"Good Things" The Iowa waiting game
| Bows - Compound Bows |
I am not necessarily a patient person. People who know me may say different but truth be told, it is all about attitude. Sometimes patience can be mistaken for dogged determination. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking that anyone who can sit in a tree stand all day is UNBELIEVABLELY patient. It’s simply not always the case. This can be stubbornness, not patience. However, in my case, I believe there is one extra factor.My red haired Granny, Wava Erickson, used to call it my “Swedish Streak.” This can typically be recognized by a clenched jaw, crossed arms and a hunkering in for the long haul attitude. The kind of state of mind where all reasonable logic is swapped for the phrase “You can’t beat me!” followed by the stomp of a foot.
I come by this gift/curse genetically. The mix of the determination of my German ancestry from my Dad and the stubbornness of Swedish blood from my Mom has been a combination that has outlasted a myriad of opponents in many different arenas. It is exactly that tenacity that I relied on while bow hunting in Iowa.
For all the huge bucks scurrying around the hilly Iowa landscape, you would think that one would only have to sit in a stand one afternoon to arrow a buck. There’s no doubt that has happened to other hunters, but the fact is, it seldom happens to me. I typically have to work hard for my game. This Iowa bowhunt provided a waiting game that tested even this veteran bowhunter.
My first trip to Timberghost Ranch in the bluff country of Southeast Iowa just north of the Missouri border occurred at the end of October. Cameraman Randy Platz from Advanced Whitetail Hunting and I journeyed the six hour stint with high hopes of a Pope and Young record book buck. The footage shot here would find its way to the editing bay of The Hunter’s Journal (The Outdoor Channel) in Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a future television show.
Timberghost Ranch Manager, Mike Hine, is an outstanding hunter and definitely serving in a position he was born for. Having several record book trophies himself, nothing pleases him more than placing his hunters on huge deer. With over 4000 acres of leased wild land available for his clients to hunt, he becomes intimately familiar with each parcel, consistently putting bucks in front of his hunters. The treestand set ups provided were phenomenal, matched only by the spectacular hospitality of the Timberghost staff. This hunt was indeed a class act.
On our first night we saw several deer and one nice big buck. A combination of rattling and decoying supplied us with lots of on-camera action but no big bucks within bow range. Before I knew it my four day hunt had come to an end. Sadly, we returned to Wisconsin empty-handed.
Within a couple days I had a revelation. Without even realizing it, I had just let my butt get kicked by the big bucks of Southeast Iowa. My Swedish/German blood began to boil. I had to get back there. Two calls to Mike Hine later; a return trip was scheduled for the middle of November. These bucks were NOT going to beat me. I clenched my jaw, crossed my arms, and started planning my attack.
Three weeks later the rut was in full swing. I had actually seen two record-book bucks chasing does in the field on my way down the long gravel roads leading to the Timberghost Lodge. Rut crazed bucks were obviously moving all day and not in their right minds. This was going to be fun! My cameraman for this trip would be Ronnie Green, a guide from the Ranch whom I had known for several years. Ronnie was a good hunter and willing to put in long hours in the tree without complaining. It was perfect.
The three first days of the hunt were exciting with trophy class deer traveling throughout the day. The big bucks stayed within sight but not bow range including one buck that scored 170+ inches. He chased a small doe within 50 yards of my stand before deciding to take an alternate route that literally saved his life (I still dream about this buck!) All this excitement made the week go by quickly and before I knew it I was on my way out to my last afternoon sit.
Perched in a stand on a ridge I peered into the gorge that ran adjacent to it. Heavy runways criss-crossed the bottom. In my minds eye I pictured the scenario that would have to happen tonight. My stand stood between a thick bedding area and a cornfield. The plan was that the deer would travel up the gorge into a staging area, placing them within a thirty-five yard shot of my stand.
As the afternoon started to grow dim, I reflected on the nine days of hunting I had just completed in Iowa. The days had been filled with excitement but that alone does not make a television show. Just as I began to admit defeat I heard my cameraman say, “There’s a buck coming up the gorge!” For ten excruciating minutes he nibbled his way closer to the field. I hoped he would reach my stand before I lost the last remaining light for acceptable video. Baby step after baby step he got closer until he slipped into my sight window broadside. It was the break I had been waiting for. At 27 yards I unleashed my Mathews and sent a Steel Force tipped broadhead through both lungs.
Instantly he bolted up the ridge and just as quickly stopped. He stood stone still for what seemed to be 5 minutes. For a moment I wondered if my eyes had fooled me. It looked like a perfect shot. I could have sworn that I saw my Lumenok light the way straight through his chest but there he stood on the hillside…motionless as a front yard statue. Then suddenly all four legs buckled and the trophy buck rolled down the hill. I was elated! It is hard to say if I have ever been that happy!Nine days had elapsed. Hours and hours had been spent on stand. The waiting game had been played relentlessly until the last hour of the last day of the hunt. Victory never tasted so sweet!
I guess my Granny was right about my “Swedish Streak,” but that’s not the only thing she was right about. I remember her saying; “Good things come to those who wait.” My “Good Thing” scored 142 P&Y. By the way…Iowa is filled with “good things.”
Contact Timberghost Manager Mike Hine for an awesome affordable trophy hunt in Iowa at 319-394-9876 or Email him This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .Write to them at Timberghost Ranch, Box 545, Mediapolis, IA 52637. To see more massive Iowa bucks you can visit www.timberghostranch.com Watch for more exciting whitetail hunts filmed at Timberghost on The Hunters Journal on The Outdoor Channel 3 times a week. Their web site is www.huntersjournal.tv Ladies, don’t forget to swing by and sign up for a free Mathews bow at Tammy Koenig’s web site www.leadingladiesoutdoors.com
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