Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: 4runr on October 07, 2007, 08:42:00 PM
-
Wow, where to start.
I have made some good friends since joining Trad Gang almost two years ago, and among them is a guy well known as Osagetree. He invited me down to hunt after we met at Flintridge a year ago, it finally came together this weekend.
I went down to South Point on Friday after work. After driving for 4 1/2 hours, I was welcomed like an old friend from the start.
Joe and his lovely wife Cheryl, made me feel at home, and gave me the use of a bedroom for the weekend.
-
and then,,,get to tellin bro :bigsmyl:
-
Tap, tap, tap, tap........
-
Joe had stands in place, and we decided on our strategy as we watched the new Trad Gang video, which had just arrived as I was leaving Hartville.
Joe put me in his wife's favorite stand as he was sure I would have action that first morning.
-
:campfire:
-
David, are you listening in as I tap... type. :bigsmyl:
-
:scared: put you in his WIFES favorite stand!
-
The dawning was just perfect, first light of my first day in the woods brought on that anticipation only known to bowhunters. I knew at any moment I would hear that slight rustle, that light footfall, that telltail flicker of an tail.
-
kawika, she had to work. That lady climbs a good 20 foot, straight up on screw in steps!
-
Had to put Jake down for the night. I'm reading now.
-
WELL?<><
-
It was a bushy tail, that first sighting. I sat and stood alternately till about 11:00 am. No deer, but a great morning in the woods nontheless.
We went to Joe's mom's house for a late breakfast, then headed to the mines for our afternoon and evening hunt.
We met Scott out there and spent some time getting to know each other and the area. It was hot! It got up to about 90 degrees, not my idea of hunting weather. We stayed in the shade as much as possible as we shot our bows until time to head to the evening stands.
-
Even after seeing me fall several times, she has no fear of getting in a tree. I couldn't ask for a better women and hunting companion. Sometimes she pushes me to hunt when I may not really want to go.
Cheryl and I really enjoyed having you Ken.
-
"The Mines" is 11,000 acres of former strip mining area, which was re-claimed many years ago and now is prime wildlife habitat. Joe walked me to a great stand which he put up and trimmed up for himself, and gave up for me to hunt in, while he carried in his climber for himself.
Again a perfect setting for an ambush. I was still strapping my safety belt to the tree when the first heart palpitations started. An explosion of water and leaves about fifteen yards behind my stand. I looked up and saw the south end of a northbound buck leaving the area.
After I calmed down, I saw the first of six doe and yearlings devouring acorns. A "slow parade of deer" all evening at about 60-80 yards out kept me entertained till dark.
-
Good stuff Kenny :thumbsup:
-
i need to find me a lower 48 missus,,,most women here would rather tell us to "go climb a tree" than to climb one with us. you're really drawing this one out aren't you Kenny,,,i love it! :campfire:
-
That same buck walked down the creek towards my stand. I had no sooner than pulled up my bow and the buck was splashing down the creek and gave me a good look at his rack, but he was well beyong my range. A nice 8 point walking down the creek on a 90 degree day was a nice sight.
Shortly after seeing the buck I managed to take a shot at a doe that was just up the hill, but the arrow was deflected by a branch and didn't even make it 10 of the 20 yard shot. I didn't mind a bit that I had messed up the shot.
-
We got back to the Jeep and Joe proceeded to give me an exciting ride through the back roads back to town! :scared:
Sunday morning Cheryl went and hunted her stand by herself, and Joe and I headed back to the mines.
Joe wanted so bad for me to get a chance, that he decided to still hunt some of the hollers and thickets around my stand area, in hopes of bringing something by me.
-
Kawika, I think this is where I'm supposed to take a break until tomorrow after work, according to the "Charlie Lamb story telling directives" :bigsmyl:
-
Joe, do I have to tell about the yearling doe in warp- speed?
-
Yes... :bigsmyl: :banghead:
-
what makes this worse is that i'm a good 6hrs or so behind you guys so i'll be up a bit more WAITING!!! well worth it though,,,good tale so far :thumbsup: and about this warp speed doe :confused:
-
I know the outcome of this story and your still killing me,hurry up all ready.
