Eric

Not a wise choice my friend. You will miss the bone splitting penetration of the muzzy if you are a little of the mark. Don't get me wrong rage will make a highway bloodtrail if you are right on the mark. Lets face it though when actually taking a shot at a deer your shot may not be the best you hoped for compared to your bullseye target shooting. There are alot of variables that can alter your shot- wind, branch deflection, wrong yardage estimate, deer movement, shot angle and of course buck fever to name a few. Just my 2 cents you will be back on Muzzy's its just a matter of when.

That is a true monster. What memories to have several trail cam pics of him prior to getting him as well. One question, how did you keep your husband from trying to get a crack at him? LOL I assume this was on private land as you have the trail pics for him.

Very nice buck!

Wow, that is a really big 6 pointer. He looks awesome. Oh by the way good choice in bow as well. Hoyt is my brand also.

Very Nice buck. He has a beautiful white patch under his chin also. Way to go!

I will have to get me one of those as my buck knife needs some tending to after my archery buck and caping my buddies archery buck. Good price too!!!

That is so cool. It is unfortunate that people have to make up stories so u have no idea where this encounter actually happened. Seems to happen with a big buck from time to time as well.

Very nice Buck! He sure does look like a fighter, my buck I got this yr was a fighter also. His whole right side of tines are shorter and rounded off. Way to go and hope you have luck in the gun season if you are going!

Hello I am going to try this one out. Those pictures have my mouth watering. What kind of soy sauce do you use? Brand/Regular or Teriyaki?

Congrats, that buck is a brute, love the mass. Where at in iowa are you from also post the pic of the buck you got last yr when you get a chance.

Hello Great to hear that you have a high interest in hunting. Myself, I didn't have a father or grandpa etc to get me into sport, I started hunting when I was 20 with the help of a few friends and one of my friend's father. I wouldn't give it up for the world. I basically have learned to bowhunt on my own though. The best advice to you is don't give up. I still learn things each and every time I am in the woods. This site has alot of helpful knowledge in all aspects of the sport as well. Grab some books on deer hunting and that will give you some great knowledge also. If I were you I would try to find some private land that will have less pressure. Just talk to the farmers in the area and I am sure you will find someplace close where you can put alot of time in. I encourage you to get the younger generation in as well. I look forward to the day my son is old enough to get out in the woods with me and teach him what I know. Best of Luck and remember getting the big one is more luck than skill(I know first hand)!

I would agree with the terrain and surrounding trees. You don't want to get to high and have smaller trees blocking good shooting lanes. I usually am at around 17-20 ft with my climber and my ladders are 15 ft. I have shoot deer out of a wooden platform stand that is probably 9 ft at most at floor level. Main thing is to be scent free as possible and use the wind to your advantage to where you anticipate the deer to come from. Also limit your movements at the lower height levels.

Hello All depends, is the wind in your favor. I had a buddy shoot a nice 130's 8 pt out of a stand and 2 days later I had a brute 160 easy come by but missed on a fairly far shot at him as he was no coming in any closer. Good thing is he was spooked to bad so he should be back. Never no this time of yr when the big boys are cruising.

Hello It seems here in the midwest of Iowa the wind is out of the north or south all the time. Frustrating but got scentlock suit and climber so I can get high.

Thanks for the reply guys. I will give the second slat a try. I have been using the first slat instead of the v section the last couple of times. I feel more comfortable having them attached to each other after my clip broke while decending. Was a little worried at first til I improvised with the strap. I never thought of a carabiner that might work well also.

Hello Buddy Tell me about it. I am from Iowa to. I hit a branch on a brute early in the morning on last Tuesday. I have been sitting on stand for long hours and deer activity has been a slim sine my encounter with him. I have yet to see him again yet either. I hope temp drops and can get another crack at him but I really doubt I will have an opportunity at him again. He was the biggest I have had in range ever I and think he may be avoiding area now. Need some does to bring him back if I am to have a chance again I believe. Guess that is how it goes that why its hunting. I just hope when temps drop the darn wind will be calm! Good luck buddy!

