Bowhunting Report From Tony Dukes
Possum's Trading Post Outfitters 
(North Eastern Missouri)

Tony Dukes (L) and Possum (R)
The sun rose on what looked like a deer hunting post card, on my first morning hunting with Possum in NE Missouri. The hardwoods trees letting go of their red, gold and yellow leave, tall green grass, mixing in the vines on the bottoms. The horizon had a slight glow of the recently harvested corn field. Neat.

A buck appeared on a distant hill, a couple hundred yards away and I hit my Primos Rubber Neck grunt and here he came. Right out of the box! He stopped within bowrange, nearly stepping on an Eastern turkey. I was amazed at the size of his body and neck, however the 8 points were less that I'd hoped for, so I passed him. What an exciting start.

The next week was filled with the same beauty, lots of deer, more passing on little bucks and heart skips on some big boys that never gave me a clear shot. There was a moment I was thinking about how good fried deer backstrap and gravy is, when a nice little 6 pt. walked under me within yards. For a minute I wished I was just hunting instead of trophy hunting, really wanting to take the fat young buck. Must have been delusion due to hunger for a short time later a 160+ 10 point showed up, nearly causing a cardiac arrest and I remembered what I do and liked it!

Possum's lodge looks like a Rockwell painting. Decorated to the "T" with assorted N. American trophies and hunting accessories and art in a near two story, natural wood building which used to be a church and later a trading post. It has all the modern comforts as well from Big TV with outdoor and NFL cable to DSL. 

You felt surrounded by history. Ms. Possum, Becky, turns out meals that are fit for kings and the efforts put into comfort, safety and success are evident amongst the comfortable setting.

I did not get the buck I'd come for but saw several that would have done the job. This is one of several great opportunities for trophies that I have been on and not filled a tag, however, the neat thing is how much I enjoyed the hunt. Enough so to try it again next year with Possum and the big deer and beautiful country on Northern, MO.

Tony ....