Iowa Land for Sale Farmland, Hunting Land, Acreages

Iowa Hunting Land Auction Montgomery County 190 Acres Cabin, Ponds, Machine Shed October 17, 2009

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:50:08 -0500

Click here for more details, photos, and video Montromgery County 190 Acres Land Auction

Contact Auctioneer Jason Smith 712-592-8965 for information

AUCTION: SATURDAY OCTOBER 17, 2009 11 AM CST LOCATION: 2702 VINE AVE VILLISCA, IA 50864

190 acres more or less with barn/lodge and 40x60 machine shed. Includes CRP, timber, food plots,2 large ponds, and 2 small ponds

Property is located near Villisca, IA

Barn has been converted into a hunting cabin with all wood interior. Lodge includes all the comforts of home with full bathroom, shower, and even corn burning heat

40x60 machine shed complete with electric doors, double lean-to's, concrete floor, water, and lots of storage space

14 food plots planted to clover, soybeans, milo, and oats

Several elevated box blinds with heaters overlooking the established food plots

16 additional stand sites are strategically placed for every wind direction

2 large ponds and 2 small ponds provide good water sources on the property

Good amount of mature timber with many mature walnut and oak trees

Property provides a good annual income from CRP

Some of the food plots could be converted to production of crops to increase the income potential of the farm

Good access to the property via gravel road. Roads on the north and east sides are both gated and buyer will have access through those gates.

This is a great opportunity to own a top notch turnkey hunting property in Iowa

Call Auctioneer/Agent Jason Smith for a private showing or for additional details at 712-592-8965

AUCTION October 17th, 11:00am on the farm

FSA INFORMATION: Farm #2987 Tracts 1784 and 2402

CRP 34.2 acres pays $2736 annually, Farmland 185.0 acres, DCP Cropland 49.8. Alfalfa 12 acres, switch grass seed production 30 approximately acres.

15 years of hard work have gone into this incredible 190 acre deer hunting farm. It will be offered at live public auction on the farm near Villisca, Iowa in Montgomery County October 17th at 11:00am.

This farm truly is a one of a kind, top notch hunting farm that has had management practices in place for many years. Designed and hunted by a whitetail hunter, this farm's purpose has always been hunting. It has never been used for commercial activities, strictly for family recreation.

A barn on the property has been converted into a hunting cabin. The photos show what a great job was done in coverting the barn. The all-wood interior adds warmth to the space that includes everything you could possibly need including full bathroom, shower, hot water, washer and dryer hook ups, kitchen, refrigerator, corn burning heat, ceiling fans and more.

A new 40X60 pole barn has been recently added to the property with electric doors on each end, double lean-to's, loft, concrete floor, water and lots of storage space.

The property itself is as magnificant a property you will find, tailored for the whitetail hunter. 14 food plots planted in Clover, Soybeans, Milo and Oats provide acres and acres of nutritious food for the deer living on the property. Many of the food plots are overlooked by elevated blinds with heaters. An additional 16 stand sites on the property are strategically placed for every wind direction. 2 large ponds on the property and 2 small watering holes provide a good water supply at all times. The timber has many mature walnut and white oak trees throughout.

The property earns good income from CRP and the sale of switch grass seed grown on the property. Many additional tillable acres are available on the property, and some of the food plots could be coverted to production of crops to increase the income. The possibilities for boosting the already good income are endless.

Access to the property is very easy via rock road. The roads on the north and east sides are both gated and the buyer of this property will have access through those gates. Only the 4 bordering landowners have access to the gates on Willow Avenue and 265th Streets.

It would cost many thousands of dollars to re-create this property if you started with raw land. This is an opportunity that will not come around ever again. Montgomery County ranks very high in Iowa's whitetail record books and is always well represented at the Iowa Deer Classic.

Don't miss this opportunity to own this turn-key hunting property in Iowa at what could be a great price. Call Auctioneer Jason Smith for a private showing or additional details.

NOTE: This property could sell prior to auction if an acceptable offer is presented. Please check our website or call Jason Smith to confirm availability or to place your proxy bid.

Click here for more details, photos, and video Montromgery County 190 Acres Land Auction

Iowa Deer Classic Benefit Auction New in 2009

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:24:48 -0600

Iowa Deer Classic Auction

We've been busy since last Turkey season putting this together! Brand New in 2009 the Iowa Deer Classic Auction will be the ULTIMATE sportsman's auction. Don't miss your chance to bid on unique one of a kind items and opportunities. A link to the sale catalog is above, be sure to check it out.

It just doesn't get any bigger than the Iowa Deer Classic when it comes to whitetails and deer hunting. We will be selling items donated by outdoor celebrities, manufacturers and pro staffers to benefit the Iowa DNR's Mentored Outdoor Experience program.

The proceeds from the auction will benefit the Iowa DNR's Mentored Outdoor Experience (MOE) Program at Springbrook. This program introduces youth and their mentor to deer hunting with the educational experience culminating in an actual deer hunt at Springbrook. I will be partnering with my good friend and fellow Auctioneer Cory Behr to help support the future generations of hunters in Iowa and ensure the continued success of this great program.

Come by the auction booth located near the Hall of Fame at the Iowa Deer Classic where all items will be on display during the show.

ABSENTEE BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED! Call 712-592-8965 to place an absentee bid on any item. Credit card information will be required to place absentee bids.

Iowa Deer Classic Auction

This sale is in cooperation with the following entities

Whitetail Properties - Hunting land in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois

Whitetail Properties Land Auctions - Iowa Farmland Auctions

Behr Auction Company - Serving the Midwest for over 35 years

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Iowa Deer Classic - Greatest Whiteail Show on Earth

Iowa Land Values 2008

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:41:01 -0600

About 1 hour ago the newest Iowa Land Values report was released by Mike Duffy at Iowa State University. This years report has been especially anticipated given the current economic climate in the United States. The following chart sums up the current Iowa land market all in one glance. Western Iowa and west central Iowa came in strong in this years report with the strongest gains in farmland values with Monona County being the strongest at 19.9% increase in value.

A few interesting facts from this years report.

The 2008 state average for all grades of land was estimated to be $4,468 per acre.
The increase in the state value was $560 per acre from 2007.
The percentage increase was 14 percent from 2007.

Analysis by Crop Reporting District.

The highest land values were reported for Northwest Iowa, $5,395 per acre.
The lowest land values were estimated for South Central Iowa, $2,573 per acre.
The greatest percentage increase was in West Central Iowa, 19.6 percent.
The least percentage increase was in South Central Iowa, 10.7 percent.

Analysis by Counties.

The highest value was estimated for Scott county, $6,310 per acre.
The lowest value was in Decatur county, $2,002 per acre.
The greatest dollar increase was $891 in Sioux county.
The greatest percentage increase was 19.9 percent reported in Monona county Iowa.

Analysis by Quality of Land.

Low grade land in the state averaged $2,967 per acre and showed a 11.7 percent increase or $311 per acre.
Medium grade land averaged $4,195 per acre and showed a 14.4 percent increase or $528 per acre.
High grade land averaged $5,381 per acre and showed an increase of 14.8 percent or $695 per acre.

Investor Activity v. Farmers

The majority of farmland sales, 69 percent, were to existing farmers. Investors represented 24 percent of the sales. New farmers represented 3 percent of the sales and other purchasers were 4 percent of sales.
Sales to existing farmers by Crop Reporting Districts ranged from 83 percent in West Central to 55 percent in South Central and Southwest.
Sales to investors were highest in Southwest (38 percent). West Central reported the lowest investor activity (13 percent).

Buying Hunting Land - Iowa or Nebraska?

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:40:13 -0500

I work with folks everyday that are buying hunting land and because I live so close to Iowa and Nebraska border I often hear the question "Should I buy hunting land in Iowa or Nebraska?" Set the property tax question aside where Iowa obviously wins, set the tag question aside where Nebraska obviously wins. If you question about where to buy hunting land revolves around only the quality of the deer, quality of the farms and the areas past production of trophy deer western Iowa wins out every time. Recently I wrote a post comparing western Iowa to western Illinois. Monona and Harrison Counties in Iowa are very similar to Pike and Adams Counties in Illinois. You can read post about the Best Iowa Hunting Land and see how the two places compare.

I've worked hard to let everybody know about western Iowa's Loess Hills and the huge whitetail deer hunting secret we have here in Monona and Harrison Counties. The truth is that its not that hard of a sell, the numbers prove it. Below is a graphic that was sent to me by a friend about the number of Boone and Crockett entries in the area.

