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Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: BMN on October 20, 2008, 01:31:00 PM
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Earlier this year I was lucky enough to draw an access permit for the Marais Des Cygnes national wildlife refuge. I was really pumped about the opportunity to hunt a new area and quickly started planning my attack. I ordered a topo of the area and printed several aerial photos off the net. I really enjoy studying maps and trying to figure out the best places for an ambush. I have very limited time to actually hunt so I try to get as much enjoyment out of the anticipation and planning as I can. Studying maps lets me do this from the comfort of my living room. I marked several places that looked promising then took a scouting trip a few weeks ago to confirm my hunches. I had a couple of different places selected for each different wind direction and was eager to hit the woods with bow in hand. One spot in particular really had me intrigued. It was a natural funnel created by three different types of cover converging at an old fence intersection. I needed a northeast wind to hunt it which is somewhat unusual for this part of the country. Well, as luck would have it, I checked the weather forecast and a northeast wind was predicted for the first few hours on Saturday morning before switching around to the south later in the afternoon. The trap was set...
When I arrived Saturday morning there was already a truck in the parking lot. I really didn't think this fellow bowhunter would interfere with my plans since the spot I was heading to was about a mile and a half from the nearest road. Most guys just won't hunt this far from the truck. I grabbed my bow and ghillie suit and started the long walk in. I had to cross a tall grass field and with the heavy dew my bottom half was soaking wet when I arrived at the old fence intersection. I picked out a good tree, trimmed a few small branches, zipped up the ghillie suit and sat waiting for the sunrise. At first light several turkeys started yelping from the trees out in front of me. It was great to be out in the woods again!
At about 8 o'clock, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. It was a small buck coming from my left. One side of his rack was missing and the other side was forked. I didn't have any intention on shooting him so I just sat back and watched. He ended up coming right through the funnel at 20 yards which brought a small grin of satisfaction to my face. With over 5,000 acres to choose from, today I had picked the right spot and no matter what the rest of the morning would bring, I was satisfied.
About 40 minutes had passed since the little buck had wandered through my little corner of the world when I again caught movement to my left. A quick flash of antler had me reaching for my bow and the go light was on. It was immediately evident that he was headed to the funnel and if he stayed on his current path he would be passing in front of me much closer than the small buck had. Maybe to close. At under 15 yards he stepped behind a large tree and I raised my bow. He continued on with no idea I was there. He passed directly in front me at 8 yards as I slowly pulled the arrow to anchor. I released and the arrow instantly appeared just behind his shoulder. As he charged out of the area I tried as hard as I could to stay calm and mark his direction of travel. After ten short seconds of chaos, all was silent.
I sat back and tried to catch my breath. The shot looked good and I was fairly confident of a short blood trail but I still forced myself to wait for 30 minutes before looking for blood. The first couple of clues gave every indication that this blood trail would be a short one.
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/bmnash/deer%20hunting/IMG_2612.jpg)
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/bmnash/deer%20hunting/IMG_2611.jpg)
More later.....
Bill
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:thumbsup: :campfire: :coffee: :coffee:
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Cool!
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Sure doesn't look like he is going far!
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Holy Moly!!! you will definatly be finding that deer quick, look at that tree!!!!!
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Can't wait!! C'mon we need the rest of the story!!
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OH MY GOD! He must have jumped up on that tree trying to climb it. That should be a real short tracking job. On with it Bill
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that's likely to leave a mark!
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what a photo!
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congrats! Cant wait for the story and more pics.
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Yeah, he didn't make it very far. I easily followed the blood trail to the last spot I saw him running. I then looked up and could see him laying not 20 yards from were I was standing. He hadn't made it 75 yards before piling up. The snuffer had done its job quickly. I'll never get tired of seeing this..
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/bmnash/deer%20hunting/IMG_2615.jpg)
I said a little prayer of thanks and then tried to clean him up as best I could for a couple of pictures. I was very pleased to say the least.
(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a79/bmnash/deer%20hunting/IMG_2623.jpg)
After I field dressed him and the euphoria of taking my second buck from the ground in as many years wore off, reality set it. The refuge only allows foot traffic so I was going to have to drag this deer out of the woods with the quads God gave me. I got out my maps and gps and tried to plan the shortest way out of there. The gps told me the closest road was roughly 1.5 miles from where I now sat. I started dragging at about 10 a.m. I'm not going to bore you with all the agony I went through getting this deer to the road but I will tell you I reached the road at 3 p.m. Since I do most of my hunting in the Missouri Ozarks I've had plenty of tough drags but this was by far the longest. By the time I made it back to the truck I was completely spent. Every muscle in my body aches but it was all worth it.
Thanks for listening. I need to go take some more tylenol.
Bill
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Alright!Congratulations Bill he is a dandy!
:campfire: :clapper:
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That'll work. Congrats Bill.
