10 Best Pheasant Hunting in Iowa

Looking for the best pheasant hunting in Iowa but can’t decide where to book?

I get why this can be confusing. Iowa has a lot of Iowa pheasant hunting options, but they don’t all offer the same kind of trip. Some properties focus on guided hunts and trained dogs, while others give you more freedom to hunt with your own dog or plan the day your way.

I’ve compared 10 Iowa pheasant hunting destinations based on the things I think you should look at before spending money on a hunt: acreage, hunt style, guides, dogs, lodging, location, and the overall experience. I also checked current information from Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources because hunting dates and rules can change.

For this list, Big Red Game Birds ranks #1, but I’m not saying it’s the perfect choice for every hunter. A hunter who wants a full hunting vacation may prefer Heritage 1865, while someone bringing an experienced dog may care more about Outdoorsman Hunting Club.

That’s the point of this guide.

You shouldn’t pick a property just because someone calls it “the best.” You should pick the one that fits the hunt you actually want.

Below, I’ll walk through the best places for pheasant hunting in Iowa this season, along with what to ask before you book.

Quick Comparison: Best Pheasant Hunting in Iowa

Hunting Destination	Best For	Property Size	Hunt Style	Guided Hunts	Dogs	Lodging	My Take
Big Red Game Birds	Flexible day hunts	426 acres	Guided or independent			Contact property	Best overall balance
Outdoorsman Hunting Club	Serious upland hunters	1,000+ acres	Private hunting & club hunts				Best for dog owners
Legacy Acres Hunting Club	Repeat hunters & families	600 acres	Club & private hunts	Available			Best club experience
Heritage 1865	Hunting vacations	3,000 acres	Full-service packages				Best luxury option
Brush Dale Hunting Preserve	Habitat & dog work	200+ acres of core hunting area	Preserve hunts				Best for habitat-focused hunters
Chase the Adventure	Northeast Iowa trips	Large hunting operation	Preserve hunts & shooting sports	Available		Check current options	Best for hunting + shooting
Iowa Pheasants ‘N More	Simple hunting trips	Preserve	Half-day & full-day hunts		Available		Best for convenience
Three Hills Hunting Preserve	Value-focused hunters	500 acres	Private-field preserve hunts	Available	Check current rules	Check current options	Best budget-friendly choice
Doc’s Hunt Club	Groups & events	500 acres	Guided & group hunts			Club facilities	Best for groups
Highland Hideaway Hunting	Large-acreage hunting	1,500+ acres	Half-day & full-day hunts		Available	Check current options	Best for large acreage

How I’d Read This Table

If you want to narrow the list fast, start with the kind of trip you’re planning. Every property here offers a different style of Iowa pheasant hunting, so matching the property to your group matters more than the ranking number.

Want the most flexibility? Big Red Game Birds
Bringing your own hunting dog? Outdoorsman Hunting Club
Planning a full hunting vacation? Heritage 1865
Want a large preserve? Highland Hideaway Hunting
Planning a group trip? Doc’s Hunt Club

One important note: acreage, pricing, bird limits, lodging, dog policies, and hunt packages can change. I recommend confirming the current details directly with each property before you book.

My pick for the starting point: Big Red Game Birds. Its combination of a 426-acre preserve, guided or independent hunting, trained dogs, and straightforward hunt packages makes it easy to compare against the other options.

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1. Big Red Game Birds Best for Flexible Day Hunts

If you want Iowa pheasant hunting that doesn’t force you into one type of experience, Big Red Game Birds is worth a close look.

The preserve is located in Emerson, Iowa, and covers 426 acres. It offers pheasant and chukar hunting, with guided and independent hunting options listed on its website. That gives you two very different ways to approach the same property.

If you’re new to pheasant hunting, a guide and trained dogs can make the day easier. You don’t have to figure out every part of the hunt yourself. On the other hand, an experienced hunter may prefer to bring his own dog and handle the hunt more independently.

I’ve always found that flexibility matters when you’re planning a hunting trip with people who have different skill levels. Maybe one person in your group has hunted pheasants for years while another person is holding a shotgun for the first time. A property with more than one hunt style can make that easier to manage.

