Weather Dampens Deer Opener
 
Iowa's shotgun deer season got off to a rain-sleet-ice soaked start over the weekend. Hunters throughout the state were pelted by some combination of the stuff throughout the day Saturday. "I have never seen a day like that," admitted DNR recreational safety officer Pat Jorgensen. "I have seen weekends with a lot of snow, but that rain was miserable."

The miserable weather brought many hunters in early, and forced those who did face the elements to change their approach. "Deer like running into the wind, so we'd try turning around runs around," explained Mike Liercke, of Center Point. "We had a southeast wind, so we'd try pushing them to the south. Usually we run north. It changed the way we 'game planned.'"

Sunday's weather was much better, but a sheet of ice caused loud and treacherous walking across much of the state. Many officers expected hunters who might normally just hunt the weekend to take a day or two during the week to try to fill more tags. The first shotgun season ends Wednesday, December 5.

The foul weather might provide an incentive for hunters to take advantage of late season dates. "Many counties in southern Iowa go undersold because they are a long drive from major population centers. There aren't a lot of people living in those counties," said Tom Litchfield, DNR deer biologist. "If you are willing to make the trip, though, it can offer some good hunting."

Most of the southern two tiers of counties in Iowa still have hundreds of antlerless tags available, which can be used for the late muzzleloader, bow or the special late January season. Several east and northeast counties have large quotas remaining, too. Hunters can check the county by county allotment by going online at www.iowadnr.gov and clicking on 'Hunting & Wildlife' on the left, and then scrolling down the left side to 'Availability of Limited Quota Licenses.'