With the bow season fast approaching I was talking to my wife about my plans from October 20th though Novemeber and well, she thinks I am am nuts!
I can shoot does and small bucks locally but in the almost 20 years I have lived in North Iowa I rarely see more than one 130"+ deer a season. They are around but usually on private ground that's locked up to outsiders. 250 miles away where I can hunt I see at least one big boy every weekend. It's only for 4 or 5 weekends in a row unless I tag out early. I will say that Sunday nights drive home isn't much fun after being tired from hunting all weekend.
Maybe she's right, a local smaller buck or doe sure would save a lot of time and money!
Would you do it every weekend for a chance at that buck of a lifetime?
Absolutely
gas prices dictate where i will hunt. its hard for me to even go over half hour away. i feel lucky to have state lands close. they are not good hunting but its hard for me to go far getting home around 4 and getting to the woods. we can only hunt sat. so that would be the only time i would travel far. put for me its close to home. now money and vacation permitting i would try to hunt better ground. but you would also have to get there to scout too.
Jason I am a insurance inspector by trade and drive 300-500 miles a day just go for it.
I voted yes, I'd go hunt it hard for three 3day weekends... when the weather/magical seek and chase phase's
yep!
Yes I would!
Go for it and see how it works out this year. Then you will know what to do in the years to come.
Well I least I am not the only crazy one :D
The October weekends are actually only 300 mile trips and staying at my parents, I don't go further south until the November rut.
I have been going south for quite a few years and have shot some nice bucks but nothing over 150" yet with a bow.
Iwould not drive that far for a weekend but I would take some time off and drive even farther for a 5 day hunt. I once drove 10 hrs for a hunt but that was 5 days at Elephant Mountain WR north of Big Bend National Park. Best hunting I have ever seen on a wet year.
Hell I used to do that when I lived in SE Michigan and drove to NW MI and I was just hunting to hunt. Of course that was back when I was younger.
QuoteOriginally posted by Jason Kendall:
Well I least I am not the only crazy one :D
Heck Jason, I'll drive the 900 miles (each way) every weekend from my home to Iowa for a shot at a brute!
I've done the same thing. Hunted in Pike county the last two seasons. Passed on a lot of nice bucks holding out for something special. Enjoyed it a lot. But I let the lease go. Work has my hunting time limited to weekends. I began to become burned out with all the driving, setting up camp, taking down camp etc. This year due to less hunting time and passing on all bucks the last three years I will likely be lowering my standards taking what is offered to me and enjoying what time I have out there. When I get work straightened out to where I have more time I will be back to being picky. Overall though I say go for it as long as you are having fun!
In Texas its not unusual for guys I know to drive between 3 and 6 hrs to get too their leases.
First let me say I don't have the money for fuel and the time to do that every weekend, especially if you are talking a 2 day weekend. I am assuming you mean 500 miles total, not one way. That is 4-5 hrs each way, I would be too tired to hunt properly after working all week.
I would be forced to take a couple extra days during prime time and hunt a 4 or 5 day stretch.
nope, they all taste the same in the pan
I wish I could just take a few long weekends but its not going to happen this year since I used most of my vacation from my day job filling bow orders so I didn't get behind. The gas part sucks but I have a place to sleep when I get there so that helps a lot with expenses.
Sounds like a 130" or less in your area is every bit a trophy as 150" elsewhere. Though a few weekends probably would be fun. Listen to your wife- she'll be at your deathbed; your 150" deer won't.
If I could afford the cost of fuel...yes I would do that for a real chance at a 150 class deer
OK, with a place to stay, now I might consider it. maybe every other weekend or good weather forcasts ony. I voted to stay home... I'd change my answer now..
OK, with a place to stay, now I might consider it. maybe every other weekend or good weather forcasts ony. I voted to stay home... I'd change my answer now..
If you can afford the trip.....gas food etc. I would say go for it.....me, I'm hunting close to home this year. Plus for me I don't think 250 miles one way would get me into that kind of deer quality.
I wouldn't do it every weeked - maybe one or two.
Although I can appreciate a big buck as much as the next guy, I don't get hung up on size.
Good luck.
Absolutely not worth it. Yep I would do it every weekend
That's pretty common in TX so I voted yes. I always drive a long ways
This type of bowhunting is meant for the younger aged. If I tried to do this at my 62 years of age, I'd be worn out at the end of the second weekend.