Big Red lists both half-day and full-day hunts, with packages based on the number of birds. Its published pricing also separates some services, such as guides, dogs, extra birds, and cleaning. Since those prices can change, I’d use the website as a starting point and confirm the current total before booking.

The 426-acre size is also worth putting into perspective. It’s not the largest property on this list, but acreage alone doesn’t tell you whether you’ll enjoy the hunt. If you want a focused day in the field rather than a huge hunting operation, a smaller property can still fit the job well. That balance of flexibility and support is exactly why it’s my pick for best pheasant hunting in Iowa this season.

Before you book: Ask for the current price, bird limit, hunt length, guide cost, dog options, and independent-hunt rules.

Why it ranks #1: It gives you a good mix of flexibility, guided support, trained dogs, and straightforward day-hunt options.

Check in Google Map

 

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2. Outdoorsman Hunting Club Best for Serious Upland Hunters

Your dog can completely change the way you experience Iowa pheasant hunting.
If you already have a trained bird dog and want the dog to be a major part of the hunt, Outdoorsman Hunting Club deserves a place on your shortlist.

The club serves hunters in northwest Iowa, with its website highlighting the Spencer, Storm Lake, and Okoboji areas. Its main focus is upland bird hunting, especially pheasants.

For an experienced hunter, the details around the dog may matter more than the size of the property. You’ll want to know whether you can bring your own dog, how the fields are assigned, whether guides are required, and what kind of cover you’ll be hunting.

Think about the way you like to hunt. If your dog already knows how to find and point birds, you may want room to work together without someone constantly directing your group. If you’re still learning, a guide may be more useful.

That’s why I’d contact the club with specific questions instead of simply asking, “How much does a hunt cost?”

Tell them how many people are coming, whether you’re bringing a dog, and how much experience your group has. You’ll get a much better idea of whether the property fits you. For hunters who put their dog first, it’s one of the strongest names in best pheasant hunting in Iowa.

Before you book: Ask about personal dogs, guide requirements, current hunt packages, field access, lodging, and membership options.

Best fit: Serious upland hunters and people who want their own dog to be part of the experience.

 

Check in Google Map

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3. Legacy Acres Hunting Club Best Club Experience

Some hunters want to visit a different preserve every year.
Others find one place they like and keep coming back.
Legacy Acres Hunting Club is built more around that second idea.

The club is located near Parnell, Iowa, about 10 miles south of Interstate 80. It covers around 600 acres and offers pheasant, chukar, and quail hunting. Lodging is also available.

The part that caught my attention is the club membership option. If you’re only planning one weekend in Iowa, you may not need a membership. But if you expect to hunt several times each season, the numbers can start to look different.

The club has listed benefits such as hunting savings, lodging discounts, and access that can also support dog training. Those benefits make Legacy Acres more interesting for repeat hunters than someone simply looking for a one-day hunt.

I’ve seen this same issue come up with many types of outdoor trips: the cheapest single visit isn’t always the best value for someone who plans to return. Before choosing a membership, I’d work out what three or four trips would cost without one and compare the numbers.

The property also makes sense for families. Having lodging on-site means you don’t have to build your whole weekend around driving from a hotel to the hunting ground and back. For repeat visitors, it’s become a go-to answer to best pheasant hunting in Iowa questions in the club-hunt category.

Before you book: Ask for current membership prices, guest rules, lodging costs, hunt prices, and dog policies.

Best fit: Hunters, families, and groups that want a hunting property they can return to year after year.

Check in Google Map

4. Heritage 1865 Best for a Full Hunting Vacation

What if the hunting trip is also your vacation?
In that case, I’d look at Heritage 1865 differently from a simple day-hunt preserve.

Heritage 1865 is located in southern Iowa and promotes approximately 3,000 acres of hunting ground. It also operates as a full-service hunting lodge, with guides, trained dogs, lodging, and meals.

That changes the planning process.

