At Whitetail Trophy Properties we work to make your purchase of hunting land in Iowa a breeze.  Most first time land buyers or dreamers always believe that you must be wealthy to purchase land because they overlook the fact that most land generates some type of income, and in some cases substantial income.  You've heard Dan Perez say it at the end of Whitetail Properties TV "When you consider land appreciation, the tax advantages and income potential land could be the best investment a hunter can make."

We, at Whitetail Trophy Properties, have utilized many banks and financing sources over the years. Of all the transactions that we have been involved with, one Bank stands out above the others. That Bank is Peoples Bank and Trust. Peoples Bank and Trust understands farm and recreational property lending and their terms and conditions have consistently been fair and competitive with others. Whether you are looking to finance a few acres or a few thousand acres, Peoples Bank and Trust is there to assist you and provide a one source lending relationship. Give them a call or click on the convenient link to receive a no-obligation pre-qualification. This pre-qualification will guide you in determining the loan amount and farm size that best fits your'e budget. Feel free to call or e-mail them as well.

Whitetail Properties goes a step farther than just showing you land, we teach you how to acquire land and help you find ways to acquire land with a financial solution that fits you.  For information on finding financing for your Iowa hunting land purchase visit our financing hunting land page.  Here you'll find a pre-approval form, video on financing and joining an LLC to leverage the power of a group to purchase large tracts of land.  Whitetail Properties works with Peoples Bank and Trust and they "get" farm lending. 

Learn to manage your hunting property!  Its been a long time in the making but its time for the first banquet of The Heartland Chapter of Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) and we are recruiting membership for the group.  If you are a deer hunter, land owner, land manager, or in any position where you have to or want to learn to manage deer populations please give me a call for more information on the branch. 

The first annual banquet will be held on September 13, 2008 at the Embassy Suites in LaVista Nebraska.  The newly formed chapter represents western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. This branch was started earlier this year and is centrally located in the region at Omaha Ne. The branch strongly believes in education and conservation and will participate in the QDMA's educational REACH program, food pantry feed the hungry programs in Iowa and Nebraska, disabled veteran hunts and youth hunting programs.

The banquet will help raise money for the group and attract membership from western Iowa and eastern Nebraska.  The day promises to be an educational, fun and exciting day for all deer hunters, deer managers, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts.  Starting at 9am a 3-D Archery shoot will be held in the Cabelas parking lot with the banquet to follow at 3:30pm.  You can attend one or both.  The Banquet will include a meal, speakers, raffles, live auction, silent auctions and live music by Nashville Recording Artist Jolie Edwards.  There are some incredible prizes in store and exceptionally high quality items on the auctions.  Some of the prizes and auction item include guns, bows, guided hunts, prints and much more.  Additional information can be found on the branch website www.HeartlandQDMA.com or the national site at www.qdma.com

The QDMA promotes:

• Safe and ethical hunting.
• Adherence to wildlife and trespass laws.
• Adequate harvests of adult does.
• Restraint in harvesting young bucks.
• Hunter involvement in education and management.
• Cooperation with wildlife biologists and enforcement officers.
• Education of hunters and non-hunters toward a better understanding of wildlife management.
• Stewardship and appreciation of all wildlife.

The HEARTLAND BRANCH is dedicated to promoting and representing the national organization of QDMA. The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring a high-quality and sustainable future for white-tailed deer and white-tailed deer hunting. Founded in 1988, the QDMA currently has more than 50,000 members in all 50 states and several foreign countries including over 800 deer management professionals - more than any other white-tailed deer organization. The QDMA has developed numerous partnerships with state wildlife agencies, timber companies, hunting groups, and product manufacturers. These partnerships have increased both the awareness of the QDMA and participation in the Association's management philosophy, Quality Deer Management (QDM). Without question, the QDMA is rapidly becoming the most respected and influential white-tailed deer organization in the United States.

Quality Deer Management is a management philosophy/practice that unites landowners, hunters, and managers in a common goal of producing biologically and socially balanced deer herds within existing environmental, social, and legal constraints. This approach typically involves the protection of young
bucks (yearlings and some 2.5 year-olds) combined with an adequate harvest of female deer to maintain a healthy population in balance with existing habitat conditions and landowner desires. This level of deer management involves the production of quality deer (bucks, does, and fawns), quality habitat, quality hunting experiences, and, most importantly, quality hunters.