-
After seeing the buck take off, I finished getting set up, and immediately saw a yearling doe about 60 yards up the ridge. She was just feeding along slowely, meandering in and out of site. Suddenly she starts running down towards me at an angle which took her slightly to my right side. I had time to stand and get my string fingers in place and drawn. I baaed at her to get her to stop at three yards from my tree, she took an immediate right turn and under my tree she went. I followed her and tried to get a lead, but shot well behind her. I should have never dropped the string on her, but reactions won't let me stop! My first trad miss at a deer!
therejoeyahappy?
-
Does are hard to hit when they got the thrusters on!! :eek:
-
:biglaugh:
-
And after all that coaching this spring Kenny. :p
I know how it ends too, but still am looking forward to the rest of the tale here.
-
okay,,, you got your first miss out of the way aannndddd,,, :pray:
-
C'mon Kenny, I'm going to bed after Shark :rolleyes:
-
So, it's getting light this morning as I make my way up into the stand I was in last night. Another just perfect morning to be in the woods. I hear soft tree yelps off to my right, a hen with this years hatch answering her soft yelps with even softer purrs. Then a rustling noise behind me by the creek, I slowly turn and see antler tips and a leg just under the cut-bank of the creek. I can't believe it. He came in and beded down on a sand/gravel bar, and all I can see is antler tips and a leg. I try to estimate the distance. I'm in a tree about 20 feet up, the tree starts about ten feet above the elevation of the creek, so thats 30 feet above him, and I guesstimated the tree was 20 yards from the creek edge. That seemed like a long way from the tree stand, I had no shot anyway so I turned around and watched where I had shots.
A small doe came from my left and angled up the ridge about 40 yards out, too far and too much brush, more noise behind me.
Slowly I turn and watch the buck change positions, he's out from behind the bank, and turns 90 degrees and lays back down, just antler tips and a leg again. Something didn't look right when he lurched up and plopped down.
Rustling to my left, gray squirrel. Soft yelps to my right, more purrs and clucks. I'm in turkey heaven! :bigsmyl:
-
Why do you guys have to make a Mini Series out of every thing? Just tell the story, some of us have work to do!
-
You CAN'T be done!!
-
More noise behind me, rustling and sounded like moans, I see the antler tips slowly tilting to the side , then coming errect again. Like someone nodding off to sleep. I start thinking the buck got hit by a car or wounded or something. We are experiencing some die-off due to midges biting the deer and the deer contracting something that kills them. He tries to get up and falls back to his original position.
I hear running feet in leaves to my left, I turn and see twins playing in the leaves and acorns, they are on a path to within yards of my stand, one open lane about ten yards out. They're small, but it's the last morning of my trip. Do I take one? Yes if I get an open shot. They turn and go up the ridge. The top of that ridge is a magnet, 6 deer seen on it in 15 hours. More noise behind me, his front end is exposed and he's trying to get up, I turn, what's the right thing to do, he's suffering, I have the means to end it, can I do it from here, do I have to tag him, if I don't Joe will. I don't want Joe to use his buck tag like this, his back end is almost up, I have a clear shot. I draw, the arrow leaves and goes where I look, he lurches up as the arrow leaves, I hit him back too far. He goes down and doesn't move. All I see is the fletch and my nock, and the tips of his legs.
-
Tap, (type), tap, (type), tap (type), ahhh, take your time now Kenny, I'm going' to bed and huntin' in the morning, so I'll finish readin' this tomorrow, but something tells me I am going to like this ending...... :bigsmyl:
David
-
Sorry Tim. If I type it all in one setting it'll take me an hour.
-
Also I've been gone for two days and I had to spend a little time with my family.
-
Thats alright, I just figured it was some type of eastern tradition or something???? :confused:
-
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/Picture003.jpg)
13 inches inside.
RER Vortex
50# @27
-
Was he hit by someone ele? Shawn
-
Well done Kenny.
-
Shawn, no marks on him at all other than my arrow. He looked normal and healthy. A nice heavy rack for such a young looking deer.
-
I just read something about deer having EHD??? and dying near water...some parasite that kills them from the inside out...just an FYI
-
Way to go Kenny! That is a great way to start off! :thumbsup:
-
Alright KENNY :thumbsup: Congrats brother!
(You too Joe)
So what is the asterisk for? You did a good thing.
-
Good storytelling! Nice Deer!