Instead of booking your hunting property, hotel, meals, and guide separately, you can keep most of the trip in one place. That’s especially useful if you’re traveling from another state and don’t want to spend half the weekend moving between locations.

The property describes rolling hills, farm country, and managed habitat for upland birds. It also has a long family history connected to the land, which adds another layer to the experience.

There is a trade-off, though. A full-service lodge usually costs more than a basic preserve hunt. If you’re already close to the property and only want to hunt for a few hours, you may be paying for services you don’t really need.

For a group traveling several hours for a weekend, the calculation can be different. Lodging, meals, guides, dogs, and hunting all being available at one property may save you time and make the trip easier. If a full lodge experience matters to you, this is often ranked among the best pheasant hunting in Iowa options for a complete getaway.

Before you book: Ask for the complete package price. Make sure you understand what’s included and what costs extra.

Best fit: Hunters who want the pheasant hunt to be part of a complete outdoor vacation.

Check in Google Map

 

Before you book: Ask for the complete package price. Make sure you understand what’s included and what costs extra.

Best fit: Hunters who want the pheasant hunt to be part of a complete outdoor vacation.

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5. Brush Dale Hunting Preserve Best for Habitat and Dog WorkA property can have plenty of acres and still not give you the type of hunting ground you want.
That’s why I pay attention to habitat when comparing pheasant properties.

Brush Dale Hunting Preserve and Kennel is near Maquoketa in eastern Iowa, close to the Mississippi River. Its main hunting field covers more than 200 acres of grass cover and standing-corn food plots over rolling ground.

Those details tell you more than an acreage number by itself.

Pheasants need food and cover. Grass gives birds places to hide, while food plots can provide another source of food. Rolling ground also creates different conditions for both birds and dogs.

Brush Dale offers full-day, half-day, and economy pheasant hunts. Hunters can use the property’s guides and dogs or, under its current rules, bring their own dog.

The property also offers lodging through its VIP Lodge. That’s a useful option if you’re traveling for more than one day, especially when you’re bringing a dog and don’t want to deal with a long drive after hunting.

If you’re interested in dog work, I’d ask which fields are best for your dog’s age and experience. A young dog and a seasoned dog may not need the same kind of ground. Its habitat-first approach earns it a spot on almost any serious best pheasant hunting in Iowa shortlist.

Before you book: Ask about the current fields, guide options, personal-dog rules, lodging, and hunt packages.

Best fit: Hunters who care about habitat, dog work, and having lodging close to the hunting ground.

Check in Google Map

 

Before you book: Ask about the current fields, guide options, personal-dog rules, lodging, and hunt packages.

Best fit: Hunters who care about habitat, dog work, and having lodging close to the hunting ground.

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6. Chase the Adventure Best for Hunting and Shooting Sports

Maybe your group doesn’t want to spend the entire weekend walking fields.
If you’d like to mix pheasant hunting with other shooting activities, Chase the Adventure in Decorah is a different kind of option.

The operation combines pheasant hunting with a gun club and several clay shooting activities, including trap, skeet, sporting clays, and five-stand shooting. Lodging is also available.

The property says it raises around 10,000 pheasants and 2,000 chukars each year. It also promotes bird hunting from September through March and dog-training opportunities under its stated rules.

Those numbers give you an idea of how large the bird operation is, but I wouldn’t use bird production as the only reason to choose a property. Your actual hunting package matters more.

For example, if you’re traveling with four friends, you may want to spend one day hunting and another day shooting clays. In that case, having both activities at the same operation can make your trip much easier to plan.

The Northeast Iowa location is another reason to consider it. If you’re already visiting the Decorah area, you can build the hunting trip around other local activities rather than making the entire trip about one field. For hunters who want more than birds in the field, it stands out among best pheasant hunting in Iowa picks that add shooting sports.

Before you book: Ask about the current bird package, hunting time, guide availability, dog rules, lodging, and shooting fees.

Best fit: Groups that want pheasant hunting plus other shooting activities during the same trip.

 

Check in Google Map

 

Before you book: Ask about the current bird package, hunting time, guide availability, dog rules, lodging, and shooting fees.

