Cityhunters Farm Iowa !!!!!
Whitetail Deer
Here is my Iowa farm !It sits In Zone 5 not far from Albia IA. Its a mile long ,and about half mile wide. It has variety of terrain . Within it a creek runs the length of the bottom ,Which always has water in it to the NW are some crops and NE is CRP . Cross the creek and you have hardwood ridges ,Blk walnut , oaks and persimmon locust are plentiful , Up on top sits some overgrown fields that were once farmed many years ago ! these provide a great bedding /natural food source . also a pond sits deep inside the timber just outside the bedding areas ! What is great about this farm is it is surrounded by open farm land My timber tract is one of the largest in the area , Its a heaven for wildlife of all types. Louis
Wow!!
Did you lease it, or win the Powerball?
Looks great! I'm jealous! :)
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How close to winkes farm is it?
Good Luck always. Cut the "city cord" and move there!
Awesome!! How often will you be able to draw a tag?...or can you get one every year as a landowner now?
Winke is north of me! These bucks are from the fist time a camera was installed !! I was shocked to see so many good bucks on the farm.
This 8pt is 2011 ,, I have pics of him 2012 2013.
Very nice Lou! Have you hunted it yet? I'll have my 2nd PP this year and looking forward to when I can draw.
Congrats on a great piece of property!
Jake no tag for me yet , cant get a landowner tag , but its ok I enjoy the many aspects of owning a farm in Iowa
Charlie I thought about it but I need my mountains !!
Are you looking to adopt someone? I'm available! :) LOL
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How do you keep locals off it since you do not live there? Have you had issues with trespassing?
I have hunted it without a weapon just my eyes and camera LOL its a blast sitting in a tree , and just observing deer without trying to kill them !!!
2011 buck
Bro....did you just start a thread referring to yourself in the third person?.....Really Lou? LOL
Nice spread... Kill something
Great layout and map and some even better looking bucks Have 3 points this year and will have 4 next year so I will be more than happy to break it in for you:) My best to Rudy.
Wow! I have a friend that lives in Loville. Just talked to him last Saturday night.. He said he's working in Albia. Never heard of Albia. Now I hear of it twice in one week. lol
Plenty of land to hunt in Iowa. Most people are good and don't trespass like in some other parts of the country. But it always nice to be reassured. I place a dozen or so cellular cams that transmit to my cell phone in real time. I spoke to all of my neighbors as well as the Sheriff and Game Warden. I have been a farm owner for 8 years with no major issues. Good luck and Congrats City Hunter!
Wow, looks like a really neat place.
Teeton years back a 15 year old killed a giant NT in albia the ALBIA buck famous deer
Louis,
I picked out my stand locations! Nice chunk of property.
Rick
Zipper u are correct , I have cameras in many locations never a issue.
Bedding area in July
that is great!!!! i wish i lived there
this is the famous ALBIA buck a replica in Bogies streak house! Good eats !!
Wow, what a property! I bet you will be excited once you can draw a tag.
Looks like a prime piece of ground city hunter. I bet you are itching to get on it with your bow in hand!
With your bowsite pedigree, you should be able to get one of those famous "celebrity tags" every year!
Beautiful property Lou. Enjoy. Hope they start giving you tags soon!
Maybe while you're on one of your eye and camera hunts, you can continue your 'yote work.
Nice looking ground city. Nothing like owning you own IMO. Good luck on it !
Half mile by a mile would be around 300+ acres.
Beautiful farm, city! Congrats!
City I have eaten at Bogies a couple times. Met Bill Jordan from real tree there once. Definitely good steaks. They cook them right in front of you.
Some would ask why buy in Iowa NORES have to draw a tag ..But I don't mind waiting for a tag id rather hunt every 3 years and have a chance at a great buck. Prices are also cheaper then many other Midwest states, which for me gave me more farm for my dollar !
I wish they gave me a celeb tag I would turn it over to a wounded vet or a sick kid !!!
My goal is to have a wounded vet or sick Kid hunt the farm , I have spoke to DNR several times and they are interested.
Rudi marking stand locations !!!!
that is a cool property.
it would be so neat to own it AND be able to hunt it.
How often will you be able to hunt the land?
