• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Iowa Scouting Trip July/August 2022/Sept

I
HuskerInIowa said:
They certainly do their best with what we have and in 30 plus years of time outdoors I’ve never had a bad interaction with a DNR officer, they have a job to do of course but they have all been professional and courteous and even kind about it. They’ll wait to check you until it doesn’t seem like it’s interrupting your hunt for example. Biggest struggle for Iowa is simply a lack of public land. It’s out there but being in the bottom 5 states in the country in acres available to hunt and 49th in percentage of acres that are public isn’t ideal. Makes it really important to take care and protect what we have, support agencies that develop more of it, and be thankful, respectful, and courteous to the landowners that open theirs up to walk in access. Hope you enjoy the time you spend in the state!
Click to expand...
Its a blessing to hunt a high quality state such as Iowa…my first harvest here was 2.5 miles in and @ age 63 it was going to be a struggle to get him out. I explained this to an adjacent landowner up the road and I gained access permission that nite to retrieve my buck. I pulled my truck up to the property line and ended up only having to drag him 200 yards. God is good…people here are kind and thoughtful. Much of the state ground has limited access which requires crossing river bottoms and getting wet in some cases…so again it comes down to one’s ability and stamina to tread the places others won’t go to too hunt
 
BF9A4D44-125D-4094-83D4-11FF8E7E6C66.jpeg
observation is the key to formatting a harvesting plan. I watch a few knuckleheads yesterday go in on a southern slopped bedding area klinking and clanking their tree stands @ 7pm…every buck dispersed and didn’t come out on their regular feeding pattern. Guys this is a game killer if your not willing to be patient and formulate a plan of attack. They actually walked right by me sitting on the edge of a cornfield and never saw me. How observant were they…DonHiggins refers to them as gang bangers..do I really have explain my point I don’t think so…you should get the picture.
God tells us don’t be anxious for anything..when you find a promising buck to hunt go slow and smart
 
87E59916-CB51-42AA-8427-652A1B862BC8.jpeg2.9 Miles in and this was my last preset this morning @ 9am and already generated a pretty good picture after I left…wish I could do a pod-cast on how I selected this spot and the trails I believed were the buck trails. Looking forward to the pictures to come over the next couple weeks
 
Well I’m heading back home today to fulfill my responsibilities as an elected delegate. Rather stay here and do the obvious with my wife. I want to tell you about a special little boy I met back in 2019. You know sometimes when you meet a certain youngster you get this feeling how special they are going to be as adults…Lane is such the example at age 11 now. My visit here a month ago he wanted me to come back to see him before school started and I made a promise about coming back and shooting a new G5 bow I gifted him last year right after my heart attach. We never got the chance to set it up then. Giving back to the sport can be done in many ways but the biggest most powerful way is teaching them and giving them encouragement to develope new skills. Ya I took a lot of great video and plenty of pictures of some great bucks but nothing will ever come close to seeing the smile on this young boys face when he hit the bullseye. I hope and pray that if a kid ever comes into your life that’s under privileged you extend your grace upon them and make a memory or two. This moment 0EB35912-5DA3-42F2-AAED-1EC2349C45B5.jpegmade my entire trip so worthwhile…everything else doesn’t really matter
 
B27E8395-B8AF-4D35-A154-47CFFCDD6D61.jpeg
well today I placed two more cameras trying to figure out where Freight Train was coming in from…should generate some good intell over the Nxt month…it’s beyond thick security cover so I picked the trails based on last yrs rub lines. I’m actually preaching to my brother in the photo about being more aggressive with camera placements..will see what happensC5B9B733-6B55-49AD-A8E1-D222A9FDCF26.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Awesome work @Silvio. I have completed 1 of my four scheduled hunter and bowhunter safety classes I instruct for this season. I have one tomorrow and Wednesday then two bow classes in September. I’ve been volunteering as a hunter, bowhunter and trapping instructor for over 22 years now. It is always a pleasure to sign a hunter or bowhunter safety certificate for an eager young hunter or old alike. Thanks for passing it on and giving back to this great sport.
 
Silvio said:
View attachment 70323
well today I placed two more cameras trying to figure out where Freight Train was coming in from…should generate some good intell over the Nxt month…it’s beyond thick security cover so I picked the trails based on last yrs rub lines. I’m actually preaching to my brother in the photo about being more aggressive with camera placements..will see what happensView attachment 70324
Click to expand...
When you say where Freight train is coming in on do you mean heading out to feed from bedding or vice-versa?
 
