Summer 2025

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The gear you need from the brands you trust. Home to brands such as Stealth Cam, Walkers, Cold Steel, Muddy, HME, Wild Game, Ameristep, Tenzing, Avain, Big Game, Flextone, NAP, and many more. www.gsmoutdoors.com Ph. 877-269-8490 email info@gsmorg.com

FEATURES Sponsor Pages

inside cover, 2-4, 6-8 inside back cover

IBA Ballot

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Fall Festival Shooting Stakes

Fall Festival Classes Do What You Love to Fight What You Hate Howard Hoisington Memorial Shoot Deer Season 2024 For Your Information IBA Related Information IBA Spring Banquet Awards Application Youth Bowhunter

Editor’s Corner

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President’s Message Summer Issue Featured 100% Club BONKER’S World

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Bowhunter Page IBA Fall Festival

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Spring Banquet 2025

DNR News

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Fall Festival 3-D Archery Shoot

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If you are receiving The Iowa Bowhunter and not receiving IBA email updates from your board, please contact Randy Taylor at tayphoto@netins.net. IMPORTANT: UPDATE YOUR EMAIL CONTACT WITH IBA IOWA BOWHUNTER ELECTRONIC DELIVERY We need each one of our members help

As we try to find more efficient ways to deliver value to our members we recently began sending two of the yearly quarterly Iowa Bowhunter magazines by “flip book.” This electronic delivery of the Iowa Bowhunter is experiencing some problems and our board is working to resolve these issues. As always with electronic data, when there is one character incorrect, the whole thing is incorrect. Our first goal is to have current and accurate email and mailing addresses for all our members. Without accurate and current information, neither the electronic version or the paper version will be delivered accurately.

So we need EVERY MEMBER to send their current email address and also their mailing address to Ben Low. Send to Ben by email at blow@fivestarcoop.com or by US mail at 1501 N 23rd Street Clear Lake, IA 51510. Make sure all information is accurate. If your email or address ever changes, you MUST send Ben an update. Please confirm this information as soon as possible. Anyone can always find the current newsletter, as well as past editions on our website by going to the home page, then select news, then select newsletter, then find the current pdf or simply click on the flip-book link.

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EDITORS CORNER NEWSLETTER October is when the next Iowa Bowhunter newsletter is due for distribution, so please get your articles, pictures, stories, and advertisements to me no later than September 15. Thanks for all the photos already sent in and keep up the good work. There’s always room on the Gut Pile page. Also, if you have a good picture for the front cover, feel free to send that to me and mark it to be used for the front cover. Please include a short caption of information with each picture. Pictures are not returned.

TO ALL AREA REPS (AND ALL MEMBERS) Our membership needs to be more informed on what is happening in all areas of the state of Iowa, as well as surrounding states. As an area rep, it is expected of you to supply information about your particular area to the rest of the membership. This is accomplished though articles in the Bowhunter. Please submit an article for each Bowhunter issue (four total) to the Bowhunter editor. Deadlines are shown in the editors corner of each issue. We’ll look forward to your input. If you have questions about your membership please use this address Ben Low, Treasurer

Any other questions or problems please contact any board member.

1501 N 23rd Street Clear Lake, IA 51510 641-780-5068 ben@fivestartcoop.com

SPONSORS

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SPONSORS

Nipigon River Bear Hunt

nipigonriverbearhunt.com bbearman@shaw.ca Moose, Bear, and Wolf Hunting ~ Fishing ~ Scenery and Wildlife ~ Photo Opportunities

Bob Bearman ~ 807-887-3801 or 807-887-2813 Box 400 ~ Nipigon, ON, Canada ~ POT 2JO

100 years of Sporting Tradition Since 1901, Boyt has provided rugged and dependable equipment, accessories, and clothing for all hunting and shooting enthusiasts. www.boytharnesscompany.com

www.scheels.com The Midwest’s largest selection of sports, sportswear, and footwear. Set your sights on the BEST GEAR this season. ~ Jordan Creek Town Center, West Des Moines - 515-727-4065 ~ Southern Hills Mall, Sioux City - 712-252-1551 ~ Viking Plaza, Cedar Falls - 319-277-3033 ~ Coral Ridge Mall, Iowa City - 319-625-9959

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SPONSORS

BUCK HOLLOW SPORTS Archery Pro Shop ~ www.buckhollowsports.com Large selection of archery supplies, guns, ammo, optics, trail cameras, muzzleloaders, and lots more for all your hunting and sporting needs. Boyd L Mathes ~ 641-628-4586 ~ Archery Field & Sports Outdoor & Sporting Goods Company- Archery Range-Paintball Center Our professional staff has years of archery experience as well as certified training to provide the best learning experience possible. www.archeryfield.com 515-265-6500 3725 NE 56th St, Altoona, Iowa

Hours vary, so please call ahead. 776 190th Ave ~ Pella, IA 50219

Heritage 1865 Outfitters www.heritage1865.com We specialize in upland bird hunts; but also have deer, turkey, and waterfowl hunts available. Travis Ewing ~ 641-344-1120 Russel, IA ~ email-barney@heritage1865.com

