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Deer Classic

JNRBRONC

JNRBRONC

Well-Known Member
I was over in DSM this past weekend to attend the Iowa Deer Classic. I kept telling people that it had been a long time since I had attended, guessing 15 to 20 years. I looked through my image files on a remote hard drive and see that I last attended in 2006, 19 years ago.

The event has definitely grown, but the thing that caught my eye was the sheer number of booths that were essentially realtors. I don't think there were many, if any, back in 2006. Seemed like this year you couldn't swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting one. :oops:

For those hoping for a "correction" in the rec ground market, I'm afraid it's here to stay.....
 
Yep between the realtors and the " hats .t shirts. N jerseys" booths probably 25pct of the total if not more!

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Wi transplant said:
Did anyone else notice very few current yr entries from the southern row of iowa countys? Wondering if ehd played a big part in this?

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I think a lot of the Southern Iowa counties are the hardest hunted counties. When you have the most hunters, that means more young, good genetic bucks get shot. I almost think if someone is really after a giant, then they need to hunt a less known and less popular county. A prime example of this is Pike County Illinois. It went from one of the very best counties in the country to just an average/below average county because of hunting pressure.
 
I didnt got this year. But I really enjoy going, minus the insane crowd at times. Yep, more and more realtor booths, unfortuantely fewer and fewer deer and sheds brough in each year. My favorite part is seeing all the deer and sheds brought in, unfortunately it seems to keep shrinking.
 
tall@wide said:
I think a lot of the Southern Iowa counties are the hardest hunted counties. When you have the most hunters, that means more young, good genetic bucks get shot. I almost think if someone is really after a giant, then they need to hunt a less known and less popular county. A prime example of this is Pike County Illinois. It went from one of the very best counties in the country to just an average/below average county because of hunting pressure.
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Walking in on Friday I started talking to a couple who were from just north of Pike County. He mentioned is has rebounded a bit.
 
sep0667 said:
I didnt got this year. But I really enjoy going, minus the insane crowd at times. Yep, more and more realtor booths, unfortuantely fewer and fewer deer and sheds brough in each year. My favorite part is seeing all the deer and sheds brought in, unfortunately it seems to keep shrinking.
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I heard that there was a foot chase through the hall, the DNR had an alert out for poacher who showed up with a rack/mount. I missed it, darn it!
 
JNRBRONC said:
Walking in on Friday I started talking to a couple who were from just north of Pike County. He mentioned is has rebounded a bit.
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I've heard the same thing. The outfitters shot all the bucks and when that dried up, the moved to other areas. It's actually getting less pressure and the bucks are rebounding now.
 
I’ve been to many IA Deer classic’s over the years. Including the first two or three ever. In a different thread someone made a funny comment about “Shamwow”. I went Friday night of this year. It was great bumping into some old friends and sharing some stories & catching up. As has already been stated here, it felt a bit like a convention for realtors & T-shirt makers…perhaps a “shamwow” convention to a degree. I have been to a few over the years that seemed like chiropractor and jerky maker conventions. I guess if you’re willing to stroke the check, they’ll sell ya booth space. The classic doesn’t much resemble what I remember from the very early days…but that’s life. Things change. On a different but related note, it was very enjoyable attending the ISC banquet. I spent several hundred $’s on raffle tickets and managed to win zip!! Ha! All good cuz it’s for a great cause! We’ve got some great folks fighting the good fight for our resources & Skip is at the tip of the spear. Thank you Skip!
 
Marty Edwards said:
I’ve been to many IA Deer classic’s over the years. Including the first two or three ever. In a different thread someone made a funny comment about “Shamwow”. I went Friday night of this year. It was great bumping into some old friends and sharing some stories & catching up. As has already been stated here, it felt a bit like a convention for realtors & T-shirt makers…perhaps a “shamwow” convention to a degree. I have been to a few over the years that seemed like chiropractor and jerky maker conventions. I guess if you’re willing to stroke the check, they’ll sell ya booth space. The classic doesn’t much resemble what I remember from the very early days…but that’s life. Things change. On a different but related note, it was very enjoyable attending the ISC banquet. I spent several hundred $’s on raffle tickets and managed to win zip!! Ha! All good cuz it’s for a great cause! We’ve got some great folks fighting the good fight for our resources & Skip is at the tip of the spear. Thank you Skip!
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Weren't the first couple of deer shows over in like Waterloo/Cedar Falls or something? I ask because my Grandpa has trophies from the shows when they were there, there was no "Classic" in Des Moines yet. My wife worked for the Classic for many years before TBI got involved- I never asked why- but she very quickly exited the scene.
 
newfarmer said:
Weren't the first couple of deer shows over in like Waterloo/Cedar Falls or something? I ask because my Grandpa has trophies from the shows when they were there, there was no "Classic" in Des Moines yet. My wife worked for the Classic for many years before TBI got involved- I never asked why- but she very quickly exited the scene.
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You are correct.
 
newfarmer said:
Weren't the first couple of deer shows over in like Waterloo/Cedar Falls or something? I ask because my Grandpa has trophies from the shows when they were there, there was no "Classic" in Des Moines yet. My wife worked for the Classic for many years before TBI got involved- I never asked why- but she very quickly exited the scene.
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Yes it was at the Sullivan Center for named after the sailor brothers that all died on a ship in WWII. Then it moved to Adventure Land. I can’t remember if it was there two years or not then it moved to the Polk County convention center a few blocks south of HyVee hall. It was there several years before moving to the present place
 
tall@wide said:
I've heard the same thing. The outfitters shot all the bucks and when that dried up, the moved to other areas. It's actually getting less pressure and the bucks are rebounding now.
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On AT there was a post Hadley Creek farm is for sale. Asking price 10,000,000$ for 14 hundred some acres. All box blinds and tree stands go with the sale.
I might head that way tomorrow to wrap up the paperwork :rolleyes:
 
I enjoyed the classic more this year. My boys enjoy it and even the wife picked up a few things. Enjoyed visiting with people and met some new people as well.

ISC banquet was great. Enjoyed the social atmosphere.
 
FIRST TIME AT CLASSIC….. hmmm…. 20-ish years ago???? Something like that. It was shortly after I moved here. Long story super short…. Met a dude right when I moved here that was related to guys that owned THIS SITE! He says “they help u with food plots & habitat, funding them, etc!” I said “wait- they will help pay for food plots & habitat work?!?” (Kinda like NWTF used to have a grant way back when). He says “YA!!!”
So- I walk up to the IW booth (it’s possible it was a few years after I heard that before i finally went to the classic)….. I walk up to the guys and say hi & “so, will you guys help me pay for my food plots?!?!?!?!” They all looked at me like “This guy is an idiot!” Ha!!!!!! “No, we just give advice & some super knowledgeable guys on there”. “Oooohhhh, ok, I’ll check that out!” true story. :)
 
Ishi said:
On AT there was a post Hadley Creek farm is for sale. Asking price 10,000,000$ for 14 hundred some acres. All box blinds and tree stands go with the sale.
I might head that way tomorrow to wrap up the paperwork :rolleyes:
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That’s wild!!! I’d actually like to see that listing!!!
“Box blinds & stands go with”. That’s hilarious when I see that.!!! “Ahhh, ya, this is $10m…. Don’t think we need to squabble over $100k in stuff that would be more a pain to take down & move than it’s worth”. How generous to throw that in!!!
$10m for 1400…. Clearly we all going “whoa” (and I’m gonna send an offer OVER asking price after I finish this BTW ;) ) ….. but in today’s crazy $ & some of the wealth…. Probably sells. Cash.
 
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