Iowa harvest reports

[Dennis M]

Okay its now well into the first week of season and we should be getting some reports on deer sightings and harvest reports. So lets hear from everyone that has been in the woods!

[This message has been edited by Dennis M (edited 10-05-2000).]

[Admin]

I just heard about a 150 class buck arrowed outside of the Bluffs, nice big body too.

Would love to see a pic! Remember to take your camera hunting with you.


http://www.iowawhitetail.com/confboardpics/tlhs.jpg

[This message has been edited by TLH (edited 10-05-2000).]

[This message has been edited by TLH (edited 10-05-2000).]

[NWBuck]

Not a harvest report, but an interesting "death" report. Although I didn't witness it, I understand our local DNR officer did. He told of two large bucks locked up in a local piece of timber. One was dead already, and when he attempted to free them, the live buck was able to break away. Reportedly the dead buck (smaller of the two) had a 20+" spread, although I don't know that its been scored. My question is - What are bucks doing fighting like this in late September ??? Anyway, an interesting story. Good Hunting!

[DecoyGuy]

I witnessed last Friday morning, two Bucks that were well aged here in SD. They were going at it like we were much later into the season than we are. Never have seen two Bucks with 19-22 inch spreads go at it that hard, this early. It was obvious that they were just sparring but it was quite forceful for just the typical taps. Got a Video Clip of it but its so far away, one can only tell the quality of these animals on a large TV sceen. I could believe such a story since I witnessed those two Bucks going at it the other day.

[Chipguy]

I was out hunting Sunday evening and I got to witness my first buck ever. I was so excited when I looked up and all I could see through the hole in the trees leaves was a very white 6 point buck just walking so carefully. He was about 30 yards away with no possible shot and then he took a hard right and followed my doe pee that I used on my boots the wrong WAY. I enjoyed it greatly and that is the only thing I have seen except for hearing some sparring last night aout 75-100 yards away, and there is lots of new rubs out there.


love this bowhunting.
Hope to get my first deer soon.

[jthompso]

I went out Saturday morning and actually saw characteristics that would normally be displayed later in the season as well.

I had a nice buck snort-weez at me as I walked across an alfalfa field in the dark. He wasn't too worried about me, he was more interested in a doe that he was chasing around and a small four pointer that was in the group.

[Dennis M]

Well I was out here in Texas thinking that the weather was alot like Iowa's low 40"s and raining. I did manage to harvest a lead doe out of a bunch of about ten doe and yearlings, with my Palmer recurve using journeyman 140gr broadhead. Trying to get in shape for my trip to Iowa, only 17 more days!
This past weekend should of been great for you all weather wise!
Good luck to all.

[This message has been edited by Dennis M (edited 10-10-2000).]

[flatlander]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dennis M:
Well I was out here in Texas thinking that the weather was alot like Iowa's low 40"s and raining. I did manage to harvest a lead doe out of a bunch of about ten doe and yearlings, with my Palmer recurve using journeyman 140gr broadhead. Trying to get in shape for my trip to Iowa, only 17 more days!
This past weekend should of been great for you all weather wise!


What part of Iowa you going to be hunting in?

Good luck to all.

[This message has been edited by Dennis M (edited 10-10-2000).]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Dennis M]

I'll be hunting in the eastern edge of Iowa, Missouri Valley, Iowa area. Hope to be there in about 16 more days!

[Rjack]

Had a great weekend hunting the county parks with my boys. Harvested a doe Friday evening with my 7 year old along. The exciting part of the hunt was summed up by his words at the beginning and at the end:

"Dad deer!" (he is spotting them before me)

"She's down. She's down. She's down!!!"

He was so excited - I could see him shaking. I think he is hooked!

My 5 year old got to see a doe on his first hunt but she didn't get quite close enough. After about 30 minutes, he was sound asleep. Wonder if the snoring kept the deer away?

Looking forward to hunting the bucks in November, but am having a blast with my boys right now.

[Patrick]

Had the same thing happen with the Mrs Doe Pee a couple years ago. I'd stopped the trail just short of my stand the buck came in hit the end and then turned around and back tracked the trail before I realized what happened.

Went out this morning and had four does go by and two small 8 pointers go by. It was a great morning with little if any wind.

Hunted a county park tonight and filled my doe tag. That will help soften the itch to let an arrow fly until a big buck walks by.

Glad to see your getting your kids involved. Several people at work are taking their children out with them this weekend for early muzzleloader. I think its terrific.

BTW, my doe was the fourth doe checked into the park office tonight. All five were taken about the same time 6:00pm. Don't know if an indication as to what time the deer are starting to move?

http://www.iowabowhunters.org/images/ibalogo_small.gif

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-11-2000).]