A successful QDM program requires an increased knowledge of deer biology and active participation in management. This level of involvement extends the role of the hunter from mere consumer to
manager. The progression from education to understanding, and finally, to respect; bestows an ethical obligation upon the hunter to practice sound deer management. Consequently, to an increasing
number of landowners and hunters, QDM is a desirable alternative to traditional management, which allows the harvest of any legal buck and few, if any, does.

The Heartland Chapter is currently recruiting membership from western Iowa and eastern Nebraska.  If you are interested in deer management and would like to become a member please attend the banquet on September 13.  Everyone purchasing a ticket to the banquet will receive a 1 year membership to QDMA along with the ticket.  Companies wishing to promote their products and services should contact the Heartland Branch Directors about sponsorship or donating products to the auction.

Deer populations have been a hot topic in the past 10 years here in Iowa.  Whitetailed deer were at one time nearly decimated in Iowa.  In 1936 the deer population was estimated to be between 500 and 700 animals in the entire state.  In fact, the first modern hunting season for whitetail deer was not held until 1953 when the deer population was only 10,000 statewide. 

Today Iowa is well known amonst sportsmen and women as the premier state for the trophy whitetail hunting.  Today's estimated deer population runs between 200,000 and 300,000 statewide with less than half the population being harvested each year.  With the number of hunters declining and despite the best efforts of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources the number of deer has climbed to an all time high.  This becomes a concern for many reasons but some of the primary causes for concern are crop damage and automobile accidents with the animals.

Iowa's number one tool for controlling the deer population is obviously deer hunters and each year the state's population is analyzed and a number of harvest tags is derived from the deer census.  Each year the state issues a certain number of doe tags for each county.  Once that number of tags has been purchased for that county no additional tags are sold.  Iowa also allows 6000 non-resident deer hunting tags to be sold by lottery each year.  Many more people than the 6000 apply but not all are successful in being drawn for a tag.  In fact the 2008 drawing had over 11,000 applications.

In Iowa you will hear many people say we have to many deer.  Does this mean we have to many deer?  Nobody knows yet but with so much at stake that the Iowa state legislature has passed a law this year forming the Iowa Deer Study Advisory Committee.  This committee will be formed by each of the following organizations nominating one person to the committee.

• Iowa Association of County Conservation Boards
• Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
• Iowa Farmers Union
• Iowa Conservation Alliance
• Iowa Bow Hunters Association
• Whitetails Unlimited
• Iowa Hospitality Association
• Iowa Restaurant Association
• Iowa Meat Processors Association
• Iowa League of Cities
• The Department of Transportation
• Iowa Woodland Owners Association
• Iowa Insurance Institute
• Iowa Realtors Association
• Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club
• Iowa Environmental Council
• Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association
• Director of the Iowa DNR (Chairperson of the committee)
• Secretary of Agriculture
• Director of Economic Development
• 2 members of the Iowa Senate
• 2 members of the Iowa House

This committee is tasked with the following responsibilities. 

Review, analyze and make recommendations on issues relating to the state's deer population including but not limited to

• The current status of Iowa's deer population, harvest and population management programs
• The economic impact and value of Iowa's deer population
• The cost of damage to crops caused by deer
• The number and cost of motor vehicle accidents caused by deer
• A review of the deer management challenges and programs of other Midwestern states
• An assessment of public opinion concerning the number of deer, and the impact and value of Iowa's deer population

When the Iowa Deer Study Advisory Committee has been formed, completed its research and drafted a report it will then return that information back to the Governor and Legislature with recommendations on Iowa's deer population.  This will all happen very quickly as the final report is due back to the legislature in January 2009.  While it does not seem reasonable to me that solid recommendations can be formulated in that short of a time frame the final paragraph of the bill reads like this

"The advisory committee shall complete its deliberations in December 2008 and submit a final report to the governor and the general assembly summarizing the committee's activities, analyzing the issues studied, and including any other information or recommendations that the committee deems relevant and necessary by January 10, 2009."

