Angelzd's 2019 Season

[angelzd28]

Well I decided to take the plung this year and keep a journal on here. A couple reasons, It gets really hectic during season and I look back and wish I could remember what happened, and I think this will help me keep track of the season. Two, I am taking an out of state trip to Missouri with my dad and thought you guys would like to tag along. Also I love reading other peoples stuff so why not share what happens as well.
The first order of business is laying the background of whats happened the last few years. I moved home from active duty Air Force back in 2013 and for 3 years, 2013-2015, had success bow hunting on my FIL property. I thought killing a buck every year was a given with the property I had to hunt...........................well lets just say 2016-2018 have been buck tag soup for this guy. This year Ive taken everyones advise on here and not put so much pressure on myself about killing a booner. Yes, I still want to kill a nice buck, but I am going to enjoy the process, and writing in this journal I think will help me do that. Ok, enough typing on this post, here are some pics of 2013-2015 bucks for your horn porn guys.
2013

2014

2015

 

[angelzd28]

The last couple years Ive thrown around the idea of making an out of state trip somewhere and this year I finally got my act together early enough. My original plan was a public land hunt to North Dakota, but decided it was to far and would have to burn more vacation driving then I was comfortable with. So I settled on Missouri and did the whole internet scouting thing the last 6 months. I decided on the "land of giants" in Northern MO and picked out a couple conservation areas that looked good. Well I convinced my dad to come along and we settled on Nov 6th-11th. About a month ago I got a wild idea that we needed to get boots on the ground before we headed out there, and last weekend we drove the 10 hours on friday and scouted all day saturday to check it out. Here are some pics of the scouting trip, enjoy.

The main spot, Indian Hills, has a good mix of rolling hills with open fields of grass and crops, with brushy and wooded draws. While Charlie Heath is more wooded and has swamp and a medium size river running through it. Whether we shoot anything or not, Im just excited to get out and hunt somewhere new and spend time with the old man. Im getting excited just typing this out, lol.

 

[Isaacorps]

Good luck! Looks like a good time

 

[Jackalope]

Awesome man! Can't wait to follow along.

 

[Fletch]

Looking forward to your reports... Good luck on your trip..

 

["J"]

Good too see this, Zach... Best of luck too you...

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

Fantastic, keep us updated on this year's adventures. Good luck to you!

 

[giles]

Are you sure he’s your dad? Don’t even look like each other . You guys are killing the good threads this year!!!! I’m on Team Angel, go getter done fellas!

 

[angelzd28]

As the season draws near here in Ohio Im getting more and more excited. Usually I have pics of multiple bucks from June on, but this year the trail cameras were dry until about mid August. One theory I have is the neighboring farm has all corn planted and they have been hiding out in there, honestly though Im still pumped because talking with guys in the area, I dont believe any mature bucks were taken this past year which means there is at least a 5 and 6 yr old that I know made it. Ive also taken to studying TC pics from the last 4 years, and Ive noticed the mature bucks start making an appearance starting about Oct 24th and it ramps up from there. My goal is to shoot a 4 yr old and if the right 3 yr old shows himself, he dead. So far these are the bucks that have shown themselves, and honestly I dont think I recognize any of them.

 

[angelzd28]

Well its been awhile so I thought I would do a little update. Ive been out 5 times and did what I always tell myself not too, which is push into one of my best spots the first couple sits. Dummy me, seen some does and some forkies but no big boys. My best sit was last Friday the 18th. I was checking my maps and decided to hit a new spot behind my dads place that overlooks a small swamp with cattails. Ive always said I bet a buck beds in there.........well sure enough I get to a small bench that holds some bick oaks and overlooks the swamp. Wouldnt you know it as im looking for a tree to climb up in I hear a commotion and see a brute of a buck struggling to climb out of the cattails 60 yds away. He didnt wind me but must have saw me walking around. Oh well, good info. I climbed one of the big oaks and saw 8 or 9 does, 3 smallish bucks and another big one about 500 yds away in a cut corn field. Definitly gonna head back there as it gets closer to prime time. Also tags are bought for Missouri which will be here in no time!!

Heres my setup overlooking the swampy area. He was bedded at the base of the bluff just to the right out of the pic.

 

[Sgt Fury]

Now you know where he beds, just gotta figure out how to get there without being seen. Good luck with him!

 

[angelzd28]

