Iowa First Shotgun Hunt 2020

[@WoodsDog]

This will be my first year hunting. Started scouting public land to at least have a chance in Nov in MN. Will probably only do firearms though my buddy's talking me into bow too. We'll see the finances then. It's nice to see you didn't get anything. I will be a confidence boost to me if I fail the first year knowing more experience people find it tough too. Thanks for the transparency man!

[@underdogoutdoors]

This is why archery season is better, also why private land is infinitely better! Good point, nice opportunity to learn an area for the next hunt.

[@adammccarthy9608]

I grew up in NW Iowa. Hunted hill country only once though. Had some awesome opportunities while targeting saddles. Really had to hunt the thermals though, wind is kinda tough In that terrain. I would find the saddle portion of the terrain would typically hold more deer sign than anywhere else I saw. I did find a ton of beds on the spines of ridges though, like you mentioned. Just seemed like if you could back door a ridge or finger and find a saddle, buck sightings were almost guaranteed.

[@renemenard8155]

I been skunked many a day. Had other hunter walk right under my stand! That’s why it’s called hunting and not killing

[@dakotahorn9358]

Enjoy watching you hunt, and hope to see more of your hunting in my home state of Iowa. Good Hunting to you...!

[@peterdragon6193]

Every year public land in iowa gets hit hard Saturday and Sunday are real bad both 1 and 2 shotgun If you can find land with a lake or river use the water to get ahead of the orange army pays off

[@DIYSportsman]

That sounds like good advice. Definitely planning to look for areas like that when I scout it again.

[@stephencarmichael5156]

I find most hunters are trail hunters or stand sitters and I work around the pressure just as the deer will do. You learn the patterns of hunter movements and just head long the pressure they put on the woods. Thankfully most of them are not big woods guys they just tromp along and kick up brush like a gaggle of turkeys. This guy sets up way before they fill a coffee mug and eat a hunters breakfast. Once the sun warms up the air it's time to move to the cool pockets on the sides of ridges in places the trail thumpers will not venture.

[@BlueWidow2010]

I bow hunted zone 9 in 2019. Public land. I'm from Michigan and chose the East end because of needing fewer points and a shorter drive. After talking to some state workers they got us headed in the right direction. Hunted from Oct 28th until Nov. 10th. Not much bow hunting pressure, but enough to keep the older bucks in the brush. Seen lots of good 2 year old's and some nice 3's. I noticed that every hunter wanted to get as deep as they could and that made the bucks head down to the thickest draws in that area. I had 7 camera's running and the older bucks moved 2 couple hours after dark. I would share some points on, on x if you would like. I am going out in March to that area, maybe we can put some boots on the ground then...

[@DIYSportsman]

Good input. We could connect on Facebook messenger.

[@BlueWidow2010]

@@DIYSportsman sounds good will talk soon. Thanks Mark.

[@frankgulla8782]

Gotta love deer drives on opening morning.....

[@peterupdikeswildtreasures4055]

enjoy your videos man. what an adventure it is. I just cant get enough. Thanks for the video.I'm always interested in hunting across the country. We never do deer drives. Intrestting !!!

[@deercamp3479]

Always an adventure on public land! Couple more days you would’ve had it figured out 😉❗️

[@pensnut08]

Myself, I REALLY liked that creek bottom spot you were in (6:10)! I was waiting for you to hit that with a saddle setup.

[@DIYSportsman]

Yes me too. Probably one of the better looking spots I found. With more time I likely would have given it another sit or two.

[@danmemmel9440]

Great honest content...that's what is winning youtube viewers in my opinion. Coupled with your instructional vids, I can't thank you and others(THP, Catman, Hunting Beast) enough for helping us who don't get to do out of state hunts....yet. Keep the videos coming..

[@mowerds33]

I bow hunt a lot of Iowa, and I like transition areas, creek bottoms, and pinch points. Not a lot of luck with open hardwoods for me. I'm a resident, so I don't know the nonresident rules well, but if you can hunt southern Iowa, there should be a lot of pressure, especially within an hour of major population areas.

[@DIYSportsman]

The southern zones require more points to draw, even for shotgun. Some of the northern zones are almost guaranteed draw so you can go back every year and improve your strategy. Most of the guys I know who live in Iowa do live further south which is different habitat and layout, and from most accounts better hunting on average.

[@meateaterwhitetail7291]

@@DIYSportsman I thought the Northern zones like 9 is supposed acquire more pts. Its supposed to be the best Zone for big bucks..

[@meateaterwhitetail7291]

How's the gun season there compared to SE MN??? Hunters, deer numbers and quality wise?? Im anxious about going to public Land in Iowa.... You and Shane are the most legit public Land guys that's experience mistakes and success like most actual public land hunters in the whitetail woods...

[@DIYSportsman]

In comparison to where I was at, and some areas I've seen in SE MN, maybe 10x the pressure in MN, though that's a small sample size. A few years ago, I'd say the quality and numbers were both really good in SE MN, but I haven't been down there since the CWD regulations were put into place for guys to be able to shoot 3 bucks, no APRs, and extended firearms seasons. I've heard the quality is not near what it was just a short time ago. They have the same habitat and genetics, so it comes down to pressure and the specific piece of land as much as anything. There were good deer numbers where I went and some big buck sign but not a ton. Though I'm sure when I put more time in I'll find some pockets to be better than others.

[@meateaterwhitetail7291]

@@DIYSportsman I used to hunt SEMN shotgun 3 years ago with my folks in publicLand. Never was dedicated and never was too into guns in the 1st place. Im just a straight up bowhunter and always have been. I was hoping of trying Iowa during Thanksgiving week... But I want to know if it does have the quality like what everyone claims to say..