-
Yea was going to ask the same question. Is the asterisk there for what reason?
-
That's what I was thinking it was. Joe and I discussed it, and with the situation as it was and the heat, I didn't take a chance on making my family sick. It was very hard to do but I disposed of all but the head after checking it in. I've never done anything like that before, but I've never been in this situation before either. It's really bothered me, but I feel I did the right thing.
-
Tim, because I feel it was not killed in the way I envisioned my first Trad kill. You know, deer comes walking in, stops broadside at 15 yards, I shoot he/she runs 40 yards. The end. Not, sick deer, can't get away, shoot it to put it out of it's misery.
-
Thats to bad. It is better to be safe than sorry. Good loooooong story!
-
I gotta go to bed. Work tomorrow. Thanks, all, for the kind words,
-
Your first trad kill was an act of mercy and character. I'm putting a gold star by it not an asterisk. We're more than takers of game we are caretakers of it and you fulfilled that role admirably.
:notworthy: :clapper:
-
It sounds like you did the right thing, for the deer and your family. I understand, we all have our own mental image of what we feel is the perfect way to harvest a deer, I think you helped out a sick critter. Way to go!
-
Kenny, Charlie Lamb has nothing on you! Congratulations on the buck. Good way to start, and made a good story too. If that disease EHD is in your area, or rather Joe's area, I'd check with DNR in that area just in case. I know it doesn't affect humans as a disease, but I do not know if consuming the flesh of an animal sick with it would be ok. Someone there in DNR should be able to tell you. I don't wish to rain on your parade but don't want you to get sick either. The deer runs a high fever and goes to water because of thirst from the fever,I think. The common name for the disease is Bluetongue.
Good luck,
Bill
-
I second that David, I would have done the same thing. Way to go Kenny.
Danny
-
Congrats on your first!! Nice buck, and great hunt with friends, memories for a lifetime :thumbsup:
No astericks needed, didn't look like the buck was on steroids :D
-
Wow! A bunch of you gugs type faster than I do. I was typing while a bunch of posts went up. Yep Gold Star from me too. I think it was a mercy situation, and am relieved that you disposed of it too. If you hit it under those circumstances, you'd have gotten it under better too, and you didn't Know it was sick when you shot so doesn't that count? Good job and good on you, but I'm sorry as we all are you couldn't get the meat.
FWIW, I did the same thing once on a nubbin buck. Someone had shot it "for camp meat". That seems to justify shooting for the head in these parts, NOT me!. It had the whole right side of it's head missing from a gunshot and was walking down the creek trying to get a drink I suppose. I kept watching as it just wasn't normal behavior, and when it turned its head and I saw it, I had to do it. Being a Vet. I didn't think it was wise to eat it with it having an obvious infection,so I discarded the carcass as you did. Again Good on you and better luck next time.
Bill I wonder how many posts behind I am now. LOL
-
Forgot to add that this is a viral disease not a parasite. Transmitted by biting midges. The midges bite humans too, but we don't get sick. I call them sandgnats, and other names having to do with the fact their parents were never married. They feel like a white hot tiny needle sticking me. GA had an outbreak of Bluetongue virus about 25 to 30 yrs ago. I found dead deer and bones all over where I hunted that year.
-
ya did good Kenny,,, made us wait too dang long but it was worth it. i'm sure that young buck was led your way. you did very good bro,,Congrats!!!
-
Congrats Kenny! He looks like a super buck to me and a great one for your first trad kill. We all want that perfect setup that we all have in our minds but after years of hunting i have found that it doesn't happen like that most of the time. I know you hate to waste the meat but i honestly would have done the same thing. It's just not worth taking the chance. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
-
Kenny,
You did a good thing there, Congrats! Now you'll just have to get a doe for the freezer. Good story!
Denny
-
Congrats Kenny :bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
-
Nice shooten buddy. You should be proud. I guess it was worth not going opening weekend.
-
Congrats Kenny. That's a nice one for your first trad buck!
-
Originally posted by vermonster13:
Your first trad kill was an act of mercy and character. I'm putting a gold star by it not an asterisk. We're more than takers of game we are caretakers of it and you fulfilled that role admirably.
I couldn't agree more. Great job Kenny!!!!!
That looks like a beautiful buck!
