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Iowa: World-Class Whitetails, Premier Outfitters, and Expert Application Assistance

Eugene Catrambone
|  
  • Eugene Catrambone
Species: Whitetail Deer
Location: Iowa

Iowa stands alone when it comes to trophy-class whitetail hunting. Thanks to a nonresident draw system and carefully managed habitat, the state consistently yields some of the biggest free-range bucks in the nation. WTA TAGS specializes in guiding hunters through Iowa’s draw process and connecting them with the most reputable outfitters in the state. Whether you’ve been building preference points for years or you’re just getting started, now is the perfect time to plan your Iowa whitetail hunt.

  • Deadline to Apply: June 1.
  • Draw Post Date: ~June 13.
  • WTA TAGS Species: Whitetail Deer.
  • Youth: No minimum age.
  • Hunter’s Safety: Required if born after January 1, 1972.
  • Point System: Iowa typically requires 3–5 points for archery and 1–2 points for gun tags, depending on zone. Points are used on first-choice only and are consumed if drawn. If applications exceed license availability, a drawing will determine who gets a tag. Applicants will be notified via email of their draw results prior to the excess license sale.

Iowa Deer Hunting Overview

Iowa offers a tightly regulated and highly productive deer hunting season for nonresidents, structured around limited-draw tags to preserve trophy potential and reduce pressure. The nonresident application deadline is June 1. Seasons include early and late archery splits, two shotgun seasons in December, and late muzzleloader through early January. A valid hunting license, habitat fee, and deer tag are required, and hunters must report their harvests promptly. Recent regulation updates include a requirement to measure main beam length on bucks and adjusted antlerless quotas in select counties. As always, fair chase, ethical conduct, and respect for landowner rights are pillars of Iowa’s deer management strategy.

Premier Iowa Whitetail Outfitters

Through years of experience and strong relationships across the Midwest, WTA TAGS has partnered with some of the most reputable whitetail outfitters in Iowa. Each operation we represent is thoroughly vetted for quality land access, ethical hunting practices, comfortable lodging, and overall client satisfaction. Whether you’re holding out to hunt with your bow during the November rut or looking for an easier draw gun hunt, we offer a range of options to suit your preference points and hunting style. Here are three of our top picks.

Big Bucks Near Brooks, Iowa

Located just southwest of Des Moines near the rural town of Brooks, this family-run operation manages 6,500 acres of unpressured, high-quality whitetail habitat. With a newly-built lodge, delicious home-cooked meals, and an extremely detail-oriented team, this is one of the most enjoyable hunting experiences in the Midwest.

  • Trophy Potential: 150″+ class bucks are the norm and 170–180″ giants are seen annually
  • Lodging: Cozy 3-bedroom lodge with full amenities and satellite TV
  • Archery: Draw with 5 points and hunt the rut in November
  • Shotgun/Muzzleloader: Draw with 2 points for early December or January hunts

Learn More

Chariton, Iowa: Premier Farm Ground in Zone 5

Iowa’s Zone 5 is synonymous with world-class whitetails and this outfitter has exclusive access to 3,750 contiguous acres of optimal deer habitat. With a strict limit of 8–12 hunters per year and only 4 in camp at any one time, pressure is low and success rates are high. Only about an hour from Des Moines, this is as good as it gets for serious trophy hunters.

  • Hunting Style: All-day sits (if desired) in ultra-comfortable ladder stands
  • Trophy Potential: Legitimate 150–160″+ opportunity
  • Lodging: Clean, comfortable farmhouse with solid meals
  • Draw Requirements: 5 points for Archery, 2 points for Shotgun/Muzzleloader

Learn More

Afton, Iowa: Classic Mix of Timber/Tillable and High Success

This is the Iowa experience most hunters dream of. Nestled near Afton, this outfitter offers access to 5,000+ acres of classic, timber-rich whitetail ground—ideal for mature bucks. With deep draws, river bottoms, and ag fields, the habitat diversity is unmatched.

