Filled my Iowa antlerless tag!!!

[fireman_3311]

I left for Iowa, again, on Jan 1....got up there in time to take my climber to the same woods where I killed my buck on Nov 25. There was a nice skiff of snow on the ground, and a nice 10mph NW breeze...chilly, but good huntin weather! I didn't see anything that evening, but one beautiful sunset, over the Iowa countryside!

Slept in the next morning, the forecast was for 18 degrees!!! I hit the country roads after breakfast, looking for pheasants with no luck...

After lunch, I decided to stillhunt the "Lost 80", where my bro in law killed his turkey last spring, instead of the draw behind the house...just had a hunch!!!

I got to the "Lost 80", around 2:30pm, slid into my Ghillie suit, and hip quiver, and started hiking. The "Lost 80" runs east and west, at the end of a dead end dirt road...I could see 2 does, from the truck, at the far end, 1/2 mile away!!! There are 2 nice hills, that help with the sneakin, so I took off for the nearest hill. When I got halfway thru that patch of timber, I jumped 4 does, as I was in too big of a hurry....I held up for 5 minutes or so, to let them git on down the trail.

I followed thier trail, for a couple hundred yards, until I was on the backside of the farther hill, and below the crest...took about an hour to get here, from the first hill...if you're snaggin up, you're movin too fast!!! From this leg of the trail, I could see 5 does, about 300 yds down to my NE, but they were headed to the east, at a steady walk...going to feed I presumed...

After about another hour of slow goin', I made it to the bedding area, that I found on an earlier trip....amazing sign in the snow, still on the backside of the ridge....tracks EVERYWHERE!!! As I was looking around, I turned back to my left, and saw a big doe, givin me the staredown...busted...4 flags left in a hurry, when she whirled away!!! I figured the gig was up, so I just took about 10 steps to the top of the ridge, and saw more ears tuned my way!!!! I had a 20 minute staredown with 5 more skinheads!!!!!! They eventually lost interest, and fed towards the west.

I decided to go on around the ridge, towards the south fenceline, to a good funnel area, to stay until dark....

I stepped back off the ridgetop, to my original trail, and was just slowly, quietly walking along, when I looked up, and saw my doe headed towards me, on MY trail!!!

My heartbeat quickened a bit, as did my breathing....had to tell myself..."IT'S JUST A DOE!!!"..which didn't work...lol. I took 2 small steps backwards, under some overhanging limbs from a nice hedge tree. The doe continued on towards me, and at around 20 yds, locked up, and gave me "The Look". She wasn't sure about that funny lookin bush!!! She came around a small cedar tree, turned broadside at 17 paces, stomped once, and gave me the staredown!!!

I thought, what the heck......I lifted my recurve, "Dorothy", drew to my anchor point, picked a nice, tight behind the shoulder spot, at the bottom of the 10 ring, and before I knew it, saw my arrow, buried to the fletch, as she ran away!!!!!!!!!!!

I could finally take a breath!!!!!

I watched her run about 100 yds, thru the timber, and lost sight of her....

I immediately thanked God, for one more opportunity, of the chase I love so much!!!

I hiked back to the truck, called my buddy, so he and his 7 yr old son, Brody, could help me track. We started the trailing job after an hour and a half, and Brody did a good job, taking us right to her!!!! Another "Ray Charles" bloodtrail!!!!

We were glad she was small, the drag out of that place is NOT for the weak of heart, or legs for that matter!!!

Here's some pics for ya!!!!]

[fireman_3311]

Here's my buddy, Brody, the Tracker!!!

[fireman_3311]

Here's the last thing she saw!!!!!

[9 Mile Archer]

Nice story and photos!  

[8up]

Congrats!! A bush like that would scare me too. How do you mage to see thru that thing?

[fireman_3311]

Originally posted by 8up:
Congrats!! A bush like that would scare me too. How do you mage to see thru that thing?

I trimmed enough away, it's not as bad as it looks...lol. Was my first up close encounter with the Ghillie...hope it's not my last!!!

[Golden Hawk]

Nice job Brad! Great story and pics! You gonna try that gjille suit stalk on them Canadian bears come Sept? LOL!!

LeRoy

[MOBow]

Nice story Brad.  See ya soon.  keith

[fireman_3311]

LeRoy, sounds like fun, but think I'll stick to da trees!!!!

Keith, HOWDY!!!!!

[vermonster13]

That was very cool!

[Golden Hawk]

Brad I sent you an email did you get it?

LeRoy

[Wile E. Coyote]

Congrats Brad! If that is a small one I'm afraid of your big ones!

[GBTG]

What broadhead? I like the suit! Congratulations. great you got a youngster to help I'l sure he'll never forget it.
Lieffort

[RightTrailWrongTime]

Hey cool photos! Congrats!

[Hot Hap]

Nice doe-she don`t look all that small. Hope that last picture was taken with a self timer. Hap

[Terry Green]

Congrats!!!......nice fat looking doe there....yummy!

[fireman_3311]

Originally posted by GBTG:
What broadhead? I like the suit! Congratulations. great you got a youngster to help I'l sure he'll never forget it.
Lieffort

4 blade magnus, but believe I'll go back to the 3 blade Snuffers!!!

Yup, that was taken with a self timer...lol

[fireman_3311]

Originally posted by Wile E. Coyote:
Congrats Brad! If that is a small one I'm afraid of your big ones!

Yup, just a yearling, prolly 75 lbs field dressed, if that!!! I'm bettin some of the mature Iowa does will go close to 180+

[Golden Hawk]

Them are some mighty nice lookin skins on that Widow Bud.

LeRoy

[Kip]

Man I really thought it also was a big doe like the others until I went back and checked the length of the head to see it was a yearling.Nice job love the suit really starting to think about that and hunt from the ground.Kip