Harvest Report - 2008
Some animals we've harvested over the years...
Jordan Feller
Date: January 5, 2009
Animal: 177" Western Iowa Giant- This was day 10 in a row of Late Muzzleloader hunting and to say we were getting frustrated was an understatement. Deer movement has been unpredictable and they have done nothing the same since day one. With only 5 days left in the season I was on a doe mission...hoping to get it on video too. This morning was the start of the doe mission, we got skunked! Then we came back to the cabin to find 2 bucks with 2 does a couple hundred yards in front of the cabin, cruising in the timber all afternoon. We him-hawed back and forth between setting up on these bucks or not. Finally at 2:30 we made the plan to let these boys sit as they weren't in a great spot we could hunt them without bumping them on the way in. However the wind was perfect for our "pond corn field" stand - we haven't hunted there yet this year. This was possibly the last night we'd be able to get in there so I asked Russ if he'd come video me and I'm going to shoot the first doe that steps out...
- We get setup nicely in a fenceline, the field is filled with fallen corn, it was looking like this doe mission could really come through! Just as the sun sunk below the horizon out of the timber appears a GIANT! The closest it gets is 190 yds. With plenty of shooting light left and tape to burn we were going to let it close the distance. After it fed around for 5-6 minutes the deer in the field pick up their heads, go on alert...the neighbor fires up his chainsaw! I knew this buck wasn't leaving the field without a shot so at 195yds I stop him and squeez off a shot. Russ knew immediately the shot was on the money! This buck we have no history with. Russ just got done putting the tape to him and grossed him out at 177", regardless the footage is great; Russ couldn't have done better! He let the tape roll for over a half hour straight on deer in the field, including the last 5-6 minutes of this giant as he fed and squared down with the other bucks! I'm still not sure its has sunk in!
Russ Feller
Date: November 15, 2008
Animal: "The Broken 10" - Western Iowa Whitetail- The moon was full and we got in in perfect time and hung the lone wolfs. Weather was awesome and we were out of the wind. There was also a little bit of snow on the ground which really helped. Around 7AM we seen the ten point buck. He was working the ridge top above us. Right after he went out of sight a 1.5 yr. old came in. Next to walk through around 8:30 was a giant! He came off the hillside opposite us and walked about 65 yards away. He was on the move, and instead of taking a left on the trail to us he went right. He was the big buck we had one picture of and would definetly go close to boone....biggest deer I have ever seen on the hoof.
- After standing for a while keeping a close eye on that ten I had to sit down. I hadn't sat down for 5 minutes when I saw a deer running down the hill coming right to us. I knew it was a shooter so I grabbed my bow and drew since he was coming fast. He actually slowed pace once he got down, but when he hit the bottom he started to move fast like he was getting a running start to get up the hill we were on. He was right on the 20 yard trail and I had to bleat loudly about 5 times to stop him. Once he stopped my brother just barely lost him with the camera. He said to wait, and I tried for a few seconds then told him he better hurry........and then shot. :D Having only taken one buck in my life I was not going to hold off. I knew that I would feel worse and regret it for not shooting the deer than I would if the shot was not on video. I have no regrets. So I shot and the deer dropped.......hit him a little high. He is definetly a great buck and I think he is 4.5. He's got a big chest and neck and has very dark tarsal glands. Would have been a ten if not for the broken tines, but still awesome none the less. Now I have the rest of the season to be full time cameraman!
Matt Thede
Date: October 5, 2008
Animal: "Flyers" - 166" 14 pt Southern Iowa Whitetail- The weekend came and the wind was good for the spot to be semi-aggressive so my cameraman, Matt, and I headed down the treeline in hopes of finding a tree. Now, I had been down that treeline several times and not been able to find a tree, but this day, we came to the scrape that Flyers had made on October 1 and we looked up and saw a perfect locust tree...I don't know how it escaped me before, but we quickly scaled the tree and immediately feel in love with the spot. Flyers never showed up, but a big 8 showed up that was conservatively 23" wide. He would have maybe scored 135" or more and I would have shot him, but it was too dark and he never did come out in front.
- Now this prompted us to leave the stands in and come back the next morning...
- The wind was good for the next morning (Oct. 5) and we set up and right at first shooting light I heard some fighting going on. It wasn't long and Flyers appeared along the treeline. Close behind was the big 8. I was completely shocked that 2 big bucks were showing theirselves this early and letting each other have it like they were. I grabbed the rattle bag and let it fly for about a good 40 seconds. Flyers stared from about 250 yards out and soon put his nose down and headed my way. What seemed like an eternity took about 10 minutes for him to close the gap. He walked across the dam with the big 8 behind and came straight at the tree. I drew my bow while he was in the switchgrass as it was taller than he was and as he turned broadside at 10 yards I bleated and let the ol' 2 blade Rage fly. It hit right behind the shoulder and stuck out the other side. He bolted off as did the big 8 and I was left with a fist pump and an "Oh my Gosh!"
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