Where do I start.............its the eve of my Missouri Trip and I should be excited beyond belief, but with bow hunting the highs and lows often call the same place home. This past Friday the 1st, I sat at work, looked at the weather, and decided I couldn't pass up sitting my best stand and honey hole where my 2 biggest bucks to date have been shot. With a west wind in my face I got into my stand at 330 which is a 20 yd ridge with one side a steep ravine where their sanctuary is and a dry creek bed on the other side which opens to a field. All sit I hear movement down the ravine, which could be anything from turkeys to squirrels or a doe usually. At 540 I hear movement coming up the draw, and before I can stand up and grab my bow, I see antlers cresting the hill 40 yds directly in front of me. As this happens I look to my right and there stands a doe at 20 yds, how did I not see her come out first. As he eases his way towards me and her, I grab my bow slowly and boom he shoots me the look like I see you up there...................................we are now in a Mexican standoff, I'm clipped in but seated. What seems like 5 minutes(prob 45 seconds) we just stare at each other, but eventually the doe starts to head back down the ravine and he turns towards her, goes behind some trees, I pull back. I put him at 25 yds broadside, split my pins and let one fly. I hit him and he bolts towards me but down the ravine. I clearly see I have good penetration with about 8-10 inches of arrow sticking out but back and high.....................
Ill spare you guys the long rest of this self loathing and hating story. I waited 4 hours, me, my dad, and brother tracked him Friday night with little blood for about 350 yds till there was no blood trail left. We did find my broad head, so I know I punched thru both sides but I believe I hit above the liver in no mans land. I grid searched that whole bottom Saturday and Sunday for a total of 10 hours. No more blood and no deer, IT MAKES ME SICK!
Now Im off to Missouri where I feel like the deer is going to have to be 20 yds and in for em to even consider taking a shot. If i bitch and complain enough, maybe the deer gods will take pity on me, ha. Well thanks for listening to my rant, and sorry J I couldn't send hero shots this weekend. Hopefully Ill have good news from Missouri...............................

 

[giles]

With how many success stories we’ve had this year, it only raises the odds of stories like this. Sorry man. New state bring new options! Scratch Ohio off and go have fun.

 

["J"]

Where do I start.............its the eve of my Missouri Trip and I should be excited beyond belief, but with bow hunting the highs and lows often call the same place home. This past Friday the 1st, I sat at work, looked at the weather, and decided I couldn't pass up sitting my best stand and honey hole where my 2 biggest bucks to date have been shot. With a west wind in my face I got into my stand at 330 which is a 20 yd ridge with one side a steep ravine where their sanctuary is and a dry creek bed on the other side which opens to a field. All sit I hear movement down the ravine, which could be anything from turkeys to squirrels or a doe usually. At 540 I hear movement coming up the draw, and before I can stand up and grab my bow, I see antlers cresting the hill 40 yds directly in front of me. As this happens I look to my right and there stands a doe at 20 yds, how did I not see her come out first. As he eases his way towards me and her, I grab my bow slowly and boom he shoots me the look like I see you up there...................................we are now in a Mexican standoff, I'm clipped in but seated. What seems like 5 minutes(prob 45 seconds) we just stare at each other, but eventually the doe starts to head back down the ravine and he turns towards her, goes behind some trees, I pull back. I put him at 25 yds broadside, split my pins and let one fly. I hit him and he bolts towards me but down the ravine. I clearly see I have good penetration with about 8-10 inches of arrow sticking out but back and high.....................
Ill spare you guys the long rest of this self loathing and hating story. I waited 4 hours, me, my dad, and brother tracked him Friday night with little blood for about 350 yds till there was no blood trail left. We did find my broad head, so I know I punched thru both sides but I believe I hit above the liver in no mans land. I grid searched that whole bottom Saturday and Sunday for a total of 10 hours. No more blood and no deer, IT MAKES ME SICK!
Now Im off to Missouri where I feel like the deer is going to have to be 20 yds and in for em to even consider taking a shot. If i bitch and complain enough, maybe the deer gods will take pity on me, ha. Well thanks for listening to my rant, and sorry J I couldn't send hero shots this weekend. Hopefully Ill have good news from Missouri...............................

Get back up on that horse and getrdone Zach, you’ll have a good and successful hunt in the show me state... Good luck buddy...

 

[angelzd28]

Wow is all I can say! What a trip and hunt. Last Wednesday my dad and I packed the SUV and headed to Northern Missouri. Got there that night and settled in at our motel and set plans for the next day hunt. The weather for the 4 days we would be there was perfect especially the first 2 days, lows in the 20's, bluebird sky's and big bucks on our mind. The only thing I was worried about was the pressure that I knew could be an issue being this close to Iowa and relatively low cost for out of staters ($225). The next morning we pull into the parking lot to find 3 campers, a truck from PA, FL, and 4 Missouri trucks. Not gonna lie, heart sank a little, but got ready and off we headed to our pre-scouted spots. As Im walking to my spot with stand and sticks on my back I was on a cut path by a 15 acre bean field about day break, and up jumps a real wide buck that bounds off heading to thick cover where I was headed. I thought to myself, wow this weeks gonna be good! Well I couldnt have been more wrong, because that was the only mature buck I saw all week until my buck showed up. It was tough hunting the next 3 days with an average of 2 deer being seen every day. My dad did have a nice 8 point just out of range that first morning.

We talked with some of the local guys and some of the farmers that were combining the fields on the public, and they said EHD had taken a hit out of the herd this year. I even found a dead spike in a creek bed. There was some success as someone in camp that first day killed a 120ish 9 point and 130 8 point 200 yds from each other. So me and dad planned and hunted hard every day. We stayed in the field sun-up to sun down walking in and out about 2 miles one way. A pleasant surprise was we didnt really see any other hunters in the field all 4 days. We even had some beers and food back at camp with the Fl guys and the locals. Everyone there was really cool and we hashed out where everyone was hunting and got some intel that paid off the last day.........................

