Bow Hunters - Iowa Deer Hunting Zone 4 or Zone 5
General
Mid-America Hunting Association has only private land. For self guided Association hunters. No guides. No outfitters. Just average hunters looking for private land access without the hassle of finding and protecting their own lease.
All land is within zone 4 and zone 5. All of the Association leases are within the Grand River Watershed. This is soybean and cornfields farmland. None of the land is in hill or forested areas. Being where the food is has always been more productive than simply large stands of woods.
This land is of many wooded drainages. Small to large woodlots. Plenty of bow friendly cover.
Gary
Scouting
Hunters may scout and hunt to their own desire.
Most will have multiple farms with stands hung before the season. Each will be able to select which stand to hunt based on wind and patterns.
Dave
Bob
Average Iowa Deer Hunting for Average Hunters
What you will not read or see in pictures on this web site are only the top 10% bucks collected over years of seasons.
We too have been at the sport shows, classics and looked at many other web sites. There is an over promotion beyond what is reasonable as to success rates. That is in terms of 160 through 200 class trophy whitetail. Yes, we have our share. And, that is what it is just a share. The reality is the majority of bow hunters are happy with the 130 through 160 class. That is a reasonable expectation for those that put in the effort.
On the unreasonable expectations side the Associations largest third party scored buck came in gross at 242. It only took the Association 47 years to tag that buck.
The Advantage
This Association is for the average workaday hunter who wants the chance for a trophy. That chance is increased through the Association. Each will have several farms to hunt. That is to cover ground to find the buck of choice. No one is limited to just one spot and stuck to that spot his entire hunt.
The self guided hunt aspect gives that further satisfaction. Each has made his own hunt the best he can.
Bits And Parts
All stands are permitted. Lock-ons, climber, ladders, screw-in steps may be used. Trees and lanes opened by hand saw. Ground blinds sometimes useful.
No gasoline or electric saws. No camping. No off road vehicle use. No party hunts. No guests. Scouting before the season easily done. Scouting during the season limited to the spot being hunted. Meaning no running cameras on three farms while hunting a third. All land will be maintained as un-pressured as possible prior to any hunt.
Mike, with his personal best. Satisfied with teh quality of the hunt. No expecting top 10 state record bucks.
Bow Hunter Feedback
Each hunt account offers a different perspective of the value gained for the money spent.
To every one at MAHA, I don’t know how to say thank you enough for the hard work you put in to locate and lease prime habitat. The first weekend of bow season couldn't have gone much better. My wife Becca and I were able to hunt some land we had scouted earlier in the season were we took some photos of a small buck and saw a couple of real mice mature bucks. Saturday morning I had a good 8 point 20 yards from my stand just before shooting light. For about an hour I watched a small 5 point work his way across an uncut milo field to within 15 yards of my stand. Later a couple of does showed up in the milo but no more bucks that morning for me. Becca on the other hand saw six different bucks within two hours of shooting light, three of witch were within bow range but only one was a shooter, and he presented no shot.
That afternoon was a whole different ballgame. Becca saw two more bucks just before dark, making their way out into the alfalfa she was by, but not quite close enough for the longbow she shoots. I had three does come by at just before 7:00 pm. Minutes later a big 8 point comes up the same trail the does had, making their way to the milo field. Just before entering the field and with help of a quiet doe bleat, I made the buck stopped at 20 yards for broad side shot. He crashed out through the milo then circled back toward the creek where I lost sight of him. After meeting Becca back at the truck and getting some flashlights and Gatorade, we found the buck buried up in a small thicket between the milo and the creek. The ¾ of a mile back to road was tough with a 200+ lbs buck, but between the cart and adrenaline it didn't take to long.
This is only our second year as members and already I have killed my biggest buck with a rifle and with a bow. The rifle kill was last year in [location deleted] were two of my brothers and I all three killed good bucks opening day season. Spring turkey season was pretty good as well. I killed two and Becca killed her first Rio.
Jon and John, your advice on properties to look at and some pre-season scouting really paid this year, and the season is still very young. My wife and I are meeting up with two of my brothers in [location deleted] for a rifle hunt after that an [location deleted] bow hunt, I hope all goes as well as it has so far.
Thanks again, Nick
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