightings were numerous with seeing a shooter most days of the hunt. Thirteen (13) bucks were seen that would score 125" or better and six (6) of those being 140" or better with one (1) B&C (190") sighting along with many smaller bucks that appear to have great potential for the up and coming years. The tract we hunted was absolutely beautiful with the mixture of timber and fields. Adjacent properties of private landowners are on the QDM program also, are very helpful in maintaining quality deer. The cabin and its location to the property are as close as walking out the front/back door. Deer and turkey are seen in the yard around the cabin. 

As the years pass I think back about the hunter’s conversation and excitement as to what they saw from their stands. We are seeing several bucks in the 140's to 150's while hunting but we aren't seeing the upper end bucks like in the past during the season.  We had seen a buck in the 200's while putting up hay this summer and a few sightings on a couple of 170's but not as many as in the past.  One hunter on Friday may have seen the 190 to 200 incher the day before the gun season but he couldn't be sure of the size of the rack.

We are continuing to make offers to veterans towards discounted hunts. Hopefully in some small way we can help them make the adjustment back to a normal life again.

 Iowa DNR for official hunt dates.

(515) 281-5918 or 800-367-1188

Missouri Department of Conservation for official hunt dates. 

(573) 751-4115 or 800-392-4115

Pricing is as follows

A 6-day Archery or 6-day Muzzleloader Hunts start at $1795 

Hunt ID: IA-MO-WDeerTurkey-Unionville-SCO-Brian

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