[@DIYSportsman]

Take this for what its worth. Southern IA is the place with the best reputation right now, which is reflected in the draw odds. I think SE MN and NE IA both have similar top end potential, but that IA has a better age structure. You're just statistically more likely to bump into a 3yo+ deer because there will be more of them around. Most guys I've talked to who've done IA as a non-resident agree that it's still not a cakewalk. Bigger deer are still tough to kill. The ones who are most successful scout every year even when they don't draw tags. But if you put the work in there's good potential about anywhere in the state.

[@meateaterwhitetail7291]

@@DIYSportsman Thanks...

[@paulellsworth7679]

Love your videos man!

[@HotRodReverend]

Where have you been? No videos for quite some time...been missing your input!

[@mkoic11]

What’s your gun and ammo setup?

[@DIYSportsman]

Mossberg 500 12ga with rifled barrel. Winchester xp3 3" sabots is what I found shoot best from my particular gun.

[@mdees88]

How do you like that mystery ranch pop up 28? Have you ever packed a deer out with it?

[@DIYSportsman]

Its a little noisy and takes up a more space in the tree than a non-load hauling pack. I packed out my 2019 ND buck with it. It worked alright for that, though the full sized frame does carry the heavy loads a little better. Basically it's more versatile than either of the alternative styles but also isn't as purpose driven as either.

[@minkmink410]

Isn’t that jacket your wearing really loud when you move and wouldn’t it rip if you go through thick stuff

[@DIYSportsman]

Yes. It's not meant for moving around in. Just for packing in and putting on once sitting still.

[@gregoryhunts3006]

That's exactly why I now lease land and stay off the public. Just to many people flinging bullets. I'm not a fan of hunting where you see more people than deer.

[@areaasphalt2140]

Which zone did you hunt

[@mowerds33]

That was the quietest Iowa shotgun opener I've ever heard.

[@DIYSportsman]

Yea I was expecting more people to be out based on what I have heard.

[@Francois_Dupont]

i have the same problem. the neighbour that PAY to hunt on the private land use the public land as a highway to get to their spot on private land. there isnt even a path on the private land and they use the old logging road on the public land to get to their private land spot (illegal).

[@DIYSportsman]

Yea that can be tough! There used to be a group that'd take their argos and 4 wheelers through public to get to their land on firearm opener until finally the dnr dropped giant boulders all around the only dry ground access from the road.

[@Francois_Dupont]

@@DIYSportsman umm, the same everywhere i see. i wish you great hunting!

[@theebigda]

Why not bring a ground blind?

[@DIYSportsman]

It's too much to carry up and down those hills for little benefit with a shotgun. That opening morning access took like an hour as-is if I remember right. Harder to hear and see out of one, and I think they likely need to have orange on them regardless.

[@teamflanneloutdoors5631]

I quit using them in Illinois, unless you have the option of letting it sit so the Deer can become accustomed to it. They flip out anymore at the sight of a blind. My theory is due to all the Deer condo's now- they associate with danger.

[@JayN4GO]

Maybe worth your drive 40 mins further into the state

[@OutdoorMishaps]

Deer drives on opening day?!... that's not hunting ..

[@cdp50359]

Amen

[@rodsnrounds]

Most drivers I've encountered have big trucks and small brains coupled with the scouting abilities of a blind man

[@OutdoorMishaps]

@@rodsnrounds lol

[@kidneystones3406]

@@rodsnrounds that's a good one very funny 😆

[@theebigda]

@@rodsnrounds They drink Whiteclaw and listen to Nickelback too.

[@RoadLifePursuits]

Surprised your THP buddies didn't put you on better ground :)

[@DIYSportsman]

I dont think they've hunted the zone I drew a tag for. To get down to there area of the state, I could likely draw a gun tag every other year or a bow tag every 5 years or so. Granted, that is another good thought.

[@mchughcb]

Great hunt. I use Mapping for Trophy Bucks by Brad Herndon

[@matthewsims359]

I have watched you with THP but this is my first video on your channel. Great advice, i will be checking out more of your videos. Good luck

[@dustincanty4006]

Glade I hunt private I couldn’t stand people walking up on me never hunted public land

[@cdp50359]

Glad is illegal to man drive public land here were im from (Mississippi)

[@langheldphoto]

Now if only we could get the dog hunting banned.

[@cdp50359]

@@langheldphoto amen!

[@abramzoschg4983]

@@langheldphoto wait, so dog drives are legal but human aren't? WTF kind of logic is that? You'd think they would outlaw dogs first.

[@slayer324]

Yeah it’s pretty stupid. Fortunately Louisiana did away with using dogs in the NF

[@langheldphoto]

@@abramzoschg4983 that is correct. Yeah that is Mississippi for you unfortunately. Our deer numbers are super high but nothing ever lives long enough on public to become anything worthwhile.

[@erikleirmo9147]

Why yell on drives be quiet they won’t be nearly as spooked

[@edwardsabo8368]

Cool video. First.

[@randyjohnson8262]

Why would those idiots yell while walking through the woods. Supposed to sit still and be quiet.

[@DIYSportsman]

I think they were trying to coordinate a deer drive.

[@randyjohnson8262]

@@DIYSportsman ok, never experienced that. My apologies. We always sit in blinds, stands and be quiet.

[@gregpurdin1982]

This ain’t no hunting video,it’s a story telling video,and it SUCKS!