The farm even came with its own ground blind !! a old coal mine on the farm .. I once was told by some locals that Jesse James robbed a bank in Corydon Iowa 1867 he made his get away thru my farm along the creek ,, He managed 6,000 in gold never to be recovered !!!!
2012 I ran the cameras again !! I was shocked at the amount of Bucks on the farm and all age classes . What I found interesting is this farm was never micro managed it was just a tract of woods . It reminds me of Illinois before 2000.
2012 first buck on camera
NON TYP 2012 in the back ground just showed himself a few times
a tract of land that is left untouched/unmanaged and UNHUNTED - surrounded by thousands of acres of farmland/food supply should make for a better hunt than a "managed" property.
Looks awesome - hope to see it someday :)
8pt from 2011 I would say he is about 4 1/2 maybe older big body in person , good solid deer 2012
Any Rams on it? Looks awesome City!
no rams but since we have so much snow it gives me time to catch up Im going to post some canmore video clips one day !!!
Nice property there cityhunter. You'll enjoy it, congrats!
Times have change, use to do some good bird hunting around the area in the 70s and early 80s. Now it is off limits due to the buck craze, Ia. is the most changed state in the union; enjoy it.
Post the video of your Bison hunt.
Nice location, great looking farm. I have hunted that area (public) two times so far and have had a great time. You need to get out there and shed hunt
2012
Shug if a guy buys the right farm it is a great investment , crop income helps pay for the farm plus factor in Iowa is known for Blk walnut trees .. If I sold this farm it would be a hard farm to replace ! Stange as it sounds even if I never hunt it I enjoy owning it .
I posted it cause I told PAT years ago I would He know owes me a deer builder hat ... louis
Let me know if ya need someone to"watch" it for ya some season! Very nice, my friend
Nice piece of property you own in Iowa. Are you going to draw a tag this year?
Dang Lou!!
No wonder ya got me putting in for Iowa points!
The lil' doggie has sure grown up----
Good luck, Robb
Don k Yes the public can be good , ran into a young guy this year from PA killed a nice upper 150s ten point only saw two bucks his whole week but made the best out of it !!!
JJS I haven't seen much for game birds on the farm maybe the bobcats and yotes are the reason . Lots of rabbits this year !!!!
thanks will but I have the Mayor watching it ... all the farms around me are true blooded Americans nice folks . Plus they don't hunt deer !!
Cityhunter, What an outstanding piece of whitetail property! As great as that property looks and the pics of the bucks you have, none of that caught my attention like the post you made about giving your tag to a wounded vet or a sick kid. As a retired military guy who served in this war, and still serving now as a security contractor for the US government, I have seen first hand the cost of this war and I don't mean in US dollars. I commend you so much for such an offer to Iowa DNR! If there is anyone who should have a celebrity tag it should be a great American and patriot like yourself who is willing to give it to a wounded vet or sick kid! You rock City Hunter and I hope to meet you some day.
Wow,what a great piece. Celsius? Are you a secret Canadain?
Jager if u asked 10,000 American's who should get them celebrity tags All would say give them to Wounded Vets and sick kids.. The Celebs can wait in line like all the others . I've spoke to IOWA DNR and was saddened by a story A young boy that was terminal ill wanted to hunt Iowa in his last days ... IOWA denied this boys last wish to hunt Iowa Whitetails since he didn't have any points !!!!!! .. Shame on IOWA GOV .
Pretty cool Lewis! Looks like it's gonna be a future big buck heaven when you draw. Just property or are there any buildings on it?
Very nice little slice of heaven.
Huntin' or not I'd like to swing by just to maybe get a peek at Jessica in Albia....=D
AchERY 95 When I spoke with the IOWA DNR about having a wounded vet or sick kid hunt the farm it was for Iowa Residents , I did ask what about non res vet or sick kids ,, HIS exact words were he wish he could give them tags,, he then told me about the above story ... See archery95 many just see a wounded vet or sick kid as just that.... They don't see the NON RES issue like u do ..
I got news for u AZ has a program were hunters can give back a tag these tags are then used for such cases .. so to answer your question yes
IOWA collected my info and put me on there list
That is a pretty harsh attitude archery95. We are talking about a dying child here. Have a little compassion!