This color coded graphic of the counties in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska clearly show the hot spot for trophy whitetail hunting in the entire region. Bordered by the Missouri River valley the Loess Hills in western Iowa are a clear producer of big trophy deer. Its no surprise to me, I live here in the hills and know Monona and Harrison Counties are some of the roughest, most timbered parts of the hills, as well as the least populated. When you factor in the proximity to Omaha Nebraska south of us, and Sioux City Iowa north of us it makes it an extremely attractive area to purchase hunting land. With Interstate 29 running through western Iowa it also becomes the ideal weekend get away spot with easy quick access close enough to both metro areas.

Joel Helmer ranked all the counties in the nation according to B&C eentries. Monona County tied for #4 in the nation for Boone and Crockett entries, tied with Adams County Illinois and only one place behind Pike County Illinois which was #3 in the entire nation. When you look at his work you'll see only two Iowa counties in the top 10 and none of them are southern Iowa counties! Allamakee and Monona Counties are the only two in the top 10. Read Joel's report and see for yourself.

Now look at the numbers at the bottom of the graphic and look at Monona and Harrison Counties numbers compared to all other counties in western Iowa. At 24 entries it has a significant lead over all other counties!

I think one of the most important criteria for choosing a piece of hunting land is the county track record. Stacking the odds in your favor by purchasing hunting land in a county that is already producing is a great first step. Not only does it give you a better chance to harvest exceptional whitetail deer, but an investment in a high opportunity area its certainly going to be more attractive to a buyer when you sell.

Deer Depredation in Iowa

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:55:21 -0500

Deer Hunters Willing to Help <--From the Iowa DNR Website)

Iowa producers with chronic deer depredation issues (deer damaging crops) understand that deer numbers must be managed locally to reduce deer densities to acceptable levels. Producers realize that shooting antlerless deer is needed to reduce deer herd numbers and many producers are able to keep deer numbers on their lands to acceptable levels by hunting antlerless deer themselves.

However, there are producers who must rely on hunters to do the culling of antlerless deer for them, because they are not capable of hunting themselves, or because they need to take more antlerless deer on their farm than they can take for themselves. Producers can allow more access to land for deer hunting but unfortunately, many hunters are unwilling to hunt antlerless deer.

Some producers have asked the DNR assist them in locating hunters interested in harvesting antlerless deer, and have expressed support for a system by which they could contact hunters who are willing to harvest antlerless deer.

If you would like to have your name, address, and phone number supplied to requesting producers, log on to the Iowa DNR's wildlife damage management page at http://www.iowadnr.gov/wildlife/files/damage.html and click on the Landowner/Deer Hunter Registry link at the bottom of the page, then complete the information in the form. The Iowa DNR's depredation biologist will maintain and provide a list of hunters to requesting producers

Locked Bucks September 27 Harrison County

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:59:18 -0500

While showing a hunting land property in Harrison County on September 27 (2008) I came across a set of locked bucks. The two bucks were dead, but had not been dead long. My estimate would be less than 24 hours judging by the condition of the bodies. Both were floating in about 7 feet of water which proved not to be much of a challenge to a determined agent that was going to show the bucks to his clients. I did end up soaked and muddy but it was the right thing to get the animals that would begin to decompose in the water out of the water. I just wish I'd thought to take my cell phone out of my pocket before I let my enthusiasm take over.

With the permission of the landowner I separated the dead bucks to get a look at the size of the deer and to get photos. Its a sad way for a couple of promising 2 1/2 year olds to go, and especially strange they are so aggressive so early in the season. These two were only 3 weeks out of velvet and ended up in the fight of their lives. Most likely when they locked they ended up drowning each other in the pond. It took over 10 minutes to pry the antlers apart. When you look at the photos below I can pinpoint the problem. In the second photo the deer to the right had its right main beam completely around and under the neck of the deer on the left. That was where they were locked and it really took some prying and twisting to get them apart.

Harrison County Iowa #3 Iowa Record Book Buck

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:26:57 -0500

In 2005 Tim Waldron of Honey Creek Iowa had an encounter with a deer that put him at the top of the Iowa Record Bucks. The photos of Tim's buck speak for themselves. This non-typical bow harvest measured 243 4/8ths inches. Tims Buck is the #3 non-typical bow kill in Iowa and #3 overall in the state records. Tim harvested this huge whitetail in Harrison County Iowa just a few miles from my house near Pisgah Iowa.

Southern Iowa and eastern Iowa get much attention as excellent deer hunting counties. I'll share a secret with you that others don't know. Many have said the next world record buck will come from western Iowa's Loess Hills. The Loess Hills in western Iowa are some of the most rugged terrain, large blocks of timber and a near duplicate of Pike and Adams County Illinois. When you compare Harrison and Monona County in Iowa to Pike and Adams County in Illinois you'll find many similarities....... including huge mature whitetail deer. Read my recent post Iowa's Pike County Equivelent - Monona County Iowa to learn more about this comparison.

Harrison and Monona Counties in Iowa have a combined 114 bucks entered in the record book bucks including 51 from Harrison County and 63 from Monona County. Including your buck in the Iowa records is voluntary so it leads me to wonder just how many have never been submitted!

The best deer hunting in Iowa is in western Iowa. For information on Loess Hills Hunting Properties For Sale visit my website.

Photos from Whitetail Adrenaline

QDMA Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:16:21 -0500

QDMA Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Bogart, Georgia- September 20th will mark the 20th Anniversary of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA), a national non-profit wildlife conservation organization headquartered in Bogart, Georgia. The QDMA's mission is to promote sustainable, high-quality, white-tailed deer populations, wildlife habitats, and ethical hunting experiences through education, research, and management partnerships with hunters, landowners, natural resource professionals, and the public.

The QDMA was founded in 1988 by wildlife biologist Joe Hamilton with the intent to promote the Quality Deer Management (QDM) philosophy in a 14-county area in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. From these humble beginnings as the South Carolina Quality Deer Management Association, the QDMA has rapidly grown into the most respected and influential whitetail organization in the nation.

The QDMA currently has 50,000 members in all 50 states, Canada and other foreign countries. QDMA has seen record double digit growth annually over the last 10 years. Within the QDMA's membership ranks are more than 1000 of the nation's leading wildlife biologists, researchers, and managers. These professionals enable the QDMA to remain at the forefront of whitetail research and management and provide this information to its members for improved on-the-ground management.

The QDMA is among the most active educational conservation organizations in the nation, conducting over 200 deer management seminars and workshops annually. The QDMA also is an active financial supporter of deer research and management projects to further our knowledge of North America's most popular big game animal.

Today QDMA's message is conveyed through a multimedia effort that includes Quality Whitetails magazine, Quality Whitetails TV on the Outdoor Channel, publications like the landmark book Quality Food Plots and the QDMA Web site.

The public is invited to a 20th Anniversary Celebration, Saturday September 20, 2008, at 6:00 pm at the National Headquarters in Bogart, Georgia. For more information call (800) 209-3337. Jason Smith Iowa Land for Sale in western Iowa's Loess Hills.

Western Iowa Loess Hills Whitetail Guides

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:27:14 -0500

Looking for an outfitter and guide in western Iowa's Loess Hills? Here is a list of active guides and outfitters serving Monona, Harrison and Woodbuy Counties in Iowa.