[Chipguy]

RJack that is great to hear sharing with your kids. I was wondering if you are using a blind or if you have a treehouse for a tree stand? I am going to purchase a blind in spring for the long beards and my 8 year old boy loves to talk to them big boys, but he just can't sit very still.

later

[flatlander]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dennis M:
I'll be hunting in the eastern edge of Iowa, Missouri Valley, Iowa area. Hope to be there in about 16 more days!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's about 30 miles South of me,should be some good hunting. Not very far from the Loess Hills they grow real big in there. Hills are pretty steep not to many people like to walk that much. How many days do you get to hunt?
You should be up here real close to the rut.
I usually figure it starts about the 10th give or take a couple of days. Are you visiting friends or with a quide/outfitter?

[Iowa1]

Dennis if you are heading to eastern Iowa looking for Missouri Valley, you are going to be on the wrong end of the state! Missouri Valley is in Southwest Iowa. It was probably mistyped on your part, but if not you better get a map! LOL!

[Dennis M]

Yes it was a misstype west central really.
I'll be leaving here October 27th and stay till Nov. 15 or 16 th if need be. I will be staying with family and hunting with a friend of the family no outfitter! He has stands already set and says the time will be right for a nice buck. I'm just not sure what to hold out for, I believe if I see one bigger then what I got I'll take a shot at it.

[Iowa1]

I have hunted and trapped quite a bit of that area, and there are a lot of good bucks. If your buddy has the stand locations on the money, you really have a good chance at scoring a P&Y. It all depends on what he's got lined up for habitat and stand locations. Bucks will be on the move at that time, if you are seeing bucks regularly, I would certainly not shoot a 1.5 year old or 2.5 year old in the first few days. Let us know how you do.

[Dennis M]

I'll be glad to give a full reprt when I return. I am shooting for a 3.5 to 4.5 year old buck in the high 120's to low 130's but may settle for less if need be. http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubb/images/icons/grin.gif Then it's off to Waterloo and visit rest of the family after of course a little celabration in Missouri Valley!

[Rog]

On saturday the 14th I harvested a decent 8 point in Madison County, and to my surprise one antler had half of the beam and all of the G-2 broken off. Is it just me or isn't it a little early for that?

[Dennis M]

You guys are killing me only 11 more days till I leave for Iowa http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubb/images/icons/smile.gif

[Chipguy]

Dennis hope for some cooler weather, bring some light camo as well as heavy, it might change from day to day. The temps have been in the 70's and warm when you have to walk for any distance.

later

[Patrick]

A friend checked his camtrakker over the weekend and had a picture of a buck which had four good points on one side the other antler was broken off.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-16-2000).]

[Chadwick]

Did some hunting in Van Buren County over the weekend. Deer were moving Saturday a.m. My hunting partner had a great 150 class 10 point and a slightly smaller 8 point bed down 40 yards behind his stand. He didn't see them until he had lowered his bow to the ground and started his descent in his climbing stand. He quickly pulled his bow back up and tried to get them to move. They didn't get up until I jumped them on my way down to get him. I saw both bucks and they were dandies. Saw a few scrapes and lots of rubs. More buck sightings than does. Can't wait for the rutting moon, November 11th!!!

[Rog]

Here's a story all to common. A friend of mine's relative was out on Sunday the 15th during the evening. As he had just gotten out of his stand, a small buck appeared. He nocked an arrow, drew, and shot. He missed and the buck ran off. The story takes a turn leaning toward the unbelievable. About 30 seconds later(as the third hand story goes), another, and larger buck emerges. He nocks another arrow, shoots, and misses, with the buck making a hasty exit. That's not all. A few minutes after the second buck(it's totally dark now), what he thought was another buck walked out. He took his third shot, this time actually hitting the deer but God only knows where. He went out the next day to find it and only found blood for 50 yards and that was it. Another bad bowhunter taking a bad shot and leaving the deer a slow death. I tell this story to make a point....IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW CAN'T HIT THE BROADSIDE OF A BARN WITH A BOW OR DOESN'T KNOW THIER LIMITATIONS, GET OUT OF THE WOODS. Chances are you'll never find the deer but the deer will have a slow and wasteful death. Bowhunting is my favorite thing to do on earth and I'm not trying to be a downer, just want to emphasize that bowhunting is a sport that takes practice, common sense, and an ability to decide if you can or can't make a clean shot.

[Chadwick]

Anyone who releases an arrow at a target after dark that can't be seen is asking for trouble. Not only are you going to make a bad shot on the animal but a fevered deer running down the road or through someone's property with a badly placed arrow sticking out of it is a sure way to call in the anti's. Everyone makes bad shots, but shooting at a target that is visible in the only way to give yourself a good chance at not making a bad shot. Some guys just don't get it.

