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Nonresident Draw For Deer

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Bobcat

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A friend and I each applied seperately last year and recieved a preference point. We would both like to hunt together, but were wondering if our odds would be better to draw if we applied together or seperately ? It's not necessary that we hunt together but it would make the 15 hour drive a little easier to take as well as sharing travel and lodging expenses. Any help or suggestions are welcomed.

Thanx, Bobcat
 
Bobcat, My group of 4 has applied together for 6 years and have been drawn every year but one. I don't know about drawing as a single, I've never done it. Our thought was that if we applied as a group, either we all go or we all stay home. For us most of the fun is being with your buddies. I don't know if your odds are any better one way or the other. If I was going to sell hunts I suppose I go with the larger revenue first and then fill in with the lesser amonts later. It is suppose to be random but if you have a preference point you should be top billing. Good Luck on the draw!
 
It is my understanding that if you have a preference point you are virtually a sure thing at getting the tag as they issue available tags to the preference points first before drawing the remainder from those that did not have points. I'd say either way you go, you are a lock. I always apply with several buddies as a group on the same idea of we all go or none go and hopefully our odds are better. Regardless, I feel that this system sucks! I am not against the draw but it should have been done and over by now Your chances of booking another quality hunt in another state come July are virtually nil. I can't believe that it takes 4 weeks to get 10,000 applications and another 3 weeks to get them processed and drawn. Just another instance of how inefficient and putride the Iowa DNR is.
 
Your odds of drawing as a group depends on the person with the fewest preference points in the group. Three weeks is not an unreasonable time to wait. Its a pretty avg. time compared to the states I've dealt with. Putrid?, thats a bad smell right?
 
Does anyone have any inoformation on how many bow hunters applied last year. I assume the bulk of the 10,500 applications received last year were from shotgunners. Thanks for any insight.
 
This is the latest information we have...

Nonresident

In 2000 of the 6,019 any-sex licenses issued, 3,328 went to hunters during the shotgun season, 2,088 to bowhunters and 603 to late season muzzleload hunters.

An additional 1,999 antlerless licenses were issued and 1,110 went to hunters during shotgun season, 666 went to bowhunters and 223 went to late season muzzleloader hunters.

Source: Trends in Iowa Wildlife Populations and Harvest 2000, Iowa DNR printed 2001
 
iowawhitail, Since you seem to know the data on out of state hunting permits, can you explain to me the DNR's rational on the percentage of gun permits compared to archery? Common sense would dictate that a gun hunter would have a greater chance of harvesting a deer ( greater range, longer shot capability, etc.. ) than a archer ??
It seems to me that the Iowa DNR goes out of its way to slam the door on out of state hunters ( and the revenue they bring into the state )and complicate the permit allocations and drawing process .
 
Question for other non residents.
Called and applied the other day with high hopes.Have a pref point. The man who took my application did not ask whether or not I would accept an antlerless permit, only my zone and season. It didnt even occur to me at the time so I called back the next day and got the same guy. When I asked about this he told me that antlerless permits were not for sale yet. Can this be right? I always took an antlerless tag so I could be up there during gun season down here, except last year when it would cost you your pref point (got burned on that one in 2000). Has this happened to anyone else?
 
EIGHTPOINT - I think the logic for limiting the bowhunters is many of the resident hunters and DNR not wanting all of the tags ending up being bow tags. With more bowhunters, even with a lower success rate, there would be fewer deer left over for the gun hunters and to a lesser extent, fewer deer for the bowhunters too.

I don't think the DNR slams the doors on the non-resident. Difficult, yes. Limited, yes. What the majority of the residents want, maybe. Revenue loss, maybe, but there are other ways to generate revenue and although it is one of the greatest deer hunting states around, it does have a limited deer hunting resource.
 
IALUVRFROMMO, When I applied I wasn't asked about an antlerless tag either. I didn't ask about an antlerless because we did not want one. A couple of years back we said we would take an antlerless tag on second chance drawing. We were told by the land owner we hunt with that we could bet that if we agreed to take one we would almost certainly get one... we did. We have not accepted an antlerless tag since. The guys I hunt with feel like the price is too high to take a doe and we have more than enough here at home to harvest. I feel like the IDNR should give the local guys more bonus antlerless tags if they need more does harvested. Maybe thats not the best way to look at it, but, for the non resident price, especially this year, we are going for an Any Deer Tag. I totally support taking enough does out to keep a balanced herd so I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about my position on this. If it comes to the last day of the hunt and I have no luck taking a buck that I want, I will certainly harvest a doe. Good Luck on the draw!!
 
EIGHTPOINT,

Your question we can't answer, the Department of Natural Resources ( Iowa ), could probably do a better job of explaining their rational.

