IW 2026 Poll Results

[IowaBowHunter1983]

Summary of results is as follows:

Iowa Whitetail
2026 Survey Results

1. Would you support legislation to make all in-season feeding illegal?
90% Support this proposed change

2. Would you support banning thermal predator hunting during deer season consistent with NV law?
81.8% Support this proposed change

3. Should NR doe tags be limited to when a person has a buck tag? (Multiple choices were allowed on this question)
65.1% voted yes
20.6% voted no
19% voted to not limit doe tags NRLO
17.5% voted to limit do tags for NRLO

4. Should tag sharing for residents be eliminated during shotgun season?
82.9% support this proposed change

5. Should mowing standing corn be illegal
53.2% voted yes
46.8% voted no

6. Should cell cameras be on time delay?
85.9% voted yes

7. Would you support ending all seasons by December 31?
61.9% voted yes

8. Would you support legislation to eliminate a buck tag
Yes, but landowners still get an additional tag: 41.2%
Yes, everyone is limited to one tag, including landowners: 27.1%
No, keep things the way they are: 12.9%
Everyone gets max two tags (eliminates 3rd landowner tag): 18.8%

Composite of above: 87.1% support getting rid of a buck tag in some way

9. Should the late doe season be eliminated
96% voted yes

10. Should LOT tags be limited to landowners only?
Yes, must be the actual landowner to qualify: 72.1%
No, tenants qualify (keep things the way they are): 25.0%
Tenants qualify for antlerless only: 10.3%

11. Should NRLO qualify for yearly buck tags?
92.9% voted no

12. Should qualifying acres for LOT tags be changed?
No, keep things the way they are (2 acres): 13.7%
Yes, 10 acre minimum: 20.5%
Yes, 40 acre minimum: 46.6%
Yes, 80 acre minimum: 19.2%

13: Drones During Deer Season
Ban drones completely during deer season scouting/hunting: 55.6%
Anyone can fly them- little restriction: 3.7%
Licensed pilots only for RECOVERY ONLY, log flights, & report results- 48 hour cool down period: 43.2%
Anyone can fly them- 48 hour cool down period (no licensing required) : 2.5%

14. Should smokeless muzzleloaders be banned and revert to black powder only?
Yes, black powder only: 52.5%
No, keep things the way they are: 47.5%

15: Should semi auto AR style pistols be banned for late season?
93% Voted yes

16: Should electronic bow sights be banned?
94% voted yes

 

[IowaBowHunter1983]

My personal take aways (Not an official stance of IW or Skip)

Lobby for legislation with 70%+ Support

So......

1. Ban all in season feeding
2. Ban Thermal during deer season
3. Eliminate tag sharing for everyone (Your tag, your buck)
4. Time delay on cell cameras
5. Eliminate a buck tag- discuss specifics further
6. Eliminate late doe season
7. Increase LOT acre requirement
8. Ban AR style pistols during late season
9. Ban Electronic bow sights
10. LOT tags for landowners only (not tenant)

 

[Daver]

OK, one point of clarification for me, sorry if everyone else already knows this...

1. Ban all in season feeding - I thought it was already illegal/not permitted to feed during season. Does this proposal eliminate say, food plots? What is meant by "in season feeding"?

 

[tall@wide]

OK, one point of clarification for me, sorry if everyone else already knows this...

1. Ban all in season feeding - I thought it was already illegal/not permitted to feed during season. Does this proposal eliminate say, food plots? What is meant by "in season feeding"?

In season baiting/feeding is currently allowed as long as you don't hunt over it. Of course, this is abused and it is almost impossible to catch the violators. This should be easy to push thru this year and not allowing any in season baiting/feeding.. NOT foodplots.

 

[Daver]

In season baiting/feeding is currently allowed as long as you don't hunt over it. Of course, this is abused and it is almost impossible to catch the violators. This should be easy to push thru this year and not allowing any in season baiting/feeding.. NOT foodplots.

Huh? That's news to me, thanks for clarifying. Although we do have plenty of food plots established, we never "supplement" that with piles/feeders/etc, during the season and...I thought that was prohibited. Huh!

I witnessed a pickup truck with a trailer going into a field and the trailer was LOADED with bags of corn. I know that they

I know that they supplemental feed AFTER the season, as they told me that face to face once...but now I am suddenly curious as to what they were doing with all that corn when I saw them going into the field. Huh!

Huh!

 

[IowaBowHunter1983]

OK, one point of clarification for me, sorry if everyone else already knows this...

1. Ban all in season feeding - I thought it was already illegal/not permitted to feed during season. Does this proposal eliminate say, food plots? What is meant by "in season feeding"?

You can feed all you want 365 24 7 (feeders/ corn piles) Cant hunt over it. Abused heavily.

 

[Hawk32]

Thanks Rob. Overwhelming results for almost all of the topics. Now let's take top 3, top 5 or whatever and make it happen. Willing to help wherever.