That last paragraph states "and including any other information or recommendations that the committee deems relevant and necessary" which leaves open the ability to make nearly any recommendation to the legislature.

I've spend alot of time discussing this issue with my good friend and Wildlife Biologist Cory Behr and formulating my own thoughts about all of these issues.  I live and work in the deer hunting world on a daily basis and I'm well aware of the strong opinions on each side of the issue.  Since the majority issue I deal with is resident v. non resident hunting I'm going to focus on that. 

Non-residents of Iowa want to come hunt deer in Iowa, and Iowa's resident hunters want to protect the valuable resource for fear of loosing it.  Really what I just said was, they don't want them to have the ability to hunt here.  Both factions have fought back and forth over the years and Governor Chet Culver has been the first Governor to take the issue seriously and make everyone sit down at a table, gather facts, and consider the facts about Iowa's deer population.  Its sad that this group will be given only a few months to make some very lasting recommendations.  This study committee has the potential to completely change the face of Iowa's deer hunting forever.  When things have changed there is nearly no chance of of changing them back so I hope their deliberation is careful and considerate of all those involved.

I've been asked many times where I stand and where I come down on the issue.  I sell Iowa hunting land for a living so most assume I'm in favor of allowing more out of state hunters to come to Iowa and hunt, after all they will want to buy the product I have to offer.  My answer remains the same, I want to see the facts and the final report of the committee before I know where my opinion will land.  At this point I don't have enough information to have a thoughtful opinion on the matter, and for that fact I don't think anybody has enough information or the State of Iowa would not have had to form this committee in the first place.

I do welcome the ability to finally have a civilized discussion on the matter and a group that will gather, research and analyze the facts needed to make any recommendations of lasting changes that will be made.  In the end I want the decision to be good for Iowa and our sporting traditions here.  Iowa is a big name in the deer hunting world and I'm proud of the resources we have here.  I'd rather never sell another farm in my life than jeopardize our natural resources, but if its determined that allowing additional non-resident hunting is good for Iowa's natural resources I'll be right there to open the doors for our good neighbors from the other states. 

Even though I've concentrated much on the resident v. non-resident hunting issue in this post it should be noted that is only a small part of the issue or potential recommendations that could be made from this committee.  Other recommendations I see or have discussed with others I will summarize below potential changes that could be made in control of Iowa's deer.

• Making Iowa an "Earn a Buck tag" state where resident hunters are first required to harvest a doe before being allowed to hunt for bucks.
• Increasing the area rifles are an allowable weapon
• Allowing non-resident landowners tag rights equal to a residents rights.  This would allow those that are not residents, but own land in Iowa the ability to get tags each year rather than to participate in the lottery.
• Allowing landowners to sell their landowner tags to non-resident hunters like other states do
• Extending seasons, opening seasons earlier
• Creating private landowner - hunter cooperation programs

Finally, I want to bring some perspective to Iowa's deer numbers.  Iowa is 56,272 square miles which translates into a total land mass of 36,014,080 acres in the entire state.  An acre is almost exactly the size of a football field.  With the estimated population numbers from above of between 200,000 and 300,000 deer in the state, figuring right in the middle at 250,000 deer that means we have 144 acres for every deer.  That means there are are 4.4 deer per square mile which is a square with each side equalling one mile. 

If you have information you feel would be helpful to the study group I'd suggest you contact any of the groups listed above to speak with them or their nomination to the committee.  This has the ability to be a period of drastic change for the Iowa deer hunter and I'd suggest if you have something to say do it now!

Cost Share Money Available for Improving Wildlife Habitat 
June 24, 2008

DES MOINES - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) helps landowners enhance, protect, and develop wildlife habitat on their property and has been allocated a large amount of funds to spend in Iowa.

"WHIP is a great program to help landowners improve habitat on their properties," said Matt Dollison, private lands wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "It provides about 60 percent cost share for approved practices. Landowners can actually get paid to improve the habitat themselves or can hire a contractor to do the work."

