Suburban Bow & Air Hunting Adventures: 2015

UPDATED CONTENT 9-29-2007

September 28th, 2007

Well its my third weekend of hunting for deer. But I have been tring to balance work, family and hunting... gets to wear you thin. My work week consists of Engineering Management starting Monday around 4:30am and averages about 10-12 hours per day until Friday then I leave for home around 1:30pm and I try to get an evening hunt in on Friday.

Well this is Friday Septembe 28th, I try to get in an evening hunt on some does, but none come out into the field where I am hunting until after dark... I will have to try again another day.

Fast Forward to Saturday September 29th, I try to get in a hunt in the morning, with my son, but we both were up a little later than we should of been and I think the end of the week got us wore out, he and I decide, we are too tired to hunt... (can't believe it...) so we sleep in. I decide to try a mid-morning hunt. I figure a little still-hunting in some timber I hunt, I always take 8 blunts with me, because I am an hunter of opportunity. Well the woods were unusually quiet, and the wind was all wrong, I am sure there is a storm coming this weekend, The wind has been basically South-Southeast for the first two weekends of hunting. Well Now I got a South-Southwest-sometimes West wind.

I start to do some still hunting, but I didn't see a single deer, and not even my other favorite animal to hunt with a bow squirrels were unusually absent from the woods that day. Well after a couple of hours of hunting I decide to go to the Archery Shop, I always like to go and talk to them to see what's going on in the deer woods, I have found the local pro shop to be one of the best places for Informations (and sometimes mis-information) around. Well everyone was there, but most hadn't been hunting that day because of the unusually warm weather. (85.)

Well I decide I will try an evening hunt. Generally the places I hunt have daily visits either morning or evening or both. Well, when I get home, I start doing some chores around the house. At about 2:00pm I decide I would start getting ready to go hunt. My wife (darling that she is) wanted some "quality time" she's not a hunter, but since she generally allows me to hunt un-interrupted all season. (September 15th to January 27th) so I decide to forego the evening hunt and spend some time with my wife. (Those younger fellas who are newly weds please take note, balance is important).

Anyway after taking her out to dinner, I at least get her to go for a "drive" which turned into a scouting trip to all the places I hunt to see if there were deer, my main field at the mall was full of does, I think we counted about 15 of them. So I decide I would hunt there in the morning.

Sunday September 30th, 2007

Its great morning cool, but the winds not very good, swirling and about 25mph well I go to my first field I get in there about 4:30am there are a couple deer on the West side of the field, the winds blowing from the west, so I circle south and head east to my blind. Thinking the does will come by my blind, they did but they headed north and then east they got behind my blind and I could hear them rustling around. They got past me and back into the bedding area. This happened well before first shooting light.

Disappointed, at about 7:30am I head over to LL timber and decide to go squirrel hunting. I get settled into a draw and pully out my HS squirrel call. I start a few barks and then I put my hand over the end and start some distress signals.

The squirrels start moving about 50 yards away from me, rustling around. I stay put with my back against a dead fall. I keep up the calling and low and behold something comes towards me in a red flash!!! It was a full-grown red fox!! I dont' know who was more shocked me or him. Well its not fox season here yet, and even though the wind was swirling, I had soaked my clothes in the homemade scent killer. The fox turned around and left.

I waited a couple of minutes then started barking and calling again. NOTE: when that fox came into the area everything got quiet. I mean the squirrels had quit barking and the birds quit chirping.)

Guess what the fox came back about 40 yards away from me then he got north of me and the south wind he got a whiff I believe of me and he took off back the way he came from.

I am definitely going to try and bowhunt for some foxes this year. Well I wait a few moments in silence, and then the woods start to come back alive. I start seeing suirrels everywhere. on the opposite ridge of course.

Well I start a small calling sequence, a couple of barks, distress and then a few chatters.

Finally a good size fox squirrel comes down out of the trees. (in this area I am near a lot of houses so I never shoot squirrels in the trees there. (Too Dangerous) Well I had just bought a new range finder, Nikon 440 believe me I don't know how I got along without it. I have an Inteli-Optic Rangefinder, I gave it to my son.

Well the Squirrel is about 55 yards away. I wait until the squirrel moves into a 45yard range. I put my 40 yard pin on the squirrel's head, it moves about 7 feet closer towards me. And I make a release, and I let the satellite arrow with a 100gr bludgeon on it. Perfect head shot. The fat fox squirrel dropped in its tracks.