[Admin]

Is anyone having any luck? It's just starting to get good, let a couple 100 class bucks walk so far...

http://www.iowawhitetail.com/confboardpics/tlhs.jpg

[Dennis M]

Well I hope they start moving I leave friday morning about 4:00 AM to head your way http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubb/images/icons/smile.gif
I felt I would of heard of more success stories by now.

[Admin]

Dennis,

Some bucks have gone down already, just no posts. As far as animals moving, I see deer everyday. Your timing will be good though and you won't be hunting in 85 degree weather so best of luck!

TLH

[Patrick]

Lots of bowhunters reported seeing action both saturday and sunday night.

A good friend of mine and I went out Saturday night (10/21) to try and fill an urban doe tags. We hadn't hunted together yet this year and decided it was about time. Earlier in the week we'd set up two stands in an areas where some scrapes had shown up the day before.

He had three or four small bucks moving around him most of the night. I ended up shooting an 8 pointer that came by me about 6:00pm. I was concerned that I'd hit it too far back so we waited about two hours and then followed the trail about 200 yards. Found where it had bedded down and gotten back up and decided we should leave it till this morning. Found it about 75 yards from where we'd left it the night before.

My buddy who was hunting with me shot an 8 pointer tonight. I also help another bowhunter who'd shot his first deer, another 8 pointer, drag it out tonight.

Both my friend and I where using tree suits (http://www.treesuit.com) when we took our deer.

http://www.iowawhitetail.com/upics/uploadedpat_buck_00_2_b.jpg

[This message has been edited by iowawhitetail (edited 10-23-2000).]

[Zim]

Patrick,

I never heard of these treesuits. I went to the link and read up. They are very interesting. How did you hear of them and what are their limitations?

[Wags]

Patrick,
I recieved something in the mail sometime ago about this product, I believe they have gone down in price some, if I remember they were selling at $179 when they first came out. Anyway seen them at the Illinois show was not really sold on them. Would like to know your feelings about this product, likes and dislikes, only info I have was from the people selling them and of cource that was all good. Thanks, happy hunting to all.

[Patrick]

My friend and I had originally bought the treesuit for a Wyoming elk hunting trip. We figured that if we stumbled onto a water hole or a wallow way back in the timber it would work better then lugging a tree stand. It snowed most of our trip so we didn't use them.

The night I took my deer was the first night I used it for deer hunting. My friend has now taken two deer with his this year and is sold on them. I think it is a good product but will admit it took a little practicing to get a feel for. We set up a practice tree in the back yard this summer and spent several evenings learning how to use it and trying to shoot from it. It's a very comfortable stand and I think the way in that you're positioned against the tree helps to conceal you.

The buck I shot was coming down a trail I was set up to shoot towards. He cut into the timber right before entering my shooting lane and crossed over into an opening about 15 yards almost directly behind me. I was able to shift my left foot one step, turn, and make the shot without spooking the deer. I think I even surprised myself when I realized I was at full draw and the deer still didn't know I was there.

The other advantage I see to it is if you have several stand locations you can set up a tree with 12 steps in it and then carry the treesuit in. The steps by themselves aren't as noticeable as a stand in the timber. For every spot your setup for its costing you 9 steps not another stand. I always pull my bottom three or four steps out to keep people out of my tree, plus it saves about 30 steps if I have 10 stand sites set up.

[Admin]

Pat,

Interesting concept, wearing your tree stand...I was kinda wondering about shots behind you but after you explained it makes sense.

Congrats on your buck!

http://www.iowawhitetail.com/confboardpics/tlhs.jpg

[Patrick]

Wow, interesting morning.....

When you get to work and already have four voice mails and three of your friends are out hunting something must be up.

I got in this morning and already had calls from two friends who'd shot deer. The first call was for help tracking and then the next was to say he'd already found it. Then a second friend had called and needed help. He felt he made a good shot but had not find blood yet. I wasn't a work for more than five minutes, good thing I had a pair of boots in the car.

Met him out in the woods and after a little searching found a little blood. We looked for several hours it was only a small patch of timber. It appeared the deer was skirting the edge of the woods. We were just saying how it looked like the deer did not want to leave the timber when we spotted a tail in the brush ahead of us. Turns out it was a good shot the nine point buck had only run about 150 yards in a big circle. A piece of fat had plugged the exit hole, which is why we didn't find a good blood trail.

Here's the photo of the nine pointer
http://www.iowabowhunters.org/images/pictures/schrantz_buck_b.jpg

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-24-2000).]

[Dennis M]

Now thats what I like to hear more action on deer activity! I leave friday morning and it looks like the weather will be cool till at least tuesday.
What should I hold out for 120 130 140 or mature doe?
Dennis

[Patrick]

Hey good luck!! My goal was to hold out for something 130 or better. I guess I miss judged a bit. I think the excitement got that best of me. I'm not disappointed but I think it's sort of funny I spend a lot of time shed hunting and scouting only to end the season in near record time. I've spent a lot of Thanksgiving mornings on the stand.

