I started applying for an Iowa tag a few years back and now I have 4 points saved up. My initial desire was to hunt public or aquire a lease somewhere on the eastern side of the state. I live about 20 minutes from Dubuque in Wisconsin. I have since gotten married and had a child and I just don’t have the time to go back and forth every weekend anymore. I have started to think about doing a outfitted hunt instead to up my odds in a shorter amount of time. I think at the end of the day the cost of that will be about the same as a lease hunt including gas, lodging etc. I don’t have anything against guided hunts but I prefer DIY trips. What would you do, sit on the points until time allows for a DIY (I realize that may never come, lol) or do a guided hunt?
I would go with guided, as you said later the chance may never come. I think you are right on the cost comparison as well.
If you do decide to go DIY, I can maybe help point you towards some areas and some places to avoid.. I do not know any guides personally but there are a handful of them around the Pella, Knoxville, Albia, etc neck of the woods that have excellent track records. I do know one that just started in the Winterset area too, lots of good ground around there