Hello All I have the Titan model that I bought last yr. Today my clip to the carrying straps broke as I was descending from the tree. I tied a knot in on one of the straps to the platform just so I could get down. I was wondering if anyone else has had this happen to them as well. I seem to get the straps caught behind my gripping teeth alot also. I see Summit;s website has the replacement part for $15. My question is if any of you found a remedy to fix rather than buy a new one just to have that one break in short order. I was thinking of just using some strong rope to tie straps to platform just not sure if there is a better way.

Hello All I have the Titan model that I bought last yr. Today my clip to the carrying straps broke as I was descending from the tree. I tied a knot in on one of the straps to the platform just so I could get down. I was wondering if anyone else has had this happen to them as well. I seem to get the straps caught behind my gripping teeth alot also. I see Summit;s website has the replacement part for $15. My question is if any of you found a remedy to fix rather than buy a new one just to have that one break in short order. I was thinking of just using some strong rope to tie straps to platform just not sure if there is a better way.

Hello all I was pulling into the hunting area this morning and spooked a big buck with my truck before daylight. The farm I was hunting has 2 big draws separated by crp. The buck went towards the the south one. I was bummed at first but I was heading to the North draw to hunt in my summit anyways and thought maybe he didn't go to far. Around 7:00 I see a decent basket 8 pt work down the draw towards me but would not come all the way down. I watched him for about 10 min or so and was looking wear he went to when I hear a lot of crunching behind me. By the time I turned the other direction there he was a monster! Not sure size but at least 10 pt in the 160ish range. I barely had time to grab my bow and draw on him before he was almost through the draw. I had one opening and let one fly. Unfortunatly I hit a tree branch I think. I never could find my arrow as I believe it got buried in the ground. He stopped several yards away breifly and the bolted out into a big mowed down crp field heading for some standing corn. I never found any blood wear he stopped or the trail he exited. I am curious what everyones thoughts are of this buck coming back with the rut about to be in full swing? I am very disappointed in myself and should have waited longer to make a shot but I just had a feeling he was going to get out of range in a few more seconds. I guess that is how it goes sometimes and thats why they call it hunting. Oh yeah he was by far the biggest buck I have had a chance to get with a bow and those opportunities don't come by very often!

Best of Luck Tony. I am hunting here in Iowa also. Doesn't seem that acyive in my area though. There appears to be alot of roadkill but not much action sitting in the stand so far. I did see a big boy courting a hot doe in the middle of a cattle pasture today so sign is there. Where in Iowa are you at?

Hello I had to have a cape supplied by my taxidermist on my first mount as cape was damaged(alot of accidental cuts on brisket). We were young then and had very little experience with caping. Lets say this much I learned my lesson fast. My next to mounts I caped them out myself with NO friends helping and they were beautiful. I did have advice from my taxi. from first mount. My cape I got from taxi they hear was not in the greatest shape. Looks like deer may have had lice or rubbed it off thin around neck or hair just slipped from being unused in freezer for to long. I don't really know for sure but I plan on getting a better cape for it someday. I would recommend getting one from the meat lockers or local deer hunting groups in the gun seasons were you can visually inspect the cape. Best of luck you should find one no problem.

What is a Jake call? I am basically a novice at turkey hunting. Thanks Eric

That looks like a really nice made call? Was the Collection call a free bonus that you got? Good luck this spring!!

Thanks to everyone for the replys and helpful advice (especially Bobbys input). I know it will take many hours in the woods figuring these thunderchickens out but I am sure I will enjoy it very much. I am from central Iowa about a 20 minute drive west of Iowa City on I80. Thanks All!!! Oh and good luck to all of you this spring!!

Curious, what everyone will be packing in the woods this spring. Particularly calls and decoys. Name brands prefered. I am new to turkey hunting and will be going for the first time this spring in Iowa. My gear so far: 870 Rem 12 Gauge w/ 5 shot camo face cover Ol Tom hunting vest Quaker Boy push button Harrison Crow Call I am still researching for a good owl call and a slate striker call. Possibly decoys also. I may buy a few diaphram mouth calls to start practicing with but more than likely will wait to use those after some hunting experience.