doctordoofus
FNG
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2025
- Messages
- 1
Hello all! Amateur bow hunter but just this past Wednesday I got my first doe with a bow! Very cool experience but probably helped that it was on a preserve (I got a special tag for this from the DNR for a class I took). Still chasing that first buck though!
I live in Des moines but try to get out of the metro to hunt. I've scouted a couple places near red rock and hunted stephens the last couple of years - just looking for some general tips to be as efficient as possible this is a challenge!. I often see deer but I'm either in the wrong place at the wrong time all or there too far awat. I'm not after any trophies just the experience.
Are all day sits at this point merited? Or is later am and early pm? It's about an hour drive for me. I typically walk about a mile in if I can.
I understand finding sign but piecing the puzzle together feels like it's complicated with varying food sources and not knowing where bedding is. Should I try to concentrate on pinch points or funnels and just try to estimate where the deer will come from and just hang a stand and then aggressively adjust as needed?
It seems like most places the access is kinda crappy relative to the typical north and West wind or maybe I need to just find smaller sub 50 acre pieces and build up experience. Stephens is huge and I've scouted some pieces and hung trail cams up in prior years.
Appreciate any insight. Year 3 on public and hoping to get it done or see bucks closer!
I live in Des moines but try to get out of the metro to hunt. I've scouted a couple places near red rock and hunted stephens the last couple of years - just looking for some general tips to be as efficient as possible this is a challenge!. I often see deer but I'm either in the wrong place at the wrong time all or there too far awat. I'm not after any trophies just the experience.
Are all day sits at this point merited? Or is later am and early pm? It's about an hour drive for me. I typically walk about a mile in if I can.
I understand finding sign but piecing the puzzle together feels like it's complicated with varying food sources and not knowing where bedding is. Should I try to concentrate on pinch points or funnels and just try to estimate where the deer will come from and just hang a stand and then aggressively adjust as needed?
It seems like most places the access is kinda crappy relative to the typical north and West wind or maybe I need to just find smaller sub 50 acre pieces and build up experience. Stephens is huge and I've scouted some pieces and hung trail cams up in prior years.
Appreciate any insight. Year 3 on public and hoping to get it done or see bucks closer!
