October Iowa Trip

The two AWH Bow hunters left Wisconsin at 3:00 pm for our October Scouting Trip in my 96 Silverado pulling a camper for our weekend stay. We made it to our friend’s cabin at 7:30, just after dark.

This year's October scouting trip to Iowa would be must different then in the past, we didn't go to Iowa for we did not receive Iowa tags this year. It seems that there are more hunters applying for Iowa tags, so Randy and I have come to the realization that we might only draw Iowa tags every other year, so we felt we needed to come up with a plan for the years we don’t draw Iowa tags. After much consideration we decided to head to western Wisconsin, where the deer are plentiful, and the bucks are large.

Friday October 17th - October Scouting Trip - Day Two

We didn’t get up before light because we were hunting new spots and didn’t have any tree stands ready. After a light breakfast, Randy and I headed to our first spot. The unit that we were hunting in has been designated a “Earn A Buck” unit which means you have to shoot a doe before you can shoot a buck, and this weekend is also an “antler less gun hunt”. So our goal was to scout new hunting areas and shoot two does. The only problem was that everyone else was trying to do the same. We saw other hunters in every spot we checked out, but that was to be expected. When we come back to bow hunt in November, we should have more room to ourselves.

The second spot we checked out, was a 30 acre wooded patch with CRP fields on 3 sides and a corn field on the other side. Randy took the low road and I took the high road. The sign was promising and our hopes were high. As I skirted the south edge of the woods, a large deer got up and took off to the east. I got the deer in the scope and all I saw was antlers. So I put the rifle down and kept moving. It never fails, when you want a doe, all you see is a buck.

After lunch, we checked out the last spot for the day, it was a bigger area then the previous two spots we looked at. We parked in an out of the way area and worked our way along a large ridge. Randy sat at the west end of the ridge while I worked my way around. Randy is still a little stiff from his recent back surgery, so I get most the work on this trip. As I neared the north edge of the cover, a deer jumped up and circled around back to the west towards Randy. He was ready and with his rifle and wouldn’t you know it, it was a small buck. We just can’t win.

We did like the area so we decided to sit until dark to see if any does would come out. I guess all the tromping around we did must have spooked the deer, we didn’t see any that evening.

Saturday October 18th - October Scouting Trip - Day Three

After a good nights sleep, we checked out a different spot not far from the cabin. We got there right at first light and much to our dismay, were four other trucks filled with orange clad hunters, all out to fill their doe tags.

Randy and I, after much discussion we packed up the camper and headed northeast to check out a different area where friends of ours had just purchased 40 acres surrounded by county forest. When we got there they were all busy at work. They had hired a bulldozer to clear a trail and a spot for a cabin. When the dozer was done we started digging post holes and leveling post. It was a busy day with lots of sore arms and backs. But the construction was well on the way. This is important, because this is when 12 hunters will be staying for the 10 day Wisconsin gun deer season.

Sunday October 19th - October Scouting Trip - Day Four

After a little more work on the cabin, we headed back home. There was much planning to be done for the upcoming November deer hunts.

Until then, See you in November, Dale

Click here to find more about a October Iowa Trip