I knew that this year was going to be tough but never anticipated anything like this. In July I started hanging cameras (17 of them) just like other years. I checked them the first week of August and while I had a lot of pictures, nothing that would be 140" or greater. I again checked them in September and same results. At that time I began to relocate them to different areas trying to find out where the bigger bucks are. Fast forward to early October. Still not a single buck over 140". I cannot believe that over 2000 acres not a single shooter.
Just a little history about the area I hunt. I have hunted this area for 15 years. I have invested a great deal of time learning the area as well as building relationships with the landowners. For years there has been a large group that gun hunts. When I say large group I mean 40-50 hunters. I watched them hunt and they shoot everything everywhere. 50-80 deer per year is not uncommon not to mention shoot off the road, chase deer with pickups, and trespass. The law will not mess with them because of their history and the size of the group. One of them owns a guide service. He allows his clients to hunt his own farm however proceeds to trespass on neighbors property. Last year the guide and his client poached a 180" from the area. I heard the gun shots (during the archery season) and had photos of both sides of the deer with no evidence of a entry or exit would from an arrow. Long story short the DNR did not persue the case and said that their goal is shoot deer and control the herd. I tried to explain to the CO that the poaching has been getting worse every year. More and more shots are fired at dark or right after dark. The response again was that it was just a deer and our goal is to control the herd.
I posted on this site earlier asking for some of your advice on what to do as far as hunt this area with the lack of any shooters on camera. The general consensus was to hunt the area because you never know when bigger deer will move into the area.
Well, after relentless scouting, 24 days of hunting, and 2 and a half weeks of vacation the best deer I saw was a 125" 9 pt. That's pretty sad for the great State of Iowa let alone 2000 acres.
It may sound like I am complaining however that is far from the case. For me its not about harvesting a trophy deer rather enjoying mother nature. The best way to describe my feelings would be frustrated and disgusted
.
All I can say is as sportsmen and women we need to stand up for what's right and protect what we have. If you see or suspect illegal or unethical behavior report it and hope that the CO will persue your request.
Happy and safe hunting to all of you and best of luck!
Just a little history about the area I hunt. I have hunted this area for 15 years. I have invested a great deal of time learning the area as well as building relationships with the landowners. For years there has been a large group that gun hunts. When I say large group I mean 40-50 hunters. I watched them hunt and they shoot everything everywhere. 50-80 deer per year is not uncommon not to mention shoot off the road, chase deer with pickups, and trespass. The law will not mess with them because of their history and the size of the group. One of them owns a guide service. He allows his clients to hunt his own farm however proceeds to trespass on neighbors property. Last year the guide and his client poached a 180" from the area. I heard the gun shots (during the archery season) and had photos of both sides of the deer with no evidence of a entry or exit would from an arrow. Long story short the DNR did not persue the case and said that their goal is shoot deer and control the herd. I tried to explain to the CO that the poaching has been getting worse every year. More and more shots are fired at dark or right after dark. The response again was that it was just a deer and our goal is to control the herd.
I posted on this site earlier asking for some of your advice on what to do as far as hunt this area with the lack of any shooters on camera. The general consensus was to hunt the area because you never know when bigger deer will move into the area.
Well, after relentless scouting, 24 days of hunting, and 2 and a half weeks of vacation the best deer I saw was a 125" 9 pt. That's pretty sad for the great State of Iowa let alone 2000 acres.
It may sound like I am complaining however that is far from the case. For me its not about harvesting a trophy deer rather enjoying mother nature. The best way to describe my feelings would be frustrated and disgusted
. All I can say is as sportsmen and women we need to stand up for what's right and protect what we have. If you see or suspect illegal or unethical behavior report it and hope that the CO will persue your request.
Happy and safe hunting to all of you and best of luck!