Very nice farm , City. I noticed that all of your trailcam pics are from 2012 or earlier. Any pics from this past year? Did you have any EHD die off this year?
I just closed on 115 acres 2 miles south of our home farm. 90+ acres of it is timber. Nothing else like owning your own dirt!
Hopefully you will draw next year + be able to take a wounded vet/ sick child hunting with you as well. Good luck!
I'd delete the sat image of the farm.
"That is such a sad story City. It makes me want to cry.BOOO HOOOO."
"I got news for u AZ has a program were hunters can give back a tag these tags are then used for such cases .. so to answer your question yes"
That was your cue to shut the hell up, archery95. Only you could somehow find fault in what cityhunter is trying to do. Unbelievable.
Hey City let me know if you need someone to go and pickup all those nasty shed anlters for you. You know they are hell on farm equipment and you might even trip over one while checking your cameras. I would be willing to get rid of them for free just to help you out.
t roy I have thousands of 2013 pics !!! I was on the farm 4th july working some small plots!!! Yes EHD hit parts of Iowa 2012 2013 ,, yet I could not find one dead buck on the farm . I looked in all the creeks and areas that have water . Only found one dead doe in Nov this year cause of death unknown .
Scrappy thanks but I have that one covered ;>
Beautiful farm,how many acres is it? Im assuming you bought it from Steve Hanson?
Is it OK to be just a little envious?
Nice piece cityhunter! Can't wait to see what you kill when you get that tag.
Very nice farm Louis, Congratulations, Wish you years of success with it
Shug Why would u want to buy in Iowa Its a no bait state !!!1
Thanks all Grant I can hunt my prop every yr with a doe tag during the gun season but if a res is hunting with me I can shoot a buck and he can tag it for me, go figure.
I should draw a tag this year 3 points in my pocket ...
City hunter, Are you sure it's legal for you to kill a deer and use someone else's tag? Not accusing, just asking, as I've never heard of that before.(except in party hunting )
IaHawkeye, he said during gun season, so yes, party hunting is legal.
I don't gun hunt but folks at DNR told me about it as a NONRES They will give me a doe tag only for gun , but they told me if res hunter is with me , I can shoot a buck and he tags it for me Party hunting yes legal but strange ,, what I think they try to cover is family members move away from iowa but can come back and hunt with family members during the gun season, family tradition.
I have installed some of them wireless cameras they work great hooked up to a solar panel as long as the critters don't eat um..
"My goal is to have a wounded vet or sick Kid hunt the farm"
I'm a sick kid...
A very sick kid
Ohh thanks for pointing that out Lou...deff not then...I wouldn't know what to do if there wasn't a pile of bait in front of me...
that is the 8pt from 2011 NOW a 9pt He walked by in 2013 at 30 yards I was in a tree no tag no bow!!! He was out scent checking a ridge leading into bedding!!!! In person he is a beast big body lots of mass hope he makes it thru the tough iowa winter
Lou
You have a great looking chunk of land Lou. Thanks for sharing. It looks like you will have some dream hunts to look forward to.
Lou, ya want me to come out this spring with my workhorse 6x6 Polaris and we can get some big time spring cleanup/seed planting done?
Even 'Da Warden' wants to come----forgive me man!! haha
Good luck, Robb
Robb sounds great lots to clean up !! But spring might not be here till JUNE. Maybe combine work with a turkey hunt !!! This fall there were about 50 birds in the field !!!
one of my favorite spots on the farm!!! young buck walked in to have his picture taken .
This is going to work out perfect Lou. Pick me up on your way to Wyoming and we can't hunt the farm on our way back.... buddy!
Cool photos....if you ever put something together regarding wounded warriors, be sure to post it on here, so others can contribute.
Jake Thanks will do!!!the more involved the better .
Pat its been slow going on the food plots but last yr I got some clover in and winter greens. They did good .This yr I should hope to own my own machine and get serious . After talking with you and others here I need a bigger tractor then i thought !!!! Have a few farmers that would help but they are so busy with there Cash crops not enough time in the day ! Thanks louis
Pat my plans for this year is open up one of the overgrown fields by the pond I can easily get to it from the back side . I can get a nice plot back there problem is the trees along the edge can not support good tree stands. So I would build a box blind or just leave the plot alone and never hunt it
This is perfect Louis!!!!!! I was just saying the other day, "You know, I am in need of a father or a brother to share my life with!"
