Third Season: via email: Just a quick note and picture to let you know that my annual trip to [location deleted] was great fun this year. The bird situation was greatly improved--what a difference a good winter and spring can make. Found numerous coveys of quail and had a great time with the pheasants. It was a treat to have a dusting of snow as compared to the sweltering conditions of last year for both the deer and bird hunting. Seeing the bird tracks in the snow gets your blood going and really helped to focus on the best areas. I was happy to find a good number of pheasant that would hold for the dog. Had no problem seeing 30+ birds a day and had four days limit in spite of my having to apologize to my dog for a few misses. No pictures of the birds this time, but I'll have a bunch of great memories. On the deer situation, once again my limited vacation time forces me to choose and I always prefer to spend more time on the birds. My total time in the woods for deer this year was 3.5 hours. I'm happy with the buck I did harvest and am very glad that there was some snow as the fields were too muddy to drive to it. Ever the impatient bird hunter type I am I took this deer while still hunting opening morning. Thanks again for the opportunity to hunt such fabulous land. Best to all this holiday season. Regards, Bill Second Season:
I had fun chasing the pheasants for the rest of the weekend on the property I had reserved for deer hunting, but decided that I had better head off to [location deleted] to try to fill that tag. Called in to the Association Monday afternoon to reserve one of the properties you had recommended since I have never hunted deer in [location deleted]. Thanks for the recommendations--it too was a winner! Early Tuesday morning I had the 10 point As my passion is birds I didn't wait out a larger deer, for fear I would run out of bird time. If I would have known my dog was going to come up lame on Wednesday I may have played it differently.But again, had a great time putting on the miles for a day and half seeing well over a hundred pheasant and 5 coveys of quail. The upland cover was just awesome. The pheasant didn't want to hold for the dog too well, but I had a great time taking half a limit--one with the handsome spurs of an older bird. The leases you suggested were so gamy you could just about eat them. Oh how I envy those in the Association that can hunt more than once a year! Best wishes to all in and with the Association this holiday season. Best Regards, BillFirst Season
On the deer...I had given up deer hunting for over ten years until this year with the association. This is my first association deer. The land I have access to around Ohio is poor and public land is always a war zone. I am not one that has much patience to sit, so having a section all to one's self is heaven to still hunt. Now that I am 'on the board again' with this young 8-point, and as my familiarity with Iowa deer hunting increases, I intend to become more selective for trophies. I I consider myself fortunate to have been able to still hunt this deer successfully. There was little or or no deer movement with hot weather and, I am guessing on this, the full moon allowing the deer to confidently feed all night and bed down early. All the deer I saw I moved myself. I did manage to see the largest deer (body AND rack) I have ever seen dead or alive this past trip. Unfortunately, with Iowa being shotgun instead of rifle I did not take the long shot that would have been required even though it was very tempting. He ended up on an adjacent piece which is really part of the same woodlot. Regards Bill |
via email: John, Thought I would share with you some pictures and a note on my annual trip out west. I decided to make it a combo trip for birds and deer. 
via email: To be honest, I'm more proud of the two pheasants (over two days) than the deer. I heard the warnings about Iowa pheasant hunting and gave it a try anyway. Taz did everything right on this bird while working him going with the wind. He hit a point that made a tear come to the eye and then, fortunately, was able to drop him in a creek for a 'wet' retrieve. Some birds drift away in the mind over time, but this one is likely to stay. Incidentally, of course there is no problem with the cover on the lands we lease. Even the locals can't remember such a tough hunting season.
'd like to try Missouri sometime and wonder where to begin for a good still hunting piece of property or two?! This piece had the ideal balance of crop, hardwood, natural barriers to utilize in pinning deer and the rolling hills that keep you on your toes going over the top into the wind. Thrilling!
