It's taken a couple of days to get all the work caught up. Now I can pen some thoughts of my first trip to Iowa. My PBS mentor and good friend John Vargo moved to Iowa seven years ago. He invested in property in the S.E. part of the state. His good friends Gene and Barry Wensel live about 20 minute from his hunting property. You know the hunting is good. John invited me to come for a week long hunt. It took two years to get the preference points to hunt from out of state. I arrived Friday evening the 9th and was hunting from a cedar tree stand by Sat morning. I rattled in a Pope and Crocket nub buck and saw a doe the first morning. Sat evening found me in a shingle oak overlooking several scrapes. By 3 pm I had deer movement. A nice P&Y eight ~130 pointer tending a doe in a CRP field. There was no calling this guy off his doe. A string of six small bucks vacated the woods they entered. I think he told them to move along. A half hour later I had a 8 pt. come by like a dog on a blood trail. I grunted and even yelled at him. He had other things on his mind. Did I mention at 200 lbs. he looked like a bulldozer to this Va boy... A few minutes later a 9 pt. walked out at 12 yards. His rack didn't have the mass or length I was looking for. Another small rack 8 pt. ambled by.
It was hard to believe what I was seeing. At this point I began second guessing passing all this fine venison. 15 minutes later here comes another 8 point 200 pounder. I saw a nice G2 on the left side and went into automatic hunter mode. My new Blacktail went into slow motion as I picked a spot. The Goldtip 55-75 tipped with a Woodsman was on the way. It passed through the chest cavity. This tank didn't hop or jump. He just hunkered down and left the woodline heading through the CRP field. A spike stepped out and investigated my bloody arrow. My buck went abot 80 yards towards the truck and fell. Nice... I sat down reliving the past few moments. Here he is Gang:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/iowa1019.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/iowa1021.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/iowa1037.jpg)
Well he is the biggest buck I've ever killed. He will not make anyones book but mine. I had a doe tag to fill so I got to hunt and watch the rest of the week. Yes, I had three other bigger deer come into shooting range. One ~130 class ten pointer at 8 yards. But I'm happy to have my buck. Here is a picture of John with a couple of heads from dead deer he found on his property from last year. I saw a booner a little bigger than the rack on the right at 50 yards tending a doe. I hope Jonn gets a crack at him this weekend.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/JHarper/iowa1065.jpg)
I need to get back to work. Lunch time is over.
I can't begin to thank John for the opprtunity. It was truely the hunt of a lifetime for me. Jeff
Nice buck!! Great story congrats! :thumbsup:
Wow!!!Sounds like an unforgetable hunt.Congrats on the buck and a good friend.
Very nice!
Sounds like a dream hunt. Congrats on a great buck. That buck skull on the right is friggin huge! I guess all you hear about Iowa must be true.
Mark
Iowa is a magical place, nice buck :thumbsup: Congrat's
Way to go, Nook, that is a bruiser-especially for us Va. boys! That Blacktail is a fine killin' bow.
Great job and congrats on the successful venture.
Now if we could all get our points, and then have Gene and Barry invite us down......
Hey Mike... recognize the muck books.. They are the bomb diggidy in cool weather. My feet never got cold. Thanks again.
Hey Tom, The Blacktail got a workout for sure. A few dings, But thats going to happen to a Hunt'n bow. See'ya sometime in the comming year.
Jeff
You da Man! :thumbsup:
good job,congrats!
Way to go Jeff. Congradulations on the nice buck.
Congrats again, JEff!! I talked Dale (taxidermist) into giving you the Cool Springs Discount.
Sounds like we need to have a Cool Springs Hunt in Iowa next time!
Nice buck and great hunt, Jeff! Congrats! :thumbsup:
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Nice :thumbsup:
Doesn't SE Iowa just make you want to pack up move.
:thumbsup: Awesome
Congrats on a nice buck from our state. You picked an awsome time to come. I dropped my buck on the 9th, and the deer were moving like crazy.
Jeff~
You have always been a fine shot on those deer..he's a beauty, congrats!
John Vargo is one of the good guys. I've had the privelege of hunting his place as well. A gracious host who is one of bowhuntings most dogged protectors.
Great job Nook.While you were seeing them bigums I had to go to the Bahamas,I was always thinking about the rut,but things wern't all that bad.Congrats and one day I would hope to try them monsters,but this week we will be back at them little ones here at home.
Good story and again congrats and well deserved for all your hard work you put into our sport.
Beautiful deer there Jeff. Lotta meat on those hooves. I know the area where you were. When those bucks rut down there, there's just no talkin' to 'em eh? LOL! The habitat down there is good for bucks to grow old in. Glad you had a great time!
Congrats on a beautiful buck!!! Heckuva nice looking bow too! :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
congrats , nice buck :0)
Jeff,
You did okay for a Virginia boy. Glad you shot one of the "little" ones as we had quite a wrestling match getting your buck in the back of the truck. Maybe your pet buzzard will still be around next time you visit.
John
Nice buck! I had the privledge of visiting with John at Compton's a couple times and he is a real nice fellow. :)
Nice buck. Glad you liked our state. When you live in Iowa your whole life it is easy to forget how good we have it, deer hunting wise.