Ron deal but I think im getting the better deal !!! U have way more species to chase up that way !!!
Cityhunter,
By my calculations with planimeter, your property is about 165 acres. Is that about right?
How did you come to acquire that property? Did you use whitetailproperties.com, a local realtor, etc.?
I'm curious as I am in the process of looking at property near there as well.
PM me if you would like.
Wow,,,Very nice!!! You don't need a lot of ground out here just the right piece. Here's my new place. Lovin Iowa!!
Iowa bound u r correct !! best of luck to u !!!!!
Iowa bound how is it going in iowa life work etc....
Just returned from a week on the farm Bugs were fierce ! Cleared a few areas planted some chestnuts and crabapple trees !
It has been a good growing year weeds are out of control !!
soybeans r doing good so far
Looks like some good food Lou. How is the little guy?
Chip Rudi stayed home all work no play for me !!
I guess I am there next year with my Iowa points.
All I need for my TR Wall is a Desert Ram and a dandy Whitetail buck!
Thanks so very much Lou.
Good luck, Robb
Have you seen a decline in trophy buck quality and quantity overall like your neighbor Winke has written about extensively? He feels like the area (especially Albia, IA) has been on a steady decline for the last 4-6 yrs.
crestedbutte numbers are down but I have yet to find a dead buck . I think the 3000 jan doe tags that the DNR was allowing was in fact more damaging to certain areas there is plenty of water on my parcel I think them man made ponds were the problem for many landowners moving water I think would harbor less midge flies
I already as of june 21 had a nice buck on the camera
Sorry to say that KS is having the same result and frankly heading in the same direction and most would say already there. Doesn't help that KDWP&T gives every non-res. a "free" doe tag with purchase of their primary (buck tag).
Never thought about the midge flies and prevalence due to lack of moving water. Place where I hunt has few ponds and a large primary creek that runs along its perimeter...might be why I too didn't find any EHD fatalities the last couple of years in my area either.
Alright....let see all the neighborhood boys! haha
u best stay out of my scrape!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats on a piece of heaven on earth. God Bless
thanks a chestnut is planted
Not sure I'll have enough trees to fill that field ;-)
Deer really like chestnuts. Good choice for many reasons. Very hardy tree, and great mast producer. Better plant a lodge pole or two close by to climb if it is out in a field. As that will become a very good spot to set, once it starts producing. Especially if it is close to the field's edge. God
i planted 15 trees one had nuts this fall.
I'd recommend not going barefooted around them. And don't get all caught up in the moment and try to stomp one with flip flops on. The burrs on the hull will definitely make one wish they had better thought out the whole situation before doing so. :^) Hard to convey the damage caused from the deer watching you limp around cussing after doing so. I know I never saw a deer this year bow hunting after doing so. So be careful. There is mojo there. Handle with care
Your property is going to produce some monsters in the near future. Keep at it!
WV i planted them in a field edge cause i have to many blk walnuts i was afraid they would kill the chestnuts over time ! Also planted some Crabapples .
Both are excellent choices for all wildlife. Especially deer. With no real worries of bears, they should do fine. My dad killed a real good late season buck on the crab apples last year. And having a good heads up on the toxins that walnut's produce will ensure they survive by getting them out of the danger zone. You are doing it right.
Only thing left is to consider the woods. If your woods are open, do a select harvest on the walnut. If they are plentiful and of good quality, they just might pay for the farm. If you find the right log buyer/forester/logger, it could easily bring you $3-$4 a foot on the stump. A good tree will have 200-400 bdft. Do the math. It won't take long to really add up to some serious money if you ave a large stand of walnut. A couple hundred trees like this will bring you well into the $200,000 range. Plus it would greatly improve the habitat for deer. Good luck and God Bless
Those chestnuts trees really stink in the spring!
planted some trees in this area also small food plot here also
trees in sept some did ok others fell victim to bugs
The farm I hunt here in KY has probably 120 Dunstans planted. They are about 3 years old. I suspect they are going to to start producing soon. Like yours, some of them have already had fruit.
