Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: John Nail on October 27, 2007, 12:44:00 PM
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I own a good treestand, and I'll sit in it, if I have to. But it's my least favorite way to hunt deer. I love to get down "Among 'em"...
My friend, Paul Jalon (Elite arrows) says, "If Mother Nature offers a kiss, only a fool won't pucker up!"
I'm beginning to think he may be right. The second week of October, I had an opportunity to shoot a nice doe, broadside at about 20 yards. I hunt deer, and not horns, and I surely would have put her in the freezer, but she had a small fawn with her. The cute little rascal was just out of spots and dumb as a post. I knew if I shot her, he probably wouldn't make the Winter, so I let them walk. I Must have insulted Mom Nature by passing on her gift.
Having recieved a reprieve from work this morning, I was determined to go. No matter that it was raining and windy. The Red Gods must be served.
I put on my MTO-50 raingear and Muck boots, grabbed the recurve, and took off. At 7AM, I was oozing along a dry creek bed, still too dark to shoot, constantly amazed at how much noise a fat man in rubber boots can make, and how the expensive raingear that sounds fine in the kitchen at 6AM, suddenly sounds like a cheap shower curtain in the woods with a wind.
I came to a narrow spot where a picked cornfield joined a small bluff that fell down to the creek. I climbed up out of the creek and leaned against a little arm-sized tree with the hope of glassing a deer out in the field. I had just done a quick scan and put the glass back in my pocket, took 10 or 15 steps, when I noticed the Gray back of a deer behind a fallen log, maybe 25 yards ahead. I immediately knelt down in the weeds. Rewind to where I compared the rain pants to a shower curtain. The deer heard me and stood up. He was about 20 yards, but the vitals were behind the log. He decided to investigate and stepped out-looking right at me. He knew I wasn't Kosher, but couldn't decide what to make of me.
I eased an arrow out of the side quiver and onto the string.....
The deer stood facing me. His rack was ample and well out past his ears. He had seen more than a few winters. I hoped he couldn't hear my heart beating--I sure could!......I became a statue.
And then things got stupid.
He came closer.
He eased around trying to catch my wind, but the bluff on one side and the creek on the other kept him from it. He did the usual stomping, head bob, and the fake look away with a quick "gotcha!"........I am like a nervous statue.
And then he came closer.
About 7 yards separate us now. He still has his front to me, and is watching me like you'd watch your young daughter's boyfriend. I have been squatted down here for maybe 10 minutes now, and my old body is beginning to quiver...I am like a statue in an earthquake.
And he comes closer!
I know the Jig is up. Even with the wind against him, that bloodhound nose will make me out any second. I could try for a frontal heart shot, but I've been in the game way too long for that.
At maybe 5 yards, I looked up into his eyes and said "You Win!" and he turned inside out and was gone, leaving me laughing in the rain like an idiot.
Folks, THAT'S WHY I LIKE TO HUNT ON THE GROUND!
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:clapper:
Classic!
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The one thing that turns me inside out is when a deer (buck or doe) sees me or think it sees me. I'm usually pretty calm if the deer is unaware of my presence, but when they start staring me down, stamping a foot, trying hard to wind me, I start coming unglued and have a hard time not getting the shakes. But Boy-O-Boy are those times ever exciting! I admire you folks that hunt from the ground. I know it must multiply the excitement.
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Great story John, and ditto's on the ground hunting. Your story stirs many memories and dreams of things to come.
Thanks for writing it.
Terry K.
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Originally posted by John Nail:
I am like a statue in an earthquake.
I looked up into his eyes and said "You Win!" and he turned inside out and was gone, leaving me laughing in the rain like an idiot.
Folks, THAT'S WHY I LIKE TO HUNT ON THE GROUND!
GREAT Story, Great hunt!
I love hunting on the ground for the adrenaline rush and the up close and personal contact too.
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WELL DONE JOHN!! Thats cool! I'll stick to my treestands tho,this fat man makes a LOT of noise!!LOL
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I've been in a similar ground situation a few times. Ain't it great? The best was the fawn that sniffed and licked the fletching of my arrows laying by my feet.
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Tom, it seems like every year I have something unique like this happen. So may it ever be.
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LOL! :biglaugh:
Good Stuff!
Mike
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Outstanding story - I love stuff like that. :-D
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John, I too am a gravitationally gifted ground pounder and I have experiences like that one a few times a season and I keep comming back! It's definitely a rush! :readit: :D
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Thanks for shareing.
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Been busted in the past myself but your story gives me hope for the future. Thanks for sharibg your wonderful experience.
God bless,Mudd
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Great story< John!!!
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Fantastic post! I read it out loud to my wife and daughter and we all enjoyed it together. :thumbsup:
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I love these success stories. Inside of twenty yards on the ground, I believe they can even FEEL our awful presence.
Getting within ten yards is sometimes a spiritual experience.
Great story John Nail...
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Great story. I got excited too! Jawge
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i my book that was a successful hunt!!!!
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Great post. SlowBowinMO I just read it to my wife to. She is a non hunter and cant see why we hunt deer. Her first words after i read it to her were "Thats Precious" And i said dear thats why we hunt.
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Awesome John. I loved the part about the fat man in rubber boots (I can relate) and the cheap shower curtain sound of your rain gear and of course the ending. That was great! Thanks
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You are a great story teller John! Very neat! I have been hunting the last couple days from a treestand and decided tonight to go from the ground for the next while. I like a change of scenery and with experiences such as yours it makes it definitely worthwhile. Thanks for sharing! Matt
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Great story :thumbsup:
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"Watching me like you'd watch your young daughter's boyfriend" = Classic! :thumbsup:
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Great read John.Hope you have a great season.
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Already am Ray. Hope You do also.
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That Is Soooooo Cool John! Ground Hunting is the way to go!
... mike ...
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That got me breathing hard just reading it!!!!
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John - Had the same thing happen to me more than once. I have been "grounded" since 1996 and will never go back to a tree stand. The experiences that I have had hunting on the ground have been unforgetable. I never felt the same feelings while up in a tree stand. To harvest a deer on the ground is a memory and feeling of accomplishment that is hard to explain.
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Wonderful story!
how the expensive raingear that sounds fine in the kitchen at 6AM, suddenly sounds like a cheap shower curtain in the woods with a wind
That part made me laugh, cause I have had a similar experience with coats that seemed fine at home but sounded crunchy at temps -10 and below. :biglaugh:
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Great Story John. I wonder though, had you held your ground if a shot wouldn't have materialized. Last year I had a sika stag approach to within 4 yards on the ground. He got nervous when he saw me and lept back but gave me a shot at 10 yards when he tried to skirt around me. It is awesome when you get close on the ground!
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Had couple of those this year with trad. bow in hand including a big 8 at about five yards Tues..Bigger rush than shooting one out of a tree with wheels.I hope to claim my first trad kill this way.Great stuff!!!
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Outstanding story John! :thumbsup:
Sorry you couldn't be with us in Brownstown.
I had a buck blow at me from 20 yds and thought that was fun!! :jumper: