The 2012/2013 Season
Our 2012-13 Iowa deer season was unusual to say the least. Iowa
had one of the driest years on record which drastically affected corn and
soybean yields across Iowa including our Loess Hills hunting grounds. We
planted Frigid Forage's Big & Beastie Brassicas the first part of August to
enhance our corn and soybean foodplots but with little moisture from mid
August to October 1st, there wasn't much growth. The rains finally came the
first part of October which brought on some growth. This new growth attracted
every deer in the area as the harvest of corn and beans was generally over
with in September and the lush green of the brassicas provided an irresistible
draw. The B&B plots that are so deadly during the late season when the cold
weather increases the sugar content and palatability of the turnips and beets
were pretty much eaten down to bare ground by the first firearms season.
Fortunately we had adequate corn and soybean plots to carry us through.
To add even more uncertainty to this season, there was a
vicious outbreak of bluetongue or EHD, (Epizootc Hemorrhagic Disease), an oft
times fatal viral disease transmitted by midges that is especially bad during
dry weather. We found dead deer on all the leases and the deer population was
seriously down on some of our southern leases. One farmer reported he'd found
27 dead deer on his farm, half of which were bucks. We had trail camera shots
of several big bucks in early fall that we never saw again but we also saw
several big bucks later on that we'd never seen or photographed previously, so
one never knows when dealing with whitetails.
In spite of the problems, and my initial trepidations, our four
bowhunters took 3 bucks from 135 to 169 4/8 (a 2 1/2 year old buck) and all
four saw much larger bucks during their bowhunt, several of which we never saw
again. As illustrated by the trophy photos our firearms hunters did
exceptionally well with all the bucks over 130 and five between 165-170. In
addition to the bucks taken we saw a large number of young six & eight point
bucks along with some 140 and 150 class bucks that the hunters either passed
on or couldn't get a shot at. In addition, we saw half a dozen monster bucks
during the firearms season that we didn't get. These "boomer" bucks didn't get
that size and age by being stupid. Several were within easy range of hunters
that had filled their buck tags and were trying to take does. Had a tough time
convincing them we didn't have these "boomers" trained to appear only to
hunters with a filled buck tag.
As usual, we learned a bit more about the idiosyncrasies of
those big Iowagian deer so maybe next fall we'll have them figured a bit
better.
2011/2012 Hunt Photos:
For Previous Year's Trophy Shots -
please see our ITWO Trophy Photos Page.
In order to keep these web pages loading at
a reasonable rate, we are only showing 140+ bucks
for gun seasons and 130+ bucks for archery seasons.
I
photographed this Whitetail buck in one of our foodplots on November 4. The
next day, one of my bowhunters spotted another 10-point in the same foodplot.
1
acre foodplot
with 65 deer feeding in evening between
1st & 2nd firearm seasons. Seven bucks in plot four of which were 140"
plus
If
you are interested in a hunt for 2013/2014 or booking early for 2014 call NOW!
What's included:
Our hunts are full package hunts including meals,
lodging, guiding, blinds, treestands, trophy care,
transportation during the hunt, and pickup and return to Omaha's Eppley
Airfield.
Bowhunts
are six day hunts with a maximum number of 6 bowhunters per hunt.
Shotgun/muzzleloader hunts and primitive weapons (bow/muzzleloader/handgun)
are
5 day hunts with a limit of 6 hunters per hunt for the first and second firearm
hunts.
Limit of 5 hunters per hunt for the late season hunts.
We do not have any antler size or trophy restrictions. This
is your hunt,
and you are the only person you have to satisfy with the deer you harvest.
What's not included:
The cost does not include your non-resident deer
license currently $560.68 is the total for the deer
tag, required small game license, habitat stamp, and drawing fees. If you do
not draw,
(Subject to change depending on whims of DNR)
We Hunt Zone 3 Exclusively
2013/2014 Hunt Dates:
Bowhunt:
Approximate dates:
Archery Hunts run
from October 26 thru November 16, 2013
Once you
draw your license, we can work out specific dates
to fit individual
schedules.
Shotgun/Muzzleloader:
December 7 - December 11
- FULL
December 14 - December 18
- 1 Opening
December 27 -
December 31 - 2 Openings
Late Season Primitive Weapon (Bow/Muzzleloader/Handgun):
January 3 - January 7, 2014 -
FULL
2014/2015 Hunt Dates:
Bowhunt:
Approximate dates:
Archery Hunts will run
from October 25 thru November 15, 2014
Once you
draw your license, we can work out specific dates
to fit individual
schedules.
Shotgun/Muzzleloader:
December 6 - December 10 -
FULL
December 14 - December 18
- Open
Late Season Primitive Weapon (Bow/Muzzleloader/Handgun):
December 26 - December 30, 2014
- Open to up to 3 hunters
January 3 - January 7, 2015 -
FULL
Pricing for 2013/2014 Iowa Trophy Whitetail Hunts:
| Description |
Days |
Price |
| Bowhunts |
6 |
$3250.00 |
| Shotgun/Muzzleloader/Handgun |
5 |
$3500.00 |
| Late Season |
5 |
$3500.00 |
Non-Hunting Guest
(space available only) |
per day |
$150.00 |
You can purchase a preference point
during the preceding year's drawing for $50.00 which will virtually
guarantee you a license
in our
area for the following year.
See preference point information
on ITWO page.
Ready to book?
E-mail us at
judd@juddcooney.com or call us 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. mountain time Monday through
Saturday.
We'll hold a spot for you for 10 days giving your deposit time to arrive. We
accept checks or money orders.
Sorry, No Credit Cards.
Once we have received your deposit (50% of the hunt price) you will receive a
written
contract stating hunt dates, etc. All deposits are non-refundable unless you do
not draw a tag once Iowa's
drawing is complete. License and application fees are due in our office by May
1st. Balance of the hunt
is due 45 days prior to arrival. You may send a personal or business check,
money order or
cashiers check. We do not accept credit cards. If you fail to draw a deer tag,
you can stay booked
in the same slot for the next year or get a refund. A refund means you no longer
have a hunt booked with ITWO.
License fees are now $560.68 and include a small game
license which is required by Iowa.
You can now hunt game birds, waterfowl, small game and predators in Iowa
during your hunt, if time allows. We take care of all applications and
drawing procedures.
The deadline for all applications is the first part of June
with draw results available in late June.
Click here to see our past hunters with their bucks!
IOWA TROPHY WHITETAIL OUTFITTERS
Check
out this web site for your taxidermy needs in Iowa:
www.loesshillstaxidermy.com
