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Blog Posts > For Giant Whitetail Deer – No Better Place than Iowa

For Giant Whitetail Deer – No Better Place than Iowa

Casey Mekelburg

| May 10, 2022

Casey Mekelburg
May 10, 2022

Location: Iowa

If hunting big whitetails is at the top of your list (as it is on mine), then purchasing an Iowa preference point every year is a must. The reason I bring it up now is because the deadline to obtain this valuable point is June 3.

Also, if you already possess the required number of preference points to draw an Iowa whitetail tag, then booking a hunt before this deadline is the next smart step to beat the rush to the top outfitters.

Here are two excellent deer camps well worth considering, either for this year or in the future. These are WTA TAGS’ most long-standing and reliable whitetail—big whitetail—outfitters in the great state of Iowa.

Afton, Iowa Whitetails

This comfortable, professionally-operated camp is run by a group of absolute gentlemen—simply great guys who know how to put on a deer camp. They are well-known, well-liked area firefighters, and during the Iowa deer season their stealthy approach has been helping our clients put the smackdown on some of the Midwest’s biggest bucks. This country has more of a roll to it with huge stands of hardwood ridges and deep ravines leading into flowing creek bottoms and massive cornfields. It is a true masterpiece combination of habitat and opportunity, and an absolute pleasure to hunt. The biggest whitetails in the country roam these hollows. The outfitter has the area stacked with strategically placed, extremely comfortable Millennium ladder stands for long sits in the timber, if necessary.

Availability here for 2022 consists of 3 archery openings from October 31–November 5, 2022 and 3 openings from November 14–19, 2022. If you have at least four preference points in your pocket, you should consider booking this archery hunt today. We also have 4 shotgun openings for December 3–7 and 3 muzzleloader openings for January 3–7, 2023. The shotgun and muzzleloader hunts will take at least two points to draw the tag.

Iowa Whitetail Hunting

This hunt takes place near the town of Brooks. This middle-of-nowhere location is a haven for big bucks because it has a perfect mix of farmland, thickets, cedars, and hardwoods…ideal habitat for whitetails. And, this outfitter controls thousands of acres and has dozens of strategically located, comfortable stands. Morning sets, evening sets, different wind directions—this outfitter is completely dialed in. And on top of the great hunting, this family operation will make you feel at home as you settle in for the week. Their newly constructed lodge and excellent home-cooked, hardy meals will help keep you rested and focused during your days perched in the stand. If you are interested in archery hunting in 2022 and have four preference points, there are 3 openings for November 13–18, 2022.

Also, several openings are available for the December shotgun and December/January muzzleloader. And these firearm hunts require only one preference point to book.

The state of Iowa offers a deer hunter his or her best chance at harvesting a Booner, especially during the November archery season. I also believe Iowa, particularly the operations mentioned here, is primed to peak again, both from a deer-numbers standpoint and age-class perspective. I can’t say it any clearer, now is the time to book Iowa!

If I could bow hunt the big-buck country of Iowa every year I certainly would, but I can’t. It takes preference points. At a very minimum, you should buy a point before the June 3rd application deadline. In the near future, you will be glad you did. If you are already sitting on the required points to draw (four points for archery, one point for gun), the sooner you cash in these points, the better so you can enjoy your hunt and also start building points for a future hunt. Don’t sit still, not for a year, not for a season. Never. Cash in those points, go hunting, build points, repeat.

Call and we can discuss the details of the two hunt options I mentioned above. Remember, the June 5 application deadline day falls on a Sunday this year. That can trip some people up. Don’t wait until the 5th and miss out. Call us and we’ll handle your application and/or book your hunt. June is almost here. Call by Friday, June 3.

We can be reached at 800-755-TAGS (8247) or email us here.

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Against the Odds: Drawing Back-to-Back Sheep and Goat Tags

Drawing a sheep tag with 1-in-5,300 odds is amazing. Drawing a mountain goat tag the next year? That’s lottery luck. That’s why it didn’t seem real when my WTA consultant, Jordan Roche, called me two years in a row with that news!

