People often ask, “How it is that Iowa and other Midwestern states can produce mature whitetails with large antlers on a frequent basis?” The easiest answer to this question is that the area has all the components necessary for the production of a quality whitetail deer herd.
One of the most important components in Iowa is its fertile soils, which allow the land to grow nutrient-rich, nutritious forages. The moderate, temperate climate is also important. Although the state has cold winters that help break up disease and parasite cycles, the winters are not extremely cold and the deer herd usually does not have to contend with extended periods of deep snow. The summers are warm, but usually, not too dry.
The combination of fertile soils and favorable climatic conditions is enhanced by the mixture of natural and agricultural habitats that comprise Iowa’s landscape. Timber, brush, and prairie habitat types provide nutritious hard and soft mast crops, browse, and forbs. The two main crops of Iowa, corn and soybeans, are prevalent throughout the state and provide a tremendous benefit to the deer herd as well as other wildlife. This is especially true during the late fall and winter months when waste grain in fields is still available for the animals except during severe winters.
Midwestern deer have also proven to be of good genetic stock but, more importantly, the habitat with its high plane of nutrition allows them to express their genetic potential. Even in Iowa, the overall deer density in relation to the habitat plays a very important role in enabling the deer to maintain this high level of nutrition. Iowa’s deer herd has always been managed by social tolerances and not by biological carrying capacity considerations. This has kept deer densities well below carrying capacity in the state as a whole and lower than the densities of other Midwestern states. Not only do the moderate densities help ensure that Iowa’s deer have access to very nutritious food resources, it also helps mitigate social stress within the herd which can have negative impacts. With a high plane of nutrition comes more rapid development and in Iowa one example of this is that typically more than 50 percent of the female fawns will be bred their first fall.
The last ingredient needed in the mix in order for a deer herd to express its genetic potential is age. Since hunting is the major mortality factor in the deer herd, the number and types of deer harvested have the biggest impact on the population and age structure. When Iowa initiated its first modern deer seasons it began a tradition that proved to be fortuitous. The firearm deer season (shotguns for Iowa) was established in December because after the crops were harvested, farmers would have more time to hunt, deer would be more accessible, and the hunt would not interfere with the pheasant season. This resulted in a scenario in which the majority of the bucks were harvested after the rut, when mature bucks were less vulnerable. Iowa also differs from many states in that any deer licenses were always a component of Iowa deer hunting and Iowans have never been averse to harvesting antlerless animals. The length of the shotgun seasons also encourages hunters to harvest antlerless deer. This shorter season timeframe with two shotgun seasons provides multiple opening weekends. The enthusiasm associated with these events helps to increase the harvest.
This has produced a deer herd where the antlered component is subjected to significantly less mortality when it is most vulnerable and an antlerless component that is willingly harvested by Iowa hunters. The final product is an older-aged male herd component, a more natural breeding season, population control through the harvest of does, and more balanced sex ratios.
The quality of Iowa’s deer herd and being known for “big bucks” also can create issues and desires that can negatively impact the population. One issue that is becoming more common is for recreational landowners to implement practices designed to attract and hold deer. However, too often such properties overlook one all-important component; an adequate doe harvest. The result is higher-than-average deer densities, impaired herd quality, and reduced public acceptance of deer due to conflicts (agricultural producers, highway collisions, etc.). Increasing a property’s attractiveness to deer also demands an increased responsibility to population control. Being a good neighbor and maintaining acceptable deer densities that promote herd quality and public appreciation of the resource should be primary goals. The mistaken belief that success is only possible when pursuing undisturbed animals or the fear that someone may shoot “my buck” are not valid excuses for ignoring this responsibility.
Pressures from non-residents for increased access to the resource are also common. However, Iowa cannot meet the desires of the nation’s deer hunters for “trophy bucks” and still maintain the quality of its deer herd; so access must be limited. Currently, it takes about three years for a non-resident to draw an archery license in the more popular zones of Iowa (the season includes the November rut). However, non-residents interested in hunting during Iowa’s shotgun or late muzzleloader seasons currently draw a license at least every other year. These drawing success rates are better than the odds of other coveted hunts in America. Also, the proportion of deer hunters in Iowa that are non-residents is equitable to the proportions exhibited in neighboring Midwestern states that have no restrictions on nonresident license sales.
Is Iowa’s management strategy the only way to produce a high-quality whitetail herd? Certainly not; regulations and management strategies must be tailored to fit regional habitat capabilities and deer hunting traditions in order to establish and achieve realistic goals. In the end every deer harvested, no matter what the sex or size, is something to be appreciated and hunters should never lose sight of that fact.