 

[Daver]

You can feed all you want 365 24 7 (feeders/ corn piles) Cant hunt over it. Abused heavily.

Welp, now I know, thank you. I can say, without smoking gun proof mind you, that this may explain how a certain hunter, and/or friend/family member, seems to be able to knock down big ones just about every year, and also snag some sheds that seem curious, on a fairly small property in an area that I have a lot of knowledge of. Hmmm...

Now maybe I want to fly a drone for just a bit. JK, I am still not a fan of the drones.

 

[newfarmer]

I would love to see how the polls would cross over onto the ISC Facebook- I am going to bet the results are opposite for the most part.. I think, we as a group, have a different mindset than MOST of the hunters in Iowa...

 

[Ishi]

Most polls went the way I thought they would!!

Now what?!?!
Times a wasting to help the current situation!
Every year that goes by things will probably get worse…… I’m sure they will get worse from what I’m seeing in the stand the last several years

 

[booneriverbucks]

I would love to see how the polls would cross over onto the ISC Facebook- I am going to bet the results are opposite for the most part.. I think, we as a group, have a different mindset than MOST of the hunters in Iowa...

I actually think an ISC poll would have fairly similar results on most issues.. Hard to get an accurate poll of all hunters in the state online. Still absolutely mind boggling to me that 60% of bucks shot in northern Iowa are 1.5 years old. Crazy! There’s definitely a whole other world out there that doesn’t spend much time talking about deer hunting on the internet.

 

[iowaqdm]

I would love to see how the polls would cross over onto the ISC Facebook- I am going to bet the results are opposite for the most part.. I think, we as a group, have a different mindset than MOST of the hunters in Iowa...

I 100% agree. I don’t know how these polls would go on ISC Facebook but agree with booneriverbucks that it would turn out similarly. However, not one of the polls had over 100 votes cast. There are 160,000 deer hunters in Iowa. I personally know tons of guys that coyote hunt with thermal that don’t even deer hunt. Thousands of landowners and tenants would be affected by changing LOT acres or eligibility. The guys here on IW that actually believe we somehow represent the majority of deer hunters in Iowa, is actually laughable. Even though I am one of the die hard guys on IW. I realize that 95% of the average guys who deer hunt in Iowa can’t really relate to me or guys like me as far as my goals or expectations. So I try not to assume that everyone wants what I want. But talking with the average Joe’s it is clear that they are happy with our current regulations but would like to see more deer on the landscape. So I would rather try to accomplish our similar goals/objectives and not divide us by taking things away that won’t really matter in the long run.

I don’t think we should be proposing legislation for most of these issues. Definitely not because of the results of a poll with less than 100 people (who the vast majority I would guess would consider themselves trophy hunters/deer manager’s) participating in it.

I think we should devote 100% of our time and effort on increasing the population. That is something that the vast majority of all of Iowa’s deer hunters would like to see. So the support is already there and I believe Jace is on board. Distracting or dividing deer hunters with these other issues is not a good approach in my opinion.

On thermals, I personally don’t know one guy that thermal hunts that would poach a deer regardless of its size. Are there guys that would or could…sure. I just don’t know of any. Should the penalty for poaching a deer be hefty…absolutely. I think the penalty for poaching trophy bucks is no joke now. I also think pitting thermal coyote hunters against deer hunters is a mistake. They are ultimately helping us deer hunters way more than hurting us. I don’t have a thermal but have considered getting one to help control coyotes and raccoons. Regardless, the poachers will still have all the tools needed to poach. So let’s not group all the good guys with a couple bad guys. I think we should let guys kill coyotes and raccoons year round.

My opinion on feeding during season. I think I know a total of one guy that feeds deer during season and not really consistently. I personally don’t and most guys I know don’t so it doesn’t necessarily affect me other than taking away another landowner right. Most guys I know don’t own enough acres to feed during season because of the radius that it takes out of your farm. So if a guy wants to feed and isn’t hunting over it…who really cares??? Plus, what about granny or someone who likes to feed the wildlife behind the house. Now you have to address that situation. When in reality it’s not even an issue for 99.9% of the landowners or hunters in Iowa. Plus, let’s say a guy is hunting over it, it should be pretty easy to prove.

The vast majority of guys I talk to who are using cell cameras don’t want delayed pictures. I know for any trespassing issues I want the picture immediately so I have the best chance of getting the game warden there ASAP, not 12 hours later. By then they have your farm pushed out, all your good bucks killed, loaded up, and are gone. They also know there is a 99% chance they will never get caught after the fact. Plus after the fact, the game warden isn’t going to spend his time trying to hunt the guy down for just a trespassing charge. Add to that, without catching them on the property with your target buck on the ground there is likely not going to be any poaching charges that will be made. So worst case scenario they have your 200” target buck on the wall but it cost them a measly trespassing charge.

I personally don’t want buck tags taken away as I have explained in other threads.

