Bo Hunting
by Lowell Washburn

RICEVILLE---When fall hunting seasons roll around, sports legend Bo Jackson can literally go anywhere in the world. Although he loves to pursue waterfowl, turkey, and upland birds, Jackson's greatest outdoor passion is hunting for big game with bow and arrow. From elk to bear, 'gators to javelina, Bo and his bow have seen and done it all.

Although now retired from professional sports, Jackson still refers to his play book before hitting the field. But these days his strategies for success are focused on white-tailed deer rather than touch downs or home runs. That's why, when it came time for a three-day November deer hunt, Jackson considered all the possibilities and then chose North Iowa as the place to be.

"I'd been hearing about Iowa's giant white-tails for a long time," said Jackson. "Although I'd had invitations and wanted to hunt deer in Iowa for more than ten years, this was the very first opportunity I had to actually come here.

"When I learned that I'd been fortunate enough to receive a [nonresident] deer tag, I dropped everything and immediately rearranged my schedule," he added.

After a decade of anticipation, Jackson's first ever Iowa hunt took place last week on the Jennison Family Farm, near Riceville. Accompanying him on the outing was friend and avid bow hunter Martin Bruder, of Lakeville, Minn., and host Mark Elliott, of Osage. DNR conservation officer and deer hunting expert, Ken Lonneman volunteered to serve as hunt coordinator.

As Jackson climbed into his tree stand during the first evening of the hunt, he immediately became aware that stories concerning the size of Iowa whitetails were no exaggeration. At the approach of sunset, large numbers of deer began moving along the maze of woodland trails surrounding his stand. After watching the animals for more than an hour Jackson picked his target, bent the bow, and successfully harvested his first Iowa whitetail --- a hefty mature doe.

Less than 200 yards down the trail, things were going even better for hunting buddy Martin Bruder who carefully took aim to arrow an impressive buck during his first trip to the stand.

"It was incredible," said Jackson. "Martin and I each harvested a deer at about the same time during the very first day of our hunt.

"These [Iowa] deer are giants. I started hunting deer in my home state of Alabama during the early 1980s. The doe I took here in Iowa this week was bigger than any buck I've seen in Alabama."

But it was Bruder's deer that really took Jackson's eye. A fully mature, ten-point typical, the buck green scored at 150 points [based on the Pope & Young measuring standard].

"That deer is the kind I've been hearing about," said Jackson.

"I'd have to say that Martin shot the buck I came to Iowa for," he laughed.

In spite of his attraction to giant bucks, Jackson hunts as much for the table as he does for antlers. As proficient in the kitchen as in the woods, his home freezer is well stocked with wild game. In addition to ample stores of venison, the family larder includes duck, elk, and ornyx.

"When on a hunt, I like to do all my own work," says Jackson. "I don't really like to have people do things for me. If I am fortunate enough to harvest a deer, then I think it's my job to drag it out of the woods and process [cut it up] myself."

After skinning and butchering his deer, Jackson processes a portion of his venison into summer sausage, jerky, etc. Many of the cuts are shared with family and friends or with those less fortunate.

Although Jackson could have legally bagged two Iowa deer, that mature doe was the only animal he chose to take. He did, however, have several opportunities to shoot does and smaller bucks while spending three more "sits" in the stand. He declined, noting that he'd leave them for next time. "I've already harvested plenty of smaller bucks," he noted.

"I met some great people and had a lot of fun here. This was really a great first trip to Iowa," said Jackson. "I am very satisfied with what I've seen here and hope to be back hunting deer in Iowa at this same time next year."

Side Bar
Heissman Trophy winner Bo Jackson is one of only a handful of athletes to ever achieve successful careers in both the NFL and major league baseball. Officially retiring from professional sports in 1995, Jackson now devotes much of his leisure time to hunting big game with bow and arrow. Currently engaged in nationwide speaking tours and numerous private business ventures, he admits to spending much less time in the out of doors than he would prefer.

"One of the things I'm very involved with is a company that supplies the military with food items like bacon, beef, and chicken ---- mainly to our troops in the Middle-East," said Jackson.

When talking with Jackson, it soon becomes apparent that he has a deep seated admiration and respect for our American service men and women. He has personally made two visits to Kuwait, and during each of the past three years has spent Super Bowl week with U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East.

"I try to visit at least a dozen or more bases during Super Bowl week," says Jackson. "We just go in and sit down and really take time to visit with the troops. They are such great people and really appreciate anything you do for them. Spending time with them and looking at what's going on over there really makes you sit back and think about all that we have at home and how much we take for granted."