2009-2010 Season Success
Our 2010 season was a huge success for our hunters. While we only had five hunters taking advantage of North Branch’s prime QDM whitetail habitat, each harvested a great buck while having many encounters. From archery to shotgun and muzzleloader, each hunter saw many potential mature bucks, before taking the one of their choice. For the 2010 season, we took a total of five bucks and 21 does. For 2009, we took seven bucks and 22 does, maintaining a near perfect buck to doe ratio. See yourself here next year by booking your 2011 hunt with North Branch Whitetails!
Blaine Burley, of Tecomate’s Whitetail Nation TV Series, hunted Late Muzzleloader during January 2011, took a nice 10-point buck on his final day of hunting the North Branch property over one of our large food plots. The hunt and harvest were filmed by Orion Media’s John MacGillivray, for an upcoming episode of Bucks of Tecomate Whitetail Nation.
“North Branch is one of my top picks for hunting big bucks. We’ve seen lots of nice bucks, enjoyed the variety of hunting opportunities and always feel like we’re hunting with good friends. I look forward to coming back next year!”
Jeff Brennan of Van Meter, Iowa. With many photos of this guy looking like he had never shed his velvet, once Jeff had him on the ground, he saw that Freak’s antlers were actually covered with hair! Never being one to obsess on a single buck, Jeff wanted Super Freak,hunting many evenings before this brute showed himself again during late muzzle loader.
“This buck got my attention from the very first trail cam photos. When I first laid eyes on him while doe hunting, I couldn’t believe how big he was. The trail cam photos just didn’t do him justice. Once late muzzleloader season opened, I only had one buck on my mind.”
Jeff Stahlbaum of Johnston, Iowa. We have lots of trail cam photos of Righty with his distinctive non-typical left side antler. On December 23rd, while watching two smaller bucks sparring, drawing Righty to the action. Jeff waited for the shot and the rest is history. Not only a noteworthy trophy, he was huge, weighing over 265 lbs.
“During my hunt, I saw nine bucks and more than 30 does coming to feed. I spotted Righty bee-lining it into the field, interested in two younger bucks that were sparring. Only when I recovered him did I realize how big he really was. No ground shrinkage here!”
Jeff Brennan of Van Meter, Iowa took this 15 point, 183-1/8 monster on December 29th, 2009 with a muzzleloader over one our standing bean fields. He’d had his eyes on this massive buck the entire season and passed on many nice trophies in the hopes of having a shot at the buck we called “King Crab.” Congratulations, Jeff!
Tom Campbell, Sr. and Tom Campbell, Jr. from Long Island, New York harvested this pair of trophy bucks during first shotgun season. Their hunt took place during the worst snow storm in Iowa in over 30 years and the deer were literally pouring into the North Branch food plots.
“I shot the buck of my dreams. North Branch is a magical place! An unbelievable experience and one that my son and I will never forget.”
Allen Scott of Richland, Mississippi had our first trophy kill of the year, taking this great 12-point, double drop tine buck during the rut with a bow. As a non-resident hunter allowed to take a doe, Allen also took a large mature doe the same day from the same stand.
“I saw nine bucks and six does on November 4th. Five of the bucks were shooters. Harvested a doe at 3:15 PM and took my 12-pointer from the same stand at 4:00 PM. Beautiful property. I had the best day in the bow woods of my life.”
Jeff Stahlbaum of Johnston, Iowa has been hunting the Northbranch property for several years and harvested this nice wide 8-point during late muzzleloader season in one our standing bean fields.
“I moved to Iowa in 2006 specifcally to see and hunt big Iowa Whitetails. North Branch has given me that opportunity, exceeding my expectations year after year. With outstanding QDMA practices and low hunting pressure this property just gets better and better.”