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LIVE from the saddle 2023

Southeast Iowa on my farm. Decoy set at 17 yards in the timber right off a cut bean field. I killed my farm tag buck here Thursday morning. Sitting in an Overwatch Orion saddle, Predator platform, 4 Novix full length sticks.
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Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 
Incredible action. Things aren't fully broken loose. Watched a doe come across the marsh to 20ish and just stand on the edge. A bit later a tall six loops from the opposite side. I had shots at the smaller one with her and the buck. She was in range but with the dark background it was hard to make out her body position. No reason to force it.
The buck walked right past her at two feet and continued into the marsh. I learned a lot about the farm tonight.
 
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Didn't post yesterday. I wound up in the Coast Guard instead of the Corps - graduated high school between the Cold War and GWOT and a vigorous peacetime mission set sounded a whole lot better than being an Armor or Intelligence Marine in garrison - but I've always had a fondness for jarheads.

Happy belated birthday Devils.
 
couldn’t sleep so I was up in an observation tree at gray light. Wasn’t gunna hunt but it’s better for my health at 5am than video games and Netflix. Cold and crisp. No deer yet. I had a full conversation with three hens who brought two dozen of their flock to within 50 yds of my call, but no shot. I’m okay with my turkey season ending that way. I have never called birds IN before and that was a trip hearing some new vocabulary from them and watching them try to decide where I was. Only one gobbler in the group anyway from what I could tell so it’s all good.
 
DelaWhere_Arrow said:
couldn’t sleep so I was up in an observation tree at gray light. Wasn’t gunna hunt but it’s better for my health at 5am than video games and Netflix. Cold and crisp. No deer yet. I had a full conversation with three hens who brought two dozen of their flock to within 50 yds of my call, but no shot. I’m okay with my turkey season ending that way. I have never called birds IN before and that was a trip hearing some new vocabulary from them and watching them try to decide where I was. Only one gobbler in the group anyway from what I could tell so it’s all good.
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I had a gang of 13 hens pass by last week with lots of vocals. Listening to them made me realize how unrealistic my calling sounds during Spring gobbler. There was no rhythm or cadence to them. More like purrs and clucks in succession rather than smooth yelps that I try to imitate.
 
BuckTown said:
I had a gang of 13 hens pass by last week with lots of vocals. Listening to them made me realize how unrealistic my calling sounds during Spring gobbler. There was no rhythm or cadence to them. More like purrs and clucks in succession rather than smooth yelps that I try to imitate.
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There was a call maker I spoke to who said “when them hens start yapping at you, interrupt em right away, every way”. I tried that and it really fired them up!
 
Just got down going to do some boots on the ground scouting.
I got my teeth kicked in this season. Hardest hunting I ever had since 2016. Every doe bedding area has failed. Every funnel, and every spot I scouted except that day on the 8th. I'm missing something. If I spook every deer off the mountain I don't care. I ain't climbing a tree until I find sign I like
 
bigmike23 said:
Just got down going to do some boots on the ground scouting.
I got my teeth kicked in this season. Hardest hunting I ever had since 2016. Every doe bedding area has failed. Every funnel, and every spot I scouted except that day on the 8th. I'm missing something. If I spook every deer off the mountain I don't care. I ain't climbing a tree until I find sign I like
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No time for mistakes.
Stay the course.
 
bigmike23 said:
Just got down going to do some boots on the ground scouting.
I got my teeth kicked in this season. Hardest hunting I ever had since 2016. Every doe bedding area has failed. Every funnel, and every spot I scouted except that day on the 8th. I'm missing something. If I spook every deer off the mountain I don't care. I ain't climbing a tree until I find sign I like
Click to expand...
Is it really dry where you are? If so, look for isolated water sources.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
Is it really dry where you are? If so, look for isolated water sources.
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Not too dry.
There's a ton of mature bucks here. I just cannot connect with them on stand. I wouldnt hunt this property if it didn't hold mature game. It does.
This is a me problem 100%. I got too confident with my scouting during last winters trips.
In breaking the masters commandment. I'm hunting where I think deer should be, and NOT where they actually are.
If I can't get it done in archery it's not a big deal. I finally can go rifle hunting again up camp with my family. But I have a lot of homework to do this off season
 
bigmike23 said:
Not too dry.
There's a ton of mature bucks here. I just cannot connect with them on stand. I wouldnt hunt this property if it didn't hold mature game. It does.
This is a me problem 100%. I got too confident with my scouting during last winters trips.
In breaking the masters commandment. I'm hunting where I think deer should be, and NOT where they actually are.
If I can't get it done in archery it's not a big deal. I finally can go rifle hunting again up camp with my family. But I have a lot of homework to do this off season
Click to expand...
Yes, I know the feeling 100%. I have to keep on myself all the time to remain flexible and adapt to the deer and not fall into what I think they should be doing as opposed to what they are actually doing. Good luck.
 
Unreal. Scouted close to a 3/4 of mile from into deeper cover. Found a mini saddle with tons of fresh poop in it. Thick cover was to my right. I climbed a tree and it squeeked horribly with the one sticks. Got to the top, just hung my bow and I heard footsteps. Right behind me was a small 8 about 40 yards out. I knew he wasn't a shooter but I grunted anyway.
He stopped and stared and immediately circled downwind to see what the fuss was. He got me but that was pretty cool. Happy I moved
 
Honeydo completion earned me another 90m sit. I chose a tree 20 yds from where I was this morning. Haven’t climbed this one in two years and when I got up here I thought, damn I could have killed every deer on the property from here. I can certainly see everything. View is incredible. No deer all day. I’m crossing my fingers. It’s nice to just be outside in a newish tree.
This will probably be my last hunt until after Thanksgiving. Headed back to DE for the holiday week and Mr. Mom all week until then. I’m drooling for a doe deer or a turkey. Rabbits too.
Also my first climb on the XOP sticks. Love ‘em. Sorry @tailgunner. If I shoot a buck I’ll name him “Stix” for you. And I rappelled this morning with @Brocky Soft Sticht/8 combo on the 7mm Bluewater I got from @Fl Canopy Stalker and it was a dream. So smooth. Used @John RB Agile with 6mm TRC from @DanO (duh, half my kit is from him) on the brake strand and to hunt from, loved that too. Thanks SH.com nerds.
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