The 2024 season started out to be one of the best we had ever had as evidence in the photos we had coming in. I always felt that we avoided the issue with EHD because we have so many ponds and streams that can allow the deer to be less concentrated around the same watering holes, however we did get hit during the summer of 2024 and some in 2025. In 2024 we only found three older bucks dead but approximately seven young bucks along with seven doe dead. That was a lot for us. I know that the deer numbers are down for doe and bucks however we still have the quality bucks hanging around. Going into 2025 I was concerned but what we had on the cameras gave us a positive hope for the season. We had our share of the 150 class bucks and a couple in the up to 160’s. Surprising we do have plenty of the 135 class up and comers. I am optimistic for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

We continue to take youth hunters on fishing excursions along with turkey and deer hunts.

The 2023 season wrapped up with a high percentage success rate primarily for the bow hunters. Temps turned off warm once again but the hunters that were able to sit it out for all day sits were successful. It is getting tougher to draw a bow tag with 4 or even 5 preference points. We have also added more 6 x 6 shooting houses for the 2024 season. We keep monitoring the effects of EHD in the area around us. In the past we have been fortunate to have so much water available so the deer don’t have to congregate in small areas to drink. Good luck in your coming trips to the field.

Brian Lindberg
Soap Creek Outfitters
641-895-3224

This season was very much like 2021 with the warmer weather causing less deer movement during daylight hours.  When the temps were cold some hunters saw upwards to 20 to 30 deer in the field and sometimes up to 10 to 15 bucks.   We had a handful of young bucks that were taken due to poor genetics or just being eight pointers with no more potential for future growth.  We have several upper end bucks in the 150 to 170 class range on the cameras but were seldom seen by the hunters.  Our largest buck taken was with a bow and scored 174 inches.  We did have one upper end buck hit and not recovered as well as two that were shot at but missed.  Most of the time we have far more buck photos than doe on the cameras.  I feel that we have a good buck to doe ratio at this time.    Most of our business is repeat clients but we do have some new clients each year.  If you were to visit with some of our clients you would be amazed if they told you what they saw as far as big bucks while hunting in Iowa.  I never want to make it sound too good but just knowing the caliber of deer that are here is enough to make you keep trying.  It was great meeting our new clients this year and look forward to our next meeting,

Our 2021 season looked like it would be one of our best seasons due to the number of upper end bucks we had on our cameras.  As the season progressed all the bucks were still here however 99% of the photos were during the night.  The temps were too warm to get the deer on their feet.  We had some cases where the hunters saw what they wanted to take home but it was last light or after shooting hours.  There was just very limited daytime movement.  I do have to say that our clients did pass on some bucks in the 140’s and 150’s since they do know what we have here.  I am very pleased to be able to say that our clients have come a long way from the days they shot a 135 class buck was a shooter.  The 800 acres the lodge is on now has 80 acres of crops of which our area farmer will harvest 2/3 of it.  The balance of the farm is white oak and red oak timber.  As I write this in February there are still several acres of standing beans.  Some hunters saw up to 40 plus deer in the bean field during the late muzzleloader season.  The largest bucks seen without a shot were in the 160 to 180 class range.  Our cameras still have three of the largest bucks still packing their antlers so at least we know they made it through the season.    Deer hunts are $2800 which includes lodging.  We still have an abundance of turkeys.  Turkey hunts with lodging will be $700 per hunter with lodging for three days.  During the off season we offer coyote hunts at the same price as the turkey hunts.  We try and keep the prices down below the market.  Our goal is to provide a quality hunt with exceptional deer.

Contact:
Brian Lindberg
641-895-3224