23 Feb Muzzleloader HunterHi John, Not having been able to hunt for the previous month…it sure was nice to get up to [location deleted]…despite warm weather and high winds…for 3 days of muzzleloading.
Attached is a picture of the rack from the buck I took after only hunting 1 and ½ hours. The picture doesn’t do it justice, but the buck had 14 scorable points and grossed 148 1/8”. I would have never shot this deer had it been for your recommendation of hunting style. I most likely would have holed up in a tree stand for 3 days….rolling the dice, hoping for a nice one to walk by. With the weather and season dates…your recommendation was right on.
I still-hunted into a very thick area….5 does busted out...I caught movement out of my peripheral vision and noticed a small 8 point had risen from his bed about 60 yards away. As he started to walk off….I caught more movement in the brush beyond him at about ninety yards. It was the big 14 point. I took the shot with my muzzleloader and recovered the buck 60 yards later. After recovering the deer…a buck much larger than the one I had just shot…jumped up across the creek and headed across the CRP.
I go to check out several other AWESOME properties (the habitat was just perfect) the next day and filled my antlerless tag on a different section that evening. All in all….6 ½ hours in [location deleted]…I saw 8 bucks and 38 does…all on MAHA property. I included a HUSH (Hunters Supporting the Hungry) hat in the picture, because I think Iowa does a great job with this program…and I was thankful to have been able to donate to them.
Thanks again for all of your help this season!!!
Thank you Steve for the deer update above and the pheasant one below. For the rest of us Steve and his family of young hunters have harvested spring turkey, trophy whitetail, doe and pheasant making the most of every spare moment possible. Watching him reminds us there is not any reason to stay home. Good luck for the seasons to come.
PheasantHi John, After enduring the Iowa heat and winds….I headed out (minus my boys...due to sports) to [location deleted] for my last hunt of the year. Griz, my yellow lab and I hunted for 3 days….3 ½ hours each day…and took twelve nice roosters. The conditions were challenging as this area had received 2 inches of ice the week before…and some fresh snow while we were there (much appreciated). Temps ranged from a balmy 3 degrees to minus 17 degrees considering the wind chill. Griz really hunted awesome. You know how tough the ice is on these dog’s pads and he endured for three days.
The best tip I can give is to find briar patches…any trees whatsoever…and old overgrown homesteads. Head right for those areas…they will hold lots of birds….the birds will all flush out wild (save the occasional hen)…but then you can pick up the single roosters in the CRP with good, slow methodical dog work, because the birds held great once flushed initially.
I will add that after shooting the 4th rooster on Day 3….seven more roosters busted from one little MAHA patch (75 yards wide)….all well within shooting range. Again, the MAHA property provided great late season habitat for a wonderful pheasant hunt.
Looking forward to spring gobblers.
Thanks again for all of your vectors and help! Steve
21 Feb FeedbackTo date from this past season we have a little more than average membership contributions to the keep/delete land lists. The email feedback is especially useful as the email itself goes right into the file and employed if necessary at the point of contracting. If anyone has any remaining ideas this month would be the time to get them in. Thank you to all that participate in this process.
Buddy ListThe buddy list has seen some good interest level and the additions exceeding deletions. In anticipation of the upcoming spring turkey season those that want to participate at linking up with others or delete their buddy hunt listing please contact Shaun by email with name, contact telephone number, hunting interest and if you have a dog. The list will be updated, consolidated and sent out to all those on it in advance of spring turkey.
Bow Hunter
Not the first time we have seen this dedicated archery deer hunter on the update page. Congratulations again! Thank you for having the confidence in us to share your picture.
Youth Success
Hi John, Mike made a nice 200 plus yard freehand shot on this doe to fill his [location deleted] antlerless tag and close out a nice deer season. Of course this was the seventh doe we had viewed from our ground blind that afternoon. We had three different bucks within range…one a very nice 8 point at 40 yards. Mike thought that was the highlight of this hunt. Of special note…this was on property that receives a fair amount of pressure…and was the very tail end of the [location deleted] rifle season. Steve
Thank you Steve and Mike for a picture we always like to see and doubly so. Youth success with dad and a doe harvest, a great combination.
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