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE SUMMER ISSUE

Hello to all of you IBA members, I hope everyone is well and fine. As we have just wrapped up another great spring banquet, I hope everyone has had a successful season hunting turkeys, bears or fishing. The legislation season has passed I would like to take time to thank everyone who was involved in speaking at the Capitol, and to each and every one that sent emails or talked to your

legislators. It is so important for them to hear from all of us. I think over all we fared pretty well. I would also like to thank all of our sponsors we just wouldn’t be able do what we do without each and every one of you. Also, to all of our members for supporting our great organization. We continue to do all we can to grow our organization and would love to see more people involved. Any

ideas we like to hear from our members. I would like to thank previous and our present board for all the dedicated work they have done. In closing we would love to see everyone at the fall festival and bring a couple of buddies. If not, we wish you the best and have a great rest of your summer and fall will be here before you know it. Thank you sincerely, Loren Wakeman – IBA President

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SPONSORS

(Our sponsors support and believe in the IBA, please support our sponsors)

DIAMOND ($10,000 and up) GSM Outdoors PLATINUM ($5,000 - $9,999)

Infinito Safaris

Matlabas Game Hunters

GOLD ($1,000 - $4,999)

Archery Field & Sports Boyt Harness Company Buck Hollow Sports DK Custom Taxidermy Heritage 1865 Outfitters

Mankazana Safaris Raymond Bowhunters Riverside Casino & Golf Resort Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids Thaddeus Lake Lodge

SILVER ($500 - $999)

C&D Outfitters David Bennett HyVee Distribution Mike Robertson

Racks and Tracks Taxidermy Rockytop Ranch Scheels Tim Quinn

BRONZE (up to $499)

Bluff Creek Archery Clayton County Archers Dakota Ranch Outfitters Dan Krettek Denny Bradley Eyad Yehyawi Fin and Feather Ike Lind Jerry Dowell Jill German Creations JP Plumbing Mid Iowa Archers

Pj1Custom Woodworking Palo Outdoors Pine Lake Archers Pottawattamie Bowhunters Raw Metal Works Roger Bowen Scott Rolffs South Central Bowhunters of Iowa Stellar Sparks Candle Company Tammy’s Handbags and Apparel Taylor Photography Wapello Chiefs

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FEATURED 100% CLUB 100% CLUBS To all 100% clubs During the IBA March board meeting at the Spring Banquet it was discussed how to make things more affordable for our clubs where every single member of the club is an IBA member. With continued discussion at the June board meeting, the board thought this was an excellent idea and would be implemented soon. Here’s how it works. • Beginning January 1, 2023, dues will drop to $15 per member for all 100% club members (2 or 3 year discount does not apply). • Current membership dues of $25 remain for all other IBA members with the existing options of 2 or 3 year discounts.

• IBA treasurer will make sure all dues are accurate, any overpayment will be returned if necessary. • The IBA needs to grow their membership and hopefully this will encourage other non-100% clubs to become one. • Along with reduced membership rates, some other perks the 100% clubs enjoy are - individual newsletter section, 1/2 page ad in the newsletter for your shoot schedule, full page article describing your club (first come first served). Your IBA Board of Directors

Clayton County Archers Elkader, Iowa Hickory Ridge Bowhunters Pella, Iowa Pottawattamie Bowhunters Council Bluffs, Iowa Blackhawk Archers Waterloo, Iowa Raymond Bowhunters Raymond, Iowa Pine Lake Archers Eldora, Iowa Wapello Chief Bowmen Ottumwa, Iowa

Atlantic Archers Atlantic, Iowa Mid-Iowa Archers Indianola, Iowa South Central Bowhunters Chariton, Iowa Echo Valley Archers West Union, IA Riceville Archery Club Riceville, IA

Your IBA board has been contemplating what else we can do for the 100% clubs. Along with reduced member rates, member coupons, IBA Shootout participant, Iowa Games host, and individual newsletter section, we have decided to also include at no cost a shoot schedule for your club (no larger than one half page). Just get your schedule to the editor by the newsletter deadline and it will be included in the next issue of the Iowa Bowhunter.

Outdoors with Outdoors Dan Show 7 - 9 AM: Saturdays on 1350 ESPN Des Moines, Iowa www.outdoorsdan.com For Podcasts or to listen online just click to https://espndesmoines.com/outdoors-with-outdoors-dan/

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SPONSORS

Infinito Safaris and Double Lung Archery, Inc. www.doublelungarcheryinc.com

Join the “Hunt With Double Lung” group every June, or book you own hunt dates. Dave and Charl at Infinito Safaris make your dream hunt happen. LaPorte City, IA 319-342-4550 dave.stueve@gmail.com

MATLABAS GAME HUNTERS

www.matlabas.co.za Matlabas Game Hunters is committed to conservation and our strict management policies keep game populations at healthy numbers. We cater to all bow hunters, whether you shoot traditional, compound, or crossbow. Your adventure will not just simply be a visit to Africa, but Africa will become a part of you forever! Ph - (27) 878080861 or (27) 829000227 (27) 829000227 email - info@matlabas.co.za