Timber Ridge Outfitters
Paul Ranft - Owner/Operator
2325 Lake Street Niles, MI. 49127
Phone: (269) 683-1240 Cell: (269) 930-6301
www.timberridgeoutfitters.com

McCall Hill Country Outfitters
21276 Orange Ave
Castana, IA 51010
BOOKING 712-353-6762
CELL 712-420-1494
www.mccallhillcountryoutfitters.com

Western Iowa Trophy Hunts
18995 Oak Road
PO Box 28
Castana, IA 51010
Office: (712) 353-6354
Tim:(712) 353-6360 (Home)
Mike:(712) 353-6510 (Home)
http://www.westerniowatrophyhunts.com

Iowa Trophy Whitetail Hunts
Judd Cooney Operator
Postal address PO Box 808, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
Telephone 970-264-5612
http://www.juddcooney.com
Whitetail hunts in Harrison and Monona County

Western Iowa Outfitters
70911 Independence Road
Wiota, Iowa 50274
712-254-0747
712-254-1747
www.westerniowaoutfitters.com

Iowa Hunting Adventures
P.O. Box 203
Correctionville, IA 51016
712-372-4774
http://elwood.longlines.com/~rleonard/

Jason Smith Hunting Land in Iowa 712-646-2061 Whitetail Trophy Properties

Iowa's Pike County Equivalent - Monona County Iowa

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:21:42 -0500

There is no doubt that if you are an avid whitetail hunter like myself you have heard of Pike County Illinois. I've been there many times, in fact our main office is located in Pittsfield Illinois right in Pike County. While there for meetings and training we always stay at Hadley Creek Outfitters north camp in southern Adams County Illinois. Pike County and Adams County are two of the most well known whitetail hunting counties in the United States. The terrain there is as flat as can be coming off of the Mississippi River valley and eventually grows into rising timbered ridge lines with long draws mixed with agricultural fields making some great habitat. The rough and rugged terrain of Pike and Adams Counties along with fertile river valley soils makes a great place for bucks to get proper nutrition and provides them with the security needed to grow big. All of these are great things to consider when evaluating a hunting land purchase but maybe you don't know that Pike and Adams have an Iowa equivelent.

Now that I've told you all about Pike and Adams Counties lets take a look at a few statistics. Joel Helmer wrote a Geographical Analysis of Boone and Crockett Whitetail harvests in the United States. Joel used a computer program to enter all of the B&C records to find a visual representation along with some hard facts about where the most trophies are coming from. If you click on the link above you can read his report but I'll quickly summarize what you will find in that report. When the numbers were entered Iowa was #1 in B&C entries of all time but I think the most impressive part of his report was in the break down by counties. There are only two Iowa counties in the top 10 counties across the United States and they were Allamakee County in Northeast Iowa and Monona County in west central Iowa. In fact both Iowa counties in the top 10 of all time were tied for 4th place with Adams County Illinois. Pike County Illinois was #3 on the list of all time B&C entries. Depending on which time period you look at on Helmers report Pike County Illinois and Monona County Iowa are only separated by 1-2 entries for that time period.

In fact Monona County Iowa also has a neighboring county or its equivalent of Adams County which is Harrison County Iowa. Harrison and Monona Counties in Iowa are the equivelent of Pike and Adams in Illinois.

If I was to give you a description of Monona and Harrison in Iowa like I did Pike and Adams in Illinois above I could copy and paste it here but I'll save you the trouble. Instead I'll tell you the differences in the two areas. In Pike County Illinois you will find rock bottom creeks and in Monona County Iowa you will find dirt and sand bottom creeks. In Monona and Harrison Iowa you will find Loess soil towering nearly 300 feet above the face while in Pike and Adams you'll find more limestone bluffs. In Monona and Harrison Counties you'll find a much more rugged terrain that provides an even greater degree of security for whitetail deer. In the western Iowa counties instead of the Mississippi River valley you'll find the Missouri River Valley.

To illustrate the very similar nature of Monona and Harrison to Pike and Adams I've put together a few terrain maps to show you how similar they are.

ILLINOIS

ABOVE is a terrain map from Pike and Adams County Illinois. You can see to the left (west) the flat Mississippi River Valley and then as you move to the east the land abruptly changes to a rough terrain with river valleys and the work of many years of erosion down those valley's creating many fingers that if you looked at an aerial photograph are heavily timbered.

BELOW is the equivalent in Monona and Harrison County Iowa. Again to the left or west you see the flats of the Missouri River Valley and as you make your way east across the graphic you notice they rise into steep ridge tops that have been weathered by erosion over thousands of years creating the same timbered ridges and valley's as you see in Pike and Adams County Illinois. This rough terrain stretches from northern Iowa all the way into Missouri along the western edge of Iowa.

IOWA

West Central Iowa has some of the best whitetail habitat on the face of the earth hands down and its a huge secret that's likely to stay that way for some time. Despite the heavy horned deer here in the Loess Hills it doesn't have the reputation or fanfare other location get. What does that mean to the recreational land buyer? It means there is somewhere else you can buy Pike County quality land with Pike County quality deer at a smaller price tag and certainly less crowded gravel roads. Thats enough to set any whitetail hunters pulse racing right?

Did you notice there was not one southern Iowa county in the top 10 counties of all time? I spend my days stomping around the Loess Hills in Western Iowa hunting and marketing hunting properties in the Loess Hills which gives me the chance to put my feet on literally hundreds of farms and I know the deer that are out here.

In fairness I have to mention other counties in west central Iowa that border Harrison and Monona because as you know county lines were not drawn along the lines of whitetail habitat when they were drawn. On thing you will notice about west central Iowa is that when you draw a line about the hot spot Monona County is the county that holds the larger piece of it. Woodbury, Ida, Crawford and Shelby also produce B&C entries as well, they just hold a smaller piece of the pie when you look at it.

Finally I will leave you with this excerpt from and Iowa Department of Natural Resources brochure called White-tailed Deerthat I was reading the other day. This excerpt will give you an idea of the deer roaming the Loess Hills in Western Iowa. "Fawns weigh from four to seven pounds at birth and will gain 80 to 100 pounds in their first six months of life. Adult males reach an average weight of around 240 to 265 pounds at about four and one- half years of age while adult females average 140 to 160 pounds. The largest deer ever reported in Iowa was a 440-pound buck taken in Monona County during the 1962-hunting season."

Jason Smith, Land Specialist

712-646-2061

Whitetail Trophy Properties

Heartland QDMA - Western Iowa Eastern Nebraska Banquet Photos

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:48:17 -0500

On September 13th the QDMA Heartland Branch that serves western Iowa and eastern Nebraska held its first annual REACH banquet and boy did we have fun doing it. Thanks to the generosity of many sponsors and donors we were able to raise money to further our mission and implement some of the programs we originally intended to. I wanted to share a few photos from the event so here you go.

There were lots of exhibitos including my own Whitetail Properties with Iowa hunting land listings and free information. The Nebraska Big Buck Classic, Cabelas, Bass Pro, Atkinson Expeditions, Barry and Gene Wensel, Rocky Oak Hunting and Fishing, Pennington Seed, Premier Archery, Full Draw Archery, my friendly competitors at Premium Properties and Big Tex Trailers. Jolie Edwards (our co-president) and her band put on a great concert during the banquet.

Nebraksa Big Buck Classic! Coming to Omaha next April. Visit their website for more information.

Planting Tight Areas Where Access is an Issue

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:28:44 -0500

Everybody has them, those tight places that are hard to get to, or places you will never get a tractor into. Last February I met Dewey and the guys at Little Sioux Prairie Company at the Iowa Deer Classic. In fact my booth was right next to theirs so I had a pretty good chance to chat with them about their product.

The guys at Little Sioux Prairie Company have come up with a great compact tillage planter drill all in one. This machine solves multiple problems at one time and has the settings and ability to plant everything from fluffy seeds to tiny seeds and best of all they have a model you can pull it behind your 4 wheeler. The planter has its own 12V power source with a 3 foot planting width that leaves no row patterns.

If you have pulled equipment with a 4 wheeler up or down hills you'll know why this is important, the planter has a low center of gravity so its not going to roll over on its side every time you hit an incline or decline. This planter/drill will allow you to plant road ditches, CRP, foot plots or restore native grasses. For those that own hunting land in the Loess Hills will find this machine extremely helpful.

If you are in the market for an exceptional machine that's going to put your food plot planting troubles to rest check out the Dew Drop Drill on the Little Sioux website.

Loss of Upland Habitat Hurts Iowa's Pheasants

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:05:25 -0500

A multitude of factors have caused the number of pheasants in Iowa to decline this year continuing a long trend in Iowa pheasant populations. Still in the top states in the nation we've always been proud of our great pheasant population but its been better. The loss of CRP ground that is being broken back open for farming and a rotten winter 2007-2008 are especially to blame this year. One area in Iowa experienced an increase in the number of birds counted this year and that is northwest Iowa where they did not experience the same winter conditions the rest of Iowa did last winter.

Each year the Iowa DNR publishes a report that every pheasant hunter should read. My good friend and fellow auctioneer Cory Behr in North Central Iowa is a wildlife biologist and dedicated Pheasants Forever member. Cory forwarded me a copy of the 2008 Iowa August Roadside Survey. This report has literally everything you needed to know about pheasant populations in Iowa and should be an alarm to anybody that reads it. The loss of CRP ground is a key element in the decline and something I'm sure we all hate to see. Certainly it would be hard to blame producers that are enjoying great commodity prices right now because many of them have worked hard to own their farms in Iowa and worked through tough times to get where they are today.

