Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: TradPaul on October 02, 2008, 11:04:00 AM
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...Heck, my first deer ever, and I did it with Trad gear. Now for the story.
Yesterday i told my self i was going to pull a double shift in the woods, told the wife that i'll be home when i was successful. in the day i got into my natural blind and waited a Mama Doe came by right on time at 12:30 pm, she came as they all seem too....which is out of thin air, and to my off side( which is my left since i shoot lefty) anyway she appeared to my left about 30' away and then two little ones came and started feeding from her right there, it was an amazing experience to say the least. So since they were so little, i didnt take the shot (this has happened about three times, mama's with little ones) i went back later that evening and got in my blind at about 5:45pm, at 6:20pm a big Doe started to come up, so as is usual with me i started to breathe funny and get all excited telling myself "this is it, pick a spot" She's coming right where i want her up hill of me and up wind, i anticipated her walk and when her head went behind a tree i raised the bow...Too soon, she stopped right as her head cleared the tree and with her vitals completly covered stopped and looked very nervous, still she didnt see me, but since i have been holding the bow up for about 2 min, i start to very slightly shake(excitement) well of course she very quickly looked right at me, put her ears back and bolted. "Crap, that was awesome" but i messed it up. Let me stop and say that since this season started i have been busted 8 times, by movement or wind, each time i went home and thought long and hard on my mistakes. Today i was deteremined not to repeat them. After the Doe busted me, i shifted my position to another blind farther up the hill, while i was still contemplating how i was going to sit( the wind doesnt usually blow in this direction) i caught movement to my right 6:48pm......."HOLY CRAP IT"S A BUCK" :scared: i said to my self, now i was all week knee'd and breathing funny, he came in with some authority which was very different from the Doe. I realized he was walking on my tracks and smelling them, i had just re-applied some deer dander to my feet and clothes and he was on my trail. Thank God i had not come into this blind directly, instead i did the logical thing and ran up hill, then cross wise back and forth and then up. So he's coming up on this trail, looking for another deer or something and then stops and looks right in my direction for about 1 min, so i close my eyes and stop breathing willing him not to see me. He freaked and ran about 20' stopped and then acted like nothing happened, still coming to within my range on my right. I raised my bow and anticipated aliitle too soon Again!!!and came to full draw Too Soon!!. I was holding at full draw for about 15 sec thinking "back tension" and shaking like a leaf( or so it felt) telling myself over and over "Pick a spot" he stepped into a perfect broadside shot at about 15-18 yards and i released. I was uphill and i could have swore i glanced off the top of his back, it happened so fast. after collapsing and thinking "holy cow what a rush" i went and checked my arrow, it was sprayed with blood and fur, "huh" i thought i had missed, but instead had a complete pass though and double lunged him. After waiting about 40 min, i set to tracking in the dark, there was barely any blood, pin prick here, pin prick there after an unbelievable 1.5 hours and 50 yards later i almost stepped on him.....i had done it. He Dressed out at 47 lbs of meat, and i still dont know how to figure how many points he has, it looks like 5 with two brow tines or 7 total. Thanks to all of you who have answered all my questions and given advices. Or just told stories of your own, i dont come from a hunting family so everything i learned was trial and error. Thanks again to all and but is still more season left. Oh does anyone know how to clean and bleach a skull?? :knothead:
Lonewolf Kayapo recurve, 45#@29. CE 150 with 145grn eclipse BH and 30 grn adapter.
(http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s47/striderpaul/IMG_4079-1-1-1.jpg)
P.
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Congrats!
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CONGRATULATIONS PAUL!
Terrific job on your hunts, and a great story as well. Like they say, "You'll never forget your first!!"
You'll never have to wonder whether you, or your equipment, if capable of killing a deer. The proof is in the freezer! Well done!
Daryl
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Paul:
Congrats on your #1. Hope you take many more. You should find a how to section on doing a European mount on this site. Run a search. By the way I could not help but notice that your shooting a recurve made by John Maus(Lone Wolf Custom Bows) out of Glennie, Mich. John makes a superb bow. I've shot his Desert Storm longbow but not his recurves. Looks like yours has plenty of Johns' Mojo in it. Keep'um sharp.
:thumbsup:
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You will never forget your first.Enjoy and congrats.Kip
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Right on Paul :thumbsup:
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Ya, looks like 7 points. Doesn't matter though! I killed a spike my first bow buck. Nice going!!
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the first one is always the best! are you getting him mounted? my first one isn't the biggest, but nice. it was expensive but everytime i sit and stare at him on the wall, i get the rush all over again. hey congrats!!!
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Very nice for a first! Congrats!!
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:clapper:
Nothing more exciting... Great Job, congratulations
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Thats awesome! I see your a fellow ASAT user too. Sneaky stuff. ;)
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WTG! :thumbsup:
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Congrats :thumbsup:
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Congrats. :thumbsup:
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Cool story, congrats to you!
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Great story and deer. Congrats!
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to clean the skull skin it and detach the lower jaw and then boil it outside in a kettle for 8ish hours or until all the brains and stuff come out. to bleach, soak raga or thick paper towels in hydrogen peroxide and cover the head, not the antler, b/c if the H2O2 touches the antlers it will turn them white. congrats on the buck.
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awesome congrats mate! :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
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Congrats!!! :thumbsup:
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Great story!
For someone who didn't grow up in a hunting family, it sounds like you're learning quickly, and doing what you should do with mistakes-- learning from them.
I agree with everyone, there is nothing like your first. Enjoy the moment for all it's worth! Hope there are many more to come.
Personally, I like the natural-look of the skull. I don't bleach it. I simply boil and scrape, boil and scrape... I will also cut the top of the skull off to make it proportional with the antlers. Ex: spike = top of skull cap 114" 7 pt. = cut from back to front just below the eye sockets, no teeth...