I know now that this kind of hunting is very very important to become a more confident shot in the field. That shot most of the time I would never take it on a deer. It has more to do with a mental block than anything. Well with trying to head shot squirrels either you are going to get a fatal hit or miss completely.

I think that when a few more leaves fall I am going to dedicate much more time to squirrel hunting and couple it with predator calling. My guess is that a Squirrel is a feast for the little foxes all over this timber.

Well I go back home, man I am exhausted, work all week and hunt a hard all weekend it gets to you.

Well its about 3pm after a long nap, I do back to my field by the Mall and get set up there are ground hogs in the field I try to make a 30 yard shot on one on my way in... just missed him. I believe that groundhogs and squirrels are two animals that one must hunt with a bow, to try and spot and stalk them. Ground hogs are in open cover, so you can simulate (in my opinion) a western open country hunt. And squirrels are in the thick timber which helps with keeping quiet against two animals with excellent eyesight.

well I get settled into the blind its about 4:30pm and the sky looks dark. I mean really ominous. Well at about 5:30 a deer runs right by my blind. And stops about 70yards away, then I look across the field and there are 5 more deer 300 yards to the west. The wind is blowing from the west, The deer come within 45 yards of me, but I don't feel comfortable with a 25mph wind to make such a shot.

They never come any closer, but then it was like God dumped a five gallon bucket of water and it poured, lightning and thunder until about 7pm this is the advantage of a ground blind, well since I would have to cover an open field in a lightning storm, I call my wife and ask her to come over to the mall get in my truck and drive to my blind and pick me up.

This is another advantage to suburban hunting (easy access) she does and we load up all my stuff. I leave the blind for the next weekend. I want the deer to get used to it, plus with a rainstorm it will wash away all the human scent. With my using chest waders to travel to and from my hunting sight, I am leaving very little trace. Also one thing I do in this field is drive in there an hour earlier than I need to, drop all my stuff off then drive back out.

I then am able to double-time it to my blind without a lot of noise or fuss. Vehicles dont' scare suburban deer. Same as Farmer's tractors dont/

Well even though this weekends hunt resulted in no deer. I kept my wife happy, actually got some rest, and I left myself set-up for next weekend.

pretty good continuation of the season.

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October 22nd 2007

I have been having a rash of bad luck. I have to date this season shot, 3 deer, recovered 3 deer, 7 Squirrels, 3 Rabbits, missed 2 deer, observed 20 deer, 14 foxes, 2 coyotes, and 11 Turkeys, but I did manage to kill 2 tree branches in the process.

I did however improve my stalking skills and on the street savvy whitetails in my area that's a trick to accomplish, because they are all eyes, ears and nose. They do I believe know the difference between a hunter and a jogger. I have sat in my truck and watched deer let this guy with his dog get within 10 yards of them, and I have them spot me from 40 yards away and turn into the rockets that they are anyway...

Last night, I was sitting in a treestand, when I started I was facing the field at QPM and the wind was blowing on my back from the way the deer should come, of course about 2/3 through my hunt just before prime-time it changed too late to get out of the stand,

One littel doe comes out, she obviously following the same pattern as always, but was out at 52 yards according to my Nikon 440. Well it was very windy, so I chose not to take the shot, I watched her for at least a 15 minutes she walks patiently out about 200 yards then two more little does come out same thing, 50 yards out, won't take the shot. I am expecting mommas to come out, never showed...

well I climb down (yes for all of you who know me, I actually hung a treestand and sat in it LOL) and I start towards my truck heading directly north towards TARGET, well I see a glimmer of a tail through the brush, the wind is blowing basically straight west into the timber, so I drop my BOWSHIELD (come back for it later) and duck into the timber about 75 yards from my intended quarry, there are two full grown does about 75 yards ahead. I crawl throught he brush and I am not very quiet, but I uset he wind to my advantage (about 30mph) everytime the trees rustle I move 10 yards at a time as quick as I can. Finally I make it to a large brushpile which is more dirt, (woodchuck haven) I crawl to the side of it and peak, I am looking right at a Large Doe who is bedded down not even 10 yards from me. Man this is exciting? well light is fading fast, she didn't make me out, thanks to the Ghillie suit I am wearing and the wind blowing the scent away.