-
Nice deer, with a great story to go with it. You most definitely did the right thing, you are a true sportsman. :thumbsup:
-
Kenny,
Good story, great buck, and the right choice. I was reading on the DNR site the other day about this thing, and they say that there is no evidence the meat is harmful to eat. Hmmm... I surely wouldn't take the chance, though. I think you did good, and I'd hang that guy on my wall proudly.
BillJ
-
Yup, what david said. Very nice deer and very nice thing to do. More good will come your way!!! Great job and a very nice buck!! Shawn
-
Nice Buck and good story tellin too Kenny. You done good for sure.
-
Well done! story telling and making the choice based on your ethics. What goes around comes around. Make room in your freezer for good things to come.
-
Way to go Kenny, you did a good thing here, and there is no need to feel bad about it......."what goes around comes around".....good things happen to good people, and you are good people!
David
-
CONGRATS BROTHER!! From where I'm sitting, you done good! :bigsmyl:
-
Good job!! I'd have done the same! No asterisk needed. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
-
Congrats Kenny, looks like I missed out on some good action. I got my e-mail to late. :(
-
Well done. Congrats.
-
You done well Kenny, congrats.Because of the circumstances youll feel good every time you look at that buck and remember the mercy you showed him.
-
Yep, you did the right thing both with the shot and the meat. Better to be safe than sorry. I think your good deed will be rewarded with a memorable classic hunt and we look forward to reading it.
-
Dang I have not been around the computer much over the weekend.
Congrats on a nice buck Kenny :thumbsup: Ya did good and ended his suffering. No matter what!! It was that two edged sword, not excatly what you expected. But just what you where looking for. All is well.
Brent
-
Glad I wasn't around a computer much this weekend... reading this would've taken a long time - and gotten me scolded for being online when I should've been doing 'other' things!
You done good Kenny! Mercy killings never completely feel 'right' but they are the right thing to do.
-
Well done Kenny. Congrats. IMHO you did the right thing. :thumbsup:
-
Kenny..awesome bud! No asterisk needed from where I sit either. WELL DONE!
You were there and he was there.. for a reason.
What a great story.
-
Kenny well done Good MOJO for you/on you for sure now.If the Big Man upstairs DIDN"T want you to do what you did he wouldn't have told that buck to bed down where he did! Nice little buck. That Joe Weed is a rare breed too huh!Congrats!!!
-
Congratulations Kenny. I too think you did the right thing. It's what I would have done. You put an end to unnecessary suffering. Your arrow flew straight and true in less than an ideal shot situation and you bagged a trophy worthy of hanging on your wall. Job well done. Yes sir, you did good!
-
I think Vermonster said it Best. I'm givin Ya a Gold Star too!!! That buck ended up there for a reason and you did the right thing. Well Done!!
-
Well done Kenny. Vman hit the nail on the head. You done great congrats!<><
-
I'd say he did great too!
When I approached Ken that morning he had been through alot. But, his composure was calmer than my own. I was truley excited for Ken as he had come south to hunt, got up out of bed, drove 25 miles into the country with a mad man in a jeep wrangler, climbed the tree, spoted the deer, made a heck of a shot at that range (30yrds)and was now dragging antlers. What hunter in this world would not be excited? Ken really earned my respect that morning for bieng one fine ethical outdoorsman!
To correct Kenny the modest bow hunter,,,The buck had a 13 1/4" inside spread and 7" G-2's :thumbsup: :D ;)
And hey Tom,,, thanks for the kind words !
-
Ya'll sure know how to make a fella feel good. Just got in from work and read through all the positive comments made, thank you all!
As I've had more time to think through all this, I've come to the conclusion that many of you have already touched on, and Joe said it yesterday. I was put in that place for a reason, and I shouldn't think otherwise. I am going to do an European mount with the skull and antlers, and make a plaque to mount it on. It'll be the start of many more Trad memories to come. There is so much more that went on that weekend that needs to be mentioned, and other folks that need recognition for their help in this. I don't have the time to do it now, but over the next several days I'll keep adding pics and other things to this thread. Thank you Joe and Cheryl for a great weekend!
I have to go watch the Tribe whip the Yanks one more time!
-
Woohooo GO TRIBE!!!!
-
Excellent Job :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
-
Congats Kenny...well done. Should be nothing but proud for what you had to do.