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congrats man, great hunt, thanks for sharing. i bet the pain feels soooo good about now huh???
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The topos and photos paid off in a big way. Way to go :thumbsup:
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A dandy for sure!!!!!! :clapper:
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Beauty.
Three words of advice- Plastic Snow Sled.
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I never seen a blood trail hit a tree like that before. Were you on your knees shooting upwards?
Congrats!!
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nice buck! I should have known a snuffer caused that blood trail! :thumbsup:
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Well done BMN!
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Congrats and great pictures :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Well done and fine buck!
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Nice buck, congrats
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What a quick kill! Good job, man, especially the drag. I hunt mountains and know the pain. Plastic snow sled is a good idea. I won't drag one into the woods with me, though. Sometimes I carry a deer sleigh'r along. Or hunt close to camp! ;) :D
Killdeer~very nice buck, and from the ground! :) :thumbsup:
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:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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Thanks everyone. I have a plastic snow sled but left it hanging in the garage. :banghead: I probably should have drove home, grabbed the sled and a few friends and drove back. I think it would have been just as fast and a lot less painful.
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Great shooting Bill. Learn how to bone them out in the field!! Unless You have to check them in whole at the wildlife area, You could have saved Yourself a lot of time.
Still it's a good looking buck that I'm sure You won't forget taking for a long time. bretto
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Congrats Bill. Sometimes the hardest work pays the best rewards.
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Hard work for sure.
But a real labor of love.
Congratulations!
John
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Great buck Bill and good shooting. Congrats! :thumbsup:
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Way to go! Your research and map work sure paid off. :thumbsup:
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That's so cool! I'm really hoping to shoot a good buck soon and you just made me want it even more!
Great job!
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congrats , nice deer :0)
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Way to go Bill :thumbsup: Congrats.
You really worked hard for this one bud and you will remember it for along time, At least your muscles will :D
Tracy
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What a trophy! Now enjoy the fruits of your labor! :) :coffee:
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:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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great job, Bill :thumbsup: :archer:
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Way to go Bill!! :wavey:
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Congrats nice shot.
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You "Snuffed" that one out!!! Great job...Thanks for sharing the story!! Great Buck!!!
David
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What a beauty! Many happy returns of the day to you!
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great stuff sounds like you worked for it! congrats on a great deer :thumbsup:
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Super deer :thumbsup: good pics and story thanks for bringing us along.
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Now thats what bowhunting is all about in my book.
Very well done. :clapper:
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Congrats :notworthy:
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Cool story of a great hunt. Congrats my friend.
:campfire: :archer: :clapper:
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Good job that is a fine deer, but I have got to say being raised in Montana where the critters are to big to drag,(elk and most deer) we have a great appreciation for a knife and a pack frame!
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Good buck! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gotta love those Snuffers, I do.
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We got a bleeder!!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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I take an Army Alice pack and frame with me in my truck every time I go hunting just in case I kill one too far off the road to drag back. I will bring it out in pieces rather than drag.
I take a Cabela's mag hauler with me as well but can't use it everywhere I go because the country is too rough.
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I love Snuffer blood trails
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:thumbsup: Get off the roads as you said then you will have some stories to tell. Sweet!!
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Erik, me too. I have a Non Typical collapsing/backpackable game cart and really like that thing for long drags from tough spots.
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Great story and a better buck, thanks for sharing both!! Congrats
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Great story... and deer!
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very very nice!
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Dude!!!! I was within 10 miles of you w/ a deer cart in the back of my truck!!!!! You going back for any does?? If you are drop a line and we'll swap #'s. I know how bad that sucks by yourself. Be more than happy to help. Nice buck as well!
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That's awesome. Give us a few more details. Where exactly did you hit him at? What pound bow are you using. That is one hell of a blood trail!
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Congrats on a fine buck indeed!
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Thanks again guys!
Robert, now you tell me :rolleyes: Do you hunt somewhere in that area? I may go back to try for a doe later in the season. I'll probably hunt my place in Missouri until the gun season. If I go back I'll give you a buzz. Thanks.
Jon, I was using a 53# black widow recurve. Vertically, the arrow entered about mid body. A little higher than what I really wanted. It was roughly 2 inches behind the leg. Easton legacy arrow, 145 gr snuffer with a 25 gr adapter for 170 gr total point weight. Total arrow weight 550 gr. The arrow broke ribs on both sides and penetrated the skin on the far side but did not pass through.
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I grew up hunting that area down there. I dont have as much fun anywhere else. Not to many places in America you can see rolling oak ridges and a virtual swamp in the same square mile.
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Sweet! Nice job.
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Great job Bill.
That is a great looking buck! I knew after watching you shoot this summer that not too many deer would get past you without some ventilation!
Great shot and a great story.
That lactic acid in your quads is just icing on the cake.
Chris