Still, there are things we can do to slow the decline and they including leaving more habitat in other places. One of Iowa's largest pieces of habitat is road ditches. They take up 1% of the land mass in Iowa and I often see people mowing or burning them when it is not necessary, or at the most detrimental of times. If you plan to burn grasses do it outside of nesting season and don't burn in the fall as the ground will sit bare during the winter providing no value to wildlife at all.

On your farm or property is it necessary to mow everything that you do or are you just mowing it because you already have? Could you let an acre or two go back? Even a half an acre is an addition. If you are not familiar with native grasses you just might find it enjoyable to learn about them and plant your own native grass patch. You'll find by mixing grasses and forbes you can add beautiful color to your farm or acreage and get so much enjoyment out of it. I've always found native grasses to be fascinating. There is so much to learn from them and at the same time you are providing a great piece of habitat for birds, mice, rabbits and more. It will give you enjoyment year after year so give it a try. Even if its just a small strip along the lane, or part of the back yard it really will do good.

An excellent resource that we have in each county is your local county conservation board. Each county has one and you can always contact them for advice on projects in your area. Each county has their own biologists and naturalist that will give you information on plants and grasses specific to your area. You can find contact infrormation for each board at the Iowa Association of County Conservation Board website.

Nebraska Big Buck Classic Mark Your Calendar

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:43:50 -0500

IT'S FINALLY HERE, NEBRASKA'S FIRST STATEWIDE BIG BUCK CONTEST AND OUTDOOR SHOW!!! April 17. 18, 19 2009 at the Qwest Center in Omaha Nebraska.

J&J Hunting Productions is going to do what nobody else has, bring a statewide big buck contest and outdoor show to Nebraska. Our good neighbors to the west in Nebraska are very deserving of a great show like this and certainly a great opportunities for whitetail fanatics from western Iowa like myself to get to attend another show.

Here in Iowa we have the Iowa Deer Classic each March and while its billed as "the Greatest Whitetail Show on Earth" I'm confident that the Nebraska show will be just as good and an excellent opportunity to showcase the whitetail opportunities in Nebraska. Each year Nebraska produces tremendous trophy whitetail without the fanfare other Midwestern states get.

In talking with Jason and John Schendt of J&J Hunting Productions I know their lineup sounds great. When you come out of the gate with Lee and Tiffany your first year you know its going to be a good show.

I'll continue to update my blog with more information as it becomes available so keep your eyes open as hunting season heats up and bring your Nebraska trophy to the show in April for all to see. Here are there rules to keep in mind as you hit the woods this fall for the Big Buck Contest.

Contest open to hunters who legally harvested a whitetail or mule deer buck in Nebraska

Entries will be accepted starting 4:00 pm on Friday and close at 11:00 am on Sunday.

Antlers do not need to be mounted. Unmounted antlers must have a solid skull plate.

If your deer has been previously scored, you must bring a copy of the official score sheet.

Buck must have been harvested in the previous hunting season to enter the Firearm, Archery, Muzzleloader, or Youth categories. This year will include deer shot in 2008.

Bucks harvested prior to the 2008 hunting seasons must be entered into the People's Choice or Monster Bucks of the Past category.

To compete in the Youth Firearm or Youth Archery category, hunter must have been under 18 years of age at time of harvest. Proof of birth date may be required.

No previous Nebraska Big Buck Classic winners (does not include Honorable Mentions) are eligible for an award with the same trophy deer.

If you can't get the big boy on the ground this you you'll be glad to know that if you can find his sheds you'll still be in the running at the shed antler contest.

Must purchase general admission ticket before you enter the contest
All contest entries must be registered by noon on Sunday.
Shed antlers involved in the contest are not required to remain at the show, however those sheds that remain on display at the booth thru noon on Sunday will be included in a special drawing and eligible for awards.
Special drawing and awards will be held at 2:00 on Sunday of show.
All entries must pay a registration fee of $8.00 for singles and $15.00 for matched sets. This fee will cover contest entry and also inclusion into the 5th edition of the Official Record Book of North American Big Game Shed Antlers.

Nobody gets left out at the Nebraska Big Buck Classic. If you can't get him on the ground and can't find his sheds you still have a shot in the trail camera pics contest at the show.

The contest is open to everyone. You must first purchase a show general admission ticket before you can enter the photo contest.

There are 8 categories in the photo contest:
1) Whitetail/ Mule Deer - bucks
2) Whitetail/ Mule Deer - groups
3) Whitetail/ Mule Deer - other
4) Predators (four-footed & flying)
5) Big Game other than deer
6) Wild turkey -- gobbler(s)
7) Wild turkey -- groups
8) Weird and unusual stuff / Miscellaneous

Entry fee is $5 for up to three photos, and $5 for every additional group of one to three photos. Bring your entries to the Trail Cam contest booth ; no mail-in entries are accepted.
Entry deadline is 11 a.m. Sunday.
Black-and-white or color prints only.
Photos may be mounted, but cannot include glass and cannot be framed.
Image size can be anywhere from 5x7 minimum to 11x14 maximum.
Your name, address and telephone number, including area code, and choice of contest category, must be on the back of each entry. Judging will be at noon Sunday. There may be up to three awards per category

For more information, sponsorship and advertising opportunities or to become and exhibitor visit their website at www.NebraskaBigBuckClassic.com or use the information below.

J & J Hunting Productions
P.O. Box 460972
Papillion NE 68046

John Schendt
402-657-2545
jschendt1@cox.net

Jason Schendt
402-707-4885
jschendt@cox.net

Demystifying the Reverse Exchange

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:58:36 -0500

Via Ken Tharp - Section 1031 Exchanges, Iowa/U.S.:

Reverse exchanges are gaining in popularity, but they are often misunderstood and they can be confusing. Let's investigate the basics of this exchange structure.

Sometimes a situation arises in which an investor or property owner wants to purchase a property but wishes to sell a property that he or she already owns to provide the funds needed to purchase the new property. If the old property sells prior to closing on the new property, the investor can employ a standard Section 1031 exchange to defer capital gain taxes on the sale. But what if the investor needs to close on the new property before the old one can close, or perhaps before it is even on the market? In those situations, a reverse exchange can provide the investor the alternative he or she needs to still take advantage of the tax deferral on the sale of the old property.

How does it work? Let's boil it down to the essentials. In a standard exchange, there are four parties involved:

The exchanger (you)

The intermediary (us)

The buyer of the relinquished (old) property

The seller of the replacement (new) property.

A reverse exchange adds a fifth party - a single-purpose entity that is typically formed by the intermediary to hold title to the replacement property. This title-holding entity is known in exchange parlance as an Exchange Accommodation Titleholder, or EAT. Its sole purpose is to hold title to the new property, giving the exchanger time to sell the relinquished property.

As we go through the steps of a reverse exchange, you will see that the term itself is a bit of a misnomer. Nothing is actually done in reverse order. The establishing of the EAT to hold the new property merely postpones a standard exchange until the old property sells.

Once the EAT takes title to the new property, the investor has 180 days to sell and close the old property. When that happens, the intermediary can proceed with a standard exchange that transfer title from the EAT to the exchanger. The risk to the exchanger is that the old property does not sell within the 180 days. If that happens, the exchanger essentially has two choices - either take title to the new property and treat the old property however he wishes (that is, either continue to attempt to sell it outside of an exchange structure or simply continue ownership) or move forward with the reverse exchange outside of the 180-day safe harbor established by the IRS. The former could require some financial gymnastics, while the latter establishes a new set of risks, most of which are substantial. Bottom line, price your old property so that it will sell within the 180 day period so that you never have to make the choice between two poor alternatives.

It might have occurred to you by now that, with the money to purchase the new property wrapped up in the old property, the EAT must be a really great guy to buy the new property for you and hold it until you can sell the old one. While it may be true that the EAT is a really great guy, he will not use his own money to purchase the new property for you. The funds to purchase the new property must be provided by the exchanger. There are essentially two means by which the exchanger can provide those funds: 1) he can provide cash from his back pocket or a handy bank account, or 2) he can work with his bank and the EAT to structure a loan for the new property. The EAT will not want to assume any liability for the loan on the new property, so the bank will generally need additional collateral. While it can be cumbersome to structure such a loan, it can usually be accomplished and the exchange can proceed.

