Early October?

[Godzilla123]

I have an archery tag for Iowa this year and was set to go during early November, but I am no longer able to go during that time. My options now are either early October or go in mid-December. I've secured land to hunt that has some food plots and hardwoods.

Thoughts? I'm leaning towards Oct, if there are acorns, it's a fun time of year at home. I also don't risk the chance of snowstorms messing up my travel (I'm in the northeast).

 

[FranklinBluth]

I would personally lean towards December, but get that there's an opportunity cost to traveling in October. I think that those animals get easier to pattern when the weather gets cold. Of course, no guarantees it won't be 60 and sunny in December either.

A good 6-8 inch snowfall is a positive to me - it gets them moving and can give you fresh tracks to study.

Are you flying or driving the whole way?

 

[Godzilla123]

Good points. Planning on driving, it's about 17 hours. Narrowing down the December timeline, I could probably make it there by the end of the first week.

 

[CJ_BG]

Is there any reason you couldn't aim for both?

 

[Forestryguy]

What part of early Oct? What part of Iowa?

 

[Erict]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I didn't think you could hunt on an archery tag during the December gun seasons in Iowa.

 

[Godzilla123]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I didn't think you could hunt on an archery tag during the December gun seasons in Iowa.

I'm glad you said that... I just looked at my tag again, and the season ends 12/5 and starts again 12/22-1/10

 

[Godzilla123]

What part of early Oct? What part of Iowa?

Probably opening day through the first weekend in Zone 7. Hopefully this is a decent time... my first time hunting in Iowa