The Sun Has Set On Iowa Early Season - Time to Reflect on 2015 (Complete w/pics)

[KAZ]

Thanks Ben, maybe next year "Pretty Boy" will blow up with some mass and not be so breakable...

Maybe the story with "Pretty Boy" continues to 2016     ..  

[KentuckyTJ]

Great year congrats Brother!

[Altiman94]

I know who to call when I have a questionable blood trail!  Great season!

[KAZ]

Thanks TJ & Josh!  

[KAZ]

After shooting my Bonus Buck on October 29th & Ben shooting his Statewide Buck October 23rd, that put Ben & I with different objectives during the RUT!... Ben would be hitting the County Park hard to fill his Bonus Buck permit with less incentive to hunt the "Wilderness", and I would be focused on my small private property & the occasional Public Land Wilderness opportunity. Long story short: The small private spot was like the desert with very few deer spotted and not one mature buck spotted. With only a few outings on Public Land Wilderness, I sat all day sits with limited results. I did have a close encounter with a nice 9pt but he was either at bad angles or twigs/brush in the way and I chose to pass the shot... Praise God for such a cool encounter!    

Later in November, November 20th to be exact, we got hit with a fairly significant snowfall and I learned I'd have access to the Public Land Wilderness!!!     I changed the plan a little considering how the snow would affect my family, so I got up early and shoveled the snow and got everything squared on the home front before heading down for a late morning / rest of the day hunt! A little dicey on the roads this wintery day, but I've got dreams of a cruiser.....  

[KAZ]

2015 November 21st - Public Land Wilderness Winter Wonderland Hunt

I never really checked the official numbers on the snow totals, but it felt like 6-8" of fresh snow. I loaded up the Lone Wolf and packed in the warm stuff... Public Land for me is definitely "Hang & Hunt" scenarios. I head on in and it's clear the snow has taken over EVERYTHING    There are no tracks to speak of until I get close to my desired location. I then pick up ONE set of tracks headed towards my stand site. Of course they're fresh as the snow came last night. I'm going quietly, then HE pops up at 20 yards! A small 8pt was bedded near my stand location and he likely had been there awhile as his bed was totally pristine pine needles. He had it made! With about 2" of snow on every twig/branch/nook/cranny in this woods you could not see anything. And walking through the woods was quite a pain. I didn't fit between the twigs & branches so you can imagine, every time you touch one, here comes the snow shower.... Oh well, I'm putting in the effort and surely this will grow the satisfaction/appreciation/reward. We don't really want easy, do we?... Nope     However I'm in a pine tree and the heavy snow has branches hanging so low they are blocking a lot of my shooting windows. One of the branches even was at the base of my tree, having broken during the night.... Hopefully, the deer will walk into Picture #3, that's my best window for today....      

[KAZ]

Pretty quiet and uneventful. We're either in full "Lockdown" or the Ruts definitely in the last trickle.... late afternoon, finally I've got some action. It's to my right so it's not in the picture. They are CLOSE, like 5 Steps close... Two of the smallest peewees I've seen yet come by, with momma in tow. Now I've got (1) specific county doe permit for this area, but this just doesn't feel right AND I'm hoping an Iowa Giant Cruiser will be on her tail.............    Guess where she's headed...Picture#3, my beautiful 17 yard opening. A bad place for her to seek refuge  

[KAZ]

The 17 yard shot opportunity/shooting lane
   

Thad is a good photographer, just like Ben...
   

[KAZ]

The sun has set on 2015 Iowa Whitetail Archery Early Season... The Firearm Season is upon us, the woods will not be the same, but you can bet the Dream Lives On.... When Late Season Archery opens up, I'll resume the pursuit for my Statewide Wilderness "Giant"....    

   

[23feetupandhappy]

Praise God indeed  

[Altiman94]

Perfect culmination to our Iowa early bow split!  I sure hope you can add to this after the bow season opens up once again in two weeks!

[goingoldskool]

That is one sweet read brother! !!!

Than I s so much for sharing!

God bless,

Rodd

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Congrats Kaz!

[DennyK]

Congratulations Kaz, thanks for sharing and great pictures. God Bless!    

Denny

[KAZ]

Thank you all for reading and the nice comments...  

[LIBowhunter]

Congratulations on all your harvests!That was a great read...you were truly blessed!!

[jonsimoneau]

Really good stuff Kaz. Beautiful buck!