Holy cow thats a nice deer! Congrats and way to get the team on the board!:happy0001:

Actually shot a buck this evening, nothing huge by any means...probably would have gotten chewed out on this forum for even drawing back on him haha

He was at 5 yards and I aimed about 4 inches under his armpit and ended hitting him HIGH! Dead solid bone hit and my arrow barely penetrated at all and its still in the deer. Not a single drop of blood anywhere and even if there was the sudden downpour of rain washed all sign away.

Kinda bummed and I feel like crap....I know the deer will live but I guess I shouldnt have even tried to shoot him. I am kinda ifffy about getting back out there now.....:cry:

..........

Oh God, sorry guys. I haven't been on in forever. Am I too late to sign in?

I was out yesterday for five hours and didn't see a thing. Area I was hunting is the archery area of the wildlife refuge, there's farm land surrounding it that still has standing corn. My guess is they're still holed up in the corn, and only moving at night.

Rut should be here in a couple of weeks maybe they'll be moving a bit more then. Hopefully I'll have better luck once they start moving.

Don

Believe me it happens. I work in the hunting industry and I see it every year from folks that hit the bullseye when they are shooting the target every time. I couldn't tell you how many I have tracked over the last 10 yrs and not found, due to poor shots. You just need to get back out there and make your shot count. Chances are it will happen again at some point. It has happened to me too.

Wow!! James, that is an awesome buck, what did he score? Great job bud.

He is at the taxi. I didn't score him yet, but will have him scored and entered. Should make Pope and Young. :)

I'm heading out tomorrow and Tuesday, sure hope their up and moving

Don

For whatever reason it seems as our team is pretty quiet. I'd like to see more interaction if you would.

I haven't been hunting since I have already been tagged out, but I have been running cameras. I'm starting to get some nice bucks on cam, and they are starting to chase here. It's a great time for rattling, using scents, and hunting buck sign. I've already got "my" rifle buck located so we'll see how that goes. I'm also hoping to hunt MN for rifle season so we'll see how that goes. I'm headed out there today to set up a camera. Hopefully I find a good spot and can get a good buck to show. I'll keep you posted.

Went out Monday night with the grandson to fill our antlerless tags at Lake Manawa, got set up around 4:30 saw four does about 75 yard out at 5:30. They just wouldn't come in any closer, we sat till it got to dark to see and called it a night.
Tuesday went to fill my buck tag, went to the Nebraska side of DeSoto Wildlife Refuge. The refuge has parts in both Iowa and Nebraska so they let you hunt in either side of their archery areas. This guy I work with has 5 stands set up for him and his dad, they said they're seeing a lot of deer with some 130 - 140 class bucks. He told me I could use them when I'm out there so I used one yesterday, sat from 8:30 in the morning till 6:30 that night and saw one doe that I would have needed my 30-06 to reach. My next chance to get out there is November 1st and 2nd, I'll try one of the other stands then hopefully the'll be movng a bit more by then.

Don

Ouch, that sucks!

James I noticed its kinda quiet here as well, thats why I really havent said much cuz there is rarely anything new to comment on haha

Things are starting to kick into gear here as well, just hope this weekend proves to be a lucky one. Keeping those fingers crossed:p

Was able to get out yesterday after work, had a short shift 8:45a - 2:15p, got in the stand around 3:30. Battled wind and light rain for three hours and saw nothing I'm going out again tomorrow all day. Sure hope they start moving soon, may have to leave the safety harness and backpack in the truck and try stalking.

Don

I'm surprised that you guys aren't seeing more movement. The bucks are really starting to get cranked up here. I'm tagged out, but I am definitely helping out a few family members and I've got my rifle spots all set up as well. I'm headed to MN tomorrow to check my camera that I set up there to see if I will be rifle hunting MN this year.

Time to come up with a new tatic went to my hunting spot up north, sat in the stand for nine hours today and nothing. Did see a nice group of geese while heading to my stand, a couple of squirrels and a couple other hunters heading for their stands. Starting to get frustrated at not seeing anything. Only place I see any deer these days is in the state park where I'm doing an antlerless hunt and those have been either to far off or after legal shooting hours.

Don

I went out thursday evening and saw 4 skinheads. Went out Saturday morning and sat for 4- hours....saw 2 skinheads. Walked back to my house and their stood a nice 8-pointer standing on the edge of my neighbors hay meadow. It has been pretty warm here, haven't seen a lot of activity. I think it will start to kick off in the next week or so. Good luck to everyone.

went out last night with the grandson, sat in the ground blind till it was almost to dark to see and nothing. we did bump a couple deer as we were walking out, it was a little to dark to tell if they were bucks or does.

Don

Things are really starting to pick up here. Seen bucks chasing does all over the place this morning, and have heard about 5 buck fights during 3 times on stand.