This is a federal program that specializes in creating habitat on land without any cropping history. Eligible WHIP practices include brush management, native grass seeding, edge feathering, forest stand improvement, tree and shrub establishment, prescribed burning, and much more.

Applying for WHIP is easy, he said. First, work with your local wildlife specialist to plan the habitat practices that are right for you and the wildlife you wish to attract, Dollison said. Next fill out an application. The specialist will make sure the application is ranked and will contact you if the application is funded.

"We have a limited amount of time to allocate money to projects. This means the sooner you apply, the better chance you have that your application will be funded so don't delay," said Dollison.

Contact an Iowa Department of Natural Resources biologist to find out about WHIP or other wildlife habitat programs by calling 515-281-5918, or by stopping in at your county's USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Office and ask about the program.

Two of the most knowledgable and popular men in the world of deer hunting recently endorsed Whitetail Trophy Properties as the real estate brokerage of their choice when purchasing hunting land.  Mark and Terry Drury own Drury Outdoors, one of the most popular and mainstream outdoor entertainment companies in the business.  Mark and Terry have shared a great deal with others through their many video series such as Dream Season, Bow Madness and Wildlife Obsession.  In fact if you watch any of the Drury Productions you'll find that Mark and Terry often focus on others, teaching others and the accomplishments of others.  

Since Mark and Terry rely on their hunting land to produce results every year its no wonder they trust the guys at Whitetail Properties.  The very success of their video products are on the line if the land can not produce.  In addition to the high quality land listings you can find listed with Whitetail Properties our group at Whitetail Trophy Properties is the finest group of land professional from the outdoor industry assembled in one company.  

When you are looking for Iowa hunting land trust the guys at Whitetail Trophy Properties, the same agents that sell hunting land to the top in the industry personalities. 

Working with Whitetail Trophy Properties and Whitetail Properties TV means the ability to work with great sponsors for the TV show.  Below I've listed our current sponsors and the great products they offer.  When you watch Whitetail Properties TV you'll notice we use many products from these companies and they are top notch.  My business is selling Iowa hunting Land,  helping you to acquire the perfect hunting property or farmland and learning how to manage it for Whitetail Deer hunting. 

While I can get you started and make you a landowner, these guys produce the products that get you in the field and help you to be successful.  From land financing to shooting products each one of their websites provides useful information on a wide variety of things.  You'll find every topic from food plots to game cameras covered.  Click on the logos below to visit their websites to look at their high quality helpful products that are going to put meat in your freezer and a head on the wall this year.   

Banks OutdoorsHunting blinds for all occassions, see every set up they have and keep warm and dry this season.

Barna Log HomesExceptional country homes and hunting cabins.  Barna makes excellent high quality log homes that you can call home or your hunting retreat.

Bear Archery Products The original right here, Bear has a very long history in archery manufacturing.

Benelli Shooting Products A high quality name in shooting sports.

Brunton Shooting Products Shooting sights and instruments.

Drury Outdoors No introduction needed, Mark and Terry Drury offer many outdoors and video products.

Hadley Creek Outfitters Trophy Whitetail Hunts in Pike County Illinois.

Hunters Safety System Hunting is great, but going back to your family is better, wear a safety vest.

Kolpin Power Sports Put your food plots in with these great products.

Lone Wolf Tree Stands Some of the finest tree stands in the industry, very sturdy and quiet.

Peoples Bank and Trust Iowa land financing, especially hunting properties.

Realtree Real tree offers many hunting products and video as well.

Reconyx Trail Cameras  High quality game cameras that keeps track of your hunting land for you.

Scent Lock Hunting Garments Scent absorbing clothing that keeps you invisible to the eyes and nose of game.

Tinks Hunting Lures I've been using this lure since I was 11 years old and keep using it every year.

Trail Pod Game Camera Mounts Now you don't have to worry about finding a tree in the right spot, mount a trail camera anywhere you want to, even where there are no trees.

Whitetail Institute The experts on food plots, these guys know how to grow big mature deer and help you understand how to grow a healthy herd on your hunting land.

Winchester Shooting Products Winchester has been around forever and makers of hunting guns and ammunition as well as other hunting products.

