TYSON BEND WMA
Muzzleloaders who set up in areas along the Missouri River such as Tyson Bend WMA stand a chance to ambush a top-notch buck emerging from the wash.

Ed Weiner, a wildlife biologist in the IDNR’s Missouri River unit says Tyson Bend has gained popularity because of its size and because many hunters find the area relatively easy to hunt.

“Evidence shows that deer regularly cross the Missouri River channel,” Weiner said. “So a well-planned and suitably timed hunt could result in intercepting that big, wily buck when he’s on the move.”

Cottonwoods, willows and other dense underbrush found at Tyson Bend provide excellent shelter and food sources for whitetails. Even late-season muzzleloaders can have a lot of trouble getting through the tangle and into the deer. Deer will often retreat into the marshy sections where most hunters aren’t willing to go. The rest of the area is primarily timbered with bottomland woodlands.

Harassed deer will move into the thickest cover they can find, but unpressured deer in the remote sections will take the path of least resistance. Trails, open patches and old fields and flats all make for easier walking for both the deer and the hunters, and a well-picked spot between bedding and feeding areas can result in a clear shot in a relatively open area.

Tyson Bend, which covers 780 Harrison County acres, can be accessed a half-mile south of Interstate 29 on county Route K45; then, go four miles west on 270th Street. For more information, contact IDNR’s Missouri River unit at (712) 423-2426.

LOESS HILLS COMPLEX
“When you look at the historical record for trophy deer in Iowa, you’ll find that Monona and Harrison counties have produced well,” said Weiner. “They may not have produced the very largest bucks, but they’re certainly producing respectable numbers and scores.”

That means tracts like the Loess Hills WMA north of Turin, the Turin Preserve and the Loess Hills State Forest are prime blackpowder destinations.

The occasional big buck draws hunters looking for that muzzleloading trophy. The areas provides the opportunity due to the factors Weiner says go into producing trophy deer -- factors that include substantial acreage, interface with private lands and a lack of intersecting roads. Add a few fields of leased cropland and Loess Hills is a recipe for success.

The hunting can be superb if you target the out-of-the-way sections, but be ready for some rough and tumble foot travel. Shotgunners have hit the area hard, and the big bucks are well off the beaten path. The WMA’s nearly 3,000 acres afford a lot of room to stretch out in. For more, call IDNR’s Mt. Ayr unit at (641) 464-2220.