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As some of you may recall from my past ramblings I restarted ice fishing a few years ago. I think I’ve caught maybe six fish in six years. I’m not exactly setting the ice fishing world on fire, but it is still fun to head to the ice even if it is just to get out of the house for awhile and do something that not everyone wants to do. I tried something new this year, something that is the total opposite of my normal routine; I went the minimalist route. What actually triggered my move towards ice fishing minimalism? It was the thin ice we have been experiencing in southeast Iowa in recent years. The guidelines dictate a minimum of four inches of good ice to fish. Just to be safe, with all the stuff I drag along, I need a minimum of eight inches of good ice. With the warmer winters lately I figured if I want to go ice fishing I better cut down on the comfy factor and reduce the gear load. The challenge, however, was to reduce my gear load without decreasing my comfy factor and not increasing the suck factor to the point where I would be reluctant to go. Usually I take a large sled full of gear on the ice in an effort to be comfy while ice fishing. I have a pop up shelter, a nice chair and a heater. I have several layers of warm clothes that are wind proof and even float. I have movies downloaded on my tablet, I have my phone and I have a system to keep them all charged. I have a fish finder, an underwater camera and a drill powered ice auger. I have rods, reels and tip ups. I have waxies, spikes and butter worms. I have spoons, jigs and minnows. I have sodas, sammiches and chips. I have everything I need to stay comfy, entertained and catch fish. What I lack is the skill to find the fish, the skill to get the fish to bite and the skill to get the fish on the ice. I took a look at my gear list and thought maybe I needed Elon to help me reduce the waste fraud and abuse on my list. Elon is a little busy these days and I realized that all I really needed was a Bonker Office of Excess Gear Reduction, or BONKER’S WORLD SUMMER ISSUE

BOEGR. I tried to assemble a team that would be called the BOEGR Eaters because they would eat through my list and help me reduce my gear load but maintain a level of comfy that was acceptable. I canned up My Personal Guide, My Personal Guide’s Assistant and My Personal Guide’s Apprentice to see if they would help me cut the gear. They all refused. We may have had a bad connection on the tight string and cans communication system they insist on using. When I asked if they wanted to be on my BOEGR Eaters team they all said they weren’t nose pickers and disrespectfully declined. I’m still not sure what nose picking and being on the BOEGR Eaters team have in common. So I tasked myself with doing the work of BOEGR. The thought of cutting down on my gear was about as foreign to me as cutting wasteful spending is to a Bureaucrat, but I started going over the list item by item. First cut was the pop up shelter, nice chair and heater. I shouldn’t need the shelter and heater if I utilize my layers of warm and windproof clothes that float. The chair will take some further thought. Second cut was the tablet to watch movies and the charging system. I’ll just keep my head up and look at all the natural scenery. I’ll still need my phone so I can confirm how cold I should be. Third cut was the under water camera. The camera is a fun thing to watch, but without the shelter the sun makes the screen unseeable. Fourth cut was to only take one rod and reel and two tip ups. I can only have three lines in the water at once so the rest were redundant. Fifth cut was sodas, sammiches and chips. I eat good enough when I’m home, no sense piling on the calories while I’m ice fishing. So that leaves me with my phone, a fish finder, an auger, one rod and reel, two tip ups, waxes, spikes, butter worms, minnows, jigs and spoons. What I haven’t solved yet was a way to carry the gear and a comfy way to sit.

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BONKER’S WORLD (CONT.) SUMMER ISSUE

Well, maybe some sort of gear regression would be useful, what if I regressed to using the ubiquitous five gallon bucket? Sounds good, but not everything would fit. I started perusing the ice fishing gear manufacturing web sites looking for a solution. I’ll tell you what, they are not minimalists, well, at my core neither am I, but if I want to continue to fish on hard water I needed to cut down. I finally found an item on the web site of one of the leading manufacturers. It was a gear design holds two rods, two tip ups, an ice scoop, a pouch for a small box of jigs, a pouch for a small box of spoons and tip up supplies, a very small pouch for extra batteries for my heated gloves and a couple of other features that I still haven’t figured out, but they are there just in case I do. That still left the fish finder and some sort of seat. Sometimes it takes a rock to the side of my head to see the obvious. The fish finder can go inside of the bucket and maybe if I peruse bucket seats on the interwebs I can come up with something. I was about ready to order a set of cool bucket seats for a Jeep I haven’t owned for about 20 years. I showed the screen to my wife and I got that look which brought me back to reality, so no bucket seats for Jeeps I no longer owned were ordered. caddy that fit around a five gallon bucket. This brilliant

What I did find though was a very comfy looking extra thick seat that swivels and snaps on the bucket like a lid. Wow, things were looking up. I might be making this gear reduction dream into a reality. How would I carry the waxes, spikes and butter worms? Well, like I always did, in a pants pocket but this time I’d use what is called a bait puck so they wouldn’t squish when I sat down. Minnows were going to be a problem. How was I going to carry a minnow bucket if I was going to carry the five gallon bucket in one hand and the ice auger in the other? I solved that issue by going to the local Goodwill store and purchasing a one gallon insulated jug with a handle. I can hear you wondering which hand was I going to carry my makeshift minnow bucket in? Neither, I drilled holes in the handle and used a shoulder strap from some long ago discarded tool bag to turn it into a Bonkerized minnow bucket. The only thing left to ponder was what do I do with the fish I catch? A few years back I actually purchased a long mesh bag that fit into an eight inch hole in the ice where the maximalist would keep the fish they caught. I pondered and I pondered until I was pondered out and couldn’t come up with a solution. I thought about a safety pin type stringer or the piece of rope type stringer but how would I hook it to the ice? I could bring

along a battery powered impact wrench, the appropriate socket and impact adapter to drive a lag bolt into the ice. I think the bucket has plenty of room for it but that adds weight. I decided just to go without the fish bag or stringer hoping a solution would reveal itself. Yeah, who am I kidding? The chances of me actually catching a fish, let alone one that is keeper sized, is like purchasing winning lottery tickets twice in the same week. The gear list that once needed a large sled has been whittled down to a five gallon bucket with the comfy seat, the ice auger and an over the shoulder minnow bucket. worms in the fridge and I can get minnows on the way to the lake. Now I just needed some cooperation from the weather to give me four inches of safe ice. The ice finally got fishable about the third week of January. There was still open water on Lake McBride but there is a small county park about 30 miles north that I wanted to check out, so I put my five gallon bucket with the gear caddy, my drill with the auger attached and my minnow jug in the truck and headed north. About 45 minutes later I crested a hill and saw the small lake apparently frozen over with just two people on the ice. I was glad to see the ice and glad that My gear was sorted, I had waxies, spikes and butter