She won't STAND!!! so I decide to do the next best think, I grab a clump of dirt and lay my back against the dirt mount and start chucking them over the mound, it took 10 tries for her to finally stand up. She walks about 5 yards away still within Bow range if she goes any farther she will wind me and take off.

I Lean up and take aim... 12 yard shot, I can make that no problem just early today, I had made a 38 yard shot on a Fox Squirrel, this is no problem, I take my time Release SMACK, another baby locust tree for the wall. I missed the branch that blended in so well with the Does body. She took off like a rocket into the timber. then she got a whiff of me and started snorting and carrying on. she was mad.

Well then I am thinking, Either I hit her bad or missed her clean. I get a flashlight and start looking for my arrow well there's the last 6" with fletch attached. I couldn't find the rest, I decide to go into work late (have to go to St. Louis anyway) and go back in the morning, sure enough I found the rest of the arrow, and that doe has been throughly educated. I am pretty proud of being able to stalk within 10 yards of a very mature whitetail doe who was bedded down facing the direction I was coming from.

2009 SEASON
September 12th 2009 400am

I spent most of the night trying to get my equipment together. Clean my truck go get my buddy's canoe.

I get into my stand about 5:10am and after getting settled waited for daylight which was scheduled for 647am

About 652am I get a text from one of my students Jake Van Polen wishing me luck. I literally was texting a reply when out of nowhere a doe and two fawns are RIGHT IN front off me the big doe gets past me and so does one of the fawns the last one however waits a little two long and I nail her with a Muzzy tipped arrow.

Unfortunatelly I did not have the camera on. Note to self get my motion activated system complete today.

This is the opening day of the Ottumwa Urban Deer Management seasonwhich runs through Jan 31 2010.

I do believe I shot the doe a little too far back but literally from the time I saw the deer till they were out of my shooting lane was less than 12 feet.

I am pretty excited to get a doe down on the ground.

Note to self if filming with my video camera start recording 3 minutes before sunrise and let it roll for at least 30minutes

During this very short hunting excursion all I saw were the three deer a racoon ans two squirrels.

I don't know how long I am going to wait to collect this doe which I shot at exactly 712am. Pictures to follow.

I text my buddy Jake and tell him I doe down he's squirrel hunting. Well I decide to use a HS can call and get my camera together. I then put on my bowgrunter call which I think is by far the best deer call when in comes a very small 8 pointer shortly after that his sister comes in I cannot turn down this opportunity.

I let a Muzzy tipped arrow fly and down goes another Doe. This is awesome. Two deer down before 8am.

The doe and buck actually came in from the south and I shot her quartering away within inches of where I shot the first doe.

This is one of those killing trees. I have shot literally from this tree a large spike I believe 6 does an 8pointer

I do believe I got this on video we will see in a few minutes as I am checking the footage now.

VIDEOS TO DATE 11-26-2009

Buck Harvest 2009 11-14-2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly1CMjhsJYU

Doe Harvest 09-12-2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7HyXx9MduQ
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Sunday July 26th, 2009Well the Season is almost upon us. I went out "scouting" today for the first time and low and behold the QPM property had 3 bucks and 9 does in the field, many of you know about my stories with this property a lot. As it is one area I have shot a lot of does out of.

One of the bucks is about a 3 year old 8 pointer tall but not big tines, but for a meat hunter like me every buck I take is a trophy and every doe I take is at trophy. I just got my 6 pointer back from my taxidermist, Rick Stevens of Steven Taxidermy here in Ottumwa, Iowa, he is the guy who mounted the Louvsten Buck. He has mounted a a lot of world record deer. IF you ever want a great mount send your horns to him he's the best.

Well this year if I play my cards right I should be able to receive the following tags.

I haven't decided if I want a Late Muzzleloader season tag or an early Muzzleloader season tag. Its kind of nice knowing that I have that extra late season tag after the rut is over.

I have a personal goal this year to harvest at a minimum 12 deer total. We will see how this fans out.

More importantly I have a family goal for each child in my family to harvest 1 deer this year.

We will see how that goes.[/b]

July 27th, 2009
Went to the QPM property, and low and behold there were 2 awesome bucks there. One was at least a 150 8 point and the other was at least a 130inch 8 pointer. Both look like they are about 2-3 years old. I can't wait until the season starts.

