2016 Iowa Buck
#176741
12/26/2016 3:43 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359
SChunter
OP
Shooting Expert
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OP
Shooting Expert
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359 |
First and foremost, I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and Santa was good to all!
Just returning and thawing out from a snowy, cold and eventful pre-Christmas trip to Iowa. After obtaining access to some ground in SW Iowa early in 2016, I put in for the late season Muzzleloader tag and was pleasantly surprised when I received notification this year that I had drawn in year 1 without any preference points. Fortunately, we handgunners can use straight-walled pistol cartridges during the gun and ML seasons, provided they are on the "list" deemed acceptable by IA DNR. It just so happened I had a "couple" of cartridges on the list, so the quest began to narrow down my selection for the hunt. My thought was to take a scoped option for longer range potential and a red dot equipped gun for low light sight acquisition.
After much mental anguish, I finally settled on 2 guns to take: my 10" barreled FA 83 in 454 Casull topped with a 2.5-8 Leupold and my 6" barreled FA M83 in 475 Linebaugh with the Trijicon RMR. Special thanks to GlennS and DarrellH for hearing out my selection process
I would be shooting the Barnes 250 gr XPB's in the Casull, and the 385 gr MIHA soft cast HP in the Linebaugh, two proven slugs. After confirming all on paper and steel from the bench and field positions in the weeks prior to the hunt, I was ready...well, except for extreme cold weather gear. You see, the other part of the planning process was watching the weather. The deer in the late season are primarily concentrated on remaining food sources, so it would be advantageous if we had weather to bed up in our timber and feed in the bean and corn stubble. And all weather intel showed a record cold front approaching just prior to our trip. But can there be too much of a good thing? Like air temps in the negatives...before wind chill. That is crazy cold for this coastal hunter!
Fly in day - -11 air temp. Ugh.
Spoiler alert - I did not lose any digits or extremities due to frostbite. and thanks to layering, UA Hunt gear and a case of handwarmers, it was not a miserable time!
Fast forward to Day 2 of the hunt - my buddy and I had seen good movement that AM from our respective stands, and had thrown a ground blind in the truck to pop-up midday on a stubble field on the southern end of the tract. We drove to that end of the property, parked atop the terraced hillside and debated its future location from our birdseye view. Looking across the road to the East, we see orange - pheasant hunters? Maybe a man drive? Gear up, clothes back on, and take a gun? Well, of course, whenever you go to the woods, carry a gun...because, you never know
So I threw the Bandito rig over the shoulder, and started the 1/2 mile trek to go set the blind. We bumped a good deer from the creek during our "stealthy" approach and deployment of the blind, a tall-racked 8 that we had seen from a distance on the first AM. He slipped down the creek while his harem busted out across the flat - good vibes about this spot. We had just turned back up the terraced hillside to begin the LONG uphill walk when we see movement 750 yards up the hill. Deer silhouetted as they bound over the rise! Binocs up and we see a good deer trailing behind the bouncing lead doe, with more white flags flying behind. They were headed for the creek! We scurried to the closest terrace and sought cover. I backed up against the grass covered rise, drew the Casull, turned it down to 4X and watched as they approached. I told him I hoped they would break stride prior to reaching the creek - he asked if I was ready and he would try to stop them with a noise...cocked, tracking, rested across the knees, laid back into to the terrace, ready. Yes. Errrt! Errrtt! The lead doe slammed to a halt with the buck on her heels - how far? Looks to be over a hundred, hold a little higher, sight acquisition and squeeeeeeeeeeze. BOOM! Thwack! The bucks wheels and sprints dead away. "You got a bullet in him, don't know where" The spirited escape starts to look a little unsteady, and then piles into the frozen dirt. BBD! Wait, did that just happen? That was fast...as we approach the buck, we are amazed at the body size of these midwestern deer. Wow, just wow. Blessed with a beautiful Iowa 10 point! The Barnes had impacted the shoulder at a downward angle, taking out the aorta, front of the lungs, fragging the heart and breaking a rib on the opposite side. It did not exit the hide but stretched it from the fascia, and unfortunately was not recovered in the frozen gut pile when I field dressed the deer
After returning to scene of the shot, I lased the distance of the shot - 140 yards, with a 70 yard sprint to the finish...All in all a fantastic trip to SW Iowa, making new friends and memories and looking forward to my next visit to the Hawkeye state!