There are two other important documents that are typically part of a reverse exchange. Usually the exchanger and the EAT execute a note that shows the funds that were provided by the exchanger and essentially loaned to the EAT to purchase the property. This assures the exchanger that the EAT will pay back those funds when the closing occurs and can be secured by the new property. The note generally does not carry any interest and is for the same amount as the purchase price of the new property. The second document is a net lease between the EAT and the exchanger. The net lease makes the exchanger responsible for payment of all expenses of the new property, just the same as if he or she owned it. The lease payments, if any, can be equal to any payments that are due to the bank involved. The lease is designed to be strictly a pass-through, allowing the EAT to cover any expenses that the exchanger cannot pay directly, and allowing the exchanger to operate the property as if he or she owned it.

Now let's address the question of WHY. Why would anyone go through all of this? There are many situations that might warrant consideration of a reverse exchange. For instance, we have structured reverse exchanges for land owners who purchased property at an auction and needed to close within a short time frame. In another case, an investor came across a deal that he did not want to miss, but the seller was not willing to wait for the investor's old property to sell. In yet another situation, the sale of the investor's old property fell apart at the last minute and he stood to lose the new property if he did not close on it. One last scenario involves peace of mind - investors sometimes take their time finding just the right deal. When that deal is found, they ask us to structure a reverse exchange and they might put several properties on the market for sale, any one of which could function as their relinquished property should it sell. For some folks, it's actually an easier way to execute an exchange than the typical forward exchange because it avoids having to deal with identifying potential replacement properties within the 45-day window that Section 1031 allows.

There are other ways to structure a reverse exchange. This article is not intended to be comprehensive, but to provide a simplified overview for a basic understanding of the reverse exchange process. Reverse exchanges are most expensive for the investor than a standard exchange, primarily due to the additional expense that the intermediary must incur to establish the single-purpose entity, the tax-reporting requirements for that entity, and so forth. Reverse exchange fees can be several times that of fees for a standard exchange.

To conclude, reverse exchanges are an exchange structure that is increasingly popular. In the right situations, reverse exchanges can be extremely advantageous. Should you have any questions about reverse exchanges, please feel free to contact us.

Ken Tharp

Providing Qualified Intermediary services for Section 1031 tax deferred exchanges all over the United States. Headquartered in Iowa, our services are available in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and all other states.

INTEGRITY. PRECISION. SECURITY.

Copyright © 2008 By Ken Tharp, All Rights Reserved. * Demystifying the Reverse Exchange *

The Farm Bill Does Not Alter the Definition of “Like-Kind” in Regards to Section 1031 Exchanges

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:51:05 -0500

Via Ken Tharp - Section 1031 Exchanges, Iowa/U.S.:

In order to clarify things in the mind of anyone who is uncertain about it, the farm bill that was passed by Congress does not include the language about like-kind status that those of us in the exchange industry were concerned about. The Senate version of the bill sought to redefine the term “like-kind” as it applies to agricultural ground. The crux of the change was to make land that generated any sort of subsidy from the government for its owner non-like-kind to any other real estate investment. The central objection to that provision, in my opinion, is that the government essentially imposed the subsidies on farmers over the years and it is not equitable to now make it so those same farmers could not exchange out of their long-term investments into something more manageable in their later years.

While this is good news indeed, investors and real property owners all across the country should remain vigilant with regard to potential changes in Section 1031. The mere idea that Congress took a shot at changing like-kind status as a means to raise additional funding for their other activities is cause for concern. Considering the possibility of chipping away at the provisions of Section 1031 is frightening.

Ken Tharp

Providing Qualified Intermediary services for Section 1031 tax deferred exchanges all over the United States. Headquartered in Iowa, our services are available in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and all other states.

INTEGRITY. PRECISION. SECURITY.

Copyright © 2008 By Ken Tharp, All Rights Reserved. * The Farm Bill Does Not Alter the Definition of “Like-Kind” in Regards to Section 1031 Exchanges *

What about Refinancing Before or After an Exchange?

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:49:30 -0500

Via Ken Tharp - Section 1031 Exchanges, Iowa/U.S.:

The primary objective of most Section 1031 exchanges is to move an investment from one property to another without incurring a tax liability. In other words, take your money out of this property and put it into that property and pay no capital gain tax. By following the rules and regulations of Section 1031 properly, an investor can accomplish that without having a capital gain tax bill.

Occasionally someone we work with will ask a question similar to this: “How about if I refinance my property and pull cash out, then do an exchange into another property? Borrowed cash is tax-free, right?” The answer is yes, most of the time. However, if an investor refinances close to the date of a sale and then proceeds into an exchange, the IRS would likely consider the refinance proceeds as cash taken out of the exchange (therefore being taxable) unless there was some fairly clear-cut business reason for the refinance outside of simply wanting tax-free cash.

The same goes for a refinance shortly after the purchase of the replacement property. Absent a definable purpose for the refinance, the IRS would quite possibly consider the refinance proceeds as boot, and again, expect taxes to be paid on that cash.

The essence of the matter is that the property owner should be able to substantiate an economic or business purpose for the refinance separate from merely getting around Section 1031 rules to pull out cash. The more time between the refinance and the sale (in the case of a relinquished property) or the purchase and a refinance (in the case of a replacement property), the better.

As always, it is critical to discuss matters such as this with one’s tax advisor for specific advice for your circumstances and plans. Please feel free to ask us any questions on this topic as well as any other exchange-related topics.

Ken Tharp

Providing Qualified Intermediary services for Section 1031 tax deferred exchanges all over the United States. Headquartered in Iowa, our services are available in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and all other states.

INTEGRITY. PRECISION. SECURITY.

Copyright © 2008 By Ken Tharp, All Rights Reserved. * What about Refinancing Before or After an Exchange? *

Financing For Your Hunting Property Peoples Bank and Trust

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 22:10:43 -0500

At Whitetail Trophy Properties we work to make your purchase of hunting land in Iowa a breeze. Most first time land buyers or dreamers always believe that you must be wealthy to purchase land because they overlook the fact that most land generates some type of income, and in some cases substantial income. You've heard Dan Perez say it at the end of Whitetail Properties TV "When you consider land appreciation, the tax advantages and income potential land could be the best investment a hunter can make."

We, at Whitetail Trophy Properties, have utilized many banks and financing sources over the years. Of all the transactions that we have been involved with, one Bank stands out above the others. That Bank is Peoples Bank and Trust. Peoples Bank and Trust understands farm and recreational property lending and their terms and conditions have consistently been fair and competitive with others. Whether you are looking to finance a few acres or a few thousand acres, Peoples Bank and Trust is there to assist you and provide a one source lending relationship. Give them a call or click on the convenient link to receive a no-obligation pre-qualification. This pre-qualification will guide you in determining the loan amount and farm size that best fits your'e budget. Feel free to call or e-mail them as well.

Whitetail Properties goes a step farther than just showing you land, we teach you how to acquire land and help you find ways to acquire land with a financial solution that fits you. For information on finding financing for your Iowa hunting land purchase visit our financing hunting land page. Here you'll find a pre-approval form, video on financing and joining an LLC to leverage the power of a group to purchase large tracts of land. Whitetail Properties works with Peoples Bank and Trust and they "get" farm lending.

QDMA Branch Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:34:33 -0500

Learn to manage your hunting property! Its been a long time in the making but its time for the first banquet of The Heartland Chapter of Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) and we are recruiting membership for the group. If you are a deer hunter, land owner, land manager, or in any position where you have to or want to learn to manage deer populations please give me a call for more information on the branch.

The first annual banquet will be held on September 13, 2008 at the Embassy Suites in LaVista Nebraska. The newly formed chapter represents western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. This branch was started earlier this year and is centrally located in the region at Omaha Ne. The branch strongly believes in education and conservation and will participate in the QDMA's educational REACH program, food pantry feed the hungry programs in Iowa and Nebraska, disabled veteran hunts and youth hunting programs.