9-11-2010.

3:15pm I am getting ready to leave after running around town getting things together with my friend Michael Fontana, who is now a 1st year bowhunter. I decide to take him to my QPM property and give him a shot at least seeing a doe, if not trying to kill one. It has been great teaching Michael he literally came to me and I set him up by taking him to the local proshop, he thought that he was right hand shooter, but we did an eye dominance test on him, we found out that he is left eye dominant, so we got him set-up with a left-hand charge.

He picked up a ½ dozen arrow, a truball release and a ½ dozen 100grain Muzzy 4 blade broad heads. He has been practicing with me for a couple of weeks prior to this. And now we are set out to try and get the first deer of the season. Mike like all of us who start out has the same limitation on funds as any working class bowhunter. So he purchased a 30.00 BIGDOG treestand from Menards and aa 70 set of climbing ladder.

Well we get to the tree and I get up the tree literally in about 5 minutes with my MUDDY climbing sticks which are the bomb. Then I hung my muddy stand in about 5 minutes. Then I began to hang his stand on the left of me. Well first of all the pull straps that came with the stand TERRIBLE, I could not for the life of me get the thing cinched to the tree. So I had to get a ratchet strap out of the truck and it still was a pain in the butt it took about 20 minutes just to hang his stand!!! He got a real lesson in “you get what you pay for” There was nothing wrong with the stand just the way it fastened to the tree. I lent him a tree saddle to use as a harness, because the harness that comes with these stands are more of a political statement than a safety tool.

Well we get settled into the Treestand about 4:25. And of course being a new hunter Michael is excited and since we have been friends for a long-time in a non-hunting capacity, we tend to talk (TOO MUCH) and about 5:15 Michael sees that there are three deer about 65 yards from us, Now I have my trusty PRIMOS buck decoy out about 39 yards from the stand (too close I will explain why later).. Anyway it’s the OLD DOE, the one I have talked about in my other stories from 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. She sneaks up on the decoy stays 40 yards away, she doesn’t snort, she stomps 3 times and then circles at a full run 25 yards west of the decoy and heads to the north side of the property, she was exactly 65 yards when I wanted to make a shot and she is so SMART!!! She didn’t’ see us, but she knew something was up. She also had triplets, so shooting her is a priority, this is the 4th year she has had triplets with her.

Anyway after that is over with, Michael of course wants to talk about what went on, then I see some deer coming up the creek, he says “deer” and I am trying to keep him from shooting through the brush, and he waits, but can’t stop talking. He is truly doing pretty good, but won’t stop talking, finally one of the little 9 month or yearling does comes out, I say “Don’t shoot, wait for the mother to step out I will shoot her and you shoot one of the fawns, its about 6:00pm at this time, he comes to full draw immediately, I haven’t even taken my bow of the hook. So he’s holding, holding, holding, I am saying, “don’t shoot) the big doe finally commits and steps out the trees at 26 yards and I release and nail her in a sharply quartering away shot, I know its good… (more on that later)

I tell Michael shoot the little one and he lets it get out to about 20 yards and he releases, I can tell immediately the shot was very low front, but I can’t make out if it was a fatal shot… After that we settle in, he is pretty excited, shaken, all of the above, he about falls out of the tree, he is so excited. He leans over and says, “What an adrenaline rush!!!, He then begins to ramble on and on about how he nailed the deer, I at this time cannot tell if he got a good shot or not, it looked really low and front, but not to disappoint him, I want to wait to see blood.

So at this time about 6:35 we have seen 7 deer total. I tell him, “we have until 7:55pm to hunt” so we settle in, of course he has a hard time being quiet, when I spot a loan fawn coming up the creek, I tell him get ready, then he says, “no there are more deer!!” he is so excited he can’t stop talking (its great to be with a newbie!!!) There is a doe directly under the stand, but no shot opportunity, he says “I have a 60lbs I can shoot through that brush!!” I say, “NO YOU CAN’T STOP TALKING” well he continues to talk… the doe is literally about 10 yards away, I also wanted to wait and see if she would commit to clearing the brush, she didn’t then she got nervous cause Michael is continuing to talk and try to give me a play by play of where the doe is every 3 steps she takes,

Finally she gets east of us since the decoy is not moving, she starts stomping and getting pissed then Michael started talking again!!! (love a newbie) and she looks up, she looks right at us, and I whisper, “ stop talking stop moving” he was so nervous and excited, he couldn’t get that I was giving him the look of “SHUT UP AND STOP MOVING” LOL anyway, she looked up through the trees at us about 10 times then she decides that its time to go. And Blows all through the woods and so does the other one, scaring everything off.

