Iowa Archery Whitetail Hunt Report

Iowa Archery Whitetail Hunt

This was my first ever guided hunt, but I had done one prior OI hunt for unguided moose moose. However, because of Iowa requiring 6 points to draw, combined with the cost of the license we decided to book an outfitted hunt through OI. I was successful on the hunt, but in grading this I’ll try to take that factor out because hunting is hunting, and if success was a guaranteed I wouldn’t book it. I’m looking for a good time, and a chance to see a new place.

With that said I’ll try to grade the elements of this hunt as:
A- Outstanding
B- Good
C- Average
D- Below expectations
F- Unacceptable

Food: B – For breakfast we were on our own, and supplies were in the common area for cereal, bacon/eggs. While making breakfast we would pack a sandwich and snacks for the day. Dinner was home made, good and served in the common area.

Accommodations: B – The lodging is on the back of the outfitters property. There were 4 or so cabins with 3/4 beds each and then a shared common living room and kitchen area. Hot showers available without issue.

Guide: B – This is a treestand based archery deer hunt so there’s not much to it, but for the guide to drop you off and point you in the direction of the stand that you’ll be hunting. Our guide was friendly and knew the property

Outfitter/Quality of Hunt: D – The biggest issue with this hunt is the outfitter seemed “checked out.” It appears as though he used to run a much larger business and now handles a smaller number of hunters on his Iowa leases. He has someone else running the Missouri portion of his outfit which is property he owns and farms.

We had ideal weather and conditions for a rut hunt. Unfortunately it appeared nearly all the food plots didn’t grow well. His site also seemed to indicate that they run trail cams for recon, however, upon arriving it was identified that he didn’t really have many cams out. All locations chosen for hunting seemed to be based on areas of prior success. Personally I’d have no problem with a complete national ban on trail cams, but if the outfit’s site indicates they use them then upon arrival I was expecting more up to date information in this regard.

The Missouri location (owned by outfitter but staffed by other guides) of this outfit had a great week, while our group of three saw 1 maybe 2 bucks that met our minimum standard for harvest. I shot the best buck I saw all week on the 2nd to last day (which is my best archery buck to date) that I’m very happy with that scored 135 inches. However, I didn’t think I’d wait six years for an Iowa tag where I then paid to go on outfitted hunt, and then go the whole week and never lay eyes on a buck (not in stand, not in a nearby field, not driving to and from hunting locations) that didn’t meet standards.

In summary while the food and accommodations were good, we very much felt we could’ve done just as well or better on our own on public land. I would not book this hunt again.