The banquet will help raise money for the group and attract membership from western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. The day promises to be an educational, fun and exciting day for all deer hunters, deer managers, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts. Starting at 9am a 3-D Archery shoot will be held in the Cabelas parking lot with the banquet to follow at 3:30pm. You can attend one or both. The Banquet will include a meal, speakers, raffles, live auction, silent auctions and live music by Nashville Recording Artist Jolie Edwards. There are some incredible prizes in store and exceptionally high quality items on the auctions. Some of the prizes and auction item include guns, bows, guided hunts, prints and much more. Additional information can be found on the branch website www.HeartlandQDMA.com or the national site at www.qdma.com

The QDMA promotes:

Safe and ethical hunting.
Adherence to wildlife and trespass laws.
Adequate harvests of adult does.
Restraint in harvesting young bucks.
Hunter involvement in education and management.
Cooperation with wildlife biologists and enforcement officers.
Education of hunters and non-hunters toward a better understanding of wildlife management.
Stewardship and appreciation of all wildlife.

The HEARTLAND BRANCH is dedicated to promoting and representing the national organization of QDMA. The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring a high-quality and sustainable future for white-tailed deer and white-tailed deer hunting. Founded in 1988, the QDMA currently has more than 50,000 members in all 50 states and several foreign countries including over 800 deer management professionals - more than any other white-tailed deer organization. The QDMA has developed numerous partnerships with state wildlife agencies, timber companies, hunting groups, and product manufacturers. These partnerships have increased both the awareness of the QDMA and participation in the Association's management philosophy, Quality Deer Management (QDM). Without question, the QDMA is rapidly becoming the most respected and influential white-tailed deer organization in the United States.

Quality Deer Management is a management philosophy/practice that unites landowners, hunters, and managers in a common goal of producing biologically and socially balanced deer herds within existing environmental, social, and legal constraints. This approach typically involves the protection of young
bucks (yearlings and some 2.5 year-olds) combined with an adequate harvest of female deer to maintain a healthy population in balance with existing habitat conditions and landowner desires. This level of deer management involves the production of quality deer (bucks, does, and fawns), quality habitat, quality hunting experiences, and, most importantly, quality hunters.

A successful QDM program requires an increased knowledge of deer biology and active participation in management. This level of involvement extends the role of the hunter from mere consumer to
manager. The progression from education to understanding, and finally, to respect; bestows an ethical obligation upon the hunter to practice sound deer management. Consequently, to an increasing
number of landowners and hunters, QDM is a desirable alternative to traditional management, which allows the harvest of any legal buck and few, if any, does.

The Heartland Chapter is currently recruiting membership from western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. If you are interested in deer management and would like to become a member please attend the banquet on September 13. Everyone purchasing a ticket to the banquet will receive a 1 year membership to QDMA along with the ticket. Companies wishing to promote their products and services should contact the Heartland Branch Directors about sponsorship or donating products to the auction.

Iowa Deer Study Commission

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:37:57 -0500

Deer populations have been a hot topic in the past 10 years here in Iowa. Whitetailed deer were at one time nearly decimated in Iowa. In 1936 the deer population was estimated to be between 500 and 700 animals in the entire state. In fact, the first modern hunting season for whitetail deer was not held until 1953 when the deer population was only 10,000 statewide.

Today Iowa is well known amonst sportsmen and women as the premier state for the trophy whitetail hunting. Today's estimated deer population runs between 200,000 and 300,000 statewide with less than half the population being harvested each year. With the number of hunters declining and despite the best efforts of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources the number of deer has climbed to an all time high. This becomes a concern for many reasons but some of the primary causes for concern are crop damage and automobile accidents with the animals.

Iowa's number one tool for controlling the deer population is obviously deer hunters and each year the state's population is analyzed and a number of harvest tags is derived from the deer census. Each year the state issues a certain number of doe tags for each county. Once that number of tags has been purchased for that county no additional tags are sold. Iowa also allows 6000 non-resident deer hunting tags to be sold by lottery each year. Many more people than the 6000 apply but not all are successful in being drawn for a tag. In fact the 2008 drawing had over 11,000 applications.

In Iowa you will hear many people say we have to many deer. Does this mean we have to many deer? Nobody knows yet but with so much at stake that the Iowa state legislature has passed a law this year forming the Iowa Deer Study Advisory Committee. This committee will be formed by each of the following organizations nominating one person to the committee.

Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
Iowa Farmers Union
Iowa Conservation Alliance
Iowa Bow Hunters Association
Whitetails Unlimited
Iowa Hospitality Association
Iowa Restaurant Association
Iowa Meat Processors Association
Iowa League of Cities
The Department of Transportation
Iowa Woodland Owners Association
Iowa Insurance Institute
Iowa Realtors Association
Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club
Iowa Environmental Council
Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association
Director of the Iowa DNR (Chairperson of the committee)
Secretary of Agriculture
Director of Economic Development
2 members of the Iowa Senate
2 members of the Iowa House

This committee is tasked with the following responsibilities.

Review, analyze and make recommendations on issues relating to the state's deer population including but not limited to

The current status of Iowa's deer population, harvest and population management programs
The economic impact and value of Iowa's deer population
The cost of damage to crops caused by deer
The number and cost of motor vehicle accidents caused by deer
A review of the deer management challenges and programs of other Midwestern states
An assessment of public opinion concerning the number of deer, and the impact and value of Iowa's deer population

When the Iowa Deer Study Advisory Committee has been formed, completed its research and drafted a report it will then return that information back to the Governor and Legislature with recommendations on Iowa's deer population. This will all happen very quickly as the final report is due back to the legislature in January 2009. While it does not seem reasonable to me that solid recommendations can be formulated in that short of a time frame the final paragraph of the bill reads like this

"The advisory committee shall complete its deliberations in December 2008 and submit a final report to the governor and the general assembly summarizing the committee's activities, analyzing the issues studied, and including any other information or recommendations that the committee deems relevant and necessary by January 10, 2009."

That last paragraph states "and including any other information or recommendations that the committee deems relevant and necessary" which leaves open the ability to make nearly any recommendation to the legislature.

I've spend alot of time discussing this issue with my good friend and Wildlife Biologist Cory Behr and formulating my own thoughts about all of these issues. I live and work in the deer hunting world on a daily basis and I'm well aware of the strong opinions on each side of the issue. Since the majority issue I deal with is resident v. non resident hunting I'm going to focus on that.

Non-residents of Iowa want to come hunt deer in Iowa, and Iowa's resident hunters want to protect the valuable resource for fear of loosing it. Really what I just said was, they don't want them to have the ability to hunt here. Both factions have fought back and forth over the years and Governor Chet Culver has been the first Governor to take the issue seriously and make everyone sit down at a table, gather facts, and consider the facts about Iowa's deer population. Its sad that this group will be given only a few months to make some very lasting recommendations. This study committee has the potential to completely change the face of Iowa's deer hunting forever. When things have changed there is nearly no chance of of changing them back so I hope their deliberation is careful and considerate of all those involved.

I've been asked many times where I stand and where I come down on the issue. I sell Iowa hunting land for a living so most assume I'm in favor of allowing more out of state hunters to come to Iowa and hunt, after all they will want to buy the product I have to offer. My answer remains the same, I want to see the facts and the final report of the committee before I know where my opinion will land. At this point I don't have enough information to have a thoughtful opinion on the matter, and for that fact I don't think anybody has enough information or the State of Iowa would not have had to form this committee in the first place.

I do welcome the ability to finally have a civilized discussion on the matter and a group that will gather, research and analyze the facts needed to make any recommendations of lasting changes that will be made. In the end I want the decision to be good for Iowa and our sporting traditions here. Iowa is a big name in the deer hunting world and I'm proud of the resources we have here. I'd rather never sell another farm in my life than jeopardize our natural resources, but if its determined that allowing additional non-resident hunting is good for Iowa's natural resources I'll be right there to open the doors for our good neighbors from the other states.

Even though I've concentrated much on the resident v. non-resident hunting issue in this post it should be noted that is only a small part of the issue or potential recommendations that could be made from this committee. Other recommendations I see or have discussed with others I will summarize below potential changes that could be made in control of Iowa's deer.

Making Iowa an "Earn a Buck tag" state where resident hunters are first required to harvest a doe before being allowed to hunt for bucks.
Increasing the area rifles are an allowable weapon
Allowing non-resident landowners tag rights equal to a residents rights. This would allow those that are not residents, but own land in Iowa the ability to get tags each year rather than to participate in the lottery.
Allowing landowners to sell their landowner tags to non-resident hunters like other states do
Extending seasons, opening seasons earlier
Creating private landowner - hunter cooperation programs

Finally, I want to bring some perspective to Iowa's deer numbers. Iowa is 56,272 square miles which translates into a total land mass of 36,014,080 acres in the entire state. An acre is almost exactly the size of a football field. With the estimated population numbers from above of between 200,000 and 300,000 deer in the state, figuring right in the middle at 250,000 deer that means we have 144 acres for every deer. That means there are are 4.4 deer per square mile which is a square with each side equalling one mile.