  • Stands: Millennium 21′ ladder stands in strategic locations
  • Lodging and Meals: Comfortable accommodations and hearty home-cooked fare
  • Success Rates: Most WTA clients have encounters with 160″+ deer
  • Airport Options: Fly into Des Moines or Omaha—outfitter provides pickup
  • Draw Requirements: 5 points for Archery, 2 for Shotgun and Muzzleloader

If you’re looking to make every point count, this is the outfitter to trust.

Learn More

Why Choose WTA TAGS?

At WTA TAGS, we offer a comprehensive, full-service licensing program designed to simplify the complex world of big game applications. Each client is paired with a dedicated consultant who provides expert guidance on where and how to apply, ensuring your applications are submitted accurately and on time. We even float the upfront tag fees required by many states, easing the financial burden during the application process. Once you draw a tag, our extensive network of vetted outfitters ensures you’re matched with top-tier hunting opportunities tailored to your goals. Our commitment to personalized service, combined with our deep industry knowledge, makes WTA TAGS the trusted partner for hunters seeking the adventure of a lifetime.

Let WTA TAGS Handle the Details

Don’t let the complexity of the draw process keep you from experiencing Iowa’s legendary whitetail hunting. Whether you need help applying, building points, or booking the right outfitter, WTA TAGS is here to guide you every step of the way.

June 1 is the deadline—contact us today to secure your spot in the draw or start building preference points. The bucks are waiting, and your hunt of a lifetime starts with a simple phone call to 1-800-755-8247.

Get Started with WTA TAGS

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Wyoming’s Preference Point Deadline Is Approaching: October 31

Wyoming’s Preference Point Deadline Is Approaching: October 31

Preference Point Deadline: October 31, 2025

The deadline to purchase Wyoming preference points is October 31. If WTA is already managing your TAGS applications, you’re all set. If not, don’t miss the chance to secure points this year. It’s the perfect time to talk with a TAGS consultant to start a new portfolio or grow your existing one.

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.

View Wyoming TAGS Hunts

Serious hunters know that Montana is home to some of North America’s most coveted species: Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, Shiras moose, mountain goat, and antelope. The key to unlocking these dream hunts is building points, and the deadline to secure your bonus point for this year is September 30.

Montana squares bonus points in its draw system, and hunters with more points gain a significant advantage in the draw. If you’ve ever dreamed of chasing a record bull, a giant ram, or a heavy-horned buck in Montana, strategically building points will put you in the best position to find success in upcoming seasons.

Watch Montana Video Rocky Mountain Elk

Montana consistently produces exceptional trophy bulls, making elk the most sought-after species in the state. Archery permits are especially appealing, often requiring only 4–7 years to draw—a remarkably short time period compared to other western states. Rifle permits can often be drawn with a similar point investment, though trophy quality is slightly lower on average. Many of these hunts take place on expansive private ranches, providing hunters with excellent opportunities and high success rates.

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Dialed In: A 360-Inch Bull Elk and the Luck that Made It Happen

Dialed In: A 360-Inch Bull Elk and the Luck that Made It Happen

Winning one hunt sweepstakes through Worldwide Trophy Adventures feels like a long shot, but winning two? That’s the kind of luck I still can’t fully wrap my head around. I started entering WTA sweepstakes a few years ago, taking full advantage of their Bonus Bucks program and hoping to win someday. I’ve hunted whitetails in Minnesota’s flat woods, mule deer out West, and Sitka blacktails in Alaska’s rugged country, but this was different. When Worldwide Trophy Adventures called to tell me I’d won their 2024 Nevada bull elk hunt, just a year after winning a Utah mule deer hunt from them, I was stunned. Two sweepstakes wins in two years? Unreal. And the icing on the cake? I’d be hunting with a crew that truly knows their elk. As Erik Schell put it: “John, when it comes to elk, these guys are paid killers.” He wasn’t wrong.

I opted to drive from Minnesota to keep costs down and bring back as much meat as possible. I loaded my truck with Yeti coolers and hit the road for the long drive, stopping in Denver for a steak dinner with a hunting buddy before tackling the last 10 hours to Baker, Nevada. That stretch through Loveland Pass was sketchy with snow and ice, and on the way back I detoured through Gillette, Wyoming to avoid a 30″ Denver snow dump. Long haul, but worth it to have my truck for the meat.

