Iowa Hunting Land - How Do You Evaluate Hunting Properties?

Iowa Hunting Land

What is the difference between one hunting property and another? Is there a way to judge them? The truth is that all hunting properties are unique and they are not created equal. If you were looking at homes you'd have certain things you are looking for. 4 bedrooms, 2 bath, large yard, 3 car garage, swimming pool. The same should be true of your dream hunting property. When it comes to judging a hunting property do you know what you are looking for? How will you judge? For some its all about price and that should be the very single last thing you look at. Start off in your range, but don't let it be a limiting factor up front.

The least talked about feature of a hunting property I hear about is huntability. In today's world you read ad after ad for hunting properties that have "trees shredded by huge monster bucks, excellent spots for food plots, the property is covered up in deer sign, a 200 inch monster was shot here 2 years ago" Those descriptions help you understand some things about the property but usually completely overlook huntability. When you finally decide on a property that has these tree shredding bucks will you be able to hunt it? Will you be able to hunt it for every wind? Will you be able to have a buddy or two on the property at the same time? Most of all does it have high opportunity locations or will all of the deer activty be spead out and equate to a diminished experience for you?

First let me say that I think the single greatest resource you can use in evaluating a hunting property is a topo map. A topo map will tell the story of any hunting farm before you even set foot on it. I'm surprised just how often this tool is overlooked. You can find topographic maps for all of Iowa on the Iowa Geographic Map Server from Iowa State University.

Two weeks ago while planning a hunt with a friend where we were going to hunt a property I'd never set foot on I decided to look up a topo map for the property. I drew a circle on the map and emailed it to him. I told him that circle represented the best opportunity on the property. He was impressed with the thought of using a topo map to choose hunting locations so I elaborated with him a little about how you can tell where deer will be based on terrain features. Unfortunately a permanent blind had already been erected on the property in a different location about 200 yards across the opening, but luckily we could see that location from the permanent blind. At 6pm that first evening we saw deer across the opening and without hesitation he turned to me in the blind and said "thats right where you drew the red circle on that map" He was right, it was exactly where I'd drawn the red circle and now there were 6 deer standing right there. We finish out the evening seeing 22 deer with the majority of them traveling right through the exact spot.

I'm going to use a property that I have listed now to show you what I mean by huntability. A farm I named The Magnolia Trophy Factory is an excellent example of terrain features. First let me show you the aerial view of the property.

Look at the aerial and answer in your mind where you think the best opportunity on the property will be. Notice the layout of the property, the open spaces in relation to the timber on the property. What is your first impression of the property. Does it look like a hunting property you would be interested in? Most people would say yes because it does have some great features you can see from the aerial. There is a secluded field in the northwest corner that's about 25 acres, open spaces for food plots, there is a small stream running north and south on the east side of the property, thick timber and it looks like a variety of stand locations so the property could be hunted by several people at one time. You can even imagine setting aside part of the farm as a sanctuary without loosing much area, and still having great access at the same time from the southwest corner or the eastern side. You can even see another creek on the neighbor to the west, plus you get the benefit of the neighors adjoining timber on the west, maybe thats your sanctuary if you can find out that neighbor does not hunt?

The one thing you can not tell from the aerial is where the best opportunities are on the property. Here is a topographic map of the property and I have circled in red where the best location on the property is to hunt.

This property has two great features in close proximity to each other. Inside the red circle you see another round circle. This round circle is a "convergence hub" and immediately to the east of it is a "saddle"

The convergence hub is a location where many trails will come together like the spokes on a wheel, because many terrain features converge there. Deer naturally use the path of least resistance when navigating terrain, much the same as a human does. When you are standing at the bottom of a hill and you look up you'll be drawn to the path of least resistance. You can also notice these paths by looking at a topo.

A saddle is a low spot in a ridge line that lets animals pass over the ridge with the least amount of climbing. Saddles can be the most effective hunting location, especially during the rut when bucks are out scent checking areas for hot does. A saddle not only acts as a path of least resistance but a funnel squeezing all movement down to a narrow area making them exceptional locations to hunt. They can pass through these funnels and conserve their own energy, and move much more quickly.

Looking at topos becomes a game of connect the dots to see how the land is used by deer.

Above I've connected the dots and you start to see how this property is going to hunt. The ridge top trails in black connect with many of the secondary ridge trails in red, while crossing all of the shelf trails. You can consider each topo increment on the map a shelf trail by itself where deer walk along hillsides rather than up or down them. Now you can see how deer will natigate this property, and you can see the highest opportunity locations. Now all of a sudden that convergence hub and saddle look like excellent locations for a stand site.

If you were to look at this property in terrain mode you'd see this image. Now you can clearly see that saddle and convergence hub and how they will present a greater number of sightings. You can also see the ridge system on the property and choose other locations to hunt as well. In fact, look at that northwest field now! All of a sudden its even more exciting as a great food plot location. You know deer have easy access to it through that hub and saddle, its secluded and you can see from the aerial its surrounded by mature timber where you can hang stands. You also know from the aerial you can place an elevated blind, but the topo tells you the best place to put the blind and be able to see the whole field!

When you are evaluating Iowa hunting properties for purchase never overlook the effectiveness of a topographical map and be sure to choose a Whitetail Trophy Properties agent that has experience in evaluating hunting properties. Our brokerage serves Iowa, Missouri and Illinois with agents in all states. Best of luck this year in the field.