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BONKER’S WORLD (CONT.) SUMMER ISSUE

I was going to be able to test my minimalist approach to ice fishing. I parked and put on my boots with ice cleats, grabbed my gear and headed to the ice. I had looked up this particular lake on the Iowa DNR online lake maps and had decided ahead of time where I would try. I headed that direction, this lake isn’t very big so I didn’t need to walk far and the best part about ice is no hills to climb. I got to the spot, looked around to confirm what I had seen on the map and started drilling holes. I drilled holes for tip ups, for bait I used the wiggliest minnows ever and the third hole was for me and my jigging rod. I set my bucket up so the wind would be at my back and my tip ups would be in sight. I put a couple of big ‘ole butter worms on a jig that was probably too big. I sat down on the surprisingly comfy bucket lid and started watching fish finder TV. About an hour later I looked up from fish finder TV to see one of the flags was up. I get a kick from YouTube ice fishing videos that have young guys running to flags and sliding on the ice like they are sliding into home plate. Not me boy. I put my jigging rod down, stood up, stretched and slowly walked in that direction. Why wasn’t I in a big hurry? I’ve been fooled before by errant flags. I got to the tip up, the spool was not spinning. I gently picked up

the frame until I could grab the line. I didn’t feel anything but I pulled the line up anyway. Just as I thought, the minnow was still doing minnowy things so I just dropped the line back down and reset the tip up. I think I had made a rookie mistake with the tip up and set it so the wind could actually make the flag fly. I adjusted the tip up and I returned to my comfy cushion covered five gallon bucket. I was still warm, my new merino wool socks were worth their weight in gold, not to mention I felt like I had paid that much when I bought them. Soon, I was visited by the Park Ranger. He was a very nice guy, we stood and chatted for about 15 minutes. I mentioned my minimalist approach this year so he gave me several ice fishing tips. I said the one thing I hadn’t figured out yet was how to carry any keeper sized fish I might catch. He kind of gave me an odd look and just tapped his boot against my five gallon bucket. The odd look and the boot tapping on the bucket had the same effect as hitting me with a rock. I’ve never claimed to have a grasp of the obvious. I had been watching my fish finder TV for about three hours when I decided it was time to head home. Funny thing about fish finder TV, the screen never changed, sure I could see my jig but I didn’t mark any fish. Or perhaps I didn’t know what I was looking at. I gathered my minimal gear and headed home.

I was leaving just about sunset when the bite was probably about ready to start. All and all it was a successful first attempt at minimal gear hard water fishing. The temp stayed steady at 29 the whole time I was there, the wind stayed at 12 mph from the southwest and my comfy factor was high enough that I’ll do it again. As it turned out I didn’t get another chance to go ice fishing. A week or so after my minimalist ice fishing trip my wife had knee surgery. She had suffered from a bum knee for several years that I think she got from kicking me in the bum, or may be just kicking me “the bum” hence the term “bum knee”. During her recovery I felt my place was to be constantly by her side. Day after day and night after night I was there, taking care of her every want and need and even some wants and needs she didn’t know she had. I had her meds planned out, I had made med sheets to record when her meds were taken, I had spread sheets for when and which exercises she needed to do, I measured how far she walked every time she walked, I kept track of everything, and I do mean everything. After the first day of her recovery she started urging me to go ice fishing. No matter how often she urged me to go, and it was quite often, I stayed by her side. After the first week her tone changed to more demanding

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BONKER’S WORLD (CONT.) SUMMER ISSUE

instead of urging that I go ice fishing, I remained at her side. After the second week she seemed to be ordering me to go ice fishing, but I remained at her side. After the third week she seemed to be begging and pleading for me to go ice fishing, but I remained at her side. After the fourth week she used some old coat hangers to fashion hooks on her walker. I didn’t know what she would use them for until I caught her in the garage hooking my five gallon bucket, the auger and minnow bucket to her walker. Seems she was going to load them in my truck for me. I thought “Wow, she really wants me to go.” But how do I tell her the hard water had returned to its softer state?

Then, like a rock to the head, I realized that perhaps I had been smothering her and I should have listened and gone when I had the chance. Once again I displayed my lack of grasp for the obvious. So I relented in what she termed “my obsessive and intrusive” care and started thinking of next year’s minimalist ice fishing. Just to be clear, in case My Personal Guide has any hopes this minimalist trend carries over for turkey, deer and Canadian fishing, it is for ice fishing only and then only until the ice gets thick enough for my normal load out. Anybody know where to find and hire a good Sherpa?

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SPRING BANQUET 2025 SUMMER ISSUE First off, I’d like to thank those that attended our Spring Banquet at the FFA Enrichment Center, those didn’t missed a great afternoon and evening. The meal was awesome, Randy Cooling did a great job sharing some of his hunting experiences and adventures. The IBA board worked very diligently to have many great items on the live and silent auctions.