I voted NO, but I would still hunt there, just not every weekend. I would go late October and scout the area as well as I could. Locate trails, food sources and funnels consistant with buck movement. Record the prime locations and the wind direction that favors the areas that you've located and then use the weather forecast to determine your hunting weekend(s). Weather forecast of course are not set in stone, but many years ago before the deer population "exploded" here in Indiana, I drove several hours to hunt a local WMA. More than once my prime areas were rendered useless due to the wind/weather conditions. Just a though, but whatever you decide have a great time and be safe!
Can't eat antlers. Just my opinion
Currently I can afford to.
I own 135 acres that's 285 miles one way and have to weight the same cost justification each season plus the non-resident tag, another $225 expense. I plan my vacation weeks on the fall hunting season and throw in occasional day or two to extend weekends.
Rusty
Yes the drive is well worth it.Its like my favorite fishing hole its 1700 miles one way and worth every mile for the chance at the big ones.Little bucks don't excite me but everyone is different.250 miles at 20 miles a gallon at 4.00 a gallon is $100 total. But i would pick the best weather weekends only ,winds and weather to put the odds in your favor.
QuoteOriginally posted by Night Wing:
This type of bowhunting is meant for the younger aged. If I tried to do this at my 62 years of age, I'd be worn out at the end of the second weekend.
I never thought about that......I have to agree!
I wouldn't enjoy going for2-3 days but ill go for a week or more. I work three 12° shifts a week and can pick any days to work... im happily spoiled.
No. I just shoot the first deer that gives me a chance each year. I hunt within 300 yards of my house and find that the convenience of hunting close to home is a big benefit.
I have to drive that far just to get to deer where im at.
Who gives a crap what everyone else thinks. If you can afford it do it. You obviously want to anyway.
Unless your wife likes to hunt, she probably thinks your crazy to get up early and stay out late chasing animals anyway. And no, they don't all taste the same, that big tough gristly buck will taste a hell of a lot better! when you think about the effort and preparation you put in to harvesting it.
BigJim
I'm a meat hunter myself so traveling that far for antlers wouldn't be for me. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't pass on a big boy but I don't go looking for them.
Best of luck to you.
The drive is doable but I'd still only do it a couple weekends. I would not do it several in a row. Too much at home would suffer. Chad
Hi just looked the the results of this poll!
50/50 it looks to me that this not going to help you decide,,,, sorry.
Well, 50/50 now, interesting.
Voted yes but would probably make a couple LONG weekend hunts. Good luck Jason.
50/50 is all right, I just wanted to show my wife I wasn't the only one.
Good luck this season to all of you, no matter how far ya go :thumbsup:
Convincing your wife your not nuts, right, figure that out bottle it for sale and retire.
Check air pressure and oil and go.
I would do it,you don't have to do it every season.
If you have the energy, the means and the fire to do it---GO FOR IT! You never know what tomorrow will bring.... :cool:
10 miles or 500 miles, we all spend too much time and money in pursuit of the whitetail? The whitetail deer will make a man do unreasonable things................go for it.
Jason, we live in the great whitetail state of Iowa take a few long week-ends watch the weather and go for it.
doug77
2-3 trips a year. Every weekend no way.
Be cheaper to just stay there. $179 a week for a hotel room. Just sayin'
I think I would try for two or three weekends during the prime time rather than trying to go every weekend. As much fun as it sounds, you're going to be one tired hunter after a few weeks!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
If you have the money to do so i would say yes go for a nice buck. But if you dont a small buck or doe can be as nice of trophy as a monster buck. Just my two cents.
I voted no, I stopped driving only 80 miles for bigger deer. If I was born rich instead of good lookin, itd be a different story!
No, I just don't want to drive that far just because he may be bigger. I live 10 miles from where I hunt, so a long trip just makes no sense to me.
Nope. I'd move, and have. :D
I would do it in a heart beat. I'd go for it on weekends, try and take a few 3 day weekends and take a week of prime time off if possible.
Everyone thinks I'm crazy because I average 7 days of hunting a week for 3 months. I get around 3 for 4 hours of sleep a night, but can still maintain a full time job and keep my wife happy!
Jason there is no way I'd travel that far for a trophy buck,I want meat plain and simple.
Absolutely !! I'd go for it without further thought..
Who said you have to go every weekend? Go when it makes you happy and doesn't detract from family..
