iowa public lands

static_knight

static_knight

New member
well im newish to the state and having moved from wyoming im going through public land withdrawls. i live between red rock and stevens forest area and not so far from rathbun, and since my land is less than ten acres im curious about coyote hunting in those areas..so my question to all you hawkeye hunters is ...do you hunt public land and hows your luck.

any advice is welcome
 
I've hunted some public land in my area. Have had some good results. Most of the public land in my area is along the rivers and are big river bottom timber. Alot of the dog runners and the truck hunters don't like the area because it is too big. Last year I hunted the public ground 4 times and in those 4 times I called one in and shot it and one other time I was getting ready to go to the stand and we had two walk across the road while we were getting tha guns out. My hunting partner got a itchy finger and shot off hand and missed. I would look into the public ground. But you might have to get as far off the road as you can. Also if we go back out now to the public hunting areas one of us carries a shot gun. Good Luck.
 
Now that the deer hunting is over, the area you are in is great, it is large, and Feb is the best time, that is if we get snow. This is generally the mate season, and public hunting ground is ok. When a coyote is looking for food they cover a large track. I don't subscribe to calling at this time but rather drive the 1/4 mile roads, and use a range finder. A track in, no track out, check the south side of a slope, that is assuming we get SUN. If it gets cold, with the sun out, they will set up on the south side of the slope and near the top. It will be 200 + yard shot on the average.
Jim
 
Static Knight, I feel your pain with the public land withdrawl. I moved to SE Iowa from Nevada. So far I have seen to many people and not enough public land. I have had people walk through my stand that were just hiking around several times. My best advice is too talk to land owners and see how it goes. I haven't done that yet but I've heard people are pretty open to hunting thier property for coyotes. If that doesn't work for you well a bad day on public land is better then a good day in the house. Good luck and happy hunting.
-Sevonhunter
 
I dont know about where your at but we hunted in N.E. Iowa and theres a ton of cattle up there and the farmers were eager to let us on.
 
Have you tried to get on private land? Typically an Iowa Farmer will let about anyone on if you're coyote hunting, and if you're just calling, and not driving, I cannot see why anyone would turn you down. Get out and knock on some doors, you'd be surprised how word travels that there is a guy out wanting to kill coyotes and your name will travel around quickly and you'll have more permission than you can hunt.
 
I have been gone for several years but as I remember the Otter Creek Marsh near Chelsea Iowa is a big piece of public that lays along the Iowa River (SE of Tama). As good as I have it from a "sportsman" standpoint in Colorado. I still miss the hunting in Iowa. Good luck out there. Should be a ton of coyotes.
 


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