Bob Haney and IBA President Loren Wakeman did a great job as MC, keeping the evening moving along. A big shoutout to those running the registration table, raffles and live and silent auctions. Thank you to the staff at the FFA Center for their help in making for an enjoyable day. Great Caterers of Iowa did an excellent job in preparing and serving the meal. They have been contracted for the meal next year. We had a block of rooms at the Residence Inn and nothing but positive comments on the accommodations and the meeting room for Friday night informal gathering. Spring Banquet ’26 will be March 21th at the FFA Enrichment Center. Keynote speaker will be Billy Molls “The Mountain Man”. Hope to see you there.

I’d be amiss if I didn’t thank all our sponsors, without them our event would not be possible, a special thank you to GSM Sports. The IBA board members did a great job organizing and keeping things running smoothly. A big thanks to Jace Elliott and Dave Hoffman for their seminars. Jace on the condition of Iowa’s deer herd and Dave for preparing wild game.

No other organization protects, promotes, and defends bowhunting for Iowans like the IBA.

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DNR NEWS SUMMER ISSUE By Catherine Cummings How Iowa Bowhunters Can Help Monitor CWD Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal disease affecting cervids including white-tailed deer, moose, elk, mule deer, and caribou. In Iowa, CWD was first detected in a wild white-tailed deer in Allamakee County in 2013, and has since spread to 23 counties (please see our Interactive CWD Dashboard for updated information: https://www. iowadnr.gov/idnr/Hunting/Deer-Hunting/Deer Health/Chronic-Wasting-Disease/Surveillance Results). The disease is caused by the misfolding of naturally occurring proteins, called prions. As the disease progresses, these misfolded prion proteins accumulate in all tissues in the body, including muscle, but become highly concentrated in the brain, spinal cord, and lymph nodes. Prion aggregates ultimately impair the neurologic function of infected animals, leading to rapid decline after a long asymptomatic phase. Understanding CWD Transmission and Signs One of the challenges in managing CWD is its long incubation period, which can range from 18-36 months, during which infected deer appear perfectly healthy. Despite a normal appearance, infected deer can still spread the disease to other cervids through bodily fluids like saliva, urine, and feces. Once clinical signs do appear, they often include excessive salivation, behavioral changes, decreased social awareness, and emaciation. It is important to note that these signs of CWD are similar to other diseases, so the only way to confirm a deer has CWD is through diagnostic testing. management strategy that supports quality deer populations for hunting while minimizing negative impacts such as property/crop damage and disease. Since overabundant deer populations likely increase the rate of CWD transmission, keeping deer density at a healthy level is important. This means that in some CWD-positive counties, increasing doe harvest is the responsible How does Iowa DNR manage CWD? The Iowa DNR is committed to a deer

action – but not always. Many Iowa counties are currently on the low end of their deer management objective, in which case encouraging more doe harvest may not be necessary. The DNR does not employ sharpshooters to manage our county deer populations, but instead relies solely on hunters. The Importance of Hunters in CWD Monitoring The Iowa DNR has been conducting CWD surveillance since 2002, relying heavily on voluntary sample submissions from hunters. This effort helps track the disease’s spread and apparent prevalence, which informs management strategies aimed at reducing transmission, and helps inform the public on CWD risks in their area. Hunters play an essential role in this statewide effort by submitting tissue samples from harvested deer. Why Testing Matters CWD testing helps the Iowa DNR understand the distribution and apparent prevalence of the disease. Additionally, it helps hunters make informed decisions about consuming venison. Although current evidence supports the presence of a strong species barrier mitigating the risk of CWD transmitting to humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises to test deer harvested in areas where the disease has been detected and for individuals to not consume meat from CWD-positive animals. How to Submit Samples for CWD Testing: There are two ways for hunters to submit tissue samples: 1. D NR Surveillance Program: Contact your local DNR wildlife staff to have a sample taken. Additionally, there are freezers in central and northeast Iowa where hunters can drop deer heads off at any time for sample submission. Be sure to leave at least 2 inches of neck tissue below the jaw to ensure that the lymph nodes are present for sampling. This method is free for hunters who participate until the quota in the county or Deer Management Zone is reached. You

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DNR NEWS (CONT.) SUMMER ISSUE can monitor progress towards surveillance quotas in the county on our Interactive CWD Dashboard. 2. H unter Submission Pathway: For those seeking expedited results (i.e., results with a faster turnaround time than the DNR surveillance program) or for deer that are not eligible for the DNR Surveillance Program (fawns), hunters can pay a $25 fee to have samples tested through the Iowa State

University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. DNR wildlife staff can pull samples for hunters participating in the Hunter Submission Pathway. I wish you all a successful and enjoyable deer season. If there are any questions about CWD or other deer-related diseases, please feel free to contact me at catherine.cummings@dnr.iowa.gov or at 319-480-7829.

The IBA is a statewide association made up of bowhunters. Is purpose is to protect, defend, and promote the sport of archery and bowhunting for all legal game in Iowa using longbow, recurve, and compound bow equipment.

