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..