Old days in Iowa
- Thread starter duckn66
- Start date
Olden Cranky
Member
Thank you for your post. I enjoyed watching it. It brought back memories of my Central Iowa childhood hunts with my Father for pheasants and ducks in the Soil Bank years of the early 1960's. He told me of his own boyhood hunts for pheasants after they first took hold in Central Iowa...UNBELIEVABLE!
birdshooter
Well-known member
I remember first hunting Iowa around 1982. Not quite as far back as the video depicts, but back then even in the early 80's to mid 90's possibly, Iowa was king when it came to Ringneck harvest.
Did a lot of my hunting in the Greenfield area as I had a friend that farmed there, but also hunted Audubon, Carrol and all the way up to Spririt Lake area. Always had lots of birds and no problems getting our limits.
Did a lot of my hunting in the Greenfield area as I had a friend that farmed there, but also hunted Audubon, Carrol and all the way up to Spririt Lake area. Always had lots of birds and no problems getting our limits.
birdshooter
Well-known member
I think they were tops for a period pre CRP era ala '85 farm bill. Roughly a Million and a half per year for a portion of the late 70's thru early 80's before it took a downturn, then a resurgence in the 90's before another drop off that lasted. I remember reading the articles about Iowa topping SoDAk in few of those years. The hunting was certainly good as I remember from my experiences thru the early 90's.
Just found this link. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...atweknow.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2MUEP_JSFutzS4oegvUF-MView attachment 7932
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birdshooter
Well-known member
View attachment 7933
Going by the two graphs it does appear that Iowa had a slight advantage in the late 70's to early 80's and then again in the mid 90's. From there SoDak continuously got better and peaked around 2007, whereas Iowa started to decline.
Going by the two graphs it does appear that Iowa had a slight advantage in the late 70's to early 80's and then again in the mid 90's. From there SoDak continuously got better and peaked around 2007, whereas Iowa started to decline.
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birdshooter
Well-known member
Oh yeah it was good alright. Back then I think there were a lot more non residents hunting Iowa, due to the higher bird counts put out by the game and fish. That in part increases your harvest numbers.