If you have information you feel would be helpful to the study group I'd suggest you contact any of the groups listed above to speak with them or their nomination to the committee. This has the ability to be a period of drastic change for the Iowa deer hunter and I'd suggest if you have something to say do it now!

Cost Share Money Available for Improving Wildlife Habitat

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:09:08 -0500

Cost Share Money Available for Improving Wildlife Habitat
June 24, 2008

DES MOINES - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) helps landowners enhance, protect, and develop wildlife habitat on their property and has been allocated a large amount of funds to spend in Iowa.

"WHIP is a great program to help landowners improve habitat on their properties," said Matt Dollison, private lands wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "It provides about 60 percent cost share for approved practices. Landowners can actually get paid to improve the habitat themselves or can hire a contractor to do the work."

This is a federal program that specializes in creating habitat on land without any cropping history. Eligible WHIP practices include brush management, native grass seeding, edge feathering, forest stand improvement, tree and shrub establishment, prescribed burning, and much more.

Applying for WHIP is easy, he said. First, work with your local wildlife specialist to plan the habitat practices that are right for you and the wildlife you wish to attract, Dollison said. Next fill out an application. The specialist will make sure the application is ranked and will contact you if the application is funded.

"We have a limited amount of time to allocate money to projects. This means the sooner you apply, the better chance you have that your application will be funded so don't delay," said Dollison.

Contact an Iowa Department of Natural Resources biologist to find out about WHIP or other wildlife habitat programs by calling 515-281-5918, or by stopping in at your county's USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Office and ask about the program.

Building Natural Blinds for Deer and Turkey Hunting

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:34:25 -0500

Building Deer and Turkey Hunting Blinds

One of my favorite ways to hunt during the whitetail muzzleloader season here in Iowa is from a natural blind that I've set up during the spring and summer months. Hunting from a natural blind gives you a little better sense of nature and to me allows a better view. Maybe it doesn't keep the snow and rain off of you like a Double Bull does so the trade off in view is there.

When building a blind we always use dead fallen timbers and sticks that are already worn and weathered but we don't stop at just timber. We always throw in anything laying around that may help stabilize the structure including old rolls of wire, sisal rope, old farm metal and dirt. Whatever we can find to stack up and build walls will work for us.

As you near the top of your blind you'll want to make sure you have a shooting window you can shoot out of without standing up and revealing yourself. I always use sisal rope to tie timbers together and ensure my window stays in place. Continue to build above your shooting window to a height that will be above your head while seated. Your shooting window will double as a viewing window to spot game while hunting. Test it to make sure it fits you well. If you plan to use binoculars make sure you can easily stay seated or kneeling while using your binoculars to view your surroundings.

We always start at a standing tree and build our blind at the base of the standing tree. Doing this gives you some cover overhead and the tree makes a nice backrest to lean against when sitting for long periods. If a tree is not available you can always place one of those comfortable nylon lawn chairs inside for a backrest.

Since sent will be more of an issue when you are on the ground we try to build our blinds close to cedar trees that we can cut when we hunt and place them in the blind. They provide additional cover from movement as well as a natural cover scent. Freshly cut cedar has a strong aroma and when mixed with great scent control on your part you can be every bit as effective from the ground. One of my favorite cover scents is fresh dirt and by hunting in a blind you always have access to the dirt. While hunting in the blind I will scoop dirt from the ground and scoop handfuls of it around the logs to release its fresh earthy scent. I also keep a mesh bag with me that I will scoop decomposing leaves and material from the forest floor, place it in the bag and then hang it in the blind with me. This decomposing material always gives off a very natural odor that game is used to smelling.

Placement of your blind will have to be close to game activity. While blinds are better suited for gun hunting you can also bow hunt from them and many have successfully hunted from them. Place your blind in close proximity to a food plot, entrance or exit to pinch points, funnels or bottlenecks. Consider prevailing winds in the area and try to set your blind up so that the sun will not be in your eyes. Remember, this is not a portable blind and you can't move it quickly, if at all.

Where we hunt on our farm in the Loess Hills of Western Iowa we prefer blinds in higher areas where thermals are more likely to work in your favor. Building them in low cool spots is possible but you are at a disadvantage. We always try to be south and east of game activity when possible to avoid northerly and westerly winds giving us away. Each place will be different, and even in the Loess Hills we often deal with swirling winds that enter a hollow and swirl when they hit the hill faces.

I'll leave you with a few photos of one of our blinds that Nicole and I put together. Managing your own farm for whitetails and hunting experiences is easier than you think. Acquiring your own affordable hunting property in Iowa and managing it yourself can provide many great rewards.

This is what we call our upper blind that sits on an open 10 acre piece in the upper timber. The blind easily fits two people and has a large elm log inside that was sawn in half the long way to make a nice bench to sit on. As you can see from this photo at 15 yards from the blind Nicole is seated and below the top of the blind.

Here Nicole continues to stack old logs and sticks on the blind after having given it a try once she knows where it needs more cover.

Viewing inside the blind before before the seat was placed, look cozy enough to sit for a few hours in the winter?

The Loess Hills State Forest in Western Iowa Public Hunting

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:16:14 -0500

The Loess Hills State Forestis located in Western Iowa with the majority of it sitting in Harrison and Monona Counties, and a small portion in Pottawattamie County. The State of Iowa began acquiring land for the Loess Hills State Forest in the 1990's and today it has grown to over 11,600 acres, with another 8000 acres of acquisition planned in coming years.

The majority of the forest is located on the western edge of the Loess Hills which are more rugged with radical elevation changes. The reason for this is because when the loess was initially lifted from the Missouri River Valley and transported east by prevailing winds the largest particles of Loess were deposited on the western edge of the hills. At one time there was only a solid mass of loess, but over the years rains have eroded the hills to their beautiful contours today, creating the peaks and valleys you see. You'll notice if you study the hills closely using aerial photography that water flowing through the Loess has cut river valleys westward toward the Missouri River Valley.

The forest itself is somewhat unnatural, and if you were to look at aerial photos from the 1930's only small spots of timber existed back then. Today 80 years later much of the hills are covered in hardwood forests. This is due to the fact that as humans settled in the hills and implemented farming in the areas they also controlled the fires that onces inhibited the growth of trees in the hills. When trees were allowed to grow you see the result of that today in beautiful, wildlife filled forests of western Iowa.

The Loess Hills State Forest consists of 4 different units including

Little Sioux Unit -At last count the Little Sioux Unit which lies directly east of Little Sioux Iowa and west of Pisgah consisted of over 4000 acres. The Little Sioux Unit offers great hiking opportunities and in the Northwest corner of this unit you will find Murray Hill, well known for its hike to the top and view of the Missouri River Valley. Its hard to find a better view of the valley than from this location where you can see many miles over into Nebraska. The Little Sioux Unit has some exceptional deer hunting and ranks second in popularity for deer hunting, second to the Preparation Canyon Unit. Hunting this unit is fairly easy with several access roads into it including Fulton Avenue, 138th and 143rd Streets. While deer hunting off of Fulton is popular, it can be difficult during wet times as this road is a dirt road and inaccessible while wet. In fact, if it begins raining while you are hunting, you may be walking out as the road can quickly become impassable.

Pisgah Unit -The Pisgah Unit is located east of Pisgah, as well as Northeast and Southeast of Pisgah. A large continious tract of timber Southeast of Pisgah remains one of the largest continuous pieces. Access to this tract of timber can be difficult during wet times as the road on the east side, Kelsey Avenue is a dirt road, mud when its wet. The Pisgah Unit is closing in on 3500 acres with additional land acquisitions planned for this unit. The Pisgah Unit is a popular deer hunting location for bow hunters. This unit is located farther east of the western edge of the hills and the elevation changes are not as extreme as some of the western faces are.

Mondamin Unit -The Mondamin Unit of the forest is over 1000 acres of mostly timber and croplands. This unit lies Northeast of Mondamin between Hillside Avenue and Loess Hills Trail and is somewhat triangle shaped with no roads running through it. Access from the west side is easy with several parking lots, however access from Hillside Avenue is only possible from one parking lot on the Northeast corner of the park. To access other locations from the east you must have permission from private landowners which has been difficult to get. The Mondamin Unit is better known for its excellent turkey hunting, while deer hunting the unit is somewhat difficult due to the long walking distances and access issues on the east side of the unit. The farm we live on borders the Mondamin Unit on Hillside Avenue.

