Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/528216
S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 1 4 5 L ate on a Wednesday afternoon, more than halfway through our visit, Mike drove us to our stands where the deer finally emerged from hiding. Small bucks and does were literally scampering through the meadows. The big boys, however, were too smart to get gleeful in the broad daylight. But evening was coming. After dropping off Sam, Mike took me within a couple hundred yards of my treestand, a lock-on near a small creek in the middle of a bare field. I felt like the proverbial sore thumb sticking out in the only tree for 50 yards. But don't ever try to out-guide the guide, I reminded myself. As I settled in, I drew back the bow to gauge the shooting situation from my new perch. "Oh crap," I muttered under my breath. The peep- sight was missing. It must have been knocked off during one of the rough bumps in the Polaris. I had tried to cradle it during the rides, but I remembered it hitting the dashboard pretty hard. Nevertheless had it been tied in properly, it would still be there. I pulled a piece of loose thread from a glove and attempted to rig a make-do marker on the string. But it was imperfect at best. If you're not a bow hunter, than you can liken it to losing the front sight on an iron sight rifle. You've lost your point of reference. As luck would have it, the buck I'd waited for appeared. Hanging with several does, the big ten- pointer first showed himself more than hundred yards away, but he continued to work toward me until he stood broadside at 25 yards. The does were meandering past him, feeding on grass and mast. Their path would take them away from me, across the creek and up the far hillside. I had the bow up and ready but resigned myself to the fact that unless he got really, really close, I had no shot without the peep. The guy in the archery shop who had set up my bow had failed to properly tie in the peep with dental floss. But the fault ultimately rolled downhill to me. That same evening Sam saw two big bucks in a hardwood hollow, but they were chasing does and never presented a shot. Next morning it was time to load up and head out. No venison or antlers to load in the truck bed, but a cooler full of wild birds that Mike processed and shrink-wrapped inside the barn. Mike invited me back. Maybe come a little earlier to catch the rut in full swing. I'd like to take him up on it, although I may have to bring my long-time hunting buddy. It just wouldn't be the same otherwise. EQUIPMENT REVIEW Chances are you won't run into the kind of weather Sam and I experienced in November, but be prepared for anything. That includes bringing along some good boots. My Schnee's and Sam's Kennetrek pacs kept our feet warm and cozy, even when sitting in a tree stand for hours at zero degree. My ESP (Electronic Shooters Protection) hearing protection/enhancement plugs came in handy for protecting my ears against the many shotgun blasts during our bird hunts. But they're also nice for those dead-quiet deer hunts, allowing you to hear the measured footfalls of a buck farther away than you might expect. As a bonus, I believe they kept my ears a little warmer! As mentioned earlier, safety harnesses are required at Hilltop Meadows, so I'd recommend the Hunter Safety System. Sam wore the Ultralight X-Treme while I wore the vest-style Tree Stalker II. Both offer comfort, adjustable fit, easy on and off, and simplicity of use. IF YOU WANT TO GO Mike Jacobsen has completed a second lodge, a small cottage overlooking a five-acre fishing pond he built last year. The cabin has a wood-burning stove, two beds, and a loft. The place will be ready for occupancy this fall. If you'd like to hunt whitetails, upland birds, or turkeys, call Mike and Gail Jacobsen at (815) 535-1056 or email hunters@ hilltopmeadowshuntclub.com. You can check out their website at: www.hilltopmeadowshuntclub.com. For those who'd prefer to fly, the Quad Cities International Airport in Moline is less than an hour's drive away.