Coming from Canada

I am pretty sensitive to hunting close to roads since seeing that. I still remember it pretty vividly. It wasn't the driver's fault, it was like the dog was memorized with the vehicle coming at her....she sure wasn't listening to us.
 
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remy3424 said:
I know it is legal, I know you can retrieve injured game (without a firearm), that have ended-up on private, even posted ground. I know you can hunt the ground the landowner owns (and pays tax on) but has the roadway easement (the ditches). I am just telling you what the attitude is here. Heck yes, it is legal, but folks don't always like it be done on their property. You know you can't discharge a firearm within 200 yards of buildings inhabited by people or livestock. Just jump in the the ditch, start hunting 225 yards away from someone home and start shooting... and then enjoy a pissing match using your "rights and legalities" with the occupants. Hunting is just not commercialized in Iowa as it is in South Dakota and it is viewed differently here. You are more than welcome by me to buy a small game license & habitat stamp and enjoy hunting our public ground, road ditches and private ground with owners permission. You know the rules, I know you know the rules, not all (most, I am guessing) of the residents here would not know hunting regulations....be prepared to educate them when ditch hunting.
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Spot on. Grew up in central Iowa on a farm. We just didn’t see people do it. If we saw
plates from not around there wondering around we would assume they’re gonna wonder the fence and trespass. Especially those dead end roads or areas not traveled much. If my dad saw you walking our ditches he’d stop and remind you where the fence was, and probably wouldn’t take a hunter to serious if you reminded him of the ditch hunting rules in Iowa. Where we lived not a lot of public hunting spots and to see outta towners was rare. My comfort level for ditch hunting in Iowa is doing it near public land or around places I have permission. I’m to old to get in a pissin match with someone even if I’m right.
 
4shot said:
Spot on. Grew up in central Iowa on a farm. We just didn’t see people do it. If we saw
plates from not around there wondering around we would assume they’re gonna wonder the fence and trespass. Especially those dead end roads or areas not traveled much. If my dad saw you walking our ditches he’d stop and remind you where the fence was, and probably wouldn’t take a hunter to serious if you reminded him of the ditch hunting rules in Iowa. Where we lived not a lot of public hunting spots and to see outta towners was rare. My comfort level for ditch hunting in Iowa is doing it near public land or around places I have permission. I’m to old to get in a pissin match with someone even if I’m right.
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Hey guys. Thanks for all your posts and help. Didnt mean to start a debate but it made for some informative reading and insight. Its greatly appreciated.

We did come to Ft Dodge area the weekend before xmas. We hit the intense cold spell which I think had birds hunkered down tight. We had to hunt in short spurts so we could warm up in truck. We contacted a local DNR guy who put us onto a couple state areas where he had seen birds on the roadside while he was patrolling deer season. Ironically he told us to hunt the ditches in front of the state game area. We struggled to find birds and got 1 rooster out of the ditch. The second spot he sent us to was amazing but had endless cattail sloughs so thick my viszla couldn't work it.
All in all it was a great time. Flushed 5 or 6 hens and a couple roosters overall. Didnt see any private property that wasnt completely plowed under but noticed a lot of state hunting areas around.
Thx for helping us out.
Be back next season.
 
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