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

2020 Summary wrap up:   

We had a very good 2020 season.  We went 100% success rate for our bow hunters.  We had 75% success rate for our gun hunters.   With that being said we had four hunters miss shots on bigger bucks than they later scored on.  We are increasing the number of planted acres for the 2021 season.    On our 800 acre tract we will have 700 acres in hardwoods with 100 acres of crop fields.  The two tracts that are 115 acres each were not hunted this past year mainly due to not needing them.  They both consist of 45% crop fields and balance in hardwoods.  We continue to take a limited number of hunters to keep the quality of our deer up and our success rate high.   My advice when hunting Iowa is stay put.  Do not walk around to scout.  I have done that for you.  Look for the mass of the antlers.  That will tell you the age of the buck.  A 140 inch buck is not a shooter here.  It may be where you are from but give yourself a chance to take home a 150 class of larger buck.  As far as potential, one year our clients took home a 186 inch, 210 inch and a seven pointer that scored 152 inches.  Two of these were taken by bow hunters.  The same year we had a set of sheds from a buck that was later taken that scored 215 inches.  So be patient and wait for the buck of a lifetime.  

New for this year:

Due to an increasing number of coyotes and other varmints, we are setting up a new hunt.  Like our three day turkey hunts, you can stay at the lodge for $600 per hunter.  Coyotes can be hunted all year with no bag limit.     

Thanks to all of our new and returning clients.

Brian and Barbara Lindberg

Taking hunters since 1988  

641-895-3224 cell#

The last of the hunters just headed home.  Percentage wise three of out four bow hunters took bucks home.  Four of the four 2nd season shotgun hunters took bucks home.  The year was going great until the 2nd shotgun season when the weather turned warm.  Deer movement was strictly at night.  One of the four hunters took bucks home.  What I felt was going to be a disaster of a late muzzleloader season turned into deer moving all over the area.  I feel that this is due to pressure from the surrounding areas that are being hunted.  We average 10 hunters per year so they do not feel the pressure here.  Bucks were losing their antlers early but we still saw a couple of the 150’s and 160’s during the day.  We still have an abundance of turkey if you are interested in a turkey hunt.

Take care and be safe,

Brian Lindberg
Soap Creek Outfitters
641-895-3224