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Pine Lake Archers Club Grounds at Eldora, Iowa NOTE: Camping is available a both Pine Lake State Park and Steamboat Rock county Park. Camping is available at PLA archery grounds and QUIET generators are allowed. Thursday 9 am til done 3-D target, novelties, and Saturday NASP: trail registration from 8 am-noon FALL FESTIVAL 3-D ARCHERY SHOOT AUGUST 1-3

Sunday Registration: 7 am-noon (cards MUST be in by 2 pm if counting for score) Range open to everyone: 7 am-noon (both courses close at 2 pm) IBA merchandise on sale: 9 am-1 pm Novelties: 10 am-2 pm All cards must be turned in by 2 pm and will begin to remove animals at 2 pm also *Range closed for each day means you cannot start after that time, but can still finish if you’ve already started. Keep in mind that events will be in process at the clubhouse Saturday night after the range closes. **Bucket raffles will only have one ticket drawn and do not need to be present to win.

practice area setup - volunteers will receive one free shoot pass

Registration: 7 am-5 pm Range open to everyone: 7 am-7 pm* Range open to NASP shooters: 8 am-4 pm (awards to follow) IBA merchandise on sale: 9 am-5 pm Novelties: 10 am-6 pm (may close early for board meeting) Ask the Deer Biologist: 2 pm Jace Elliot - DNR Deer Biologist Topics: Results of western IA deer meetings and possible reg and zone changes for NW IA. Updated CWD response plan, EHD updates, Trail cams and emerging tech issues. Q&A DIY - Wild Game Processing and Smoking: 3 pm Dave Hoffman IBA Board meeting: 4 pm Clubhouse kitchen is open till 6 pm Live music playing: 8 pm-11 pm

Friday Range open to workers only: 7 am-noon Regular shooting registration: noon-5 pm Range open to everyone: noon-7 pm* IBA merchandise on sale: 2 pm-5 pm Novelties open: 3 pm-? pm Clubhouse kitchen open till 6 pm PLA fun night activities - DJ music and games

IBA BALLOT

Please vote for up to two members running for re-election. Corey Thorson: Yes _____ No _____ Randy Taylor: Yes _____ No _____ Other/Write In: __________________ Please mail ballot to: Ben Lowe – IBA Treasurer 1501 N 23rd Street Clear Lake, IA 51510

Ballot must be postmarked by July 25. This ballot is intended to be used by members who are unable to attend the IBA Fall Festival. There will be ballots available as usual at the Fall Festival. Ballots may be used and cast on-site, and will be counted at the next Board of Directors meeting in September. Thanks for participating!

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IOWA BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION

FALL FESTIVAL SHOOTING STAKES

White Men Open & Unlimited

FALL FESTIVAL COURSE RULES • All shooters must have scorecard to be on range. Range will be monitored. • Shoot only one arrow per target; must let faster groups shoot through. • Shooters may shoot multiple classes. • Binoculars and range finders are allowed. • Each person can only have one scorecard on the course at any given time. • All competitive shooters must have a minimum of three shooters in their group. • Scorers will sign cards after round is completed. • Anyone not following the rules will be disqualified. • Crossbows allowed according to Iowa DNR rules. • Shooter is responsible for their scorecard and being placed in correct class. All cards will be entered into computer with information provided. • Competitive scorecards MUST be in by 2:00 pm on Sunday (no exceptions).

Green Women Open & Unlimited BareBow / Limited / Recurve Sight Men Bowhunter & Advanced Bowhunter Men Senior & Super Senior Red All Recurve & Longbow Women Bowhunter & Advanced Bowhunter Women Senior & Super Senior All Youth Classes

Black All Cubs & NASP

Future bowhunters are non-competitive and may shoot from any distance from target. All non-competitive shooters may shoot from any stake - card must be marked N/C.

FALL FESTIVAL CLASSES

Separate Classes for Men & Women • Open - Any sight, any stabilizer, any release • Unlimited - Fixed pin sight, no scope, any stabilizers, screw-in points • Bowhunter - Fixed pin sight, 12" or less stabilizers, screw-in points • Advanced Bowhunter - Moveable sight, 12" or less stabilizers, screw-in points • BareBow / Limited / Recurve Sight - Combined due to lack of entries • Senior (50+ years old) - Any sight, any stabilizer, any release • Super Senior (60+ years old) - Any sight, any stabilizer, any release

NASP Class (Use NASP equipment) Go by the grade you were in last semester. • 4th-5th grade Elementary

• 6th-8th grade Middle School • 9th-12th grade High School

PeeWee • age 7 & under • Non-competitive • Shoot from anywhere • No trophies

Number of participants needed to award trophies • 1-3 shooters - 1st place only • 4-7 shooters - 1st & 2nd place • 8-11 shooters - 1st, 2nd & 3rd place • 12 shooters or more - 1st thru 5th place awarded All shooters must have scorecard to be on range. Range will be monitored.

• Longbow • Recurve

Combined Classes for Boys & Girls • Y outh (age 13-16)

• Boys • Girls • Cub (age 8-12) • Sight • Non-Sight

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DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO FIGHT WHAT YOU HATE 5th Annual Target Trafficking 3D Archery Shoot SPONSORSHIP FORM

August 9, 2025 8 am - 6 pm August 10, 2025 9 am - 3 pm Sunday Worship @ 8 am

Wings of Refuge is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Iowa that has a long-term safe home providing opportunities for healing and restoration to survivors of sex trafficking. Most people are aware of sex trafficking and feel helpless in knowing what to do about it. You don’t have to feel overwhelmed by this injustice - you can help end sex trafficking by supporting survivors! Exploitation ends and freedom begins when a woman comes to live at Wings of Refuge. We are doing what we love (archery), to raise money to fight what we hate (sex trafficking)! There will be a 40 target archery course, split in 2 20 Shot Loops. In addition, there will be free-will donation concessions, contests, auction & raffle throughout the event. We invite you to choose a sponsorship level, make a donation or provide an auction item.