I’d been working with Jordan at WTA TAGS for about five years, letting him manage my hunting applications in multiple states while I focused on staying in shape for whatever hunts might come through. When he called about the Tok Range Dall sheep tag (the only non-resident permit out of 10 total), I knew it was special.

After the excitement of drawing my tag settled in, it was time to find the right outfitter to make my hunt a success. WTA recommended one of their top partners for that area and handled every detail. My outfitter made it clear: this would be a backpack hunt in some of Alaska’s toughest sheep country. At 64, with two hip replacements, I can’t run anymore. But I can hike. So that’s how I prepared—I hiked mile after mile with a weighted pack, knowing the Tok doesn’t care about age or medical history.

We went in a day and a half before the season opened and spotted a band of 14 rams, including one heavy-horned giant that immediately caught our attention. Then Alaska did what Alaska does best. Weather rolled in, the rams vanished, and we spent the three days scouring valleys and ridges to find them again.

When we finally relocated them, we had to break camp and make a major move. After a full day’s work, we spotted six rams bedding down as evening fell. The next morning, we made our play.

The wind that day was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It sounded like a freight train roaring up the mountain; gusting, dying, gusting again. At 320 yards, I had to time my shot during the lulls. My first shot went wide in the wind. The second shot dropped him—a beautiful 39″ ram. Honestly, I didn’t care about the number. That’s not why I hunt. I’m in it for the experience and a good animal. This ram was both.

The pack-out was its own adventure. We crossed the glacier-fed Tok River multiple times before Matt showed up with a Korean War-era military vehicle that could go just about anywhere. After nine days in the mountains, that slow, bumpy ride was a step up from travelling another 10 miles on foot. This was a trip I’ll never forget.

When Jordan called me in February 2025 to tell me I’d drawn a mountain goat tag, I actually laughed. “Figure out something for next year,” I told him, knowing the odds of a three-peat were one in a million. But first, it was time to prepare for my goat hunt.

I flew into Homer at the end of August, expecting to start hunting on Tuesday. By Monday evening, my outfitter, Paul, was warning me about the incoming weather. “We might not get you in until Friday,” he said. He wasn’t kidding. We sat through three days of howling wind, driving rain, and zero visibility before finally getting our chance.

Paul operates from a landing craft that serves as a mobile base camp. But getting from sea level to where the goats live? That was the hardest climb I’ve ever done, and I’ve completed five sheep hunts.

It was only 1,500 vertical feet, but every step came wrapped in devil’s club thorns, soaking brush, deadfall, and rain-slicked cliff bands. We hiked for what seemed like an eternity before stopping for the night to set up camp.

The next morning changed everything. Once above that coastal jungle, the alpine opened up to reveal why we’d suffered through that brutal climb. There were mountain goats everywhere. Good billies. The kind that makes you forget about devil’s club and exhaustion.

I took my billy on August 30, the first day of actual hunting after being sidelined due to weather. While packing him out, we witnessed something I’d never seen: ravens harassing a billy goat. They would swoop within inches of his head, and he’d swing his horns, trying to knock them away. Paul had told me about this strange relationship between ravens and goats, but seeing it firsthand was incredible.

The trip down gave us one more show. A black bear, fat from gorging on berries, army-crawled through the blueberry patches, entertained us from 400 yards away. I had a bear tag, but watching him was worth more than any trophy. Crossing salmon-choked streams on the way out completed the full Alaskan experience.

Both hunts worked because of solid preparation and connections with the right team. Jordan, my WTA consultant, had been helping me strategically build points and select units for years. When the draw results came through, WTA’s network meant proven outfitters were ready and handled every detail. They provided thorough gear lists, arranged logistics, and coordinated air charters. Everything was dialed in.

