Our next door neighbors — the Scotts — are snowbirds, and we always look forward to their coming back down in the winter. This year, Gary came over for coffee one morning and showed us some photos of a very happy young man with a beautiful, unique whitetail deer he had shot on Gary’s land with black powder. I was able to talk to Noah Lynch and his dad Mark Lynch, and this is the story of Noah’s black powder Iowa whitetail hunt.
Noah is twelve years old. His dad started getting his boys into hunting a couple of years ago. Mark told me he enjoys taking his boys hunting so much that he could give up his own hunt to take them. “Noah’s buck isn’t that big by Iowa standards,” Mark said, “but it’s unique and a buck to be proud of.”
On The Morning Of The Hunt
On the morning of the hunt, Noah was so excited that he got up over an hour early, ready to go. They drove to Gary’s place and didn’t spook any deer, then snuck out and set up on top of a hill near the woods. Noah had chosen a spot on the northwest side of a ridge so they could see into the bottom of it. They had set up trail cams before and had hundreds of photos of bucks. Noah had actually singled out the one deer he wanted (and he got it too – in spite of the fog)!
Noah seems like a born hunter. He chose the area to hunt and where to set up the cameras. He says he felt like a lot of deer would come in there. He was right!
Once they were in position, still in the dark, they set up – sitting on stools by an old fence line with some junipers, black cherry trees, and deciduous trees. This was on December 27th. It was only 35 degrees out, and foggy. This area of southern Iowa is a transition between cornfields and the Ozarks, Mark says. They were expecting the deer to come from the west. They saw an owl at first light, then a red tailed hawk, and they heard some turkeys.
“There’s A Buck”!
Noah had his black powder rifle on a tripod. He was a bit sleepy – his dad says he was having “long blinks”, when suddenly Dad said “Noah – there’s a buck”! It was directly down wind, which of course is NOT where you want it to be – because he can smell you.
The buck was standing broadside, eating grass. Noah wanted his earmuffs before he fired, and dad dropped them and accidentally alerted the buck. Time was critical, so instead of using the tripod, Noah had to freehand the 80-yard shot because the tripod was in the wrong place. “There was a lot of smoke,” Noah said. He and his dad were both shaking like a leaf as they packed up their stuff and went to track the deer.
Iowa Deer Hunts – Noah tracked his buck for hours.
An Excellent Tracker
They “bumped” the buck twice, which means the buck was down but got up and traveled some more. Noah, says dad Mark, is an excellent tracker and he was tracking the deer by “pinpricks” of blood. They ended up going two neighbors over before they retrieved him – so from 7:30 to 2:00 Noah was tracking that buck up and down hill, across a creek, and over a barbed wire fence. Amazing kid!
Once they found the buck and field dressed it, Noah dragged it all the way back to the vehicle on a sled. He even knows how to process a deer once he gets it home, and Dad is proud that he also has the self-discipline to pass up smaller bucks to get the one he wants. The family got around 80 pounds of meat from Noah’s deer, which comes in handy with 4 boys in the house who all eat like men, as dad says. You can bet this is a hunt that Noah will never forget.
Proud Dad
Iowa Deer Hunts-The Game Camera Photo
Mark is understandably proud of his 12-year-old. Noah is a good shot, a good tracker, and a hard worker. Youth hunts are a great advantage for kids, but this hunt took place during the late muzzle loader hunt, so Noah wasn’t hunting a youth hunt this time. His youth tag, Mark told me, is good for any season with the legal method of take. Now Noah says he wants to get a bow so he can hunt during the rut next year!
Iowa offers excellent deer hunting opportunities, with special provisions for youth hunters and a structured system for non-residents drawn to its abundant white-tailed deer population. States do their part to get kids into the outdoors by having Youth hunts, but without people like Gary Scott who allowed them to hunt on his property, and Mark Lynch, the parent willing to take his boy into the field on a freezing December morning, these amazing adventures wouldn’t happen.
Youth Deer Hunts
The Iowa youth deer season, typically running from late September to early October (e.g., September 20 to October 5 in recent years), provides young hunters a dedicated opportunity before general seasons open. This season is primarily for Iowa residents aged 15 or younger on the date they obtain the license. Youth must be accompanied by a licensed adult (18 or older), who cannot hunt but ensures safety and mentorship. A youth may obtain one any-deer license, plus additional antlerless tags if available. Severely disabled residents may also participate under similar rules. The season allows various methods, including archery, muzzleloader, or shotgun, promoting early introduction to ethical hunting and conservation.
Non-Resident Deer Hunts
Non-residents face limited quotas and a preference point system, making tags competitive. Applications occur in May-June, with costs around $644 for adults (including license, habitat fee, and any-sex/antlerless combo tag) and about $545 for youth under 18. Non-residents can hunt all standard seasons, plus a special Nonresident Holiday Season (December 24 to January 2). Party hunting is prohibited for non-residents, and hunter education is required except for non-resident youth under 16. Iowa’s management produces trophy bucks statewide, attracting out-of-state hunters to its mix of public and private lands.
Both programs emphasize safety, recruitment, and sustainable harvest, contributing to Iowa’s renowned deer herd.
Interested in bagging a big Iowa buck? Go to www.iowadnr.gov and search nonresident hunts.
New Mexico & Texas
Back Country Hunts, Steve can show you where, and how in Texas and New Mexico.
Outdoor Hunts Throughout New Mexico And Texas