Iowa's Archery Deer Season is Underway

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The opening of the archery deer season in Iowa began Oct. 1, marking an event awaited by more than 50,000 hunters each fall. With daytime temperatures predicted to be below normal through the upcoming weekend, conditions should be excellent for early season bowhunters.

While many bowhunters feel the late October - early November period coinciding with the whitetail rut marks the time to be in the woods; the early portions of the season can be productive as well. While the early season hunting can be more challenging due to the thick vegetation, limited visibility, and biting insects; the days can be successful if some time and effort is expended and the forecasted cooler temperatures will encourage more deer movement.

During the first part of October the deer are still in summer patterns and habitats. While white-tailed deer will move less compared to later in the fall and those movements will be fairly predictable. Deer will visit food sources, water, and bedding areas in a fairly consistent pattern and often their activities are restricted to a relatively small area. Many bucks are still in bachelor groups and their movements are often predictable until the group breakup occurs and the older bucks become more reclusive prior to the onset of the breeding season. With each passing cold front, more bucks will begin making signpost rubs and scrapes to advertise their presence but since the rut is still weeks away they will not be actively seeking does.

During the first few weeks of the season, hunters will often find the best success hunting food sources or trails leading to and from those sources. White oaks are currently dropping acorns and these, along with clovers and alfalfa, are currently very attractive to deer. If there are late planted soybean fields in the hunting area that are still nicely green (fields of this type can still be found in southern Iowa), deer will be utilizing these also. Hunters should remember that in the portions of Iowa that were heavily flooded that the distribution of forest and agricultural forages may have changed dramatically from the previous season.

Many hunters use tree stands and tree stand safety is crucial for a safe hunt. Hunting is generally very safe but climbing into and out of trees should be done with care. Hunters should inspect all of their gear to make sure it is in good condition and is working properly. And hunters should never get into a tree stand without a safety harness. Tree stand safety cannot be over stressed. If your safety equipment is of the older style, one-piece belt-type, replace it with one of the modern harnesses that are currently available. They are worth the money and can save you from death or injury in instances where the older styles will not.

Hunters wanting to be successful need to practice with their bows so they can kill deer cleanly. Familiarity with their equipment, practice, sharp broadheads, wise shot choices, and knowledge of their quarry are all important for hunters to be consistently successful. It is also important to continue with practice sessions throughout the season.

The early portions of the season are great for becoming more involved with deer management in your hunting area. Information from the 2007/08 surveys indicates that while deer numbers are declining in much of southern and eastern Iowa, densities are still above objective. In central and portions of west central Iowa, deer populations are stable to slightly increasing. Bowhunters can help farmers and landowners by taking an antlerless deer or two early in the season. Many of Iowa's archers shoot one to several does during the season but others harvest none. If you are hunting where there are additional antlerless licenses available make an effort to kill at least one doe, the meat is of excellent quality and if the harvesting is done with some care, it does not negatively impact subsequent hunting opportunities on the property.

Many of Iowa's urban areas offer special hunts that bowhunters can participate in. These hunts often have extra requirements however, so contact the organization listed in the hunting regulation brochure before going afield. Hunters can also utilize the HUSH program to donate deer to the Iowa Food Bank and provide needed meat for Iowans. Last year during the deer seasons more than 8,300 deer were donated to the program resulting in well over 350,000 pounds of boneless meat.

A tagging requirement that is new for 2008 requires a hunter who kills an antlered buck to place the transportation tag on the animal's antler. It is recommended that the tag be placed on the antler beam either at the base or between two points. This new law was passed by the Legislature during their last session.

The archery deer season runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 5, and from Dec. 22 through Jan. 10. Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. All deer taken must be reported using the harvest reporting system by midnight the day after the deer is recovered. This is the third year where hunters have reported their kill and it is a very important part of the deer management program in Iowa, playing a vital role in managing deer populations and hunting opportunities. Hunters can report their deer on the DNR website (www.iowadnr.gov), by calling the toll free reporting number (1-800-771-4692), or also at a license vender. For hunters with internet access, the online reporting of the harvest is a quick and easy way to register your deer.

Last year archery hunters reported harvesting 23,904 deer of which 48 percent were antlerless. A harvest of about 60 percent antlerless deer is needed have the does represent about 50 percent of the harvest (since button bucks are included in the antlerless pool) and this is something that bowhunters hunting in portions of the state that are still above density objectives should strive to meet or exceed with their harvest.

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