Iowa Hunting & Fishing

Iowa is widely considered the best trophy whitetail state in the country, and hunting guides in Iowa build their entire calendars around its world-famous deer hunting. The state's rich farmland, river-bottom timber, and conservative nonresident tag allocation combine to produce an extraordinary number of giant bucks, with the southern counties especially renowned. Pheasant hunting, a classic Iowa tradition, has rebounded strongly across the grasslands and CRP fields.

Fishing in Iowa is anchored by its border rivers and natural lakes. Outfitters and guides work the Mississippi River backwaters for walleye, bass, and panfish, while the Great Lakes region of northwest Iowa, including Spirit Lake and the Okoboji lakes, offers clear-water walleye and yellow perch fishing. Farm ponds and reservoirs round out a state where careful land management has built a deserved reputation among serious hunters.