Deer Season 2025 Update #1

Most of you have noticed I haven't shared anything on social media except two kills. First, I decided to not share trail camera vids/pics in case neighbors were sitting online with snooping eyes. Also, I haven't had much to share anyway. From central Zone 5 to eastern Zone 5 and Zone 6, I think I have seen 8 mature deer all season thus far. Scrape action was non-existent for us all over. Zone 6 had the highest deer numbers, but only 1 shooter seen, a very mature 8pt under 150". We killed a nice one there though, a nice 8pt pushing 150" or so. Solid big frame. The other mature buck was passed due to my hunters not liking his score. We will try for him in gun season simply based on age.

This was Richard's 2nd time hunting with me (1st was in 2017), and he finally got his Iowa buck tag punched!!!

We had one bowhunter NOT get a shot, and looking at the schedule for the rut, he should have likely had the best odds. Weird. This November was probably the MOST CHALLENGING and WEIRD NOVEMBER for deer activity seen on stand and by cameras. It felt like we went from a light pre-rut to lock-down, skipping over the entire seeking/chasing phase. We had a daylight encounter with one of our biggest bucks, a 6x6 typical 180" giant who we hadn't seen since last year on camera (never saw in person). He was at 40yds behind the tree in some CRP and no shot presented itself. The biggest we killed in November was the first deer, a very respectable solid 8pt. Today in Gun 1, I had better rut activity on camera than the entire month of November. I can't make this up. That includes scrape activity too. It's just odd!

Ironically, that same farm where the 180"er was, we killed a stud 8pt who showed up on cam December 1st. We never knew he existed until then. We are still after a few other studs we know of with 1 day to go in 1st gun season. Then, 2nd gun season and Late Muzzleloader are to come.

Definitely a great buck here above! What a fun script that deer read before taking his final step. Todd put the hammer down on this toad at a great distance - 60-70yds!!!

I will add that the deer numbers are lower than I have ever seen them, way worse than 2012 EHD year. Nobody has been finding EHD carcasses, so I don't know where they are. I have been avoiding booking anybody for following seasons due to this. I think we can take a very small number of guys, but the hunting will be more challenging. The quality is there, but the numbers aren't. If you are sitting on 5-6pts, I would wait another year or two to see what happens. If it keeps going downhill, I'd stop buying points and wait it out. Of course, we will know more come shed season. Last shed season, I found 1 good shed with 10ac of standing beans and corn scattered around. Didn't find any 2024-year deadheads. Not sure what to think. I've talked to other hunters around southern Iowa and they say the same thing - WHERE ARE THE DEER? I don't know.

If you are booked with me for 2026, let's discuss this topic prior to February 1st, 2026 when the next hunt balance payments are due. If things are this bad, truly, I don't feel comfortable having many guys come in. I'm talking a few bow hunters, maybe a gun hunter or three max. If it is truly bad and we find EHD deer in large volumes, no sheds, I may recommend postponing until 2027, at least!

If you are still shopping around for a hunt, and someone tells you deer numbers are fine, be very careful! All of southern Iowa is dealing with this. If you are 1 of maybe 5-10 hunters, you have an acceptable chance (maybe) of killing something decent. If a camp of 20-30+ hunters per year, unless they have BOATLOADS of ground, that is likely not a good setup. Just my two cents...

Do take note though, the famous Lee & Tiffany L. are focusing on Montana and western big game not to mention selling some land in Iowa, and Mark D. and Terry D. group seemed focused on MO, IL, and KS as much as Iowa if not more. They are intelligent on these things - if they had big deer around, they'd stay put and focused on such.

I hope all of you have had a good season back home or afar if traveling to hunt, and I hope you guys have had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families. Catch ya later on!