It is now about 7:20pm and we have seen a total of 11 deer today. So I tell him we are going to climb down at 7:55pm and we are going to collect all of our gear and then look for his arrow (no lumenoks) and then go look for our deer.
I am positive my deer is down within in 40 yards of where I shot her. His deer had crashed through the creek, but it was running so fast, I do believe he might of hit it in the foot, but at that time I didn’t want to tell him…
Well we get down out of the tree with a few minor problems… Michael having never descended a Treestand at night, it took a little, but we got down there with minor incidents.

While I was taking my stand down and my steps, Michael went to look for his arrow, he found it, I tell him “stick it in the ground right where you found it” he’s like “why do that, so I am trying to remove Treestand etc. he calls his wife and tells her “we got two” now of course, I wouldn’t of done that, because in bowhunting, you don’t “have em” unless they are in the back of the truck on the way to the processor.

Anyway, I get the MUDDY stands and sticks down. We get our gear packed up and then I go to look at his arrow, now told me, “I have blood everywhere” well, when I finally get to look at his arrow, not much blood, he had WIPED his arrow off with his gloves, but there was not blood trail. Which was my suspicion that he hit the front leg.

We go to my Lumenok’d arrow and there is blood all over the ground behind and in front of it. I walk to where the doe walked in, and there is blood… we cross the crick walk about 10 yards and I look 20 yards to the west and say “there she is” she’s dead, so then we drag her out to the trail. Then we try and find Michaels deer, we look for about an hour, but I cannot pick up a blood trail anywhere.

I tell him, we will come back in the morning its going to get 45 tonight, so I took him through the whole process of field dressing, then putting on a tag, calling in the tag and then taking the deer to the fire station to be checked in and then taking the deer to the meat locker. After that we are back home and he is on his way. He comes down on Sunday 9-12-2010 we looked for his doe from 8:30am till about 10:30am and could not find it or any sign of any blood.

So I had to break the news to my friend… you had a bad shot man. He was disappointed to say the least, but I told him, Same thing happened to me at this very spot 2006 season and I shot mine at 10 yards, he started describing his shot, and I know what I think he did wrong, he did not bend at the waist and keep his “T” formation he also might of jerked a little to the right.

Anyway, we get back to my house and separate our gear from the night before and he says “ I still had a great hunt and it was successful in my opinion” I tell him, “anytime you can bowhunt it is successful because its American freedoms being enjoyed” anyway, I tell him I am not sure if I can hunt this afternoon or if I even want to. I have some gear things I need to take care of (my pack weighs about 35 lbs.) and I need to put together the Modular style pack I was carrying before.

PS sorry about the crappy picture, but it was 11pm and we had the brights on the truck on.

September 17th, 2011 - Well, another year has come and gone, life has taken quite a change for the Gamo family, not to get into (nor really wanting to) details, we are a family member short this year, (no worries no deaths, just change). I decided to get out and do some hunting, which I was able to accomplish on Tuesday of this week, and although I wanted to shoot a doe, I ended u being covered up in very very nice bucks!!!

My work schedule is Mon-Thurs 9am to 530pm I have been coming in early to get off early when the urge hits me to go hunt. I have been working very hard at reducing what I carry into the field with me as many of you know I have experimented, modified, and tried just about every contraption for bowhunting on this earth. I have found something I like a lot, which is a field line fanny pack that comes with a harness, I bought one for 25.00 at walmart and it is perfect for my three hour hunts in suburbia.

Today, I took a friend of mine with me to my trusty QPM property many of you have read about this property before about a 3 acre area that borders drainage lagoon, and the local shopping mall property. Well, needless to say, we go there about 3pm and there were 4 does already in the field about 400 yards south of us, but right in front of where I wanted to go.

I told Mike my friend that we would have to drive the truck to the north east corner where there is a dip in the treeline, drop off our stuff, then drive the truck back to park, I did this because it would spook the deer less, than us unloading and hauling everything to the area I wanted to set up in.