Taking this scorched earth approach by going after things that you deemed guys don’t need or you’re opposed to will result in the same thing that happened last year when guys pushed for changes to the acre limits for getting a LOT tag. ISC guys kicked the hornets nest. Lots of people got upset and legislators got bombarded with calls in opposition and ultimately nothing changed. I wouldn’t push these issues that divide us.

I just don’t think it will be productive to try to ram these issues down the throats of all the other deer hunters/coyote hunters without getting significant push back and fallout. The reward just isn’t worth the political capital expenditure it will take to accomplish it in my opinion.

Now, if the DNR is on board to eliminate late doe season to boost population…great.
I would support them.

If the DNR was willing to decrease doe tag quotas in most every county that still has them to boost the population… great. I would support them.

If the DNR was willing to look at getting rid of party hunting…great. I would support them.

If the DNR decided to return late muzzleloader to black powder and archery equipment only…great. I would support them.

If the DNR wants to ban trail cameras on public ground…fine. They manage that ground.

Let’s get everyone pushing for more deer on the landscape. Let’s not fight over things that don’t matter or that won’t make a significant difference for all of Iowa’s deer hunters.

 

[seven twenty]

I’m wondering if there was another poll detailing the “status” of everyone that voted, would it look like we showed some selfishness.

For example: How many that voted to eliminate tag sharing, actually party hunt.

 

[IowaBowHunter1983]

I think we should devote 100% of our time and effort on increasing the population

Effort on population is well spent. Theres time for more than a singular issue and anyone is free to spend theirs how they wish.

On thermals, I personally don’t know one guy that thermal hunts that would poach a deer regardless of its size. Are there guys that would or could…sure. I just don’t know of any.

I don't suspect you or anyone else on here hangs out with poachers. Thermals are 100% a growing issue (just like drones). Corner a few game wardens and have a conversation about that. Anecdotal accounts on either side of of the issue dont carry any weight.

My opinion on feeding during season. I think I know a total of one guy that feeds deer during season and not really consistently

That may be your reality. This is a huge issue. Hear about it and see it first hand frequently.

Taking this scorched earth approach

I've seen nothing but fair and reasonable discussions. Scorched earth? Hmmmmm

 

[sure shot]

I completely agree with iowaqdm.

On the thermal issue, even if we get rid of thermal hunting completely, a poacher can still be out in the field with a thermal rifle, correct? If he's stopped, he can just say he's target shooting, testing it out, etc. Doesn't he have to be caught shooting a deer (or other wildlife if thermal hunting is banned) to actually be charged?

 

[iowaqdm]

So......

1. Ban all in season feeding
2. Ban Thermal during deer season
3. Eliminate tag sharing for everyone (Your tag, your buck)
4. Time delay on cell cameras
5. Eliminate a buck tag- discuss specifics further
6. Eliminate late doe season
7. Increase LOT acre requirement
8. Ban AR style pistols during late season
9. Ban Electronic bow sights
10. LOT tags for landowners only (not tenant)

You read through these 10 items. Think about how many of the 160,000 deer hunters don’t want even one of these things taken from them let alone several or the whole list. Think about how many phone calls the legislators will take if you are trying to take these 10 things away.

We need our legislators hearing one message. Hunters are extremely concerned about our low deer numbers and want the deer population increased.

You go after these 10 items and they won’t even remember hearing about low deer numbers.

Scorched earth….

 

[Copenhagen Tob]

I completely agree with iowaqdm.

On the thermal issue, even if we get rid of thermal hunting completely, a poacher can still be out in the field with a thermal rifle, correct? If he's stopped, he can just say he's target shooting, testing it out, etc. Doesn't he have to be caught shooting a deer (or other wildlife if thermal hunting is banned) to actually be charged?

Agree ,unfortunately poachers are gonna poach, that's who they are. Most guns are banned in Chicago look how well that's turned out.

 

[crietveld]

I agree something needs to change to increase the deer population. EHD alone has wrecked my neighborhood in the last 5 years.

My 2 cents on a couple of these proposals, eliminating tag sharing is almost completely un-inforcible for the number of DNR officers in the field.

The DNR needs to actually enforce the landowner tag law, if you are not actively involved in the farming decisions you don’t qualify. It should be easy to cross reference registered landowners with tax records and boot those not filing as a farmer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Windlooker]

Not really. State DNR asking the IRS for schedule F info is an effort in futility. The IRS could care less about lot tags. Bigger fish to fry.

 

[Rjack]

I agree something needs to change to increase the deer population. EHD alone has wrecked my neighborhood in the last 5 years.

My 2 cents on a couple of these proposals, eliminating tag sharing is almost completely un-inforcible for the number of DNR officers in the field.

The DNR needs to actually enforce the landowner tag law, if you are not actively involved in the farming decisions you don’t qualify. It should be easy to cross reference registered landowners with tax records and boot those not filing as a farmer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Most all regulations are tough to enforce. That doesn't mean laws should not be changed. Most will follow the new law as they are honest or afraid of getting caught. The guys who would break the tag sharing law are likely already breaking other laws.