3 Killer Tactics for Iowa’s Gun Seasons
3 Killer Tactics for Hunting Iowa’s Gun Seasons
There is something incredibly exciting about the opening day of Iowa’s gun seasons. Walking into my stand, my anticipation is high, as I’ve been watching deer from afar during Iowa’s bow seasons. Generations of Iowans have lived for this moment, when months of scouting, stories, and anticipation collide with the raw intensity of deer season. The chase is on.
Reliable Equipment & Honed-In Skills
Before deer season begins, the key is to prepare. Start by making sure your gun, whether it’s a shotgun, rifle, or muzzleloader, is sighted in and familiar in your hands. Head to the range and spend time practicing to build confidence and accuracy. Not only do you want to shoot your gun during the summer, but during the colder weather too. Both you and your gun will perform differently with colder weather.
If you expect to do deer drives, it’s especially important to work on shooting at moving targets. Practicing with clay targets is an excellent way to sharpen these skills. Repeatedly shouldering your gun and smoothly swinging through the target helps develop muscle memory and timing. Though clays aren’t deer, this kind of focused practice can make all the difference in the field.
Deer Drives
Good old deer drives are a deep-rooted tradition in Iowa’s gun seasons. Drives often have seasoned and trusted hunters who often span generations. Many of these groups are made up of men and women who have been hunting together for decades. Each year, new faces are often welcomed into the group. However, you want to be sure everyone is safe and knows the plan. Deer drives aren’t just about filling tags, they’re about strategy and keeping a long-standing tradition alive.
As a pusher, I like to think of my role as similar to that of a still hunter. I prefer to move slowly and steadily through the timber, giving deer just enough pressure to nudge them toward the standers without causing chaos. A gentle push often produces the best results, keeping deer calm and offering clean shot opportunities. Pushers can sometimes find themselves in the right place at the right time for a shot, so it’s important to stay alert and ready.
Safety and ethics are central to any successful drive. Every hunter must wear blaze orange, clearly identify their target, and be aware of where everyone else is positioned before the drive begins. The posters should stay in positions and refrain from moving. This keeps everyone safe, and communication is key. There’s been debate over the years about the role of deer drives, but as of now, they remain legal and an key part of Iowa’s gun hunting seasons. The goal is always to take the best, most ethical shot possible, which is of course ideally, a clean broadside.
When done thoughtfully and safely, deer drives combine strategy, good friends, and tradition in a way that few other hunting methods can match. For many Iowa hunters, these drives are as much about shared memories as they are about the hunt itself.
Stand and Blind Hunting
Another effective tactic for Iowa’s gun seasons is simply sitting and waiting for deer to come to you. While other hunters are out pushing deer, positioning yourself strategically can pay off in a big way. As deer are bumped from one area to another, they often slip through funnels, field edges, or thick patches of timber. As a hunter and a woodsman, you want to do your scouting ahead of time. Pick a reliable stand, or a place with heavy deer traffic and get set up and wait.
Many hunters choose to use blinds for this approach. Top-end tower blinds and box blinds can feel almost like small cabins, complete with heaters, comfortable chairs, and even small luxuries like TVs or beds. With the extended range that rifles now provide, hunters can stay warm and still make accurate shots at a distance. This makes blind hunting especially appealing for long sits on cold December days.
Of course, more traditional setups still have their place too, and these are what quite a few Iowa hunters use. Treestands and pop-up blinds remain popular options, especially for hunters who want to stay mobile or set up in travel corridors where blinds aren’t practical. Whether you’re in a cozy blind or perched high in a tree, sitting and waiting is a proven tactic. Patience, preparation, and good positioning can often lead to success while the chaos of deer drives happens all around you.
Still Hunting
Still hunting is probably the least common tactic for gun hunting during Iowa’s gun seasons. However, still hunting is probably one of my favorite ways to hunt. Still hunting is a slow, deliberate tactic that requires you to be patient and stealthy.
I’ll typically move 15–20 yards, then pause for about 10 minutes before creeping forward again. Working the wind is critical—always move into or quartering into it to keep your scent downwind. This gives you the advantage to possibly sneak up on a bedded deer.
Noise discipline matters, so every step is careful and quiet. When I stop, I scan constantly, using quality optics to pick apart the landscape. I look for the slightest movement or a flash of antler, often checking CRP fields for tips sticking above the grass. You see so much more when you’re still hunting. Powdery snow with a slight breeze is what I prefer. The powdery snow masks noise, a little wind will mask your noise and keep the deer from being edgy.
A Time-Long Tradition
In the end, there are a variety of tactics you can use for Iowa’s gun seasons. Whether you’re joining a time-honored deer drive, patiently sitting in a blind or treestand, or quietly stalking through the timber with a careful still-hunting approach. Each method brings its own excitement and challenges, and part of the joy of hunting is finding the strategy that fits your style and the conditions. No matter which tactic you choose, safety must always come first. Keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction, finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot, and always know your target and what’s beyond it. Hunt smart, stay safe, and enjoy every moment in the Iowa woods. This only comes once an year, and is gone too fast.
By Aaron McKinney
December 2025
Here is an article with updates on CWD and EHD in Iowa
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