Mike was using a wolverine climber I loaned him, and I was using my Petzl Harness, homemade platform and Muddy Climbing sticks. We really did not get setup and completed until about 430pm as we did not even get there until about 4pm .

At about 535pm we were covered up in deer, but they were mostly out of range, two spikes 4 mature does and 7 fawns.

One of the fawns came under my tree, but I couldn't get a shot! So we waited and waited, for the deer to work their way to us, and then finally a large mature doe walks under my stand and stops to feed at 28 yards, I drill her and get a perfect heart shot she piles up not even 30 yards from where I shot her. Sorry about the poor quality of the picture, but my camera was acting stupid, at least the time date stamp got to work.

9-15-2012 I am not an early riser, but I was up at 4 there was a south wind so we decided not to hunt until evening, we set up two decoys at the QPM property and tried to get good opportunity, we could not keep people out of the field though we had good deer concentration, but everytime someone would walk into the field and try to get a picture of our decoys, or would try to see the deer. It caused us three misses, as our deer were spooked everytime and werr put on alert. We are going back, but going to put the decoys farther south hoping it will not attract people to the area. It is private property and I think we should post some signs.

9-16-2012

Well I went back to the same spot as yesterday, this time, hot air balloons scared every deer out of the field, I have to get a new plan of attack.

I think will try going in deep instead of working the edge of the field.

Thursday afternook here I come.
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8-7-2013: Well, hello everyone, our new season is upon us very soon. I am looking forward to posting some pictures, and stories of how I hunt in my chosen environment in suburban areas. Looks like I have an early season buck tag starting Sept, 13th, then will have another tag for statewide usage Starting October 1st, plus a late season Bow/Muzzleloader tag, and if I am successful and can harvest four does before Nov 1st, I will have one more management zone tag as well. The fawn drop was spectacular this year, and we are seeing deer everywhere. Looking forward to this hunting season.

The equipment I am using this year will still be my trusty Bear Truth I, but with some modifcations,

I got rid of the Viper 5 pin sight, and switched to a Trophy Ridge Alpha 5, as it is an awesome sight, I am also using a modified RedHawk oversized peep (diabetes eyes ;( ) and I am also using a Hindisight II Magnum, this setup has me aligning in 3 points of contact, Peep > Hindsight II > Pin it has been the most accurate setup so far, I have an extremely large peep aperature "1/2" and I am really happy with it, the Hindsight tightens up that window at a distance and works really well in low light conditions.

All of you have followed my exploits with my children... My Son "Little Jp" Turned 21 in May, and is graduating college with two degrees. My Daughter JacLynn turned 18 and she is out on her own supporting herself, and finding out what being and adult is all about.

My youngest, son, Drew-Shawn is now 15 and I hope to have him with me in the woods a lot this year.

Our family has had its ups and downs, we all know how life happens

, but I am very much looking forward to hunting this year. I wish you all a great season!!!

8-9-2013 My son Drew-Shawn and I went to Whitetail Outdoors today in order to qualify and check out getting some more gear. I had my Truth II my son had his Element, same bows you would of seen us shoot on the videos in previous years. He and I had a great contest, shooting "floating" ping pong balls. Needless to say he says he won

I beg to differ, he hit the ball more times than I did, but he actually shot 6 more times than I did and he beat me by 1 point, so that means my percentage of accuracy is better

I love these times spending with my son, when I first got on this board, my son was 6 years old. There are videos of him on here in past posts, where his bow was nearly as big as he was. It was a great time, hard to believe he is now almost 15. Its been a great time raising these kids.

So today, I shot 10 for 10 in the qualifying target, not bad after a couple hours practice, I had to fool around with a couple different sets of glasses to get the right prescription, All in All was a great day, we did look at some Toxic broadheads that have 6 cutting surfaces, but pricey 45.00 for 3 broadheads, think I will stick with standard 4 blade Muzzy broadheads.

8-14-2013 Well its officially one month until season. My youngest son Drew, has opted out of football, so he could hunt all season, wow, he is really a sports nut, but he wants to bowhunt, that's pretty cool. I have been getting all my gear ready, going to try and be completely ready this year for season, I am going to purchase myself a mini-van for hunting this year, in the suburban areas, a full-size pickup truck is overkill until winter time. and I can change in the van and keep my gear locked up and out of the weather.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a great season. We are seeing lots of deer and so, the time is come for us to get out and put some cameras out.