woodsdog2 said:
Awesome work @Silvio. I have completed 1 of my four scheduled hunter and bowhunter safety classes I instruct for this season. I have one tomorrow and Wednesday then two bow classes in September. I’ve been volunteering as a hunter, bowhunter and trapping instructor for over 22 years now. It is always a pleasure to sign a hunter or bowhunter safety certificate for an eager young hunter or old alike. Thanks for passing it on and giving back to this great sport.
Click to expand...
It’s for the future …we have to give back from the heart. When I was 7 my parents divorced and my Dad moved to St Louis. I had two awesome uncles who took me fishing and hunting every yr, Uncle Amos and Uncle Vince sealed the love of the outdoors in me. I was named after my grandfather Silvio Giuliani who taught me how to shoot a shotgun and take me pheasant/squirrel hunting every year. When I got married we found out my wife couldn’t have kids…so we adopted a baby girl and I became a Big Brother that lasted 16 yrs. My life’s rewards has always been about giving back to the kids throughout my life. God has blessed my life10 fold. Now that I’m retired I can devote my skills and pass them on
 
Last edited:
Congrats on your return to good health. :)
Your recent posts are very educational and remind me to give a bit more back.

I’m sure there are many here rooting for you to have a memorable season .
 
TreeCreep said:
Congrats on your return to good health. :)
Your recent posts are very educational and remind me to give a bit more back.

I’m sure there are many here rooting for you to have a memorable season .
Click to expand...
Thanks Treecreep…I was out this morning dialing in my RX5 and my backup RealmX. They both are shooting very well. My heart doctor appointment is Sept 22 and should do very well leading into the Archery season. Man I had a close friend call me and offer to hunt his place this yr and unfortunately my Iowa tag is going to consume most of my attention. So thanks for being so kind…as I’ve often have sad the Saddle Hunters forum is the best place to share and meet awesome individuals…have a great season yourself
 
Update for Sept - my nephew and I secured a 355 acre property that has plenty of wooded as well as tillable ground this week. I’m heading back to Iowa tomorrow to scout and place cameras out. Hate having to scout just before the season begins but its going to be low impact for sure. Should be fun…keep youall up to date
 
41C92F15-1F18-4D19-81C9-8E8320732451.jpeg
jump a booner on day one…I was coming down a very steep ravine on the Far East side of the property and was almost to the bottom so I could cross over to the other side…it was like flushing a partridge from heavy cover…guys this buck was beyond enormous… he ran up above me and I just couldn’t get a picture of him. There was a sign post rub 60 yard from his bed and a big active scrape…man this was an awesome day to say the least. I have four presets chosen so far and more-scouting to do
 
Silvio said:
View attachment 71443
jump a booner on day one…I was coming down a very steep ravine on the Far East side of the property and was almost to the bottom so I could cross over to the other side…it was like flushing a partridge from heavy cover…guys this buck was beyond enormous… he ran up above me and I just couldn’t get a picture of him. There was a sign post rub 60 yard from his bed and a big active scrape…man this was an awesome day to say the least. I have four presets chosen so far and more-scouting to do
Click to expand...
Love the enthusiasm and dedication! Good luck!
 
Silvio said:
View attachment 71443
jump a booner on day one…I was coming down a very steep ravine on the Far East side of the property and was almost to the bottom so I could cross over to the other side…it was like flushing a partridge from heavy cover…guys this buck was beyond enormous… he ran up above me and I just couldn’t get a picture of him. There was a sign post rub 60 yard from his bed and a big active scrape…man this was an awesome day to say the least. I have four presets chosen so far and more-scouting to do
Click to expand...
I’m doing a parcel search for all 355 acre plots in Iowa right now so I can sneak in and slip an arrow into that booner before you do!! Just kidding @Silvio I hope to see your fists wrapped around that big boys’ antler bases this season! Love following your threads!! Sounds like you’ve got a great season ahead of you both at home and in the Booner state!!
 
Silvio said:
View attachment 71443
jump a booner on day one…I was coming down a very steep ravine on the Far East side of the property and was almost to the bottom so I could cross over to the other side…it was like flushing a partridge from heavy cover…guys this buck was beyond enormous… he ran up above me and I just couldn’t get a picture of him. There was a sign post rub 60 yard from his bed and a big active scrape…man this was an awesome day to say the least. I have four presets chosen so far and more-scouting to do
Click to expand...
A rub like that just gets me wild!!!!!!
 
Silvio said:
View attachment 71443
jump a booner on day one…I was coming down a very steep ravine on the Far East side of the property and was almost to the bottom so I could cross over to the other side…it was like flushing a partridge from heavy cover…guys this buck was beyond enormous… he ran up above me and I just couldn’t get a picture of him. There was a sign post rub 60 yard from his bed and a big active scrape…man this was an awesome day to say the least. I have four presets chosen so far and more-scouting to do
Click to expand...
Gets my heart pumping just reading about it!
I know you’re busy, but if you have the time could you explain how you’re going about picking your hunting locations for this buck?
Are you hunting scrapes? Exit trails? Pinch points?
thanks in advance!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top