Is unpaid time off an option? When you weigh the fuel cost and inconvenience of several trips, one or two longer trips with unpaid time off may be cheaper and make more sense.
That said, If you can make it work and want to, go for it. We only get one ride and there are only so many seasons left.
500 miles = how many hours driving? More than I get to hunt anyway, but if I had it, I'd definitely prefer to spend the time in the woods instead of on the road.
It's all about how much your willing to sacrifice/invest to reach a goal. How understanding is your wife and kids? Your job? I can't help but think of the Wensels in reading this post. This time of year I love to drool over the pics of the bucks that they see and harvest. Yet, I believe that I'm correct in stating that they relocated from the East Coast to Montana after college to hunt out there and more recently moved again to Iowa for the hunting. We all see the animals associated with their names but don't see the sacrifices to obtain them. Good luck in your decision.
Kyle
Jason- Yellow River, NE Iowa, a few hours drive... Loess Hills, SW Iowa, a few hours drive. We have some pretty impressive public hunting opportunities within a few hours if ya want to walk a little!! Put some miles on the LPC's (leather personnel carriers:)) and you might find a nice little hole holding that big boy. Seems like a lot of time/money chasing 20" of bone :goldtooth: But like what everyone says, whatever floats YOUR boat and whatever keeps the wife happy!!
I would take a couple days off work and make it 4 day weekends to justify all the fuel, and the driving.
I would probably make the trip a time or two every year, but would spend the majority of my time hunting the local deer. They might not measure as many inches, but are not short on taste.
Its your time and money, do what YOU want to do.
I say HUNT LOCALLY because you never know that brut just may show up. And if he does (time and money saved) then save the good weekends in November to go farther. Wen maybe you get good moon phases, weather, and activity.
It's a simple compromise. also. If you feel the drive home is a bummer. Then you're already feeling crappy about that part so you're mentally negative there too....
I have my schedule set now, the weekends of 10/26, 11/2 & 11/9 I will be doing 300 mile trips and hunting near an old family farm, it holds some nice ones but also has a little local pressure. I did have a 180"+ within 15 yards there last year but he new something wasn't right and wouldn't step out from the heavy brush. If needed after that the next 2 will be longer 3 day 500 mile round trips further south. During the 300 mile trips my family can go if they want because we stay at my parents house just down the road from the deer woods.
Don't get me wrong, I only travel this far to increase my odds of shooting a big buck but I would be perfectly happy with a nice doe too.
This year I am going to try a ghillie suit & ground hunt only, if I can pull this off I will be happy with anything.
I have 150" whitetails on my property where I live...and I seldom hunt them. I understand a man's desire to follow his passion. I just have very low whitetail interest. Such is hunting.
350 miles from Houston to Laredo. Made 10 trips last year and as many in 2010. Went every weekend after soccer season ended first week of Nov (I coach two teams for my middle and youngest daughter). Made a couple one day turnarounds leaving after games Saturdays during the season. Was it worth it?
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa194/togo1987/P1010945.jpg)
160" free range with a homemade stickbow. Hell yes! But I wont be doing it this year. Gave up this lease to fulfill another lifelong dream. Bought my own hunting property in my home town in Mississippi. 430 miles from Houston. Im leaving in the morning. season opens Monday. Do what makes you happy!
If it is your folks place you plan to hunt you might want to stay home this season.
They have been seeing a lot of deer this year Katie, maybe it hasn't moved up that far? I sure don't like what I am hearing further south though.
Man I hope they miss it!
If your wife thinks you are 'crazy' then she doesn't really dig the idea.
Happy wife = happy life.
But you personally have to make that decision. I feel guilty sometimes even hunting near the house because I so rarely see my wife and kids with how much I work.
My wife doesn't want me to feel guilty and strongly encourages me to hunt but sometimes it is tough not to feel that way. 500 miles would be out of the question for me.
In my younger days, I went that far to get on the nest, theese days I would go hunting.(you still have the rest of the week to do that)
I would go that far but only if I can make 4 day weekends and really hunt hard when I am there. Otherwise 2 day weekends, I would not!
Fortunately/Unfortunately I do it every weekend october through mid-december(and for the record I've never been close to a 150" deer :dunno: ). Closer to 600mi with the to and from hunting spots, but couldnt be happier or more grateful. Great friends a ton of deer and beautiful country. Plus being from the great state of Mass. I'd miss out on sunday hunting if I stayed here:mad: I do love the Hudson Valley!!!
Nathan