Time to PowWow......? 2017 Oct. 28th Iowa 8pt (Story Page 5)

[KAZ]

I'm up EARLY, and headed to Wilderness Public Land anxious to see what God has in store. While driving I'm playing back the entire season in my mind. I'm second guessing a few of the passes, especially the most recent one posted.  

I'm still tweaking a little about my hunt interruptions on Public Land, but I can't help but feel thankful/grateful for the Blessings & Resources I do have, my Wife, Children, Family, Friends, Home, Job, Food, Truck, money for gas, the blessings go on & on AND the Public Land I'm going to hunt    

[KAZ]

I arrive well before daylight and prepare myself for the pack in! This will be an all day sit, or as long as I feel engaged. I dress in light under-layers to minimize the sweating on such a cold brisk morning. I load up my Turkey Vest with all the warm outer-layers and necessities. Then throw on the Lone-Wolf/3-Stick pack, grab the bow and head on in....

I get completely settled in the dark stillness of a beautiful Iowa Morning...

Thank you Lord for getting me here safely, on-time, no deer spooked, and alert!  

May this be the day...  

[KAZ]

My Heart Rate has settled and so has my Soul... I have done my best, discerned each opportunity as it happened, and must release the consequences so that I might fully appreciate/receive what God sustains me with Daily... To look in the past, might very well distract me from the present....  

[KAZ]

The morning is peaceful, beautiful, and full of promise...    

[KAZ]

I'm trying to stay optimistic & content, but now the guy who set-up his stand is starting to tickle/spar with some rattling antlers...

Wait... It sounds like the noise is getting closer!  

I keep my eyes glued to where the sound is coming from and I see movement! Oh my... Two bucks are locked in a pushing match, and the larger buck is making progress my way. I then notice the doe that is out in front of them watching the whole ordeal  

[Jayrod]

This is FANTASTIC Travis i am tuned in!!  

[KAZ]

Oh baby, a fight over a doe on December 2nd, the day before Shotgun Season!!!      

I now can see that I'm dealing with two 8 Pointers. The time for action is now! The doe begins to head North which will be out of the Black Widow KB's range... I have to get the Bucks' attention if I have any hope at all. I reach for the "Can" call and start letting them have it. Both of the Bucks hear the call, and the smaller 8 starts circling to head my way. The larger 8 is conflicted, he's sharing attention between the real doe, and the "new" doe & small 8 he just whooped.

[KAZ]

I keep the "Can" call going and it's WORKING...

The smaller 8 has nothing to lose by heading my way. He makes his way through the Pine Stand Alley you see in the picture of the "passed" buck, but he's further to the North/Right so he's behind me and no shot! I'll need him to cross through and come out to my left and in to the timber thicket. I keep the call going behind my back to draw him around as my real intentions are for the bigger one...    

The doe has stopped maybe 30 yards further North. The smaller 8 breaks into the timber thicket on a familiar trail that goes right through my shooting windows at 17 yards.... The larger 8 has entered the Pine Stand Alley, but he is slow & reluctant. Constantly looking left at the doe, and right towards the smaller 8. WOW, this is tense!

[KAZ]

At this point, the Larger Buck is about 20 yards straight down the Pine Stand Alley and on the edge of the Timber Thicket, and the smaller buck is about 12-15 yards down the familiar trail and well within range... I can tell the Larger Buck is conflicted and about to head for the real deal. It's now or never. I hit the "Can" Call one more time, put it away and ready for the shot, should he decide to take the necessary few steps into the opening...  

[KAZ]

The smaller buck took a few steps back towards me, and the Larger Buck took a few steps towards him...

I'd been waiting for this, so the string was already back, and I was focused on a spot right behind the shoulder at ~17 yards. Stay loose with shoulders active, push-pull, and the loose...  

[23feetupandhappy]

[KAZ]

I believe I heard the crash, but where he ran drops off to a really deep ravine so the sound was muffled...

I caught movement to my left and noticed the doe was starting to do a full circle around me and was entering a shooting window.    

I have not taken a doe this year so I had another arrow loaded. I'm already starting to envision the double    

I'm ready, but she skirts me at about 22-25 yards and I just do not feel comfortable & she is nervous... Rightfully so  

[KAZ]

I make my way down out of the stand and slip off some of the extra weight outer-wear. It has warmed up a bit and I want to avoid Burrs!!!    

I make my way over to assess the impact spot and it looks like he broke the arrow on his first exit stride:

 

And on the second stride, the business end made it's way out...:

 

I'd say pretty good sign...    

[kennym]

Most excellent!!  

[KAZ]

It was about this time that Ben texted me inquiring if I had any action????

I texted him that picture, but kept him a little in suspense if you know what I mean...  

Come along the trail with me:

[KAZ]

 

 

 

 

[KAZ]

 

 

 

[KAZ]

We have a visual....

 

 

 

I send Ben the previous pic, so he now knows it's a buck...

You can also see the exit hole as the arrow entered the Buck's Right Side and Exited Left.

Ben responds and wants to see more!    

[KAZ]

If you look uphill from where the buck came to rest you'll see a bloody 5" Diameter Tree. The buck made it up there but tumbled his way back down to rest right where he lay....

 

A close up of the uphill tree

 

[KAZ]

Here he is! Thank you Lord  

 

Ready for the pack out!