Ignorance can be an amazing thing.  I spent almost 20 years of my life as a police officer and I used to have a saying that was very handy "Life is tough, and its even tougher if you are stupid"  Believe me in that time I ran into some people that did some stupid stuff.  

Recently at the June 20th, 2008 city council meeting of the City of Missouri Valley Iowa an interesting conversation occurred with the city council, and keep in mind, these are people that are actually running a city.  For 10 of the years I was in law enforcement this was the exact city I worked for.  During their discussion about messy yards and tall grass a city councilman asked if real estate agents could be held accountable for the messy yards.  Well, hey thats a fair enough question, I mean after all this guy is a city councilman and who would expect him to have a very very very basic understanding of the law anyway?  It was the response to the question that nearly made me choke, but the city clerk responded with "we already tried that, it just doesn't work" 

How in the world are these people running a city?  Could you imagine planting your sign in some sellers yard and then being responsible for their behavior, errors or ommissions?  Certainly its always good advice to tell a seller to keep the yard clean, but if they don't could you imagine being ticketed by the city for it?  I have a hard enough time keeping track of myself, let alone the actions of others.

Below is a copy of the conversation from this website http://www.missourivalleytimes.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=123&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&S=1

VEXING HIGH GRASS

Miller led a discussion on how the city should handle mowing of tall grass and weeds on properties that have been foreclosed on, and are unoccupied. She said her office often has trouble finding out who is responsible for the properties, and by the time she does and an abatement letter is sent out, it is often weeks before grass is cut. The result is high grass all over town.

She asked the council for input on whether the city should pay to have the mowing done and then charge for it later, when a responsible party is discovered. She also wanted to get their views on how to pay since the lot sizes and conditions vary wildly--should she start a list of available mowers, put the job out for bids?

Councilman Struble said he would like to see the cemetery mowers get the work. "They're already working for the city."

Councilman Marshall said, "Can we legally do that since we don't have permission to go on the property?"

Miller said the mowing takes place after the abatement letter has run its course. "Someone gets notice," she said. "We want to be ready to mow as soon as the notice letter expires."

Councilman Dinsmore asked, "Can real estate agents be held responsible?"

"We tried that," said Miller. "It just doesn't work."

Mayor Sargent said, "Let's have Curt Bonham do it."

Struble said, "Let him set his own price. We'll get it back."

Bottom line, said Dinsmore: "Let's let Rita make the decision, we'll get the work done quicker."

There is something special about hunters gathering in a log cabin at the end of a hunt. Log cabins are an icon of hunting that serve to remind us of the rich traditions renewed with each season. To own a hunting "shack," that is anything but a shack, is more special when it is highly functional for the hardcore hunter.

Log cabins fit perfectly into the Loess Hills rugged timbered landscape and can offer you many years of memories, as well as increased value in your land.  There is something about the warmth of the wood in these cabins and the peaceful serenity of nature that can turn a weekend off into a relaxing getaway. 

With that very thought in mind, Whitetail Properties TV and Barna Log Homes have partnered to create five floor plans strategically designed for hunters. "Barna is the best log home company in the industry and we are excited to partner with them to create designs that hunters will love," said Paul Sawyer of Whitetail Properties TV.

Those who take their hunting seriously demand a lot from their equipment. A well-designed log home can be a major asset to a successful hunt, not to mention a great place to gather and tell stories at the end of the day. "These homes are built specifically for putting the odds in favor of the hunter without sacrificing the good looks and comfort of a log structure," Sawyer said.

Whitetail deer hunters will love that the house is designed with scent-control in mind. Popular features are a room with scent-controlled lockers, full laundry facilities, sink, shower, floor drain for easy clean-up and hard-wired boot and glove dryers. Waterfowlers will enjoy the mud room with a large work bench that doubles as a kennel and features stainless steel countertops for cleaning birds at the end of a satisfying day. With a floor drain, concrete floor, and kennel access to a fenced-in area outside, it has features every hunter and dog can appreciate.

The pairing of Barna and Whitetail Properties speaks volumes from a hunting and land investment standpoint, but it goes much deeper than that. Barna Log Homes are designed to inspire your passion and it is difficult to find someone more passionate than a hardcore hunter. Created with tremendous craftsmanship and detail, acquiring a Barna home is the perfect opportunity to turn your dreams into reality.

