iowadeerhunter's 2004 hunting Journal

[IowaDeerHunter]

September 25

On the mouring hunt we setup inside the timber, near the field edge. Right next to one of our camera set-ups. Half of the corn was out on our side of the creek. We saw 4 does and 2 fawns at thirty yards, but waited on the shot hoping to see a nice buck. That was all we saw. We sat in the same spot on the evening hunt not seeing anything.

[IowaDeerHunter]

October 2

We hunted the evening. Saw in the timber/field edge on a hill part over looking the field. We were in a horseshoe area, and timber to our right and straight ahead of us. Anywhere from150-200 yards away. To our left was a creek, that lead up to a green field. it was our first time hunting so we didn't know where the deer came from. First action was a nice tom that came out of the timber to our right at 20 yards, we were moving something around in our blind so he spooked. About 6:45 P.M. two nice does and one fawn came out the opposite side of the timber, across the field. They walked towards us, feeding in the field, only 120 yards from us. Having a shotgun it was still just a little far, so we waited. They ended up walking off across the creek, and into the green field. Fifteen minutes later a big doe appeared to our right 150 yards away. To dark to really see or tell if it was alone or not. Did not walk our way, it only stood and fed in the field. Five minutes later another doe came out by that one, this one looked even bigger. Then another came out, and it was even bigger. It eventually was to dark to see anything so we left, trying our best to sneak out while deer were all over, and snorting at us.

[IowaDeerHunter]

October 3rd

We hunted this mourning getting in plenty early, we sat for an hour before it got light out. We sat in a fence line by the creek and greenfield where the deer crossed last night, hoping to catch them coming back to the bedding area. We tried to brush ourselves in as best as we could but it wasn't working so we just sat it out with what we had. light was starting to break and we heard something in the field behind us. So i dropped to a knee out of my chair and stuck my gun through the fence hoping for a deer to walk by, or come out. Waited ten minutes and nothing came. So I was getting back up on my chair and got busted by for does that were only thirty yards to our right! They just snuck up right on us, and we also werent brushed in very well. They snorted and weezed and trotted of. The front doe was huge. At least going 200 pounds. Then there was another nice doe and two little ones. Our morning basically ended there. We did see four racoons cross the field and go into the creek. They came out right where we were sitting last night. Hopefully we will have better luck next week and we can make it happen.

[IowaDeerHunter]

October 16

Drove to the timber just to hunt tonight. I had planned on hunting in a fence line the is 30 yards east of a creek, and 30 yards south of a sewage pit. Our land has hog confinements and that is where al the crap goes(20 confinements). The deer come from the timber to the west, cross the corn field, and creek right up the fence line in between it and the sewage pits. They then proceed to the green field 100 yards further east. Got down there to find that the were working right there on the hoses to pump the sewage out into the fields. So it was loud and a bunch of hoses running right thriugh the fence and field. So I decided to hunt up in the green field. It was hard to find a spot against a tree to hunt, and the greenfield dropped off into a hill on each side. I sat on the east side tucked away in a evergreen. Had a good view to my right of crp on the timber edge out to 80 yards, and to my left the same, but only 20 yards. At 6:30 I could here something running behind me, then I heard turkeys fly to the roost. I was still hearing the running noise, which souned just like a deer, and it was getting closer. Then it souded as if it were rubbing a little tree, so I in turn grunted and rattled lightly, with nothing in reply. Never seen anything all night.

[IowaDeerHunter]

October 23

Sat in a ground blind in the fence line, in between the green field and the corn field and timber. I only saw two different groups of turkeys com out of the timber. They started working the manure into the field again so my hunt there was over. So I walked over the hill and in between an opening in the timber. Had one doe walk out 35 yards away unspooked. I kept walking and saw to loose pigs in the field.

[IowaDeerHunter]

october 30

Tonight we went to our old land hoping to see some nice bucks and at least tag out on a doe. i sat up top on a ridge in a tree stand. The ridge runs east west with another one intersecting making it into a T-shape. It has rubs along the whole way. It was 3:45 and I didn't even have my bow ready and look up to see a deer crossing the north south ridge straight down from me (100 yards) I could see the shining of antlers on its head. It also had 1 for sure and maybe another deer with it. Then 5 minutes later i saw a bobcat with 2 little ones run across the same ridge only 70 yards away! Then 10 minutes later here is a buck that pops out of the timber 50 yards away. It is a young 8 point that would gross about 95-100. Just a 1 1/2 year old buck. He steps out along with another small three pointer. They stay for probably for 15 minutes just hanging out at about 20 yards. Perfect for a shot but I had to pass. The eventually parted ways of eachother and me. When they left i thought that it is early and the bucks are out, so i rattled and grunted a little. I look to my right and 100 yards away there is an identicle 8 point standing there looking my way. He trots off, and i figure that there is another bigger buck in the area. Later at 5:45 a nice buck steps out about 125 yards away. I see that he is wide. As he gets closer he steps behind a tree so I rattle a little and he starts coming right at me. Once he is about 60 yards away he turns and goes into the timber. I could see then that he was wide, fairly, tall, but just a nice symettrical 10 point rack. He ended up going across the ridge in thicket to my left at 70 yards. Once all the turkeys started to roost they flew within 7 feet of my head eye level. About 12 of them all hens.

[IowaDeerHunter]

October 24

hunting in the mourning and didn't see anything. That night I sat in the same stand as i did Saturday. It was 3:00 and I had four bucks come in at 20 yards from behind me in the timber. one little 8 point, a 4 or 5 point. the both crossed the ridge in front of me and went down into the timber. Behind them was a awesome looking 9 point. On his left side it was heavy! I mean really heavy! Probably 5-5 1/2 inch bases! and it was heavy all the way out to the tip of the main beam! It had 5 maybe 6 points just on the left. Behind him was a awesome 10 point, wide, heavy, and long main beems. but he only had about 8-8 1/2 inches tal g-2's. He was right there at 20 yards but never stuck his body out of the timber, only his head. he ended up turning around into the timber, and then going right and crossing the ridge out of bow range. At 4:00 I had a doe coming in from my left. She went behind one tree, and I grabbed my bow off my realtree ez-hanger. The wind was perfect. I stayed sitting as it was actually easier to make a shot that way. She went behind the next tree and I drew back. She stepped out at 20 yards and I smoked her! The arrow went right through the top of the shoulder and passing through the heart area on the other side, making it a double lung hit. She turned around and took off towards the timber, right down a ravine! I still had two hours to hunt yet so I waited, which was hard to do, before I even went and loked for my arrow or anything, although I knew I hit her good. At 6:00, a small button buck made its way right under my stand, he looked right up at me and had no clue I was there. He stood ten yards away sniffing and licking my doe -in-heat scent bomb, and the deer cocaine that had been there. He went over to the exact spot where I earlier shot my doe and stood there sniffing the ground, so I figured there must be blood there. he eventually walked off. At dark I got down and found my arrow dripping with blood and the area was covered also. I knew right where she enterd the timber so we jumped right there and found blood and followed it and found a LOT more blood, looked ahead and there she was. She only went about 65-75 yards. Ended up that I did double lung her as both were collapsed.

[IowaDeerHunter]

that last date is the 31st