 

["J"]

Wow is all I can say! What a trip and hunt. Last Wednesday my dad and I packed the SUV and headed to Northern Missouri. Got there that night and settled in at our motel and set plans for the next day hunt. The weather for the 4 days we would be there was perfect especially the first 2 days, lows in the 20's, bluebird sky's and big bucks on our mind. The only thing I was worried about was the pressure that I knew could be an issue being this close to Iowa and relatively low cost for out of staters ($225). The next morning we pull into the parking lot to find 3 campers, a truck from PA, FL, and 4 Missouri trucks. Not gonna lie, heart sank a little, but got ready and off we headed to our pre-scouted spots. As Im walking to my spot with stand and sticks on my back I was on a cut path by a 15 acre bean field about day break, and up jumps a real wide buck that bounds off heading to thick cover where I was headed. I thought to myself, wow this weeks gonna be good! Well I couldnt have been more wrong, because that was the only mature buck I saw all week until my buck showed up. It was tough hunting the next 3 days with an average of 2 deer being seen every day. My dad did have a nice 8 point just out of range that first morning.

We talked with some of the local guys and some of the farmers that were combining the fields on the public, and they said EHD had taken a hit out of the herd this year. I even found a dead spike in a creek bed. There was some success as someone in camp that first day killed a 120ish 9 point and 130 8 point 200 yds from each other. So me and dad planned and hunted hard every day. We stayed in the field sun-up to sun down walking in and out about 2 miles one way. A pleasant surprise was we didnt really see any other hunters in the field all 4 days. We even had some beers and food back at camp with the Fl guys and the locals. Everyone there was really cool and we hashed out where everyone was hunting and got some intel that paid off the last day.........................

Glad it all worked out for you, Zach... Always cool too have encounters with other hunters like that....

 

[angelzd28]

Sunday morning the 10th, our last day hunting we pulled into the parking lot and the only truck left was the FL guys, as all the locals had packed up and left. I had been debating on where to sit and thought well hell why not try the ridge where the 2 bucks had been taken the first day. I stayed away from that spot all week, not wanting to crowd the other guys, but they were gone and this was my last day so I headed to that spot even though I knew there had been pressure there 4 straight days. It was a long walk about 2 miles, and I reached the ridge at 630, shooting light had been up for about 15 minutes and to make matters worse I left my linemans belt in car, . So, I took one of the rope mods off my stick and made a makeshift lines belt and climbed 3 sticks high about 15 ft up the tree. The stand overlooked a creek bottom that had a heavy trail running parallel on my side. As I pulled my bow up I look south down the creek bed and I see a gut pile from the last guy and think wow this isnt gonna be my sit, what deer is gonna want to walk past that, ha. Ill be honest I was kinda reserved to the fact that it just wasnt gonna happen in Missouri, when at 0725 I look to my right and here comes a doe in a hurry.........

I thought to myself that looks like a doe thats being chased, and before I could even think it, I hear meh meh meh, a buck grunting up a storm about 75 yds behind her. I look, yep, shooter. So I grab my bow, stand up and wait. She angles across the creek at 25 yds and hes coming, so when he gets to 40 yds I pull back think when he hits 25 yds where she was thats my shot. Wouldnt you know it, he hangs up at 35 behind 3 trees, and im stuck holding for 1-2 minutes........just as im about to let down he comes trotting closer and instead of angling at 25 he heads almost right at me. He gets to 20 and is quartering to, I place the 20 yd pin just behind the front shoulder at 13yds and touch it off.........................WHIFF, just over his back, WTF, I suck, you've got to be kidding, I quit. All these things are going through my mind. How could I miss at 13 yds! Lady luck was on my side as he didnt quite know what happened and bounded directly away from me and stood there. Now hes at 15 yds and just standing there looking at the doe who hadn't moved. So I reach back grab another arrow out of my quiver, knock, pull back, put the 20 yd pin on the middle of the back and let'er rip. It connects dead center of the back and he drops. Spined him, not wanting him to suffer, I put one in him just behind the shoulder. I couldn't believe what just happened. From feeling like shit to overwhelming joy in about 30 seconds. All 4 days accumulating to 4 minutes of chaos. I know this has been a long post, so lets just say it took me and my dad the rest of the day to drag him out, half way, a farm hand combining the bottom field, drove us the rest of the way to the parking lot, or we might still be dragging that deer out, haha. Thanks for following along on this crazy journey as I connected my first out of state hunt. Oh if you just want pics, here ya go, lol

Final score: 17.5 Inside spread and Gross score of 142.5




.

I will say, Missouri Conservation Department does one thing really well and thats let farmers plant some serious crops on public. There was over 400 acres of beans and corn, and they had Turnips planted in a lot of the tractor paths. Pretty cool IMO

 

[Isaacorps]

Congrats on a great back and a great adventure!

 

[Dannmann801]

Very cool thread, and congrats on that buck. It's crazy that you got a second shot, how cool is THAT?!?

 

[Lucky]

Awesome!! great story....always wanted to do an out of state. Whitetail hunt. Hunting is one of the only things that can get you that high, then so low to back high as shit in seconds. Congrats on your sucsess