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: SChunter]
#176742
12/26/2016 3:56 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,374
cmnash
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,374 |
Fantastic story, great buck, and the picture of him laying on the ground really puts his size in perspective! Good job being prepared so you could get it done on the fly .
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: cmnash]
#176743
12/26/2016 4:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,116
GlennS
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,116 |
Nice work brother. Excellent shooting as usual!
"Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt"
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: GlennS]
#176744
12/26/2016 4:14 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 525
Brenden
addict
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addict
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 525 |
Great shot and awesome buck!
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: SChunter]
#176745
12/26/2016 4:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: s4s4u]
#176747
12/26/2016 5:03 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 192
thadf
member
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member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 192 |
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: thadf]
#176748
12/26/2016 5:51 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 488
Handgun400
addict
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addict
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 488 |
My filter is broken.
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: thadf]
#176750
12/26/2016 5:55 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556
junebug
Gun Slinger
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Gun Slinger
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556 |
Way to go and a nice write up.
junebug
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: junebug]
#176751
12/26/2016 6:06 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209
REDHAWK1954
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,209 |
Great buck and greater shot.
Michael Joe Moore
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: REDHAWK1954]
#176757
12/26/2016 7:04 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,057
Gary
Distinguished Master
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Distinguished Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,057 |
Excellent buck and a great shot - congratulations!
You can't wait any longer. Join the NRA and start writing your Congressmen and Senators.
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: Gary]
#176758
12/26/2016 7:10 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 730
Mark Hampton
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 730 |
Nice shot! Heck of a buck! Huge Congrats! Well done
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: SChunter]
#176760
12/26/2016 8:17 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006
Zee
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006 |
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: Zee]
#176761
12/26/2016 10:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715 |
your handgun shootin son of a gun................when you do it.... you do it good......
Life member-NRA-SCI Member-HHI #2900-HHASA #067 Colt-Ruger-Freedom Arms-and S&W Collector Assoc.s "I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#176762
12/26/2016 10:22 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963 |
Well done, Dur! I want to see you fast draw that 10" hogglegg. You'd prolly give Wyatt Earp a run for his money.
Congrats!
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: KRal]
#176763
12/26/2016 10:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 169
abner
member
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member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 169 |
Wow, what a brute. Congrats!
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: abner]
#176764
12/26/2016 11:13 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 746
cherokeetracker
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 746 |
Awesome Deer and some fine shooting.
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: cherokeetracker]
#176769
12/27/2016 12:55 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,020
tradmark
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,020 |
Nice big ole midwestern buck! Congrats
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: tradmark]
#176771
12/27/2016 1:17 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378
Darrell H
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378 |
Outstanding buck with the wheelgun and an awesome shot! I guess all those rendezvous at North Georgia gun ranges finally paid off! Ha!
Congrats again bud, you've made us proud...again!
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: Darrell H]
#176772
12/27/2016 1:48 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 463
Boot
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 463 |
Wow! Holy smoke what a great buck! Congratulations on the fantastic hunt.
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: Boot]
#176773
12/27/2016 1:57 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596
racksmasher1
veteran
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veteran
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596 |
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: racksmasher1]
#176774
12/27/2016 3:18 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,861
Franchise
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,861 |
Beautiful Buck my Carolina Handgun Hunting Brother
The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: Franchise]
#176775
12/27/2016 3:25 AM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 543
ruger4570
addict
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addict
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 543 |
Very nice buck. Great job and great story and pics.
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: ruger4570]
#176777
12/27/2016 3:57 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 685
Boartuff
addict
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addict
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 685 |
~BT~
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: Boartuff]
#176779
12/27/2016 1:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359
SChunter
OP
Shooting Expert
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OP
Shooting Expert
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359 |
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: SChunter]
#176796
12/27/2016 9:14 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669
Chance Weldon
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669 |
What a buck! Congratulations!
Formerly TN Lone Wolf
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
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Re: 2016 Iowa Buck
[Re: Gary]
#176802
12/27/2016 11:20 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,502
reflex264
Gun Slinger
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Gun Slinger
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,502 |
"A quiet hit in the right place is better than a loud miss in the wrong place followed by 10 more shots on the run"
I was a handgun hunter, when handgun wasn't cool.....
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