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My first saddle Buck(Iowa Public Land)

Deerman406

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2020
Messages
315
I finally drew Iowa this year. I had 4 points but most likey 3 would of done it. I arrived on Oct 27th and set up my camper at a state run campground. Full hook up which was awesome due to them having sites with insulated water hook ups. The weather was perfect, fresh snow and temps in the high 20's and lows in thed teens. Well that did not last and within a couple days the temps were in the 70's and actually hit 80 a couple days. The first 5 or 6 days the deer were just not moving during the day. Lots of sign being put down and some chasing but the action was slow. I did see a couple shooters and tried to call them in but they were on does and just looked and went on their way. I am running a set of 20" Hawk sticks and a Tethryd Saddle. I use a 20" knaider and this can get me to 20 ft if need be. I also have the tethyrd platform but found I much prefer my old Chippewa Wedge Loc Ghost stand as my platform. Its only 6.5#s after I did a few mods. This way if I get tired of hanging in the saddle I can loosen my tether way up and turn around and sit for a bit like when I eat lunch or want to use my phone.

I was struggling getting on to deer in the area I was hunting so I took a ride about 30 miles south of where I was hunting and found a small piece of public that was very hard to access. I spoke to the farmer who owned the surrounding 2000 acres and he said guys would come for a couple hours, realize how hard it was to get into and leave and never come back!! Perfect, I am no kid but I like the work that goes onto all this DIY hunting. My first afternoon I saw several P&Y bucks chasing a hot doe. It was late so I backed out and went in the next morning and got set up I was in a hedgerow over looking a cut cornfield that the farmer leaves a couple acres standing for the state. A side note if the farmer would allow access through his property it would take all of 15 minutes to get my tree. Instead about an hour. The action was very good and I had several 2.5 year olds and one 3.5 year old within 20 yards several times through out the day. The next day was going to be warm and the wind was not good for my set so I left my sticks and platform in the tree and figured I would hunt it again when the wind was right!
 
We are hunting Iowa next year likely the same week. Struggling with what zone. My cousin visited and really liked zone 9 North East of the state. What zone or area were you in? Can't wait for sequal sounds like your on the tip of success.
 
So I thought the thread said there was a buck killed not just seen so what happened already??? We don't like suspense!!
 
I slept in the next morning as I had been hunting hard for over a week. I decided to go back into my new spot and carried my Ghost stand a set of hawk sticks and wore my saddle. After an hour walk in I decided to scout the upper end of the property. I had not gotten in but 200 yards from my first set and found some good sign, several scrapes that had been worked that morning and a huge cluster of rubs. I also bumped several fawns with no mama around which let me know the does had bucks on them. I set up the stand and swung around in my saddle to make sure I could shoot a full 360 degrees. I left for the days as it was approaching 75 degrees and planned my return for the next morning. A cold front was moving in and a NW would be perfect for this set. I returned to camp and hung out til about an hour before dark and went and hunted the back side of the camp ground. I actually saw a decent buck chasing a doe right at dark....

The next morning I was up early and headed to my spot by 5 am. I arrived and threw my clothes in a pack and headed in wearing only my union suit and a heavy pair of socks and my boots. I did not want to get sweated up on my hike in. I arrived to the stand around 630. I dressed at the tree and put on my saddle and up I went. At first light I saw a few deer working through the corn field around 300 yards down below me. At 705 I had turned to actually sit down and check my phone as my son-in-law was on his way from SC to hunt Nebraska with me after I filled my Iowa tag. I no sooner let out my tether and turned to sit and I see a decent buck cutting thru the cut corn. I immediatey spun tightened up my tether and grabbed my rattlin horns and smacked them together. It is incredible how fast they can respond and with great accuracy, he was at the base of my tree in less than 20 seconds from 250 yards away. I was actually thinking about shooting him as my son in law being on his way and I could start hunting with him right away. I decided to pass when he suddenly snort wheezes and runs out in front of me 20 yards and turns and stares down hill. I look and see another nice buck headingmy way. This buck comes in all bristled up and when he snort wheezes the first buck turns and high tails it out of there. This buck come in and gives me a show, makes a scrape and works a few trees. He is a definitely a 3.5 year old and he may be the one, he circles me and gets down wind but does not spook. I had sprayed a full can of Tinks doe in heat all around the set before I left the previous morning. I got some video of him on my phone and again was thinking I would shoot him when he suddenly turns and blows and runs up the draw I was hunting. I thought he definitely caught my wind but he stops at 80 yards and lays his ears back, bristles up and lets out the loudest grunt/snort wheeeze combo I have ever heard. I than hear another snort wheeze close and slightly below me I turn and look and see a buck I immediately say "shooter" !!
 
Sorry for the long post. This buck is at 30 yards and closing, he comes to 5 yards and works the scrape the previous buck made and he is not happy!! He hooks a huge vine and practically pulls the small tree down it is growing in. He actually turns to head towards the other buck letting out a growl like I have never heard and is still hung up in the vine and it actually lifts his front end off the ground. i turn and glance and the other buck wants no part of him and has vacated the area. This is where the Saddle saves my ass, as he gets by me heading to my right I swing the bow over my tether/bridge and get set to shoot. I have two bad shoulders and one has been replaced and the other is due to be replaced in Feb. I don't have a problem drawing if my feet are planted firm but can strugglke a bit if not. As I draw there is a limb that my top limb is going to hit if I try and shoot. I suddenly pull myself up into a standing position and let out a bunch on my tether. This allows me to get way lower but also only my lefy foot is in the platform. The other dangling. I struggle to get drawn and I actually stretch my right leg out and down and just tippy toe a branch below me. This lets me get to anchor and I bleat to stop him. He is perfectly broadside and at only 17 yards. I shoot and hit forward right in the shoulder, no worries my 510 grain arrow with a scary sharp 175 grain VPA blows through and breaks the off leg. He turns and runs down hill and after 40 yards face plants and pushes himself another 15 yards and all is still. My first Iowa buck and I will be back at camp beofre dark for my son in laws arrival. There is a bit more to the story but for now I will leave you with a pic. He is not a giant but he has 3 points over 10"s and is a gorgeous buck. Shawn
 
Sdon, a lot depends on your points. Some Zones you need 4 at least and 5 is better. I hunted Zone 3 due to the fact Nebraska is right acrossed the Missouri river and I wanted to be able to hunt both states from the same camp with only a half hour ride or so. After I shot this buck I was not sure I had made the right choice. It was Nov 6th and I had until Nov 14th. My worries were short lived as I had a biologist that wanted to test my deer for CWD abd EHD that worked at the campgrounds I was staying at. He has hunted Iowa for 23 years and he said no way he would of passed this buck ecsp on public!! Shawn
 
Cool story and great buck

Congrats


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Thanks for the motivation to get out there this weekend and try for a buzz beater buck (nothing so far this season). Sweet buck.
 
Great buck. Great story and nice patience waiting on the one you wanted. I have the hardest time passing deer, but I just that this year and got a good (for my area) 9 point.
 
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