GETTIN EXCITED!!!:woot:

Just updating here. Went out Saturday morning planning on hunting my father-in-law's property. Got there just before light and he was there turkey hunting!:busted: It was the opening day of fall turkey here in PA. He hasn't gone turkey hunting in like 8 years and low and behold he picked Saturday to start again. So I booked it to my land, but till I got there it was daylight. I still sat till noon, but seen nothing. I'm heading out this evening I think, so wish me luck. Things should get interesting around here soon. :happy0001:

planning on hunting tomorrow and sunday pretty hard. hope things go well. can't wait!

good luck, I went out today and saw nothing but a squirrle, three birds and a couple hundred grasshoppers. word is going around that the bucks are chasing here in Iowa wish I knew where cause here on the western side I think they've been abducted by aliens. Going to take a break next week and not hunt, getting frustrated and the wife hates it when I get frustrated I tend to over react to everything.

Good Luck everyone

Don

I shot a nice buck in MN today. Check my thread in the Deer Hunting forum.

Shot another doe Friday evening...kinda small...had some MAJOR ground shrinkage lol but oh well!

I shot her at 20 yards quartering away with the arrow entering right behind the last rib and exiting right behind the shoulder.She ran 80 yards and I watcher her drop stone cold. I examined the organs after gutting and seen that I sliced the liver in half, cut the top of the heart, and punctured both lungs! Couldnt ask for a better shot!:happy0001:

Hunted Saturday morning, the wind was blowing so hard it was miserable. I didn't see anything. Didn't end up being able to go Saturday night. Went Sunday morning and seen 3-does and a spike early on. Then I saw a coyote (almost shot it). Then i grunted in a basket eight and decided not to shoot him. Things are really picking up here in Oklahoma. I think i might have to call in sick for a couple days.

leaving work today at 1:30 to go home and hit the woods. hope things go good.

Good luck! We need to get a few more bucks on the ground.

One more deer for my collection lol

***SIGH***

Well, my season ended in a whimper. Not real pleased how this one played out. I didn't get out as much as I would have liked, but with 2 young kids at home, it is difficult. Regardless in 15 sits this season, 5 morning, 9 evening, and one all day sit, I had a total of ONE deer in range!!! That is awful! It was a 3pt. with one side busted off, so he got a pass. I seen a total of 12 deer from the stand, 4 bucks, the rest were does or fawns.

I may get out in the late season after Christmas. I was trying to catch up with a nice 8 and really nice 10pt. on my father-in-laws property. This is part of the reason for the low deer sightings. If they make it through gun season, and I still have my tag, I will be up there looking for them. I do plan on rifle hunting, so we'll see what happens. I need meat in the freezer! Good luck everyone.

congrats james on another buck, and to jenna on yet another doe. i would like to be able to get on this site more often and keep updated, but i can only get on here at work. (don't have a computer at home) i went out again this weekend and seen some does and a little spike. i am just not seeing the bucks on my place like usual. can't wait to get back out there. looks like my work place will be closing the day after thanksgiving, so maybe i can get a three day hunt in. good luck to everyone!

I'll be out tomorrow, was getting frustrated not seeing anything so I took a fews days away from hunting to calm down. weather has finally broke and we're getting normal temps these days low to mid 40's so I'm hoping they'll be moving a bit more..we'll see.

Don

Pope and Young? I would guess mid 150's. Let us know.

Finally saw some movement, not close enough to shoot at though.
Decided to stop by the state park where I'm doing the antlerless management hunt after work last night. Saw several does and four pretty good size bucks roaming out in the open. Watched three does and two small bucks walk into some tress, then heard what sounded like a pack of dogs fighting. Have no idea what it was, looked back to where the other two bucks were and they were looking in the direction of the noice too. It was nice to at least see some deer for a change.
Will be in Arizona next week so no hunting for a while. My stepson is getting married in Tucson the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Don

Sorry for the lack of talk from my end lately, been super busy with taxidermy work I cant catch a break to do anything!

Rifle season started sadly...now deer are scared out of their wits. I havent seen much daylight activity since the opener which really stinks. The does are grouping up which means the bucks are back to their solitary selves for the remainder of the season....once again...I am buckless!

Anyone have any good post-rut hunting tips?????

anybody been out lately, I haven't been able to get out. hours have picked up at work due to the holidays, and the wife and I went to Arizona for a wdding over Thanksgiving week.

Don

I'm completely done and tagged for the year.

i'll be out again starting the 21st, with the gun seasons going for the next couple weeks they shut down the bow season here in iowa.

don

Has anyone else shot a buck this year? How many of our members are still out hunting?

I am still hunting. Taking a week off after Christmas, hopefully get some hunting done whilt I'm off work.

still hunting here in iowa, bow season opened back up yesterday. I'll be out as much as I can till January 10th. I've got two tags to fill and have to get the grandson on one this year.

Don