Three Hypothetical Options for a Hunting Camp - choose one

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2. Purchase 100+/- acres in SE / South Central Iowa. Build a large shop home. Going out west to do an elk/mulie trip once a year.

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I think this is a no-brainer if you plan on living there.

Would not live there. It would be a hunting camp. Sending a considerable amount of time there.

I like ducks more than deer so 1 for me but I also think owning land trumps all so could go 2 as well. Toss up.

2

Kansas does have a lottery for both Whitetail and Mule deer. The odds of getting draw are very good. From what I’ve experienced, you get drawn 8/10 times.

In Iowa you must reside there to get annual resident permit. If you just own land there but still reside out of state, you will still need to apply as an OOS and get selected every 3-5 yrs.

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2. Purchase 100+/- acres in SE / South Central Iowa. Build a large shop home. Going out west to do an elk/mulie trip once a year.

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Assuming you are only using this during deer season and not as your personal residence.

Edit: 2 was my gut instinct. After thinking on it for about 5 min. #2 has a lot to do with the tract of land you buy. 100 acres is not really that much land as far as managing for deer and just because it is in Iowa does not mean you have trophy deer. I would probably try to find some River bottomland in Illinois.
As far as buying a camper and not having land it would probably just be cheaper to find different areas you want to hunt multiple times a year and stay in a hotel.

Iowa is a hard state to draw a tag for. Kansas is easier but you only get one deer whether it be a whitetail or mule deer.

2
1
3

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Would not live there. It would be a hunting camp. Sending a considerable amount of time there.

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From experience, I'd take number 3 unless you have someone reliable to check on and maintain your camp. It was a pain in the arse for me when I had a place at Claiborne and it's only 40-45 min from me. Mowing, general upkeep, busted water mains...all sorts of shite. And I had two really good neighbors from around here that took care of most of that, but it seemed like shite still happened every time they went on vacation. Then one passed and the other just got too down to do anything physical and he'd keep a check but couldn't find reliable people to even cut grass.

My duck camp has enough of us to take care of big stuff and we have two women that clean and check it year round. But it helps that we use it year round for fishing too. And my wife has family that lives on the lake.

My current camp is about 15 minutes from the house. Nice, close get away and close enough for me to take care of things or send one of my guys. I may get an RV later, but I just stay in hotels or tent camp when I do more distant hunts. Maintaining a distance property and especially with a dwelling is a pain in the arse!!! Just my opinion.