Iowa Bucks

I drew a zone 5 Iowa "do it yourself" late muzzleloader hunt this year. your trail cams are giving me blood pressure issues.

i've be watching the corn harvest reports, sounds like maybe they"ll have it all in well before late december. hope the snow doesn't get too mean this year. i'd like some but not 2 feet, coming in horizontal.

i've been trying to find reports on south central Iowa's last year's winter kill but not much has been said, hope that's a good sign. from the looks of these bucks not everything went under last winter.

thanks for sharing.

DC

ccchopper · Oct 18, 2010

Deloss, do you have private land lined up or you going to hunt the forest? Not a bad winter kill last year. There are alot of giant bucks, almost all of the corn being left in through all the gun seasons last 2-3 years. Good luck

NvrEnuf · Oct 19, 2010

Sweet pictures!!! I just booked my flight and got everything all set up to hunt the 1st shotgun hunt in South West Iowa for the 3rd year in a row. Before going up there for the first time in 2008 I never really even had the desire to shoot a whitetail. Now I look forward to it every year and I can't wait to get back out there and hunt with my buddy again!!!

I hope you're right about the giant bucks making it through the last couple of years because the crops were left in. I know last year there was a TON of corn still standing during the 2nd shotgun hunt and it was tough. Man I'm getting excited!!!

Good luck to you guys,

NvrEnuf

treedagain · Oct 19, 2010

that a bunch of shooter bucks...

2lumpy · Oct 19, 2010

ccchopper,

A gentleman that I worked with a few years ago here in Utah returned to his family's farm after a tour of duty in Iraq. He decided some things are more valuable than money.

He's not a hunter but invited me to come hunt the farm (apparently it is primarily a beef cattle operation, not much into the corn or soy) so I've been applying and this year drew the muzzleloader tag.

I'm really thrilled to have the opportunity but feel kind of like a kid on going his first date with the high school's most popular cheerleader, "everyone tells me how lucky I am but I don't have a clue what to expect or how to go about it".

Seeing your pictures freaked me out because this hunt could be a total bust or a dream come true (especially if there are deer like yours on the property). Mostly because I'm going in totally blind and there won't be anyone to ask that can give me much of an idea what to expect or how to go about figuring it out. If it was an elk or a mule deer hunt I be a little more at ease but whitetail are a total mystery to me.

It will certainly be a learning experience and I'm really grateful to the owners for allowing me what I believe is a tremendous privilege.

DC

Warren · Oct 20, 2010

You need to look at the property from the air. You will want to position yourself where their are funnels in the cover. Pay attention to the wind. That is a killer on whitetails since they are usually so close.

2lumpy · Oct 20, 2010

Warren

Thanks for the suggestions. Here's a part of the farm where the owner believes he sees the most deer. Are there any funnels visible from this angle? If so, where would you suggest I set up, recognizing the direction of the wind will have every thing to do with which end I set up at.

Thanks again.

DC

tailchasers · Oct 21, 2010

Looks like a nice piece of property. Yup there's funnels in there near the center with the 3 small openings near the thick timber. Looks like a draw running through the center of the property at an angle too. These late season deer will focus on food and thick cover to keep them warm unless it's unseasonable warm. I have found the late season deer realy key in on the weather too and if it's cold they will feed more often and earlier to keep their furnace warm. Find the bedroom with the thickest timber which shouldn't be that tough by checking the game trails and back off a couple of hundred yards or so since these animals will likely be spooky after being hunted for the past 2-3 months. Find a spot to sit and grab awarm blanket with a thermos of coffee and wait the area out. They feed alot in the late season and at weird hours so being there in the field is critical. Do be afraid to ask the neighbors for permission too. Them Iowa farmers are pretty good about letting you hunt their land. Good luck..........
Al

Gator · Oct 21, 2010

You got some hogs on those trail cam pictures. Good luck hope to see a few of those hanging from a meat pole.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

ccchopper · Oct 23, 2010

Looks like an awesome farm. Food and cover. I would gain access through the neighbors property and leave the heavy cover as a sanctuary. Look for sign in the snow where the deer are traveling and feeding. Prey for cold weather and hunt out of a heated ground blind. Sooner or later you will have an opportunity. Chris

mesquitehunter · Oct 26, 2010

Great bucks Chris. I didn't know you had bucks like that. I'm very impressed.

Gun control is a good aim and a steady rest

ccchopper · Oct 31, 2010

New food plot attracts new bucks.

ccchopper · Oct 31, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Oct-31-10 AT 08:35PM (MST)[p]One of my favorite trail cam pics.
I killed the buck on the left the following year. 170 inch 9 point.

1manonfire · Nov 4, 2010

Holey moley, and tripple main beam are increadible.

Aaron84 · Nov 8, 2010

Those are some sweet whitetails. Can't wait for the day I get to chase one.

ccchopper · Nov 8, 2010

http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos/3889john_and_buck-1.jpg
My new friend and hunter from Colorado shot this 7yr old buck last Friday. His first whitetail hunt. 12 pt with 6" mass measurements.