9-14-2013 Opening Day... Well first of all I stayed up so late getting ready for season, I slept in, the wind was bad for a morning hunt. I went this afternoon, but only saw two does, and they were moving to fast to shoot. I am looking forward to tomorrow's hunt.

11-29-2013 So yesterday took a 3/4 hike into the woods to a part of my LLE property zoned in the county. Was hoping to connect. I just got a new Big Dog Tree Stand Insider climbing stand. It worked great, light weight after I got settled, I rattled with my Knight and Hale Rack Pack, one of the greatest inventions quite takes up little space.
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I also was using a decoy its a simple Flambeau fawn decoy used for predator calling. I had filled it with expanding foam. Put an old arrow, up the leg. It works great. As always I was wearing a Muddy Harness and Sticks n Limbs camo. After a couple rattling sequences and some doe bleats on my BowGrunter calls I hoped to get a buck to come in. Honestly the hunting this year has been tough, drought high winds... So any deer was going down.
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Well with in 10 minutes of my second rattle grunt sequence a spike came in... He spotted the decoy and smelled the scent the wind was out of the southeast he was north west of me. I am sure he smelled me, but was too occupied with the decoy. I think the fawn decoys are less intimidating. After a few minutes he turned his head, he had q FORK and a Brow tine so he was off limits, he hung around for 30 minutes trying to get the decoy to come to him. I had it set up facing south.
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I spooked him once when my harness ticked against the stand. He ran 20 yards north, but came back. Then I heard some grunting and in comes an 8 pointer. Now those of you that know me I am not a trophy hunter, I tried it for a couple years, I would much rather eat a deer than hang horns on the wall. So this buck hangs up watching the little buck, after about 20 minutes he comes in north west of my stand, the little buck is also under my stand to north east, I am hoping he will pass by but he doesnt.
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Eventually the buck starts to loose interest, starts to leave I snort wheeze without a call and he comes back, circles to the Northeast about 30 yards I am loosing light this entire scenario has been going on for about an hour and a half. He finally gives me an opportunity when the other buck isnt watching, I draw back and release my Truball stinger, my Bear Truth I did the job and my Muzzy 4 blade made the unmistakable sound of a pass through, the little buck snorts and takes off to the North west the 8-pointer heads northeast.
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I get settled in the nockturnal is brightly shining I range the nockturnal it was at 23 yard so shooting for 15 with my Trophy Ridge Alpha Micro V5 and Hindsight Magnum with a modified Redhawk peep worked perfectly. I am so glad for this setup, I have considered other bows, but sticking with this one. This is my first deer of the season. Couldn't be happier. He is a little 125 8 pointer picture will follow soon. One note, the first little buck came back in over and over, tracking this deer was a problem I was already 3/4 mile of rough terrain in from the truck, then the deer ran probably about 1/4 mile erratic pattern, I knew I had a good hit.
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Cause I always shoot for the shoulder on opposite side. But there wasnt much blood just spots for 600 yards then more blood finally got to be more yhe kleenex trick of marking the last blood is great. I finally found in a huge multiflora rose thicket. I looked at the hit right through shoulder, it was a little forward. I field dressed the deer and started dragging him after the first hill this wasnt working...
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So I dropped my pack took.my tactica light shined it straight up and then followed my marked trail back to the stand, hiked the 3/4 mile back to the truck, dropped off my bow and my stand got my toboggan and hiked back in got the deer loaded and my pack.and drug him back to the truck finally got him loaded around 930pm, I can leave them.overnight too many coyotes. Well thats my story hope you enjoyed it 11-29-2013

7-20-2014

Well its almost time for a new season. This year I treated myself... A new wife!!! And a new bow... my wife's name Heather Dawn

but we call her HD... my new bow is a Martin Panther 50# recurve.

I have been relentless in practicing. No 3D shoots but lots of paper.

I have to get to the outdoor range for some long range practice. This is a great shooting bow.

My wife is shooting bow for the first time this year. I am excited to get her in a tree as well. She only wants to run a camera this year and that is okay with me. Getting her a Ghillie suit will make it easier for her.

My trusty Bear Truth I will still be my hunting partner as well.

Its been a great year for old Gamo... last 5 years were tough one but the kids are almost all grown up. Going to be amazing to see them advance in their careers and life.