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Awesome story and first deer Paul welcome to the family.
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good going... seems to me there was at least one thread or how to on here about bleaching and mounting a skull... I know there are outfits that sell supplies and kits... google taxidermy if you can't find it here..
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Congratulations on scoring on a beautiful deer!
Claudia
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Congratulations! Every animal is a trophy in my opinion and I hope you have many more.
Form the picture that you posted, I would say you are correct in calling the buck a 7 point.
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Nice one, Paul! My family doesn't hunt either, so it is cool seeing how well you are doing, being self-taught. You learn mighty quick!
Killdeer :thumbsup:
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Congrats!!!
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That is so awesome! Great story and pics. I was right there with you!
I just bury my skulls in the compost heap and dig them up next year. But, my first buck was mounted and still hangs on my wall. It's dang near the same size too. I was poor at the time and really had a hard time justifying the $350 I paid for it but now it was worth it.
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Nice one! I too come from a no-Hunting family and learned on my own and this site. My first deer was last season a doe however. A buck on your first Trad harvest or any deer harvest is really cool!
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nice work and congrats, a fine first trad deer indeed! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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WAY to go!!! Man, his not the biggest but in this case size doesn't matter. You probably would have been just as happy with that big doe. Good for you.
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The thrill from your first is something that you won't forget. Congratulations on your first and self taught at that.
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Congrats
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Great story.. congrats on the buck
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WTG and congrats on a self taught first-he's a beauty.
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:clapper:
That is awesome!!!
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Way to go! Congratulations. :cool:
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Way to get it done, congrats.
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Good for you! May this be the first of many.
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Awesome! Congrats. That first one sure is special!
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AND a dandy at that!! :thumbsup:
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Congrats!!!
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Great!! And even better coming from someone who took it up on their own. Man, I love to hear it!
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Great job Paul! Beautiful buck. :clapper:
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Great stuff! Well done and congrats! ;) :thumbsup:
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Way to go Paul...hunting hard, asking the right questions....paid off eh? Congrats Pal....
:thumbsup: :notworthy:
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Good writing and shooting! Way to go.
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Thats a super deer Paul.
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Nice going! :clapper:
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Good read and congradulations.
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Way to go Paul, dandy deer!
Eric
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Sweet! First buck and off the ground to boot! Great job>>>------->Mike
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Congratulations! :goldtooth:
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What a beauty! Many happy returns of the day to you!
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Congrats!!!!
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:thumbsup:
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Paul, I'm proud of you. That's what doing your homework and learning from your mistakes will do for you. Great job. You should write a song about it and play it for me, next time I see you. Don
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Congrats!!! Cool story :thumbsup:
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Congrats :thumbsup:
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Paul - Congratulations on your first deer - and you took it from the ground! Not many trad bowhunters can say they've done that! I'm not surprised you put a nice shot on him as I saw how good a shot you are at the Sissipahaw tough man shoot...
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Great job!!! The best, most successful hunters always learn something whenever they hunt, and you have obviously learned from your mistakes.
A sincere congratulations, and many, many happy returns.
NICE BUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Way to go Paul!!!! Nice seeing another groundpounder getting a buck.
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Paul,
Congrats on a great buck! I loved the story as well. I told you that those Eclipse broadheads would get the job done. Great job!
Bryan
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Paul, Good job!
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Congrats Paul! Well done!
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:goldtooth: Congrats man!!
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I really should thank all of you. It's through everyones advice, success, failure, experience that i have been able to track em down and sink the deal. I have dedicated this whole year to staying on the ground, but i'm going for bear in WV so i'm not sure if i will revise that plan or not..could get kinda scary eh?. So really, thanks and please keep those stories coming.
Don, your crazy...write a song :readit: ...i might, and maybe i'll need some mandolin on it. Thanks bud.
Bill, yes it is another awesome John Maus special, a tack driver to say the least.
Bryan, I cant believe how well those babies sharpen let alone how tough they are. thanks again.
Joe, Man you were the first one to sit and talk on the phone with me, let alone introduce ASAT. By the way, the wife is still lovin that bow and those arrows.
wally, thanks man, and quit hoarding all those hogs.. :D
Killie, Luck or skill...hhhmm at this point i'm not sure, either way it was blast...
Larry, I CANT WAIT!!!!!! :campfire: :archer:
P.
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You have completed one of the hardest hunting feats t here is in my opinion, shooting a whitetail buck from the ground with trad gear. Good job!
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WAY2GIT-ER-DONE!!! Congrats paul!!!
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Congratulations, Paul! You'll never forget this one...
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Congrats,nice buck there will be many more but the first is always the hardest!Now go use some of those doe tags.Be warned most does seem to be more aleart than the average buck from what I have seen. :clapper: :clapper:
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Congrats Paul , nice buck!!
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Good job Paul! :thumbsup:
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CONGRATULATIONS on your 1st buck Paul!!!!!!!!!! :clapper:
May he be the first of many,many,more!!!!! :pray:
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:thumbsup:
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well done!
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Well done your patience and determination paid off. Good shooting, cherish it the first one no matter what the weapon of choice is will always be the best.
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AWESOME!!! Great story and a great trophy!! Congrats!! Shawn
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That's get'n it done!
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Congrats on a great buck! :thumbsup: It sure feels great doesn't it!
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Congrats. I have been told when you boil the skulls you just want a slow boil not a rapid boil because it can make the skull brittle. In my experience the quicker you get on the job the easier it is. I boil mine in a metal five gallon bucket on a turkey fryer. I use a wire brush to help remove some of the meat at the end, and carefully wash the brain out at the carwash, when no one is looking. Then you can spray paint or brush high powered peroxide on it or leave it natural.