Best fit: Groups that want pheasant hunting plus other shooting activities during the same trip.

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7. Iowa Pheasants ‘N More Best for ConvenienceNot every hunter needs a lodge, a membership, or hundreds of acres.
Sometimes you just want to book a hunt, get into the field, and enjoy the day.

Iowa Pheasants ‘N More is based in Belle Plaine, Iowa, and focuses on pheasant hunting. Its website provides information about the operation and contact details for hunters who want to ask about current hunts.

This is one property where I’d make a phone call before making a decision.

The current website doesn’t give you every detail you’d want to compare side by side with the larger hunting operations. That means you should ask about the current package instead of guessing from information you find elsewhere.

How many birds are included? How long is the hunt? Are dogs available? Can you bring your own dog? Is a guide included? What about lodging?

Those answers can quickly tell you whether the property fits your trip.

A simple operation isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, some hunters prefer fewer extras because they just want to spend their time hunting. It’s a simple, no-frills entry on this best pheasant hunting in Iowa list for hunters who just want to get in the field.

Before you book: Get the current hunt price, bird limit, hunt length, guide and dog options, and lodging information.

Best fit: Hunters who want a straightforward trip without building a large vacation around the hunt.

 

Check In Google Map

 

Before you book: Get the current hunt price, bird limit, hunt length, guide and dog options, and lodging information.

Best fit: Hunters who want a straightforward trip without building a large vacation around the hunt.

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8. Three Hills Hunting Preserve Best for a Private Field

Three Hills also lists hunting seven days a week and promotes a preserve season that runs from September through March. Its website says reservations are made by phone.

Lodging is not directly on the property, with the site noting that hotels and restaurants are about 30 minutes away. That could be a downside if you’re looking for a hunting lodge where everything happens in one place.

On the other hand, if your main goal is private field access and you don’t mind staying somewhere nearby, that may not bother you at all. The private-field setup makes it a notable option in any best pheasant hunting in Iowa comparison.

Before you book: Ask about the current field assignment, bird package, dog rules, hunt length, and nearby lodging.

Best fit: Hunters who care more about having their own field than having a full-service lodge.

Check in Google Map

 

Before you book: Ask about the current field assignment, bird package, dog rules, hunt length, and nearby lodging.

Best fit: Hunters who care more about having their own field than having a full-service lodge.

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9. Doc’s Hunt Club Best for Groups and Events
A group hunt can be a lot of fun, but it can also become difficult to organize.

Everyone needs a place to stay. Someone needs to handle the dogs. You need enough room for everyone to hunt safely. And after the hunt, your group probably wants somewhere to relax.

Doc’s Hunt Club in Adel, Iowa, is designed with that type of trip in mind.

The club sits on about 500 acres of prairie grass, rolling hills, and timber. It offers pheasant, quail, and chukar hunting, along with guides and professional dogs.

The clubhouse is another part of the setup. Doc’s also promotes clay shooting and packages for friends, families, and corporate groups.

That combination gives a large group more things to do without having to leave the property every time.

The dog selection is useful too. The club lists breeds including German Shorthaired Pointers, English pointing dogs, and Labrador Retrievers, so you don’t necessarily need to own a trained hunting dog to take part.

If you’re organizing a group, I’d avoid trying to build the trip one service at a time. Ask the club for a package that covers the number of hunters, hunt time, dogs, guides, and any other activities you want. For groups, it’s one of the more complete best pheasant hunting in Iowa venues on this list.

Before you book: Give the club your group size and ask for a complete quote.

Best fit: Friends, families, corporate groups, and other hunters planning a larger trip.

 

Check in Google Map

Before you book: Give the club your group size and ask for a complete quote.

Best fit: Friends, families, corporate groups, and other hunters planning a larger trip.

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10. Highland Hideaway Hunting Best for Large Acreage

If acreage is high on your list, Highland Hideaway Hunting should be part of your comparison.