Just don't plant them too close to anything or each other. About 70 feet from each other is a good distance. Sheer numbers like 1000 are not necessary. 5 or 6 here and there is better. A few longer term trees can be planted in the middle if comparable.
City, you're going to have a great place for yourself in the future. Well done.
Beautiful property.I have a life long family friend that owns 365 acres along the ms.river in the NE corner.It was the farm he grew up on and bought it back.Basically got it for free by enrolling in crp got program.He has had problems with meth labs in his bank barn.Now the cops watch the property a little more.Someday I will go hunt his place.Do you buy any doe tags at least.I'd have a hard time not getting drawn for my own property.Can't wait to see what u take when u do draw
mixed bag thanks shooting does at this time will only have a negative impact on the herd. I have seen the farms north of me shoot so many in seasons past then comes EHD and there micro managed plans have backfired !
just returned from iowa spring cleanup
Nice! I think my New York deer camp will need a "spruce up" when the snow melts in a month or so! Lots of trees down. Looks like an easy winter there?
as we speak charlie its snowing in NY
Looks like spring time for sure.
Sorry I missed your phone call.
Good luck, Robb
Do I see a roogue pooch in that photo?
Yes Chip its Xavier he came from a rescue shelter in Louisiana!
Beautiful property Louis !
Wow, what a whitetail Mecca! Lou, neatest place you could own in whitetail country. Kurt
this is going to be in corn this year
That really is a great looking piece of property. Happy for ya. God Bless
Had the moose steaks all ready to thaw out, city! Maybe later this spring. We got some rain last night. No snow here!!!
T-roy thanks I had the lady with me so we stayed local could have used a good meal , its very difficult to eat healthy out there . I will be back few weeks with tractor in tow .
Very nice. I hunted with your neighbor Brian back when the Albia buck was still alive. Great area.
Place looks great!
Lou and I started talking last year about mast trees as he had just planted some dunstan chestnuts he purchased. I have been growing them (plus all kinds of other stuff) to plant myself and he expressed interest in some trees if I had some extras......well, fast forward about 6 months and looks like he's gonna have an orchard! Hah!
I have about 50 started. .....about 50 more than I need!
Here is a quick timeframe on "Lou's trees".....seed to seedling
Let's not forget about the persimmons too!
Gonna be a busy fall Lou!
thanks Craig looking good. Hey T-roy if u need any i can pick up and bring to iowa .
Looks like a slice of Heaven!
I might be Lou! Waiting to see how many of the ones I planted last spring are going to make it. I will be putting cages around any new trees this time. The tubes I used last year sucked. The UV rays made some of them brittle & they fell apart after only 10 months or so. Plus, the deer rubbed on some of them as well & trashed the trees.
When you headed back to Iowa?
T-roy should be in early May , need to take advantage of low fuel prices, i will be towing my machine. I just made my own cages it kept the deer from tearing them up and also no rabbits chewed on the bases over the winter . Farm is loaded with cottontails ! Also bobcats seem to be showing up more on my cameras. My goal is trying to make improvements for all native species plant and animal life .
Dirty D Matt thanks a very nice gesture on your part .
Wow city! What a fantastic piece to own and great plan in place you have! Super idea to get a wounded vet to hunt it.
Lou......trees got some more room to stretch their "legs" today! Let their be roots!
look a lot healthier then the wally world trees!
How long does it take for a chestnut tree to produce? DO you need male/female trees do not know much about them.
nice spot there city, some dandy deer for sure nothing like owning your own hunting land.
Iowa is looking good for 2015 . May caught me breaking ground in new sections for food plots .
I would like to thank all the bowsiters that helped with great advice in the past !
While out there in May i was payed a visit By Iowas DNR !!!! I had the pleasure of meeting Kevin Anderson private lands wildlife biologist. Kevin's job is to talk with individual land owners, see what there goals are and make suggestions on wildlife improvements. Kevin loves his job and it showed in his enthusiasm while we walked the farm. Kevin is a wealth of info every plant species was identified . We walked and walked and walked more , we pushed some quail , spotted some turkeys and seen the white rumps of deer cross the creek. The farm was in full bloom ,making it difficult to hear Kevin over the song birds .
