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Fenced In Public Land, Iowa as the Outfitter

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GregBickal

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Ok I mentioned fences on public land on another thread, but wanted to get a specific discussion going. I'm an unconventional thinker and as I think about the problems that are associated with deer hunting, crop damage, auto collisions, etc this wacky idea comes to mind.

Could the state of Iowa set up some of its public hunting land the way an outfitter does? Obviously you would have to have employees working it. It would have to be fenced in. Tag Sales and population would have to be managed independently of herd outside the fence.

What are the pro's and con's? What would it cost?
 
I can't see a lot of Iowa residents wanting to hunt a "high fence" operation....I know I wouldn't hunt it. And I'm pretty sure the majority of the public wouldn't go for it if it went to a vote. Taxpayer money would have to be used to get it started and that's the last thing we need to do with the budget concerns that are out there already.
 
It is against the law for the state to compete in a business against the private sector (Timberghost), which is what this would be
 
I'd be happy with them just having a map of the area at the entrance where you could mark where you'll be hunting. That way you're not walking through someones set up or them yours.
That's the biggest thing I hate is getting in there early then someone walking by 20 minutes after you get set up.
Might work but the public land around me only has one entrance if you have more than one you could divide the land up between entrances.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is against the law for the state to compete in a business against the private sector</div></div>
I wasen't thinking of this as a competing buisness, I was thinking along the lines of keeping deer out of residential neighborhoods, not eating crops, and not getting hit by cars. Deer Hunting is big buisness in Iowa, so there is already a competition there.

Insurance Companies and Farmers want deer population low, hunters want it high. By fencing in a property, you could have both.

I know this is a wacky idea, but imagine a worse case senario, like deer being put in the same category as Coyotes and their population virtually disappearing. Wouldn't something like this be an alternative? I know, the response will be "it will never happen". Just play along.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I can't see a lot of Iowa residents wanting to hunt a "high fence" operation....I know I wouldn't hunt it</div></div>
If your only choices of hunting were an unfenced over hunted public land, or properly managed fenced in public land which would you choose? If an outfitter gave you a free pass and said "come shoot any deer you want" are you saying you would pass it up?

Could you describe a possible "high fence" operation that would have the feel of a free range hunt? Deer only roam so far, so fence or no fence, they are going to walk under your treestand or they wont.

Questions I have, if you will play along with the idea
1. How many acres minimum
2. How many deer could be supported per acre with a natural food sources?
3. How many deer could be supported per acre with added food sources, corn, soybeans, etc?
4. What kind of buck to doe ratio would be maintained on the property?
5. Could CWD be eliminated within this population ?
 
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the hunting on our public land today! I have hunted public for 20 years now and have shot some real nice bucks and turkey! You just need to put in the time and in a couple of years you will have the deer patterned.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Blaster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There is absolutely nothing wrong with the hunting on our public land today! I have hunted public for 20 years now and have shot some real nice bucks and turkey! You just need to put in the time and in a couple of years you will have the deer patterned. </div></div>
 
Greg, it would either:

a. Cost a lot more to purchase tags for everyone
b. cost the individuals who hunt that area more for a tag in the area

So, to hypothetically answer your question, if they went with A, everyone would be upset, and the land would stillbe just as overhunted as it is today.

And if they went with B it would be the same as you payingto go to an outfitter!


As far as naming a "Fenced area that feels like free range"... Simple. Most the fenced operations. Most of these operations have FAR MORE land in one chunk then the majority of the public areas in iowa.
Isn't TimberGhost something like 1500 or 2500 acres?


A fenced deer is still a fenced deer.

I don't care if the deer knows there is fences, I would know, and that is all that matters!


P.S. Even if they did fence off a few areas, it would be just like many other public areas. Half the A-Hole Population would go in and trash it and leave their garbage there!!!
 
Greg, you are right, it is an unconventional idea. Unfortunately I don't believe it would work and help the problems that you have named. A very good example would be the Burlington Ammunition Plant. It has been completely fenced since it was built and has a fairly high deer population. There are still deer in residential areas, and eating farm crops, and being hit on highways, some times highways that run right along the fence. People do hunt it and used to wait in lines for the chance, but I haven't heard much about it in recent years. The last I heard the hunting was declining and not so many people were hunting it. It also costs a ton to build and maintain a fence that deer really can't get past one way or another. Depending on the actual size of the public area this could be staggering to the tax payers with little if any actual benefit to the general public. It would create a closed environment for many other species besides just the deer that would encourage in- breeding and disease and probably would not serve any one very well.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GregBickal</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I can't see a lot of Iowa residents wanting to hunt a "high fence" operation....I know I wouldn't hunt it</div></div>
If your only choices of hunting were an unfenced over hunted public land, or properly managed fenced in public land which would you choose? If an outfitter gave you a free pass and said "come shoot any deer you want" are you saying you would pass it up?


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Yeah, I can honestly say if an outfitter offered me a free hunt in a fenced in enclosure, I wouldn't take it. To me, that's not what hunting is about.
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tlambert</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
GregBickal said:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I can't see a lot of Iowa residents wanting to hunt a "high fence" operation....I know I wouldn't hunt it</div></div>
If your only choices of hunting were an unfenced over hunted public land, or properly managed fenced in public land which would you choose? If an outfitter gave you a free pass and said "come shoot any deer you want" are you saying you would pass it up?
+1

</div></div>

Yeah, I can honestly say if an outfitter offered me a free hunt in a fenced in enclosure, I wouldn't take it. To me, that's not what hunting is about. </div></div>
Click to expand...
 
Bowmaker, I've seen more deer around the Ammo plant than i have in the past. Its just they are getting smarter and grouping up in places where the Ammo plant authorities wont let you hunt. Example-Just east of the Caseys gas station in Middletown. You can drive by there on certain nights and see 30-40 deer standing in the field. 25% of them being bucks.

Also, theres alot of places along the Ammo plant that arent fenced on. Drive along the skunk river by Augusta. You will see fence running along the road and then a big gully with a creek running down it with no fence. Then fence again on the other side of the gully. Not sure why they do it like that?

Ok sorry to get off this subject but its pretty much not even something to consider. Creative idea though Greg.
 
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