☐ Timber/Prairie Loop + 25 tickets ☐ Long Shot/Mid Shot + 15 tickets ☐ Practice Range + 15 tickets ☐ XXL 3D Target + 15 tickets

☐ Large 3D Target ☐ Medium 3D Target ☐ Food Sponsor ☐ Small Target ☐ Event Donation

$10,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $1,000

$750 $500 $300 $250

☐ XL 3D Target + 4 tickets

$____

Name:______________________________________________ Company Name:_ _________________________________

Address:______________________________________ City:______________________ State:_________ Zip:___________

Phone:_________________________________ Email:_ _______________________________________________________ Thank you for your Sponsorship and Support! SEX TRAFFICKING ENDS WHEN YOU GIVE! More event details at TargetTrafficking.net

Mail sponsor form and check payable to Wings of Refuge to : Target Trafficking 14284 560th Ave.,Story City, IA 50248

For additional information contact: Susan Parker (515) 520-9932 susanparker@sparkersolutions.com Roger Parker (515) 708-0123 rdparker182@yahoo.com

www.wingsofrefuge.net

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DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO FIGHT WHAT YOU HATE (Cont.)

Benefits of Sponsorship: Without question, with 100% of your sponsorship/donation going to Wings of Refuge, the greatest benefit to becoming a sponsor is the opportunity you have to impact the lives of the women served at Wings. In addition: Timber/Prairie Loop • Large Banner with Company Information Over Start of the 20-Shot Loop • 25 Participant Tickets Practice Range • Large Banner with Company Information Displayed at the Practice Range • 15 Participant Tickets Mid-Shot/Long-Shot Contest • Large Sign with Company Information Displayed at the Mid-Shot/Long-Shot Contest Area • 15 Participant Tickets XXL 3D Target • Large Sign with Company Information Displayed at one of the XXL Targets on the Course • 15 Participant Tickets XL 3D Target • Sign with Company Information Displayed at one of the XL Targets on the Course • 4 Participant Tickets Benefits for all Sponsorship Levels: • Sign with Company Information Displayed on the course or at the Food area • Company Information on Scorecard, Website, Social Media • Invitation to Have a Table at the Shoot to promote your organization Bring your own table, chairs, tent and workers Set up will be anytime on August 8 between 8:00am and 6:00pm or 7:00am - 7:30am on August 9. Please contact us if you need to arrange a different time.

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DEER SEASON 2024 By Ryder La Bar

On November 16 my father and I set out on our afternoon hunt. We were seeing rutting activity and wanted to get in our stands early. After lunch we headed to an area where we were seeing the most of the does. I was hunting a stand that was next to an old logging road that I was hoping would be highly traveled by does. On the way to my stand there were fresh scrapes on the road which got me thinking I picked the right stand for my afternoon hunt. I climbed up in my stand, set up and was sure that it wouldn’t be long before I started seeing deer. After the first hour passed and not seeing a single deer, I started to question my decision of picking this stand for my afternoon hunt. Another hour past without a deer in sight and the idea I had of bucks chasing does up and down the logging road was not reality. The last couple of years the deer densities were quite lower than years past but it was the rut so I knew at any time the woods could come alive with deer activity. I saw my first deer feeding in the distance and moving through some timber that was very far away. I realized the does were heading away from me and there were no bucks in sight. The sun was starting to set and I knew it was prime time and time to stay alert. I caught movement of a deer that seemed to heading up the logging road that was only 20 yards from my treestand. As the deer got

closer, I could see it was a buck. It was obvious he was on the move looking for does and there was no sign of him slowing his pace. I quickly drew my bow and made grunt noise to make him stop. I released my arrow and the shot seemed to hit a bit high but the shot angle looked perfect. The deer jumped high with the impact from my arrow and as he ran away, I could see about 6” of my arrow sticking out of the deer. The buck stopped running after about 80 yards and started walking in circles and slowly started walking to the nearest timber. He disappeared and I thought I heard a crash but was not sure. My stand was on an embankment next to the trail and I was high above the deer, so I started to second guess my shot. I began thinking I should have placed my arrow lower on the deer compensating the height of the stand. I called my father and he met me at my stand at dark. We started tracking the deer with our flashlights, but with no passthrough, the blood was not very heavy. Where I saw the deer walking in circles, we found the top part of my arrow and tracked the deer to the edge of the timber where we decided to leave the deer overnight and start tracking again at first light. In the morning, we started looking for blood at our marker from the night before, but the

lack of blood was concerning. My father and I agreed that we felt the deer could not have gone far because I believed it was still a good shot. We started to grid search the area where I was on the top of the ridge looking down and my father was at the bottom. There was still a lot of low-lying brush that the body of a bedded deer could easily be overlooked. After two hours of looking, I started to think we may never find my deer. When we got to the end of the timber block after our planned grid search my father asked me what I wanted to do. I thought about it and told my dad that maybe I could have done a better job and I felt we should do it again. My father agreed to do it again and I took over the spot my father walked previously. I was only about 100 yards into my new search I saw antlers sticking above some brush. I yelled to my dad and could not contain my excitement. This was my first 10 pointer, and taking this deer with a bow made it even more of an accomplishment. This was the moment that all hunters cherish, all the hard work and patience came together with a successful hunt. I was so glad my father was with me to share such a special hunt that I will always remember.

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FOR YOUR INFORMATION Membership Expiration Many people do not know when their IBA membership expires. To alleviate this a bit, the last time you renewed is shown following your name in the address section on the back of the particular issue.

