Iowa Bow-Hunting Opener

Bow season opened in Iowa on October 1st. I have long awaited this day since the last time I was in the woods. The winds had finally laid down after two days of horrible winds. The temperature was a perfect 50 degrees. The conditions were almost mystical.

On my way into the woods, I was watching along a heavily used trail for any fresh signs of deer activity. The first sign was a fresh licking branch that had been busted off. This was a good news for me, as it was only 100 yards from where I parked my truck. The next bit of sign was a small, but fresh rub near the licking branch. A little bit further down the trail, there was a fresh scrape. All of the fresh activity had my bow-hunting blood pumping hard through my veins. I could hardly wait to get vertical.

Being my first time in the woods this season with bow in hand, I wanted to remain mobile. I opted to go with my lone wolf stand and lw climbing sticks. I love this combination. I can be up 20′ in a tree and ready to shoot in less than 20 minutes.

With all the standing corn still up in my area, I decided to hunt an open food plot, adjacent to standing corn and timber. I chose this spot because the visibility was the best. The woods, in my area are still to thick with leaves for my liking. I decided to stay out in the open with a lot of field that I could glass. This time of year poses many different challenges, as well as rewards. A challenge I face is deer movement and trails. With all the standing corn, they can stay hidden all day in the corn. They also have the benefit of using trails, and hiding areas that are created by the fence rows and the corn. When the corn comes out they have to adjust their movements, and are much more vulnerable.

To the action- I set up at about three o’clock in the first spot. I sat until about four thirty with zero deer spotted. I decided that I didn’t like what I was seeing, and needed to move. Just when I was getting down, I had about 15 turkeys stroll through, with some of them getting closer than ten feet. I was on the ground completely at this time. I was really impressed with my ghilly suit- the turkey’s had no Idea I was there, and allowed me to snap some pictures of them.

The turkeys finally move away, and I am able to go to my next spot. As I am making my way over there, a doe just about runs me over, and both of us don’t know what to do. It turns out her, and another doe are getting chased by a mid 140’s class buck. And to my surprise he was chasing them hard. The doe that just about ran me over, snorted and bolted. She ran about 50 yards out into an open crp field, and tried to analyze what had just happened. She didn’t even have time to think as the buck was back chasing her again.

I was able to watch the buck and these two does for about 15 minutes. He chased them all over a 40 acre crp field. All three then disappeared into the timber.

It is now getting really dark, and the camera wouldn’t take clear photos. I pick up my binoculars again, and begin glassing to see if there is any more action in the crp field. I spot one doe with her youngin. They are both getting followed by a shooter. They stay about 100 yards away from me in the crp field, but I did get to glass them for about 10 minutes. I would estimate this buck at 160 or better. He was a big, tall, heavy-heavy ten pointer. Hopefully I will run into him in the morning. After they had moved on it was now pitch dark, and I made my way back to the truck.

I had a great first day in the woods. The sun gave a picture perfect sunset as I was sitting on a fence-line. The turkeys, deer, hawks, and eagles all provided great company in the great outdoors this evening. I can’t wait to get back out there in the morning. I wish everybody a safe and successful hunting season this year. And if you get the chance, take a kiddo with you out into the woods. Maybe they will get hooked on the great outdoors just as I have.

Good luck, stay safe, and see ya in the woods!