I may have to go to Missouri or Wisconsin to get this bug out of my system. I know I have several friends that are getting their camera gear ready so I can video them. That may help keep me busy for a bit. Still have a couple turkey tags to use too.

[Patrick]

Ok, one more pic...

This is my friend Jason who took the 8 pointer I mentioned in a previous post.

http://www.iowabowhunters.org/images/pictures/abel_buck_b.jpg

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-24-2000).]

Pat,

Thanks for sharing the pics, they sure make it fun!

Everyone,

Send your pics in when you get them and we'll put them in the Conference or the Photo Gallery. Use the Upload Pics page to send or you can e-mail them to though@iowawhitetail.com.

Thanks,

The Staff

[Chadwick]

Pat,
The picture of that 9 pointer is awesome. I work for a newspaper and know the difference between a good pic and a bad one. The pines in the background make it a great shot. That should be sent in to Outdoor Life Magazine for their "Deer of the Year" contest. They don't have to be the biggest deer or even bucks. The editors are looking for solid photography. Nice job.

[Dennis M]

I'll leave tomorrow to see family and friends and hopefully whack a nice Iowa whitetail.Would like to meet some of the people from the web site.

[Ogz]

Got a nice eight point last Wed. I was ready to climb down when he popped out only 20 yards away. I had to pull my bow back up, get my release out of my pocket, nock an arrow, and turn around. By the time I had accomplished all of this, he was less than ten yards away. I drew as he walked behind a tree and a double lung shot dropped him within eyesight. He's about 18 inches wide with G-2's 10 inches and G-3's 8 inches. Will try and send a pic soon.

[express285]

i am from LA, and this is myfirst time ever coming to IA. two friends i came up last week to visit my cousin. hunting there is unbelievable. very different from back home. we all shot 8 pointers, but we couldn't find my deer. i was filled with disgust when i had to give up. i looked for two days. the blood trail was great for about 200 yards, then it just stopped.
the biggest deer was 16 inches inside and 253 pounds. the biggesyt my friend has ever killed. the other guy killed a very young 8, but it was his first deer ever, and it weighed right at 200. i couldn't believe how huge these deer are. we saw some monsters too. the two biggest had 20-23 inch spreads. they were a big 10 and a main frame 12 with a mule deer kicker off of a G-2. also saw an 11 point with about a 17 inch spread, it had 5 brow tines. i plan on goping back up there right after X-mas, hopefully i can fill my tag with the big'un.
Iowa is absolutely the most beautiful place i have ever hunted. i will be back soon.

[express285]

i am from LA, and this is myfirst time ever coming to IA. two friends i came up last week to visit my cousin. hunting there is unbelievable. very different from back home. we all shot 8 pointers, but we couldn't find my deer. i was filled with disgust when i had to give up. i looked for two days. the blood trail was great for about 200 yards, then it just stopped.
the biggest deer was 16 inches inside and 253 pounds. the biggesyt my friend has ever killed. the other guy killed a very young 8, but it was his first deer ever, and it weighed right at 200. i couldn't believe how huge these deer are. we saw some monsters too. the two biggest had 20-23 inch spreads. they were a big 10 and a main frame 12 with a mule deer kicker off of a G-2. also saw an 11 point with about a 17 inch spread, it had 5 brow tines. i plan on goping back up there right after X-mas, hopefully i can fill my tag with the big'un.
Iowa is absolutely the most beautiful place i have ever hunted. i will be back soon.

[Dennis M]

I returned home monday night after the 19 hour drive! Had a great time in Iowa hunting and visiting family and freinds.
Managed to harvest a nice 10 pt. with my recurve 16 1/4" inside spread with good mass. He was the largest I seen while hunting there. So even though I was hoping for betterI'm very happy with this deer, it was great coming home and hunting brought back lots of memories!
I don't have a picture of the whole deer but will get pictures of the antlers developed today and post them when I do.
I was very pleased with the way I was treated by everyone and had plenty of envites to come back to hunt other property.
Just getting drawn again will be really tuff.

[Admin]

Congrats Dennis! It's been a great year for hunting, nice and cold and even some snow,it doesn't get much better.


http://www.iowawhitetail.com/confboardpics/tlhs.jpg

[fatboy]

Took a nice 11 pt. sat. eve.nov. 11 at 4:15 pm.Came in with two does and circled around down wind ,he did not wind me and made a scrape at 16 yrds broadside in front of me. i took my shot which went a little high. I thought i missed because the buck just walked off like he wasnt hit.After a half hr.ilooked for my arrow and found it had compleatley passed through but no bllod trail.I decided till wait till next morning and found hit 150 yrds away.Rough score 152 gross 148 net 190 lbs field dressed.Its been a great rut and season!