Deer Hunting

It is no secret that Iowa is the place to come for monster bucks.  We are fortunate to have a lot of quality bucks and a large deer herd in our area.  The chance to shoot a world class buck on your stay at Southwest Iowa Outfitters will be very high.  We scout year round and have many tree stands set up in strategic locations throughout our properties.  We do all the scouting from scouting deer activity, setting trail cameras, and looking for shed antlers.  We also plant many food plots throughout our properties to promote deer health and to help attract the big bucks into shooting range.  We plant clover for early season and turnips for the late season, not including the many corn/soybean crop fields on our properties that deer and turkey love.  We try to promote shooting mature bucks that are at least 4 1/2 years old and also promote doe management.  See pictures below and hunting photos to see some of the deer in our area.

Turkey Hunting

Iowa is not only known for having big bucks, it is also known for having big turkeys.  The heaviest eastern wild turkey weighed just under 36 lbs. and was killed in Southwest Iowa only about 40 minutes away from our lodge!  The biggest turkey that we have taken weighed just over 27 lbs.  Beards over 12 inches and spurs up to 2 inches are also not uncommon in southwest Iowa.  We scout birds extensively in the fall and spring and know their roost spots and where they are going to feed and/or strut.  We also plant food plots for turkeys.  We plant clover and chufa on our turkey properties that the toms love to strut in and use as a food source.  All that you have to do is sit where we tell you to go and shoot your bird.  See pictures of some turkeys taken in our area in hunting photos.

Waterfowl Hunting

When people think of hunting waterfowl they usually think of Canada or Arkansas.  However, from personal experience we think that Iowa is one of the greatest places to hunt ducks and geese.  We are located in the Mississippi flyway with a lot of ducks, snow geese, canada geese, and some specks moving through.  We also have a lot of local canada geese in our area that decoy easily.  We have a lot of farm ponds with blinds on them.  We also have a private wetland that is located only 4 miles away from a waterfowl/wildlife refuge area.  This wetland includes a flooded cornfield with 2 roomy pit blinds.  This wetland also has a generator that is connected to aerators located in the water in front of the blind so the water never freezes up around the decoys.  (see pics of wetland below)  We also have access to a 700 acre public hunting lake.  This lake has about 40 acres of flooded timber that is outstanding for duck hunting.  (see pictures below) We have kennels ready for your retrievers to stay in if you choose to bring them along.  We will take you where the birds are.  (We are now offering snow goose hunts in Missouri and Iowa.)

Upland Bird Hunting

Some hunting is very unpredictable.  However, we raise our own game birds so no matter what the wild bird population is you will be able to hunt as many game birds as you want.  We raise our own pheasants, quail, and chucker partridge. (other species may be available from time to time)  If you desire to hunt wild birds you may do so but the bird population is always unpredictable from year to year.  We do however plant Milo food plots for the pheasants and quail in our area to promote the birds to stay on our properties.  If you plan to hunt game birds check on the bird packages and prices under the link prices.  Pen raised birds are a great way to train young dogs.  We have kennels ready for your dogs to stay in.

Predator Hunting

If calling in a coyote on a snow covered, moonlit night gets your blood pumping then Southwest Iowa Outfitters is the place for you.  We have a lot of coyotes and fox in our area.  We also are getting a good population of bobcat.  All that you need to do is bring your electronic caller or hand call and we will send you in the right direction.  Predators can be hunted day and night so you decide when you want to hunt during your stay.

**IOWA NOW HAS A BOBCAT SEASON BOBCAT HUNTING WILL NOW BE OFFERED AT SOUTHWEST IOWA OUTFITTERS**

Small Game Hunting

Not everyone is out for big game hunting.  We also offer outstanding small game hunting.  We have an abundant population of squirrel and rabbit.  You can walk the timbers or you are welcome to bring your beagles or treeing dogs.  We have kennel space ready for your dogs.

**CROW HUNTING ALSO INCLUDED IF DESIRED**

Combination Hunts

If you are out for the ultimate hunting experience then try a combo hunt.  You can hunt any combination of 2 hunts.  For example – hunt waterfowl in the morning and upland game birds in the afternoon, or hunt upland birds in the morning and rabbits and squirrels in the afternoon.  Also if you bag your deer or turkey early we will offer extra hunting opportunities during the rest of your stay.