Archers all over Iowa can expect superb public whitetail hunting this fall. Photo by Michael H. Francis.

Iowa's bowhunting prospects are only getting better -- at least, that's the word from Tom Litchfield, the state's new deer biologist.

"Deer numbers are strong across the state, especially in the southern third, on the eastern side and along the western edge," said the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' Litchfield. "There's also the potential for a new state-record typical buck. There are a number of bucks that are close to that size at any given time, and if someone catches the right animal at the right time, there'll be a new state record."

When a whitetail is old enough to produce a typical rack of this size, the window of opportunity may only last for a season. In another year or so, the rack will probably start to develop non-typical points.

Whether you're after that elusive trophy-class rack or a full freezer this fall, these are the places you'll want to bring your bow.

SHIMEK SF
"Shimek is intimidating to many Iowa hunters because of (its) huge blocks of forest, but it's still the place to go," said IDNR wildlife biologist Bill Ohde. "I'd recommend the Croton Units in the forest because they're smaller and have a little more edge around them. These areas will require more scouting time than normal to find travel corridors and activity areas, because the deer aren't as concentrated as they are in the agricultural parts of the state."

Shimek State Forest sprawls over several thousand acres of dense tangle, woodlots and transitional cover. Walking through Shimek means you may have to pack a set of wings. The area is characterized by narrow valleys and drainages with thin, flat ridgetops. A compass and a good map will help you keep your bearings.

Oak and hickory trees are abundant here, making the mast crop an important forage source in Shimek. Look for stands on top of or along the sides of the ridges.

The Shimek SF is located in Lee and Van Buren counties in the southeastern part of the state. There are five main sections of forest with the smallest covering more than 900 acres and the largest nearly 3,000 acres.

The Division of Forestry maintains an office about a mile northeast of Farmington on county Route J56. For additional information, contact the forest office at (319) 878-3811 or the IDNR's Wapello Wildlife Management Unit at (641) 682-3552.

DEKALB WMA
Though significantly smaller than Shimek SF, the Dekalb Wildlife Management Area offers plenty of prime whitetail country of its own. It covers 2,190 acres in Decatur County.

"The Dekalb and Sand Creek WMAs are probably the best bowhunting areas in this unit," said IDNR wildlife biologist Chad Paup. "If hunters go to the IDNR Web site, they can look up the interactive maps of these areas and can get a satellite view of natural funnels and pinch points. The woodland habitat is fantastic."

The deer numbers are looking good and the trophy deer potential is excellent at Dekalb. The area consists primarily of forested land with several hundred acres of upland fields and brush. The interior areas get less hunting pressure than the perimeter areas and archers can take advantage of this.

Smaller WMAs can be excellent big-buck territory because they're easily overlooked. On the other hand, too much pressure can spook the deer and push them onto the surrounding private properties.

Dekalb WMA is about five miles west of Grand River on county Route J20 and then three-quarters of a mile north on a gravel road.