I've been a lurker here for a while now but I finally have something worth sharing, even if it's not from Iowa. I'm originally from MN but went to college in Iowa and have been living here since I graduated 4 years ago. The bow hunting in Iowa is awesome, but I still make time to go home and hunt. I bought a lifetime MN archery license before I changed residency to Iowa so I get to bow hunt in MN for free the rest of my life. I wish Iowa offered that!
I was at my fiance's family in SE MN over Thanksgiving. I brought my hunting stuff in case I got a chance to get out of the house. Saturday afternoon I got the opportunity to head out to some public land that I have never scouted outside of google earth.
I arrived at the parking area, there were no other vehicles, but there were boot tracks all over. Even though there didn't appear to be anyone out there I put on some extra blaze orange to be safe since it was the second to last day of the shotgun season.
I didn't see one set of deer tracks on the mile long hike to the location I had picked out online. I got set up in my climber just off an unpicked corn field at the top of a steep ravine. I had a feeling I wouldn't see anything and I was right. Not a sign of deer anywhere. My dad was texting me updates on the Gopher-Badger football game and it sounded like I was missing a good game. So a half hour before sunset I climbed down to head home and catch the 2nd half of the game.
I decided to walk the edge of the cornfield on the way out to look for some sign of deer. As I'm walking I look up and see a deer about 75 yards into the woods. I realize it is a buck and he is heading my way. I didn't have time or enough cover to take my climber off my back. I just nocked an arrow and kneeled out in the open and hoped things worked out. Luckily the wind was in my favor. The buck kept slowly working my way. I knew he was going to come out of the woods right at me. I lost sight of him when he was about 25 yards away because of the steepness of the hill and brush. I drew and watched as his antlers came back into view. It seemed like an eternity for him to take those last few steps into the open.
Just when I didn't think I could hold my bow back anymore he stepped into the open at 15 yards and I let the arrow fly. He reared up on his back legs and fell over. My arrow must have deflected off something and I spined him. I quickly got up and sent another arrow into his chest to finish the kill.
It took two of us an hour and a half to drag him the mile back to the truck. We were worn out but it was worth it. We scored him roughly at 175. 15 points and a 22" inside spread. The taxidermist claims he was only 3.5!! I would have loved to see him in a couple of years if that was the case.
I was at my fiance's family in SE MN over Thanksgiving. I brought my hunting stuff in case I got a chance to get out of the house. Saturday afternoon I got the opportunity to head out to some public land that I have never scouted outside of google earth.
I arrived at the parking area, there were no other vehicles, but there were boot tracks all over. Even though there didn't appear to be anyone out there I put on some extra blaze orange to be safe since it was the second to last day of the shotgun season.
I didn't see one set of deer tracks on the mile long hike to the location I had picked out online. I got set up in my climber just off an unpicked corn field at the top of a steep ravine. I had a feeling I wouldn't see anything and I was right. Not a sign of deer anywhere. My dad was texting me updates on the Gopher-Badger football game and it sounded like I was missing a good game. So a half hour before sunset I climbed down to head home and catch the 2nd half of the game.
I decided to walk the edge of the cornfield on the way out to look for some sign of deer. As I'm walking I look up and see a deer about 75 yards into the woods. I realize it is a buck and he is heading my way. I didn't have time or enough cover to take my climber off my back. I just nocked an arrow and kneeled out in the open and hoped things worked out. Luckily the wind was in my favor. The buck kept slowly working my way. I knew he was going to come out of the woods right at me. I lost sight of him when he was about 25 yards away because of the steepness of the hill and brush. I drew and watched as his antlers came back into view. It seemed like an eternity for him to take those last few steps into the open.
Just when I didn't think I could hold my bow back anymore he stepped into the open at 15 yards and I let the arrow fly. He reared up on his back legs and fell over. My arrow must have deflected off something and I spined him. I quickly got up and sent another arrow into his chest to finish the kill.
It took two of us an hour and a half to drag him the mile back to the truck. We were worn out but it was worth it. We scored him roughly at 175. 15 points and a 22" inside spread. The taxidermist claims he was only 3.5!! I would have loved to see him in a couple of years if that was the case.