LIFE MEMBERS

We have life member pins available upon request at no charge to you. We do not mail them out, but you can contact any board member and make arrangements to get one. It would be best to just come to a board meeting

(dates listed in the Iowa Bowhunter) and pick it up, but another arrangement would be fine also, it is shaped in a arrowhead and has IBA LIFE MEMBER printed on it.

Looking for a Few Good Men or Women

Are you at that stage in life that you have some time that you would like to volunteer and give back. Your kids have left the nest and you don’t have grandkids yet. Are you a dedicated Bowhunter that cares enough about our sport that you are willing to give up six days a year? The IBA is looking for a few good men or women to run for the board of directors. As in any organization, we need new people to introduce new ideas and stay current with the times to be successful, and also to continually improve the IBA organization. Your involvement helps to ensure that the hunting opportunities we enjoy now will continue for generations to come. The board meets five times a year and never during an archery season; after all we are bowhunters. Three of the meetings are held separately in Des Moines, one is in Des Moines during the FALL Banquet, and one is in Eldora during the Fall Festival. If you would like more information please contact one of the people to the right. Many people do not know when their IBA membership expires. To alleviate this a bit, the last time you renewed is shown following your name in the address section on the back of the particular issue. Terry Koppes 641-858-7182 tmkoppes@heartofiowa.net

Randy Taylor 641-521-1050 tayphoto@netins.net Denny Bradley 641-226-2584 bowhunterdb@gmail.com

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NASP & YOUTH BOWHUNTER

Youth Scholarship Essay Contest The IBA will be offering a five hundred dollar scholarship to a youth, graduating senior of current year that is a member of the IBA. To earn this scholarship, you must write an essay not more than 500 words on at least two of the following topics, and include a photo of yourself. 1. What Bowhunting has taught me 2. What the IBA means to me 3. My most memorable experience with a bow These essays must be in the hands of your IBA President no later than July 5. Members of the IBA Board of Directors will judge them. This scholarship cannot be given to the same person more than once; and will be announced at the Fall Festival. This scholarship will be given when notice of college enrollment is provided to the IBA Treasurer; and the check will be written to the college. This essay must be in your own readable handwriting and not an electronic document. See the Board Member section of Bowhunter or the Website for your IBA President’s contact and address information. I would like to publish some of our youth’s stories, but haven’t received any for quite some time. Please send your stories to the editor (see page 2). They can be anything from hunting to NASP to helping put in a food Iowa’s National Archery in the School’s Program The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) opens the door to the wonderful world of Archery to thousands of youth each year. NASP is a sport unlike anything else. Archers come in all shapes and sizes, there is no ideal physical makeup to be a great archer. This teaches kids that with enough practice and determination they too can achieve great accomplishments. In Iowa, we currently have 230 schools reporting participation in NASP. One thing NASP offers is called Academic Archers. No competition is required to be nominated as Academic Archer. As long as the archers meet their schools requirements for honor roll any BAI can nominate them. Academic Archers are eligible for prize bows from NASP as well as 1 of 8 scholarships given out by Iowa NASP. Last year Iowa ranked 6th nationally for most Academic Archers! If interested in bringing NASP to your local school please visit naspschools.org or shoot me an email at Zachary.benttine@dnr.iowa.gov. We have grants available each year for new schools to help with the costs of starting a new program! Thanks! Zach plot to anything you want. IBA Board of Directors

Zach Benttine Archery Education and Outreach Coordinator Law Enforcement Bureau Iowa Department of Natural Resources c 515-205-8709 502 E 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50319

www.iowadnr.gov

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YOUTH BOWHUNTER

Iowa Bowhunters Association Cal Stuchen Memorial Senior Scholarship (Performance Based) $500 - Bullseye Top Senior Boy Lucas Hledik, Central DeWitt $500 - Bullseye Top Senior Girl Megan Kremer, Marquette Catholic Bellevue $500 - 3D Top Senior Boy Thayer Rooney, Creston High School $500 - 3D Top Senior Girl Courtney Hanson, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School

Congratulations to all of the $500 scholarship winners.

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The IBA completes this purpose through the following:  By improving and increasing the opportunities for bowhunting.  By cooperating with and supporting federal and state agencies, sportsmen’s associations, and conservation organizations, which are insuring the propagation and preservation of game animals in their natural habitat.  By encouraging and conducting educational programs designed to acquaint the public and the archer with the safe and ethical use of bowhunting as an effective method of hunting legal game.  By supporting youth involvement in bowhunting through our continued support of the Iowa Archery in Schools Program. More information on our organization can be found at www.iowabowhunters.org or on Facebook at Iowa Bowhunters Association. Please consider joining our organization, and help us continue to protect, defend, and promote bowhunting and all our natural resources in this great state of Iowa for generations to come. WHAT IS THE I.B.A? The I.B.A. is a statewide association made up of bowhunters. Its purpose is to protect, defend, and promote bowhunting in the state of Iowa. HOW OLD IS THE I.B.A? The Iowa Bowhunters Association was organized in 1967 by a group of thirteen dedicated bowhunters from the state. This group, the original board of directors, had over fifty years of bowhunting experience. In addition, this group had many years of hunting big game and small game with firearms. IOWA BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION RELATED INFORMATION

The Iowa Bowhunters Association Mission

Statement. The IBA is a statewide association made up of bowhunters. Its purpose is to protect, defend, and promote the sport of archery and bowhunting for all legal game in Iowa using long bow, recurve, and compound bow equipment.

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