Some guys chase record books. Others chase hunting milestones. I finished my slam in 2019 with a desert ram, but what excites me most these days is the experience—the hunts that test you, humble you, and stay with you long after the pack is unloaded. When you work with the right people and put in the preparation, amazing things can happen. Jordan’s already working on my applications for 2026, so we’ll see what adventure comes through next.

Contact WTA TAGS to learn more about drawing the tags of your dreams: 1-800-755-8247.

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South African Plains Game Safari: The Hunt

South Africa’s southern tip offers a plains game safari that surprises even the most seasoned hunters with its challenge and variety. As a WTA consultant, I had the privilege of hosting this hunt, traveling alongside the group, sharing the hunt itself, and making sure every detail ran smoothly. By the end, hunters who started as strangers had bonded over long days in the bush and were already planning future trips together.

This hunt delivers true, high-value hunting in rugged, mountainous country. It’s not the type of safari where you ride around and shoot from a truck. Spot-and-stalk is the focus, often through thick brush and thorny cover, and shots can stretch past 200 yards off sticks. The ranch spans 80,000 acres and is home to more than 200,000 self-sustaining animals. You’ll see hundreds of game daily, with 10 to 15 species scattered across the property. Eastern Cape kudu, gemsbok, wildebeest, zebra, springbok, and impala to name just a few of the opportunities you’ll encounter, with plenty of surprises mixed in.

Days start early with breakfast at first light, followed by a drive into the bush with your professional hunter (PH) and tracker. From there, it’s boots on the ground—glassing ridges, stalking through thorn, and working into shooting range. Lunch might be back at the lodge or packed afield, depending on how far you’ve pushed into the property. Afternoons mirror the mornings, with hunting until dark. It’s real, engaging, and rewarding.

The camp itself is comfortable without losing its hunting-camp feel. Sixteen chalets, 8 of them newly built, offer clean and welcoming rooms. Evenings are spent around a central fire in the main lodge, with two game-based meals served nightly and fresh bread baked over the flames. It’s a simple but authentic setting, and every part of camp life is centered around the hunting experience.

Trophy care is well handled. Once an animal is down, your PH and tracker take care of the recovery and skinning. An on-site shed and cooler ensure nothing goes to waste. At the end of the hunt, an exporter meets you in camp to walk through options for dip-and-pack or full taxidermy. Everything is handled face-to-face, including shipping and paperwork, making the process straightforward and stress-free.

One of my favorite memories was an impromptu pistol competition with the local police captain and his deputies, friends of the outfitter. We shared plenty of laughs, a few friendly wagers, and even sent them home with meat in the back of their cruiser. That type of camaraderie and welcome isn’t something you find everywhere, and it speaks volumes about the atmosphere here.

The ranch is family-run, with owner Barry and his son Fred at the helm. Despite Barry’s paralysis from a plane accident years ago, he remains an ever-present storyteller and host, and Fred carries forward the day-to-day operations. Their passion and hospitality make the ranch feel like home.

The hunting in South Africa is unlike anything else in the world, and this safari’s mix of challenge, variety, and value makes it stand out. For hunters looking for a true plains game adventure in breathtaking mountain country, this is a trip that delivers.

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Wyoming’s Preference Point Deadline Is Approaching: October 31

Preference Point Deadline: October 31, 2025

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Wyoming’s system is unique. Unlike other states, you don’t automatically receive a preference point if you’re unsuccessful in the draw. Instead, you must log in after July 1 and purchase your points separately. Building points is critical if you want a shot at drawing a Wyoming tag. Over-the-counter opportunities are a thing of the past. Today, only 25% of non-resident tags are issued randomly. The other 75% go to applicants with the highest point totals.

If you want to hunt big game in Wyoming, building preference points isn’t optional…it’s essential.

Watch Wyoming Video

While preference points are an investment in the future, don’t let that keep you from starting now. While Wyoming has units that require 18+ points, there are also good opportunities to hunt sooner. There are elk, deer, and antelope hunts that can be drawn with 0–3 points. Think about it this way—the more points you have, the more options you have.

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