Rhino Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 This will be another "do it yourself hunt" on private property. The property you're hunting here in Iowa has a minimum buck harvest criteria of 4.5 year old or older bucks and they must be 140 or better for 8 points, 145 or better for 9 points, and 150 or better for 10 points or better bucks. Also killing an illegal buck will cost you a $500 fine and loss of your right to hunt this propery again (that's actually the way it is for this property). You will be hunting with you closest hunting buddy who's never seen this place before. (I will hopefully be facing that issue this year too.) It's been a couple of years since you last hunted this property. On your last hunt you saw this 200 class main frame 12 point that had split G2's on both sides giving him at least 14 scorable points. Brow tines were close to 10" with a bunch of small kicker points. Main beams were ~27". From checking with the guy who leases the place this buck was never killed by anyone in the area as far as he knows anyway so he may still be around. You've been loosing sleep thinking about getting another crack at this monster! Also on your last hunt you saw 2 other legal bucks that were 10 point bucks in the 155 to 160 class range. You decide to hit the road to Iowa ridding with your buddy in his truck. All the way over there your buddy is ragging you about how lucky you are along with if he didn't have bad luck he wouldn't have any luck at all. :poke: You spend most of the 1st day hanging 3 stands. You have 7 more days to hunt. Your buddy hangs a few stands too including one great spot you showed him where you had seen a 160 class bucks 2 years ago. Since you've spent most of the day sweating from hanging stands you decide to let your stands rest and just kick back, relax, and make a quick natural ground blind just off the edge of this corn field to watch deer. You only have a couple of hours until dark anyway. Your buddy decides to go sit in the magic spot you showed him where he hung his 1st stand. He's fired up about it! It's a spot about 75 yards inside the edge of the woods behind the big oak that the red arrow is pointing toward (where I was when I got this TC pic ). As your buddy leaves you comment how you're just going to relax and enjoy watching deer go to the corn this afternoon. You'll get serious tomorrow. You've been sitting there about 10 minutes when this buck suddenly appears to your right coming right at you. You're not sure if your buddy bumped him or not but he's walking along the edge at an average pace for a deer. The wind was blowing from right to left but a swirl just hit you. The buck is now inside the 10 yard line. In a step or 2 this buck is sure to wind you. Is this buck legal for this property? Are you going to shoot him before he winds you? If you shoot him are you going to call your buddy on your cell phone and tell him now or wait until dark? If you do kill this buck what are you going to say to your buddy? Also, if you kill this buck what will you do for the rest of the hunt while your buddy is hunting? Remember...you came in his truck so you have 7 more days left to enjoy the Iowa woods. This should be entertaining. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 (edited) Well, I can't see the inside spread on him so I have no clue if I can accurately guess score him (is that an oxymoron? ). He's a healthy deer, not quite sure if he's 4.5 years though. I'm going to have to say 16-18" inside spread, good tine length all around and good mass. I'm guessing he's a borderline 150" 5x5. Think I'd have to pass just to be safe, but if I'm right on the score I'd send a Rage through the cage at Blue 2 for a double lung pass thru. Keep posting these scenarios, Al! Dakota Edited July 6, 2009 by Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Pass...Pic makes him look like a 10 and not too sure that he would make minimum. He looks like a very healthy deer but only 3-1/2yr old. IMHO...definitely not worth losing the chance to hunt there if he is not absolutely past the minimums. With that kind of property and management there are chances of much better/bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Gotta pass, though my release finger would be itchy. Not quite what I'd be looking for on a trip like you're describing. Just from that angle, I'd think the deer would be just shy of the 140", but even if he was known to be legal, I'd pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 I think that buck as a 10 point with those tall tines makes the minimum 150 gross mark Alan and also think he is a 4.5 year old deer, but with plenty of time I think I would pass with hopes of seeing the 200 inch monster. If I was to shoot though I would again go with the second red from the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted July 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 BTW...I'm surprised nobody that passed thought to take a pic with their cellphone camera and text it to their buddy in the stand. I sure would have. :D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 BTW...I'm surprised nobody that passed thought to take a pic with their cellphone camera and text it to their buddy in the stand. I sure would have. :D:D That's classic! I would've loved to see your buddy's face when he opened that text Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nastynissan4487 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Gunna have to pass with 7 days in Iowa ahead. Its definitley a big buck in my book but without knowing for sure if he is legal and still having seven days left to hunt Im gunna have to take a pass on this buck.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted July 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 That's classic! I would've loved to see your buddy's face when he opened that text This is just a speculative scenario but I will fess up...I've done worse to the hunting buddies I'm very close to. Same goes for them with me. BTW...my so called bad luck hunting buddy will draw Iowa this year with 3 PP's. I hope I do too for obvious reasons and if an opportunity like this were to happen I'll sure be thinking about a text opportunity like this. If I don't draw I'll be behind my video camera filming his hunt. He could use the luck. Either way it will be a blast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sskybnd Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 being its the first day and you know there are bigger ones around i would let him walk, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 7 days left in Iowa? Hmmm... I shoot this buck, but not with my bow, even though he looks like he meets the minimum 150. Instead I'd shoot him with my Olympus, and hunt hard for 7 more days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 150 or better for 10 points or better bucks Looks like he makes a 10. I think I'll pass, even though he looks really nice. :bang::bang::bang: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 Tough one, but with a week left, I think I pass. I think that deer is close to 150, but I don't think I'd risk the ire of Gene and Barry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 Very tough call..I'm saying he's a 4.5 year old and will gross in the mid 150's.....With 7 days to hunt...wow....I kill him with the 3rd blue from the top. At that range the shoulder isn't a issue for my bow and there's a saying..... A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.... So pour me a crown and seven and let me video tape for the rest of the hunt... BTW for anyone who hasn't video taped for someone else before it's just like you are hunting. I get just as excited as if I killed the animal. It's a huge rush! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted July 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 This is a nail biter here whether he's 3.5 or 4.5 but I do think he's real close to 150. Having seen 3 definite shooters last time I hunted this place including the 200" monster I have to feel like it's going to be a exciting week to hunt. I'll take my chances and pass this afternoon knowing I have 3 great stands that I hung today in spots I know shooters have been around before. Hopefully I haven't gotten too excited and had the forethought to pull out my cell phone to take a picture of this boy at that close range. That way I can text it to my Iowa buddy that has the lease and get his opinion if it's a shooter or not just in case either one of us has another close encounter with this buck later. If I did happen to get a pic, I'd definately text it to my buddy too while he's in the stand with one of those "I let this one go for you" type messages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted July 7, 2009 Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 Don't shoot and tell your buddy you passed on a 160s because he was heading his way;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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