The property is located in Riverside, Iowa, and its website promotes more than 1,500 acres of managed preserve hunting land. Another section of the site gives a different acreage figure for upland habitat, so I’d confirm exactly how much ground is included with your hunt.

That last point is important.

A property can have thousands of acres, but that doesn’t mean your group will hunt all of them.

When I compare hunting properties, I care less about the biggest number on the homepage and more about what the hunter actually gets.

Highland offers pheasant and chukar hunting, along with lodging and a clubhouse-style setup. The property also has sporting clay facilities, which can give groups something to do before or after the hunt.

For a multi-day trip, that can be useful. You can stay on the property, hunt, eat, relax, and spend time shooting without having to keep driving somewhere else.

Still, ask about the actual hunt area before you book. Find out how many hunters will share the ground and whether your group gets a set field or rotates through different areas. Acreage alone won’t win you over, but it’s still a strong best pheasant hunting in Iowa choice for hunters who want room to roam.

Before you book: Confirm the acreage available for your hunt, current bird package, guide options, dog rules, lodging, and total price.

Best fit: Hunters who put a high value on large hunting ground and want lodging or other activities nearby. 

Check in Google Map

 

Before you book: Confirm the acreage available for your hunt, current bird package, guide options, dog rules, lodging, and total price.

Best fit: Hunters who put a high value on large hunting ground and want lodging or other activities nearby.

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Public Land vs. Pheasant Preserves in Iowa

Public-land hunting gives you more of the traditional challenge. You may need to scout before your trip, learn the area, deal with changing bird numbers, and share popular spots with other hunters.

That extra work is part of the appeal for many people.

A preserve gives you more structure. You can reserve a date, know where you’re going, and often add guides, dogs, lodging, or a set bird package.

Iowa has a large amount of public hunting ground. Iowa DNR says its Interactive Hunting Atlas covers more than 763,000 acres of land open to public hunting.

So you don’t need to book a private preserve to enjoy Iowa pheasant hunting.

The better choice depends on what you want from the trip.

Public land may fit you better if:

• You enjoy scouting.
• You want a more unpredictable hunt.
• You already know how to hunt pheasants.
• You want to keep your trip costs lower.
• You enjoy doing most of the planning yourself.

A preserve may make more sense if:

• You’re traveling to Iowa for a short trip.
• You want a guaranteed reservation.
• You’re hunting with someone who is new to pheasant hunting.
• You want a guide or trained dog.
• You don’t own a hunting dog.
• You want lodging close to the hunting ground.

If you’re traveling several hours for a single weekend, I’d think carefully about how much time you want to spend scouting versus actually hunting.

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What Makes a Iowa Pheasant Hunting Property Good?

Don’t let acreage make the entire decision for you.

A 3,000-acre property sounds impressive, but you still need good habitat and a hunting plan that works for your group.

Look at the type of ground the property manages.

Grass cover, crop fields, brush, wetlands, timber edges, and food plots can all change how birds use the land. That’s why I like seeing properties explain their actual habitat instead of only listing acreage.

Brush Dale, for example, describes grass cover and standing-corn food plots on its hunting ground. Heritage 1865 talks about rolling hills, farm country, and managed habitat.

Those details give you a better idea of what you’re paying for.

When you call a property, ask these questions:

• What kind of habitat will I hunt?
• How many hunters will be in my group?
• Can I bring my own dog?
• Is a guide included?
• How many birds are included?
• Can I shoot additional birds?
• How long is the hunt?
• Is lodging available?
• What does the complete trip cost?

I wouldn’t stop at the advertised base price. A $200 hunt can become much more expensive once you add guides, dogs, lodging, extra birds, meals, and other fees.

Always ask for the final number.

 

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Should You Hire a Pheasant Hunting Guide?

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What Should You Bring for Iowa Pheasant Hunting?

You don’t need to bring your entire garage.

Start with the basics:

• Shotgun
• Legal ammunition
• Blaze orange clothing
• Hunting license and required fees
• Good boots
• Warm layers
• Gloves
• Water
• Hunting vest or game bag
• Eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Dog supplies if you’re bringing your dog

Iowa has specific hunting-license and preserve rules, so don’t assume the requirements are the same as your home state.