The five designs will be available in early 2008 and can be seen at the Barna Log Homes website www.barnahomes.com and Whitetail Properties TV website www.whitetailproperties.tv 

If putting together your own Loess Hills hunting retreat is your dream, we can make it a reality.  For more information contact me at 712-646-2061 or on my cell phone 402-250-1006.

The Income Generator.  Starting off with a farm that has great income always makes things easier and this one is an income machine. This farm is something unique and a farm to be excited about. If you are looking for that farm that is large enough to manage and make an impact on your herd this 550 acres may be just for you. Located in the Loess Hills of Western Iowa this listing has it all. The current owner has consistently taken mature whitetail off of this farm when he was able to take breaks from farming. This property abutts a large tract of state timber and when the state land is hunted its sure to drive those deer onto this property for the security. Extreme elevation changes, nooks and crannies, amazing must see hilltop Colorado type views, ponds, established food plots this place has it all. There are two ways to access this property and as the new owner yourself and one other area landowner will have the only keys to access the gates on 124th Trail to access the property from the south. See the photos to see a photo of the gated county road that will be yours to use. This heavily wooded area would make an excellent cabin site where the seller has already brough electrity a mile to the location as well as drilled a well. You won't find many areas better to establish an extremely secluded cabin in the hills, its perfect. For a showing of this property give me a call and load up your 4 wheeler up for the showing.  With over $150,000 of expected income in 2008 its hard to overlook this great hunting property with income.   Click on the top photo on the left and look at the locked gate blocking the road, if that picture doesn't tell the story nothing does. Type of Listing: For Sale Price: $2,475,000 Available County: Harrison County Iowa Nearest Town: Pisgah Taxes: $3900 TBD in 2007 Property Type: Agriculture, Recreation, Hunting, Horse Property, Pasture, Building Lot Total Acres: 550  Grassland Acres: 190 Timber Acres: 150 Water Acres: <1 Wetland Acres: 0 Listing Details: Topography: Rugged, Rolling, Flat Surface Water: Structures/Dwellings: Description of structures: No structures exist on this property. Improvements include fencing and 3 water wells on the property, as well as electricity to a potential building site. Services Available: Water Well, Electricity, Propane Property Description:  Description: This farm has excellent income and if you are looking for something that can help pay the mortgage this farm has up to 210 acres tillable. Currently 125 are being tilled. $2800 per year from Conservation reserve and potential to rent some pasture exits. This farm has above average income for a hunting farm.  This land is being split from 760 acres and the seller will pay for the survey to be completed. Income: Government Programs: A 30 year Conservation Reserve contract on 160 acres will pay $82,644 over the course of the contract. Agriculture: This row crop farm is capable of 210 tilled acres with 125 currently in production of corn and soybeans. Hunting Leases: None at this time, but a highly desirable farm like this could bring a premium hunting lease payment if you do not intend to use it every year for hunting Other: This farm was used to film Buckmasters 5 and Greg Miller hunted the neighboring property and missed a huge Iowa whitetail on film here. Bill Jordan and the Realtree team have also hunted this property. Its no coincidence all of these folks have choosen this location. Biological Evaluation: Biological Evaluation of Property: This is not your typical Loess Hills farm. This large and extraordinary farm is owned by a seller that cares for the land and has won several conservation awards over the years for his work in maintaining pastures using modern techniques to keep native spieces in the Loess Hills. This great farm is very natural and you'll notice the typical erosion and cat stepping has been addressed.  It is worth noting that the 2004 Iowa Deer Classic 3rd place shed was found on this property.  You can see that droptine antler in the photos at the left. For more information on this land listings or others in the Loess Hills of Western Iowa see my Iowa hunting land website at www.LoessHillsLand.com or across Iowa, Illinois or Missouri you can find many other hunting properties at our brokerage website www.WhitetailTrophyProperties You can contact Jason Smith at 712-646-2061 or 402-250-1006

 The seller has submitted these photos of deer harvested from the property.