The early muzzleloader deer hunting season begins tomorrow, and hunters may find varying degrees of success at finding deer in Guthrie County this time of year.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jeremy King says he’s seen a lot of success from the youth and disabled hunter seasons that lasted from September 21-October 6, but he explains what the lack of harvested fields in the county means for finding deer, “Which is a challenge at this point because obviously with the wet spring we had and the late planting and then they’re talking a three week late harvest and you know it’s raining right now as we’re doing this and it doesn’t look like they’re going to be getting into the fields anytime soon which makes it harder to access those deer a lot of times with all the standing crop coverage that they have.”

The early muzzleloader deer season lasts from October 12-20, and King reminds hunters that anyone born after January 1st, 1972 must have completed a hunter education course and obtained a hunting license, as well as have paid the wildlife habitat fee and have purchased a deer hunting license in order to hunt deer. He also recommends downloading the Go Outdoors IA mobile app, which lets you carry your licenses digitally, purchase licenses, and provides other useful information.