Iowa Deer Hunting Forecast

Iowa Deer Hunting Forecast

By Ben Leal

Opening day of the 2022/2023 deer season; whether you’re a bowhunter or not, this is the day that every deer hunter across Iowa has been waiting for, October 1. With the arrival of deer season, comes some important questions to ask yourself. What will this year’s deer season bring? Where will opportunities be better than others to fill that all-important tag we purchase each year? To do our best to answer these questions, we’ll look at harvest reports from last year. We’ll also look at harvest trends and see where the state is in its deer management goals. Additionally, we will find out where greater numbers of deer exist and help you broaden your chances of filling your tag.

Iowa Deer Population
Since 2009, the Iowa DNR has been working to reduce the deer population to the numbers observed in 1995. “Throughout most of the state, we’re currently within population goal ranges,” noted Iowa DNR Deer Research Specialist Jace Elliot. “Exceptions are northcentral and northwestern regions, where we are trying to recover populations that are below the goal, as well as parts of southern Iowa, where populations are above goal.”

The deer program aims to maximize hunting opportunities while minimizing negative consequences (crop depredation, vehicle collisions, etc.) that result from overabundance. To balance deer numbers regionally, the Iowa DNR provides additional antlerless tags at the county level, which are determined by both statistical population metrics and local staff observations. “While we feel this balance has been established in most Iowa counties, some counties may see their antlerless tags increase/decrease in certain years if we determine the population needs adjusting,” continued Elliot. “This year will be no exception, as certain counties will see more antlerless tags, particularly in central and southern Iowa, and others will see fewer tags, mostly far-western counties along the Missouri River”.

Population Trend Surveys
Four techniques are currently used to monitor trends in Iowa deer populations. These are spotlight surveys conducted by Iowa DNR staff in March and April. The number of deer killed on Iowa’s rural highways throughout the year, coupled with annual highway use estimates. The number of animal-related accidents reported to the Department of Transportation and the bow hunter observation survey coordinated by the Iowa DNR and conducted by volunteers during October and November. These surveys correlate well with the reported antlered harvest and provide reliable long-term trend indices. However, none of these surveys can be considered absolutely reliable indicators of annual changes in the population because of the high variability in the survey conditions, deer behavior, habitat conditions, and weather.

The bowhunter observation data, which began to be collected during the 2004 season, has replaced the aerial deer survey as a trend index. This survey represents over 100,000 hours of observation distributed throughout the state and is conducted voluntarily by a randomly selected group of Iowa archers. The tactics typically used during this season (stand hunting) make it easier for hunters to gather observational data.

CWD & EHD in Iowa
“Chronic Wasting Disease is currently found in twelve counties across Iowa,” said Iowa DNR Biometrician Tyler Harms. “Through our routine surveillance during the 2021-2022 hunting season, we detected positive deer in two new counties: Fremont County in southwest Iowa and Greene County in central Iowa.”
The Iowa DNR received reports indicating a fairly significant outbreak in Western Iowa along the Missouri River. “Deer populations in that area have now experienced EHD outbreaks for the last three years. We’re monitoring populations closely and adjusting management actions to allow populations to recover,” added Harms.

2021-2022 Deer Season Summary
“At a statewide scale, Iowa’s deer population is stable to slightly increasing. During the 2021-2022 season, approximately 102,800 deer were harvested, which was roughly 6% less than the previous season”, said Elliot. Throughout the State, deer numbers remain pretty stable, and harvest opportunities are out there. Let’s break down the top 10 counties in Iowa and see where you might have a better chance to fill your tag.

Clayton County tops our list with a total of 3,924 deer harvests for the season. Of those, 1,513 were bucks, 2,045 were does, 329, were button bucks, and 37 were shed bucks. Clayton County covers 793 square miles resulting in an average harvest of 4.9 deer per square mile. Allamakee County slides in second in the top 10 with a total harvest of 3,438 for the season. The average of 5.2 deer per square mile is just a bit more than that of Clayton County; however, Allamakee is only 659 square miles resulting in the larger average. Madison County follows in at number three with a total of 2,675 deer harvested with an average of 4.7 deer per square mile over the 562 square miles that Madison County covers. Van Buren County follows in fourth with a total of 2,529 deer harvest with an average of 5.1 deer per square mile, covering the 491 square miles for the county. Rounding out the top five is Winneshiek County, with 2,453 deer harvested for the season. Covering 690 square miles, the average harvest per square mile was 3.5 deer.

Averaging 3.4 deer per square mile, Jackson County covers a large area of 650 square miles. Jackson County follows in sixth place with 2,247 deer harvested for the season. Warren and Wayne counties follow in seventh and eighth, with 2,191 and 2,185 deer harvested respectfully. Appanoose County follows in ninth place with 2,147 deer harvested, averaging 4.1 deer per acre. Guthrie County ranks top 10 for the 2021/2022 season with 2,033 deer harvested, with 739 of those being bucks.

The top ten counties in Iowa all toll reported 25,822 harvested deer with an average of just over 4.1 deer per square mile, covering 6,200 square miles. Of those harvested, there were 10,138 bucks reported, and 13,413 does.

Deer Management Zone (DMZ) Hunts
Participating in a deer management zone hunt may be a good choice as you vie your options to fill a tag for this season. Without these hunts, these areas become deer refuges with high densities of deer that can cause problems on neighboring properties. Typically, deer herds in these areas are larger and need management to prevent adverse impacts on commodity crops and natural vegetation.

All the deer taken are antlerless, and deer tagged do not count against a hunter’s regular license or bag limit. These are great opportunities to help manage the deer population, and most of these hunts successfully remove deer in problem areas. A complete list of the DMZs can be found on the Iowa DNR’s website (http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Deer-Hunting/Deer-Management-Hunts).

The 2022/2023 Deer Season
There are certainly plenty of deer in Iowa, and opportunities abound; however, you might need to put in extra effort in some cases. Iowa’s hunters are to be commended for their efforts to manage deer. You hold the key to having a good quality deer herd, and the number and quality of the animals depend on your choices in the field. We are all stewards of the wildlife in Iowa. Take time to report your harvest; not doing so will negatively impact future hunting opportunities and management decisions.

As we spend time in the field enjoying our natural resources in this State, let’s remember to pass on the torch and share our passions with first-time hunters. Inviting a friend from work or your community who is interested but unsure how to get started will benefit hunting by ensuring that the hunting heritage is understood, shared, and continues to be passed on. Good Hunting All!