-
I also took some old friends along on this hunt, as well as aquiring a new one.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/Picture005.jpg)
The top knife is one of Sticshooter's he sent me a while back, and the other one is a Doug Campbell caper, given to me by Joe as a gift!
Also met a new friend, Scott, some of you may remember Osagetree's thread about frogs and Easton? This is Easton's Dad and me.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/Picture007.jpg)
-
Dang Joe. I need to hunt with you if you're giving out gifts like that! :biglaugh:
-
Geez you ohi boys look like a bunch of redneck bowhunters! YEEEHAAAWWW I LOVE IT! <>< :thumbsup: :notworthy:
-
After I ended the buck's misery, I stayed in the stand for another hour or so. Joe was still trying to coax some deer my way, and I had alot to think about. Did the deer have wounds from other sources? A poacher? Could I not use my only Buck tag? Of course, I wouldn't do that, but, the thought does go through our minds in situations like that.
I lit a cigar, and enjoyed the last hunt I was going to have for awhile. I heard the turkeys, which had by now flown down from the roost, scratching in the leaves. Then I heard more off to my left, close. Dang, I gotta get the camera out, the T'gangers are gonna kill me without some pics.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/Osagetreehunt014.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/Osagetreehunt013.jpg)
It is too thick to really see them,but there are turkeys in both these pics.
-
I turned from time to time to look at my deer lying still in the creek bed. He wasn't suffering anymore. I took one pic where he was. If you look close you can see his legs.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/Osagetreehunt008.jpg)
Almost center of the pic, he's lying on a sandbar, the blue is the water in the creek, where he tried to get relief from the fever.
Vman did some majic with the pic.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/untitled.jpg)
-
Great story and photo, Kenny! Proud of you, man.
-
You and Scott look like camo bikers :biglaugh:
-
Mickey, it was so hot Saturday afternoon, I wanted to be on a bike in the wind. You were probably out riding.
-
Thanks Tripp!
-
Nice knife Kenny. That Campbell knife just keeps gaining mojo!
-
great job and awesome story. if it were me i would look at it as a gift for a couple reasons. you were picked to end the suffering of a beautifull animal and id it quickly. allthough you could not save the meat that is one great set of antlers that you could do a lot with! not sure if you saved a leg or not but a leg bone bowie is a beautiful sight! you were able to take this awesome animal in the presence of good friends, that is a memory that will never suffer and you can re-live again and again! you did a good thing, you should not secound guess yourself or feel any thing other then great pride. i would LOVE to take my first traditional deer this way, it is special, a one of a kind hunt. YA DID GOOD!!!!!!
-
PROUD OF YOU, KENNY! GLAD TO CALL YOU "BROTHER". YOU DID THE RIGHT THING THE RIGHT WAY.
JED
-
Congrats Kenny!!! :notworthy:
-
quote:
Originally posted by the Ferret:
You and Scott look like camo bikers :smileystooges: :goldtooth: :jumper:
-
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/Picture008.jpg)
A couple more pics for you all. Me dragin.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/Picture010.jpg)
Can you tell it was HOT!
-
Someone spray with a waterhose LOL<><
-
Kenny, I had a great time and enjoyed your company.
I don't think I ever really thanked you for all the great gifts you brought with you. I love the osage display case and the arrows and staves will be put to use real soon.
THANK YOU!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Osagetree/2007%20hunts/CopyofKenstuff.jpg)
-
Actually Joe, I felt you thanked me very well with this;
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/4runr/Osagetreehunt015.jpg)
-
You are very welcome my friend. Lots of good memories for life.
-
Just got back from a little salmon fishing to read this story. Kenny, you certainly did the right thing to relieve that buck's suffering. You already know you're always welcome around my camp fire...I'll even get up to give you my chair. Nice job my friend...Doc
-
Thanks Doc....that means alot coming from you.
-
I knew you were a keeper right from the first git-go, Kenny (You too Osage). Jobs well done: sharing , giving, and caretaking. I'm proud on both-a-yas! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
(Not wanting too much excitein' anticipation - I waited to read the whole story until after the dust settled - besides I was jealous just from the topic heading - ;) - So far I've only got one chance, one shot, one miss, this season - LOL - weather is changing a little today though.)
-
Thanks Bernie!