Baker is a speck of a town, population 16, just shy of the Utah line. The outfitter set us up in an Airbnb called The Corner Place. It was homey, with enough beds for me, another hunter, and the guide crew. The kitchen had stacks of premade meals like casseroles and snacks, whipped up by the outfitter’s wife. We heated them up after long days, but if we got back late, we’d hit the Border Crossing, a bar and greasy spoon split between Nevada and Utah. One side had slot machines, the other a gas station. We’d grab burgers and a bucket of Budweiser, the guide Richie’s favorite, and swap stories. It was simple, but it hit the spot.

The outfitter’s team was world-class. They’d been scouting for a week, pinpointing a bachelor group of bulls in a canyon 20 miles north. That first night, we sat around the Airbnb’s kitchen table sipping beers and scrolling through their scouting videos. Three bulls stood out: a beat-up 6×6 they called Bondo, a heavy 5×5, and a narrower 7×7. We decided to hit the canyon at dawn.

Day one was no joke. Richie, my guide, led me up the mountain before light, climbing a couple thousand feet. The air was a bit thinner than in Minnesota, but Richie kept a steady pace. Two spotters, Cameron and Ryan, worked the opposite canyon rim. It felt like I had the dream team for this once-in-a-lifetime elk hunt. We eased onto a rock ledge about 400 yards above a bench where five bulls were feeding: Bondo, the 5×5, a thin 6×6, a young 5×5, and a spike. No 7×7. This was the first time I was faced with taking a bull elk, but Richie talked me through it. “The 5×5’s got 30 inches of mass per side, swords in the 20s, probably 9 or 10 years old. Scores at least 330. Solid first bull.”

I went prone on the ledge, dialing my Gunwerks Nexus in 7 PRC to 387 yards. Richie double-checked: “386 yards.” Right as I lined up, the bull bedded down. Great. I’d waited out a mule deer for five hours once, so I knew the drill. Lying on snow with a 20° northwest wind kicking up, I started shivering after an hour. Richie saw it. “You good? We can back off, build a fire, or shoot him bedded. There’s a branch over some of his vitals. Can you slip a round under it?”

I’d put in time at Gunwerks’ Long-Range University: a hands-on, no-BS school that focuses on real-world shooting conditions, not just benchrest skills. They train you to read wind, manage stress, and make clean, ethical shots in exactly the situations that hunters face in the field. I knew my rifle, my dope, and my limits. “I got it,” I said. I checked the yardage, my level, controlled my breathing, and squeezed. The bull collapsed. “You smoked him!” Richie said. When he tried to get up, a second round finished it.

Reaching the bull was an experience I won’t forget. I’ve taken plenty of deer over the years, but this 360″ elk was in a league of its own—sheer mass, thick beams, and antlers that looked heavy even from a distance. Standing over him, the scale of the hunt hit me. We built a small fire, took photos, and soaked in the moment. Then came the hard part. The canyon was steep and treacherous, slick with snow and loose shale. I took a spill on the descent, and every step down was a test of footing and balance with meat on our backs. It took over three hours to reach the canyon floor and get the bull out, but it was worth every bit of effort. Back at camp, we celebrated the way hunters do—cold beers and a good story to tell.

We caped the bull that night and packed the meat in coolers, though it was cold enough outside to keep everything fresh. I hung around a few days, spotting for the other hunter’s bull, glassing canyons, and enjoying the Nevada backcountry. No pressure, just good times behind the glass. When I left, I strapped the antlers to my truck, crammed the coolers in, and drove 24 hours straight home, still buzzing. Back in Minnesota, I vacuum-sealed the meat, enough for months of meals, and dropped the rack with a taxidermist for a shoulder mount.

This hunt was as good as it gets. The outfitter knew every inch of that country, had bulls dialed in, and gave me options. For a guy who’s now won two WTA sweepstakes, I’ll tell you straight: these hunts are real and the sweepstakes are worth it. Nevada’s elk country and that crew of “paid killers” gave me a bull and a story I’ll be telling for years.

Don’t miss your chance to enter to win this world-class elk hunt in Nevada. The entries are limited…only 1,750 total entries, giving you very good odds of winning this elk valued at $72,000!

Enter the Nevada Elk Sweepstakes

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