As we disclosed in the above post, we just have the book with the stats. You could get some response though from your statement,we have DNR members who visit from time to time as well as some very experienced whitetail hunters.

By the way we see your new, welcome to Iowa.
 
Thanks Iowawhitetail. I drew Zone 4 last year and deserately want to go back this year. Im trying to weigh my odds of drawing without a point. It appears I have a chance, but only a small one.
 
Rackaddict,
Sure know where you`re coming from about the cost of the doe tag. But when I consider that I have never been asked to pay a dime to hunt by any of the Landowners up there, I figure what the hell. I enjoy seeing them and besides that I think that had I not shown up at these places since 1998 (the last any deer tag I have had)I may be back to square one knocking on doors. The places I have arent that big, but I know them like the back of my hand and wouldnt want to lose any of them. Thanks and good luck to you in the draw also.
 
I would like to hear the thoughts of others on how the increased cost will effect the numbers of NRs that apply. I have to think it will be an issue to some. I'm just glad a place like Iowa is still out there.

Many Thanks

HBH
 
IALUVRFROMMO, I get where your coming from, keep your foot in the door. I guess I am very fortunate with my hunting area. My best friends in-laws have a farm that we can hunt whenever we draw. They are very near the state line and on the years we don't draw we have access to a place about 20 minutes south in Missouri. We still go stay with the folks even on our off years and hunt our place south. We try to help out around the place when we're there to keep in good graces and to be good guests. One thing we always do is to leave a gift for Ma and Pa, they never want us to do it, but like you said, we don't pay to hunt so we feel it's the least we can do. They are great people, and I feel blessed to have been "adopted" into such a nice family.
 
IOWA IS A GOOD PLACE TO HUNT AND THE NON-RESIDENT FEE INCREASE WILL NOT DETER ME OR THE OTHERS IN OUR HUNTING GROUP FROM APPLING EACH YEAR. WE HAVE BEEN LOYAL TO THE SAME OUTFITTER FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, SOME OF THE GUYS IN OUR GROUP HAVE GONE TWICE IN A YEAR ( IF UNSUCCESFUL IN THE EARLY ARCHERY SEASON ,WE ARE INVITED BACK FOR THE LATE SEASON ). THE POTENTIAL TO HARVEST A BOOK BUCK IS EXCELLENT AND THE TIME SPENT WITH OUR OUTFITTER FRIENDS AND THE GUYS IN OUR GROUP IS ALWAYS ENJOYABLE.
 
HBH,
I personally know of at least ten people who have said that they would not apply due to the cost increase. Five of them are residents of Scotland and Putnam counties in Missouri who have excellent places to hunt there. The rest are more casual bowhunters from down here in St.Louis and Jefferson counties. I personally am happy that the increase is weeding out the less hard core as they are the ones who tend not to make good guests of themselves (Ive heard some stories). I dont buy into the concept that the increase is eliminating the average guy and making this a rich mans sport. One night out of the Casino would pay for thier permit. The same guys think nothing of paying $4000 for a four wheeler to keep from having to walk anywhere. Do you think you would be more likely to take a nice buck with a $900 bow and a Mo. permit or a $200 bow and an Iowa permit? Not trying to be mean here, I just get tired of hearing the crying from guys who go up there and act like slobs anyway.
 
HBH, I know of a couple of guys that have bailed out. I even had to talk one of our group into applying this year which surprised me a bit. Personally, I would give up my annual trip out west to keep hunting in Iowa. I do hope we have seen the last of the price increases, for a little while anyway. I don't have any other hobbies, like golf for instance, that take away from my "Fun Money" so I'm in 'till I bleed. I think it will weed out some less passionate hunters. I've said it before, "If you play, you pay", so you can count me in!
 
Thanks for the replies.

I think it will cause a slight drop in NR applications. I myself dont have any problem with the cost increase. I think it is still a good value.

Many Thanks

HBH
 
Due to the increase, I will no longer apply to both Iowa & Kansas the same year and attempt to hunt both. The money being asked for is just out of my range now. This year I will apply in Iowa because I have a bonus point. To skip Kansas 2002. I will only apply for an Iowa point in 2003. Will hunt Kansas. This way I keep my tag fees to only $300/year.

I forgot the magazine name but I saw a great article at my blueprint shop Friday. It was recent, a March or April issue. It was specifically about the huge increases in NR tag prices everywhere. Had stats on how each state's DNR is supposedly going broke and the politics of socking it to NR's. I was shocked to read the stats on how few deer were actually being harvested by NR's compared to the money they paid. I know it said there were twice as many deer killed by cars in Iowa than NR's, yet they brought in 40% of the F&W revenue. Plenty of other such numbers.

Last year I killed better deer home here in Indiana than in any of my public land IA or KS hunts. I'm afraid my out-of-state traveling will be reduced from now on.
 
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