Kevin was shocked to see the diversity on the farm from its bottom ground to its overgrown pastures and ridge tops its wildlife amphibians, birds and mammals . In Kevin's own words its hard to find such diversity in small parcels without any micro management in place. Kevin made some suggestion as we moved around the farm time was moving fast ,Kevin had to go and would but together a wildlife plan for the farm , Kevin likes native plant species and so do i ,So in the near future i have about 8 acres i want to return to native grass . I was blessed with awesome days working the farm , the brush cutter was my new friend .
Nick i thought u were coming to help ?
Charlie u or your son have a tag this year My farm is looking good this year
Lou...my girls have been watching over your chestnut trees.....they are looking pretty good. The recent heat has got them going again. There is a wide variety of heights with tallest over 3 ft and shortest close to 1 ft. The tallest ones are only about 1.5 months older!
nice family u are blessed my 13 trees all were alive but took a beating this winter this year the cages had leaves dirt piled u this was from the creek overflow
Do you have any acres enrolled in CRP?
Lou, good for you...this sounds like a wonderful place!
May 2015 Food plots brush cutting
one hour into cutting some old pasture big set back
Sucks! I feel your pain. Just another day on the farm.
Do you guys who own land as out of staters in Iowa able to hunt every year? do you get land owner tags? Or do you have to draw?
at this time no landowner tags, draw like all others . there is a push to allow NR landowners a tag to hunt there land only
Truck looks under sized for what your hauling !
Louis great lookin piece of property as soon as I learn I'll post some pics.of my Tn.abode.Lewis
I have 4 points and can draw next year :)
pope125 truck is 5.9cummins this 1200 drive one way was a joke for this rig !
Yea I bet it pulls way better than your jeep. OH I do have a tag for 5
city hunter -- you killed any big bucks on your farm?
When ya headed back out this way Lou?
Congratulations brother. Good luck and I hope you draw. God Bless
Just opened this thread again Louis. Looking good !
magnus no never hunted my farm
magnus no never hunted my farm
You've owned since '11..... Did you draw a bow tag this year?
Bob i didnt apply this year have enough points , Im looking forward this fall have a friend hunting the farm .
Bob my goal is to host a wounded vet or sick kid on my farm .Iowa DNR will allow a kid a tag that qualifies , so this spring i was brush cutting some old pasture s and getting food plots established . This guy was on the farm last year not a giant but good future buck !
Very noble. Outstanding causes.
My suggestion is to find a good "local" to help you keep an eye on things (accesses, gates, plus cameras) and foodplot maintenance. Since I started doing that on mine, its made all the difference. Very hard to manage/micro-manage a property from 1000 miles away.
As offered via PM, get ahold of me if interested. Would be happy to take a look at your farm and/or you're welcome to come check out mine. There are a number of government programs, many with significant cost-share, that you can get involved with. Now and for the next 3-4 weeks are best times to get food plots established.
Best of luck.
Thanks Bob i will indeed pick your brain Had no choice had to get turnips and radish last week of july all new ground that hasn't been broken in many years .More planting in sept This buck showing promise picture was early july
planted 2 acres forage beans and crossed my fingers
I wasnt sure if my beans would take hold this area had not been worked for many years ,no soil test !! but its bottom ground .I couldnt wait to see if my efforts payed off . i noticed deer trails and tracks leading into my new plot location .I was pleased when i saw the plot worked !! two young bucks showed up to browse the young beans less then two weeks it was planted , no fence installed. My goal this year is too attract and hold deer into the area and to provide good early nutrition for the wildlife.
all types of critters showed up on the beans
beans showing good utilization plenty of daytime pics plot worked as planned!!
planted 2 other plots different locations it was a mix of clovers triticale and rye . Clovers grew well not sure about the rye and triticale i had a problem identifying them I cut it and noticed the clover responded to this cutting asap ,not much browsing in this plot as of yet awesome location its sits between two ridges and thick bedding close by.
before the brush cutting old pasture ground great plot location
in no time the area was cleared
