Do It Yourself Private Land Iowa Quail Hunting
Iowa Quail hunting is on wild birds on natural terrain for the self guided hunter that can hunt his own dogs.
The enjoyment extends beyond wild upland birds to include not mixing the hunter's dogs with others. No competition to get to the next spot. Not crossing boots prints of others and having more land to hunt each day than daylight hours available to cover it all.
Mid-America Hunting Association do it yourself Iowa quail hunting lease land is limited to the south central and west region of the state.
Within this region wild Bobwhites and pheasant coexist within the available cover of brush filled drains in crop fields. This map shows where the Association leases land. It is listed by county name and leased acreage.
2010 Iowa Quail Hunting Land
All this land is available for each Association hunter
Self Guided Iowa Quail Hunting Results Show In Pictures Their Distinction
Most upland bird web sites show a line up of happy hunters with a pile of dead birds. This picture is commonly in front of the preserve's road sign. Such pictures are evidence of their great hunts. That is their definition of great a great hunt.
Our pictures show a different kind of hunter. That hunter is one that enjoys a wild upland bird hunt complete with its challenges. But more importantly the chance to hunt wild Bobwhites with that hunter's own dogs.
The Association hunter is also a solitary or at most hunts with a small group. No gang hunts within this Association.
A recurring theme about our self guided hunts is that three elements must exist for successful hunts. These elements are the hunter's willingness to walk; accurate shooting in spite of physical fatigue and third, dog power. From these three elements, dog power is overriding. Without dog power specific to our central mid-west edge cover the probability of finding coveys is degraded. Those that have hunted Texas, Oklahoma or any of the large grasslands will find our habitat far different. The large circle running dog poorly equipped to handle it. A significant advantage to the linear edge habitat created by tree covered drainage's running through grain fields is the far more frequent singles action after the covey flush.
It certainly is enjoyable when taking pictures of your dog is the primary goal.
The picture is of one of the Association partner's dog with that bird dog's share of the harvest. While not a limit in the picture, we certainly had the opportunity to harvest a limit. The hunt include some unplanned rooster opportunities as well.
"...we had birds all day in some tough, through the trees shooting, that gave us a good day's hunt that wore us out and laughs at our shooting..."
What we offer is more than limits in the bag. That mentality will show through during our interview process. If a limit's mentality exists that disqualify's the applicant.
Some Iowa Quail Hunting Details
Daily bag limit is 8.
Has specified or locally known as "shooting hours" from 8AM to 4:30 PM. This is after first light and before dark for most of the season.
A split ending for its upland birds. The first to end is pheasant season in early January when its seasonal upland bird license expires. Coveys may continue to be hunted until January 31. What occurs is that most do not hunt the Bobwhite only middle to late January period.
This time period, in our most northern of the three states of leases, typically allows for colder dog friendly weather. That along with plenty of tree covered drainage's to block any wind makes for a higher probability of better conditions. This may be contrasted to the big open of Kansas even with its greater abundance of pheasants and greater probability of higher wind speeds.
Very few hunt during this period Most by this point of the three month season have walked and hunted plenty. Their intensity has waned. An additional motivational degradation is the psychological block of having to buy another license. That late season license is the same as the next year's upland bird season license.
For those that truly want to hunt and do so when seeing another hunter is at its best during this 20+/- day period.
Bobwhite habitat is along crop edge, fence lines and in field drainage's allowing miles of hunts. For those with the dog power to hunt such linear edge there is much. Compared to Missouri.
Kansas while being considered a flat plains state is also know as the "drainage state". Remarkable for the extensive river basin of the Kaw Valley or Kansas River watershed with its numerous tributaries. The other advantage Kansas offers is their season runs through to January 31.
MAHA brings to wild Iowa quail hunting is the private land where for the effort of a telephone call the Association hunter may have the ability to hunt. He may do so at his own pace and with his own dogs. Add to that the presence of pheasants for a mixed bag hunt makes it better. The ability to try different habitat types in different states gives plenty of reason to be in the field rather than at home.