Preparation Canyon Unit-Southwest of Moorhead Iowa in Monona County is the Preparation Canyon Unit and the Preparation Canyon State Park. Often referred to in the area as Prep Canyon for short this unit consists of nearly 5000 acres of Loess Hills forest and grasslands and is one of the most scenic and virgin parts of the state forest. The Prep Canyon State Park is a separate 340 acre park that offers hiking, overlooks, primitive camping and picnic areas. The park has been developed for recreation and viewing of other parts of the forest. West of the entrance of Prep Canyon State Park is a very nice overlook called Mann Hollow which offers a nice place to sit and gaze out at all of the wonder of the hills. From this location you can also see the Missouri River Valley. The Preparation Canyon unit is well know for deer hunting and can become a bit crowded during the rut. If you are looking for a place to hunt the rut far away from others this may not be the best choice as you'll find you'll have plenty of company and competition for better locations. Often you'll also find other hunters walking into you while you are hunting. I've even found other hunters in my stands when I arrived to hunt. There is a reason for its popularity as this unit produces trophy class deer and it is attached to 1800 acres of the most dense timber of the Little Sioux Boy Scout camp that has always acted as a sanctuary for mature bucks that have a tendency to wander during the rut.

For maps of specific units take a look at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources website.

While many public hunting opportunities exist in western Iowa, there also exists the possibility of owning your own hunting land in the Loess Hills as well. Owning your own piece of the Loess Hills is probably easier than you think, and at Whitetail Trophy Properties we understand your desire to own land. Teaching new land owners about acquiring and managing land for their specific purpose is one of the greatest reward in my career. Getting to stomp around new farms and hunting properties every day isn't bad either! Best of luck in the field and if you are coming to the Loess Hills to do some hunting make sure you drop me a line if you have any questions.

Iowa Shed Antler Hunting

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 22:33:38 -0600

Shed antler hunting is a popular off season activity for many whitetail enthusiasts. Shed hunting always falls during the winter and early spring each year after the yearly breeding or the rut takes place. Bucks no longer need their antlers and must shed the old ones for a variety of reasons but especially to prepare for the regeneration of new antlers in the following year. The shedding also occurs as a result of stress and hormone changes.

I've seen bucks wear their antlers as late as April when the winter was not severe and food remained plentiful, essentially when the bucks were not under so much stress. One of my favorite new tools for shed hunting is the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Harvest Reporting System. The reporting system requires all hunters to report
their deer harvests. The harvests are broken into 4 different categories including does, antlered bucks, button bucks and
shed antler bucks. This system was implemented with the 2006 hunting seasons and has turned out to be a
wealth of information for shed hunters.

Winter this year has set in early here in Iowa with a snow cover since November 30th. We have had freezing temperatures
since that time and 2 ice storms along with 3 snow storms. Food is scarce for the whitetail now and buried below a hard lay of snow and ice. Traveling the countryside you'll notice spots in fields where deer have dug up small holes in the snow to reach the ground below. This means deer are under higher stress right now, the exact trigger that is going to cause bucks to shed their antlers.

If you have never tried shed antler hunting I would encourage you to give it a try. I shed hunt each year and have a blast at it. The exercise is great and you'll learn so much about whitetail habits, and learn to identify their travel routes better. If you decide to venture out and look for shed antlers you'll want to concentrate your efforts in 3 places. Bedding areas, feeding areas and trails between the two. I especially like to look for locations where a deer may have had to jump such as a ditch or fence. If the antlers are loose at the time of the jump the landing will be enough to cause one or both to fall. Since deer do not do much more than eat and rest this time of year most antlers will be found in the bedding areas and feeding areas. In feeding areas since deer remain constantly aware of their surroundings their head is always moving up and down, and the amount of time spent bedded leaves a good chance they may just fall off while bedded. You'll walk many miles between finds so be prepared to spend some time with mother nature.

As I have reviewed the harvest reporting data in the past week I've noticed the number of shed antler bucks reported harvested is increasing quickly. As of today 661 harvests of shed antler bucks have been reported. As we move through late muzzleloader season and the extended shotgun season I'm confident many more shed antler bucks will be mistaken for does and harvested. This is unfortunate but hunters can avoid this by studying the physical features of the deerbefore deciding to harvest it. Bucks and does have very different physical features beyond antlers so please pay close attention and hunt safely.

Iowa Hunting Land - Quality Deer Management Association

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:30:56 -0600

Iowa hunting land is good, but there is a way to make it better! Last week my new Quality Deer Management Association member card arrived and I always get excited about managing the deer and land this time of year. As we near the end of hunting season we know if our harvest numbers have hit the mark or if we are going to go into next year with surplus. Its time to start planning next years projects and my enthusiasm for deer hunting just jumps another notch higher.

According to the QDMA Quality Deer Management (QDM) is a management philosophy/practice that unites landowners, hunters, and managers in a common goal of producing biologically and socially balanced deer herds within existing environmental, social, and legal constraints. QDM has 4 building blocks which include Herd Management, Habitat Management, Hunter Management, and Herd Monitoring. These 4 building lay the foundation for improving the health and quality of your deer herd.

I manage my own Iowa hunting land for quality whitetail and enjoy the experience year round with my family and hunting partners. From food plots to improved bedding areas we see a difference.

As a member of the QDMA I get so many benefits. Education is among the greatest. With so much ongoing research into whitetail deer behavior, land management, nutrition, and controls there is no wonder that the QDMA has over 40,000 members nationwide and over 160 local branches where you can interact with others in your area that have the same interests addiction. The QDMA website alone has a wealth of information that would take you months to read. The QDMA forums give you a place to interact, ask questions and learn from others of similar interests. Membership to QDMA is $30 per year for adults, $250 for sponsors, and $1000 for a lifetime membership. A standard adult membership comes with a subscription to Quality Whitetails (six issues per year), Discounts on wildlife seed, trees, QDMA merchandise, and deer management equipment, opportunities to participate in a QDMA Branch and attend deer management seminars and short courses, new 1-yr. members receive A Basic Guide to Quality Deer Management booklet and Developing Successful QDM Cooperatives booklet and a vehicle decal.

As I proudly display my card above I'll also include the Code of Ethics of the QDMA which is as important as any other aspect of Quality Deer Management.

Members should know and obey all hunting rules and regulations. Any conviction for the willful violation of a game law will result in expulsion from the QDMA.

Members should learn as much as possible about wildlife management, recreational hunting, and hunting ethics.

Members should act in a manner which brings credit to deer hunting and the QDMA.

Members should present a positive image to the public by setting examples as responsible hunters.

Members should participate in hunter education and safety courses and encourage other hunters to do the same.

Members should respect the activities and beliefs of other hunters, landowners, and the public.

Members should support the objectives of the QDMA.

Members should adopt this Code of Conduct.

If you want to talk deer management call me and we'll chat. If you are interested in selling or buying a farm that may be suitable as recreation land or can be used as Iowa hunting land I'd love to hear from you. You land saleshould be left to those that truly understand the great outdoors and a Realtor that works with buyers and seller of Iowa hunting land on a daily basis.

Watch for our nationwide marketing on TV airing 15 times per week to over 80,000,000 homes. Our recreational properties TV program airs on the M.A.N. Channel, The Sportsmans Channel, Fox Sports South, and The Pursuit Channel.

CONTACT JASON Cell Phone: 402.250.1006 Email: Jason@gowithjason.com

Jason's Websites: Loess Hills Land For Sale

Whitetail Trophy Properties

Smith Auction Marketing - Iowa Auctioneer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jason Smith is a Land Specialist and Real Estate Auctioneer with Whitetail Trophy Properties. Jason offers property listings as well as land auctions in Iowa. As a sportsman himself Jason enjoys archery and muzzleloader hunting for whitetail deer. In college Jason studied Fish and Wildlife Biology and specializes in rural properties only including Iowa hunting land, recreational land, farms and rural building lots. Jason also manages over 260 acres of hunting land using QDM. As a member of the (QDMA) Quality Deer Management Association he has joined ranks with whitetail enthusiasts across the United States in controlling and growing a healthy whitetail population for all to enjoy. Jason is a member of the Iowa Auctioneers Association, National Auctioneers Association.