I hope to have some fun shoot a few deer maybe a turkey and definitely some squirrels.

My gear thus year will be...

Martin Panther 30in draw 53lbs
Satellite Arrows
Muzzy Phantoms
Hindsight magnum
Whisker Bisquit Rest
Diamond 8 Arrow quiver

Bear Truth I 30 in draw 65lns
Satellite arrows
Muzzy 4 blade
Hindsight Magnum
Diamond 8 Arrow quiver
Trrophy Taker rest
Redhawk Peep sight
Truball Release

I hope to get a deer with my recurve for sure. I AM ADJUSTING to shooting it... I wont be satisfied until at 30 yards I am as accurate as I am with my compound.

I am using a modified version of the practice regime that Zano suggest from Traditional Bowhunter Magazine.

It is easier said than done. My practice is

5 yards top row

10 yards 2nd row

15 yards 3rd row.

Then I pull arrows and

Start at 20 top row
Then 15 2nd row
Then 10 3rd row

Pull arrows

5 yards bottom row
10 yards middle
15 yards top row.

One arrow each dot.

Its actually pretty hard. But I think it is making me improve quickly.

Suburban bowhunting adventures October 5th 2014:

After having spent a couple of unsuccessful hunts and having several tree stand stolen I have decided to go freelance in my hunting style using my tree saddle on modified muddy platform I will also use either muddy climbing sticks or screw in Cranford climbing pegs.My wife and I we both live in separate cities and work in separate cities during the week so it makes it tough to hunt sometimes on the weekend but sundays are the day because that's when she's headed back to clive and I can spend the afternoon hunting.

So as she's on our way back north I'm getting ready and trying to get into a tree I leave our house in southeast Iowa about 3:50 p.m. In the afternoon I make it to the LLE property. Many of you have read my stories before this is a property that I like very much and I am grateful I get to hunt it.Long story I am setup and in the tree by 4:15pm... It doesnt take time for nature to relax you and give you a sense of peace.

As I am watching the squirrels about 550pm I see off to the north movement...here comes a doe from the north west same direction the wind ia blowing... I range her 47 then 35 yards away. I will be waiting to see if she comes closer... I am very lucky I am hunting in a Petzl Canyoning harness and it allows me to put the tree between myself and the deer.

After watching her for 30 minutes another doe appears about 25 yards northwest of my position and she walks behind a tree 15 yards from me... I range her with my Archer's Choice Range finder... and I confrim 15 yards... understanding that I need that rangefinder because I hunt 30ft to the bottom of my feet. It has to be high for me because of the movement of the tree saddle.I grab my bear truth bow and get prepared. I attach my truball stinger release to the Dloop I align my TrophyRidge Alpha V5 Micro sight with my Hindsight Magnum and my Redhawk Oversized Peep while drawing back to full draw with my kisser button touching the tip of my nose...

this may seem like overkill but because my harness gives me the ability to shoot 360 around a tree its possible with the setup to shoot when at an awkward angle... this setup allows for perfect form from an imperfect stance.I am at full draw when the doe steps out from behing the tree I gap my 10 and 20 yard pins on the shoulde and release my Satwllite Bronze arrow tipped with a Muzzy 4 Blade 100Gr broadhead and a nocktournal red lighted nock.

I AM NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THE NOCKTOURNAL DID NOT STAY LIT. AND HAS A SHORT IN IT...The hit is great the doe walks off the other doe runs off. It looks like the doe followed the other doe down the ravine bu I loose sight of her in the canopy. So I decide to wait it out and hunt some more... I get down about 730pm as last shooting light was 712pm...I go looking for the doe and loose the blood trail and decide to follow the trail...

I end up following it for about a 1.5 mile circle.... cannot find the doe but find another killer stand spot..after that grueling hike I decided to head home and come back im the morning... when my buddy Jeff and I come back we are trying to pick the trail back up I look ahead to my right and there ahe ia not even 35 yards from where I shot her... I walked right by her last night.THE HIT WAS AMAZING. THROUGH THE SHOULDER AND RIGHT THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE STERNUM. It went right through the heart...I am very happy with my first deer of the season and on my third outing.

Time: Oct 5, 2014, 5:47 PM
Hunting area: Leisure Living
Area: Ottumwa
Location: EVE LLE NORTH CENTRAL
Hunter: Jp Jones

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