Iowa or Kansas draw for big whitetails.

[dkwellman]

Which one would you recommend? Shotgun or Rifle. Preference points needed?

 

[The Oregonian]

Kansas for rifle is hard to beat…I've never hunted Iowa although have 5 points which is enough to get a bow tag. Kansas is guaranteed with one point and probably 75% or so with no points. I would much, much rather hunt with a rifle than shotgun or muzzleloader so that is part of it for me.

 

[dkwellman]

Kansas for rifle is hard to beat…I've never hunted Iowa although have 5 points which is enough to get a bow tag. Kansas is guaranteed with one point and probably 75% or so with no points. I would much, much rather hunt with a rifle than shotgun or muzzleloader so that is part of it for me.

I agree with the rifle. I'd rather not wait 5-6 years. Thanks

 

[SnakeRiverEric]

You should do both, Kansas every year or every other, and Iowa every 4-6 for bow, or every other with shotgun/muzzy.

 

[cm1021]

Curious about this as well. Had a buddy that just come back from Kansas on a rifle hunt. With as much open territory as I've heard is out there, I really would like to have a rifle, my smokeless muzzleloader would be my second choice.

Ive hunted Illinois a lot in years past and seeing a giant at 100+ yards with a bow in your hand can deflate you!

 

[highfinblue]

I hunt Kansas every year I draw, and there are some nice deer there, but it's not a cakewalk. I saw one truly giant this year, and he saw me at the same time. He wasted no time in finding a hole I never did locate. Obviously, he had played this game before.

 

[Rifleman97]

Kansas for rifle is hard to beat…I've never hunted Iowa although have 5 points which is enough to get a bow tag. Kansas is guaranteed with one point and probably 75% or so with no points. I would much, much rather hunt with a rifle than shotgun or muzzleloader so that is part of it for me.

Iowa allows rifles now, there's just some weird rules as to what rifles are legal

Any rifle is allowed, straight walled or necked, as long as it is 35 caliber up to 50 caliber.

Most common is 350 legend, but since they removed the wording that previously banned necked cartridges, 35 whelen and 358 Winchester are great options

Now replying to OP.
There's some monster bucks in Iowa, I got a 17 pointer on public land a couple years ago there

Most of the shots in Iowa are under 200 yards except for the occasion the deer run out into the empty farmland, those shots are usually around 6-700, but since they only just allowed necked cartridges most people haven't been able to take those shots until now.

Attached is 2 pictures, one is some of the most open hunting area iowa has, the other is a much more common looking area to be hunting in. Deer in Iowa are more commonly pushed in groups rather than waited for since rifle season 1 is only a couple of days so you can't really sit around and wait for them and be successful. Second season is 2 weeks so if you're a lone hunter or a trophy hunter, that's the season for you. Unfortunately 2nd season is when the deer are spooked and there's a chance first season guys kill the big one in your area. Bow season is really long and happens before either rifle season, so that's when most of the trophy hunters are out.

There's a LOT of deer in Iowa, if you want a deer and aren't too picky you will probably get one. Only 1 in every 4-5 years do I not get a deer there, but I'm a meat hunter. I've gotten some big bucks and some small does.

I've never hunted in Kansas so I can't really compare, best I can do is give a really good description of what Iowa hunting is like.

Second few pictures are from some of the bigger deer I've gotten there, I've only ever hunted public land

 

[dkwellman]

Iowa allows rifles now, there's just some weird rules as to what rifles are legal

Any rifle is allowed, straight walled or necked, as long as it is 35 caliber up to 50 caliber.

Most common is 350 legend, but since they removed the wording that previously banned necked cartridges, 35 whelen and 358 Winchester are great options

Now replying to OP.
There's some monster bucks in Iowa, I got a 17 pointer on public land a couple years ago there

Most of the shots in Iowa are under 200 yards except for the occasion the deer run out into the empty farmland, those shots are usually around 6-700, but since they only just allowed necked cartridges most people haven't been able to take those shots until now.

Attached is 2 pictures, one is some of the most open hunting area iowa has, the other is a much more common looking area to be hunting in. Deer in Iowa are more commonly pushed in groups rather than waited for since rifle season 1 is only a couple of days so you can't really sit around and wait for them and be successful. Second season is 2 weeks so if you're a lone hunter or a trophy hunter, that's the season for you. Unfortunately 2nd season is when the deer are spooked and there's a chance first season guys kill the big one in your area. Bow season is really long and happens before either rifle season, so that's when most of the trophy hunters are out.

There's a LOT of deer in Iowa, if you want a deer and aren't too picky you will probably get one. Only 1 in every 4-5 years do I not get a deer there, but I'm a meat hunter. I've gotten some big bucks and some small does.

I've never hunted in Kansas so I can't really compare, best I can do is give a really good description of what Iowa hunting is like.

Second few pictures are from some of the bigger deer I've gotten there, I've only ever hunted public land

Really nice deer. Thanks for the reply