226 ac Woodland Township Hunting Property in Garden Grove, Iowa

Woodland township in Decatur County, Iowa is one of the most sought-after areas in the entire country for serious whitetail hunters.  Located between Garden Grove and Lineville, the large landowners in this neighborhood have been cooperating on whitetail management for 15+ years and it consistently produces some of the largest bucks in the nation.

In addition to fantastic hunting, there are several picturesque building sites overlooking the vast mature white oak forest and rolling valleys of the farm.  The property also has 4 ponds, 2 of which were designed and constructed with the consultation of a fisheries biologist to manage and grow trophy sized fish.  For the serious whitetail hunter who has been waiting for the perfect property, this 226 +/- ac farm may be the one.

Farm Overview, History, and Management

This farm sits in the center of several large neighboring landowners that work together to manage for trophy caliber deer. Combine the neighborhood and seemingly endless habitat improvements on this property, and the farm acts as the central hub for deer activity.

The owner established this property as bowhunting only and has been the only individual to hunt the farm in the past 8 seasons.  He maintained a strict management strategy of harvesting 5+ years old bucks.  In order to keep deer on the property, human pressure was kept to a minimum, and approximately ½ of the timbered areas of the farm was deemed a sanctuary that has not been hunted.  Low impact access to just about anywhere in the farm is possible via the three major creeks running throughout the farm). In addition, ATV trails have been established for complete accessibility during the off season or to retrieve game. Tremendous amounts of edge habitat and pinch points make for plenty of locations to hunt on any wind direction. Late season hunting is phenomenal, with the main food source ideally located in the SE corner of the property.

Located off a dead-end road, this farm receives very little traffic and is monitored closely by neighbors.  In addition, cedar and strategic native grass plantings keep the deer feeling safe and traveling during daylight hours. 

Habitat Improvements

This is a very diversified farm, with lots of habitat types including mature hardwoods, cedar thickets, rock bottomed creeks full of walnuts, grasses and crops.  Many of the mature oaks and walnuts are ready for harvest, and in past years were quoted at over $50,000 in value.

A tremendous amount of habitat work has gone into the farm as well.  All timbered acres have undergone Timber Stand Improvement using a professional timber management company.  Non-mast producing trees or those with no benefit to wildlife were removed or hinge cut to create bedding habitat.  Additionally, select trees were culled to thin the canopy and release other valuable or mast producing trees, resulting in a substantial increase in oak acorn production. Since 2014, all the timber has been burned to encourage increased browse / cover and to release new oak seedlings. These projects have greatly improved browse, bedding cover, mast production, and increased timber value.

In areas where natural ditches or breaks in the topography do not provide convenient stand access, switchgrass has been strategically planted for a visual barrier. It is also used in several ditches that are too steep to plant.  There are two larger food plots approximately 2 acres each, and 3 smaller approximately ½ acre each that are tucked into the timber for secluded hunting.  Rounding out the food on the farm are over 100 apple / pear producing trees which provide a high drawing food source of soft mast. 

Summary

You’ll be hard pressed to find a hunting farm with better herd density and trophy genetics, less hunting pressure, or better habitat improvements and low impact access.  It is one of the best hunting properties on the market today.

• 226+/- gross ac, 32+/- tillable
• Located in Famed Woodland Township of Decatur County, Iowa
• Phenomenal Hunting area, well known for giant whitetails
• 15+ years of trophy management
• 5+ year old bucks only harvested on this farm
• 8 Seasons with only 1-person hunting
• Diverse habitat of thick bedding, beautiful hardwoods, crops, native grasses
• Loads of habitat improvements (TSI, Food plots, and more)
• Mature White Oak and Walnut, ready for harvest – Est. Over $50K Value
• Phenomenal access via creeks, ditches, screen plantings, ATV trails
• (2) 2 acre secluded food plots. (3) ½ acre kill plots
• 100 plus producing apple and pear trees.
• Entire farm can be hunted, unlimited edge and pinch points for stand locations.  
• Approximately 80 plus acre sanctuary
• 4 ponds, 2 designed and stocked with fisheries biologist input and management plan
• Great building locations off dead end road with beautiful scenery and utilities at road