For upland game bird hunting, Iowa DNR requires hunters to wear an external item with at least 50% solid blaze orange.

Check the current regulations before you leave home. It takes a few minutes, and it can prevent a problem during your trip.

If you’re hunting a licensed preserve, also ask the property whether it has any additional rules for firearms, dogs, ammunition, or field access.

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When Is the Best Time to Hunt Pheasants in Iowa?

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How Much Should You Budget for an Iowa Pheasant Hunting?

This is one question you should answer before choosing a property.

A day hunt may look affordable when you first see the base price, but the final cost can include several other items.

Think about:
Hunt fee + guide + dogs + extra birds + lodging + meals + travel + license/fees.

Iowa pheasant hunting trips can vary widely in total cost depending on what’s included. Not every property charges for all of these.

Some include guides or dogs. Others let you add them. Some have lodging on-site, while others expect you to find a hotel nearby.

That’s why comparing only the advertised hunt price can give you the wrong picture.

For example, a $300 hunt with lodging included may actually cost less for your weekend than a $200 hunt that requires a hotel and a long drive.

I recommend making a simple trip budget before you reserve anything.

Write down the full cost for each property.

Then compare the total.

That’s the number that matters.

 

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Which Iowa Pheasant Hunting Is Right for You?

At this point, you probably have a better idea of what each property offers.

If you want flexibility, Big Red Game Birds is ranked first in this comparison because it gives you both guided and independent options.

If your dog is the center of the hunt, Outdoorsman Hunting Club should be high on your list.

If you’re looking for a repeat destination, Legacy Acres makes sense because of its club setup and lodging.

For a full hunting vacation, Heritage 1865 offers the most complete lodge-style experience on this list.

If you’re focused on habitat and dog work, Brush Dale deserves attention.

For hunting plus shooting sports, Chase the Adventure offers more activities than a basic pheasant preserve.

If you want a simple hunting trip, Iowa Pheasants ‘N More may be worth contacting.

For a private field, Three Hills is especially interesting because it says each hunting party receives its own field.

If you’re organizing a large group, Doc’s Hunt Club has facilities and services built around group trips.

And if your main priority is large acreage, Highland Hideaway Hunting belongs on your shortlist.

Notice something?

There isn’t one winner in every category.

That’s exactly why I wouldn’t choose a hunting property from a ranking alone.

Use the ranking to build your shortlist. Then call the properties and ask the questions that matter to you.

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Final Verdict: Best Pheasant Hunting in Iowa

After comparing these 10 destinations, Big Red Game Birds takes the #1 position in this guide because it offers a balanced mix of guided and independent hunting, trained dogs, and day-hunt options.

But your choice may be different.

If you want a luxury hunting vacation, Heritage 1865 may fit you better. If you’re bringing your own bird dog, Outdoorsman Hunting Club could make more sense. If you’re organizing a group, Doc’s may be the better match.

That’s how I’d approach this decision.

Don’t ask only, “Which property is ranked first?”

Ask, “Which property gives me the kind of hunt I actually want?”

Then compare the final price, bird numbers, hunt time, dog rules, guide options, lodging, and current dates before you put down a deposit.

Key Takeaways

• Big Red Game Birds ranks #1 for its overall balance and flexible hunt options.
• Heritage 1865 is a strong choice for a full hunting vacation with lodging and other services.
• Outdoorsman and Brush Dale are worth comparing if your hunting dog is important to the trip.
• Doc’s and Chase the Adventure are useful options for groups that want more than just a few hours in the field.
• Always confirm current prices, dates, bird limits, dog rules, lodging, and Iowa hunting requirements before booking.

My Take

The best Iowa pheasant hunting trip isn’t necessarily the one with the most acres or the highest price.

It’s the one that matches your group, your dog, your budget, and the kind of day you want to have in the field.

So, which Iowa pheasant hunting property would you choose for your next trip?

If you already have a property in mind, contact it directly and ask for the current hunting package before you book.