Trad Gang
Trad Gang Highlights => Highlights 2009 => Topic started by: Cole on December 24, 2009, 10:10:00 AM
-
I’ve had a vision, a thought, a dream that plays over and over in my head that wakes me up at 4 in morning, endures the cold, and takes my time away from the women that I love; a dream that drives me to never stop pushing myself even in failures and shortcomings. A dream that one of these days I’ll see a deer walking thru the still wet grass and the view from inside my binoculars will be the buck I’ve been waiting for. A dream of an opportunity in a place where the advantage is always his. And yesterday I got that opportunity.
At 4:17 in the afternoon as the biting wind calmed to an eery still a dark body appeared thru the thick brush ahead. With the view thereafter making my heart race as the cold in my hands and feet disappeared. The buck lumbered thru day old snow in silence knowing his path ahead. Now at 5 yards this king of the woods felt something. This feeling of danger I watched come over him as he stopped in his tracks. This hunch, as if his sixth sense; I hadn’t moved a muscle as he looked up so deliberately, I could feel myself holding my breath. He turned cautiously looking confused of the moment. And my window of opportunity had arrived.
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q31/cole_tanr/IMG_0798-2.jpg)
Five minutes after his arrival I now stood with my jaw open, bow in hand, in awe; trying to let my brain catch up to what my body just did. Replaying it over in my head, knowing the arrow hit directly on his shoulder; seeing it buried half way to the fletching as he disappeared into the snow white obis. His blood trail lead me 150 yards as he expired in the untouched snow. My 55# Great Plains Reo Bravo recurve armed with a 605 grain carbon arrow tipped with a Woodsmen Elite broadhead blew straight thru his shoulder and broke off as it was stuck in the opposite shoulder. What a hunt!!! What a year!!! Two fall turkeys, a doe the weekend before shotgun season, and now a 12 point buck!
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q31/cole_tanr/IMG_0773-1.jpg)
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q31/cole_tanr/IMG_0774-1-1.jpg)
A few thoughts… When you step into the woods with traditional equipment there’s a different set of rules. Rules unbeknown to me. Rules that come into understanding only after encounters gone wrong, as well as encounters gone right. This bow becoming an extension of the hunter. The skill you need you hold within, just you and your bow. Maybe this sounds a little crazy but this is how traditional hunting makes me feel. Taking every step with a new found purity in my heart that I can’t get enough of. Thanks for sharing in my opportunity, I hope you get the same.
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q31/cole_tanr/IMG_0779-1.jpg)
-
That's a beautiful buck--congratulations! Are you wearing fleece or wool?
-
The Most beautiful buck iv seen taken all year with a tradbow!
Well deserved to Buddy, Congrats to you :thumbsup:
love the B&W pic
-
Nice buck....congrats...and merry cristmas
-
Absolutely Awesome! Congrats!
-
Congratulations! A tremendous buck by anyone's standards and a great story of philosophy to go along with it.
-
Excellent! Congratulations!!!
-
awesome
-
Congrats! That is awesome!
-
Wow..Not only is that an awesome buck, but the description put me in the stand w/ you.
My knees were shaking and I caught myself holding my breath even tho the pics already told the story! Thanks for sharing and Congrats!!
-
Man what an awesome deer with some fantastic pics, congrats.
-
Hey thanks guys for all the congrats, I really appreciate it more then I think I can really say on here. To Huntryx I'm wearing Columnbia series wool. I've had good luck with it so far and I really like the look of it too!!
-
Hey Tradtusker I really enjoyed your post on the Dark Continent link, it makes me want to do whatever I need to do to hunt Africa!!
-
NICE!
-
Very nice...brrrrr
Joe
-
wow! what a beauty, love the pics in the snow, congrats!
-
You need to find a theme, write an article, and submit it to TBM. You've got skills brother. Great buck and good look'n set up as well!
-
WHAT A BUCK!!!! What a story and WOW on the pics!!!!!
it is a moment of a lifetime , and it is well deserved!!!!
CONGRATS!!!!!
-
What a beautiful buck! Congratulations!
Claudia
-
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!thats a nice buck Congratulations!!
-
Congrats on a great buck. Great write up too.
Bisch
-
Well done and well said. Congrats and Merry Christmas!
-
Now that's just awesome. Congrats on such a fine animal, and on a great season overall...
-
Dude, that is awesome! Congratulations!! :thumbsup:
-
Congratulations! Very nice buck and some great photos too. :clapper:
-
Great buck!
Congratulations
><>
Glenn
-
Awsome buck!
:clapper:
-
Great buck!
I love that first pic!
-
Great late season accomplishment. The smile on your face tells us how hard you worked and the pride you feel inside. Thanks for sharing your story and congratulations on a fantastic deer.
Mike
-
:thumbsup:
-
Great buck and a wonderful story. Congrats from Oklahoma.
-
Awesome deer. Truly a trophy of a lifetime!
-
Where in Iowa did you take this Brute?
-
Doesn't get any better, congrats!
-
Cole, what an excellent buck!!The way you told the story was amazing..Thanks for sharing your adventure...Mike :campfire:
-
Great story and truely awesome buck. I agree with Tradtusker that buck is one of the prettiest I've seen all year. Great shooting too.
I always dream of a late season buck as well because they aren't as expected as a November.
Chris
-
Wow! that is an great buck. Congrats.
-
Great deer,great story!
-
Cole,
Congratulations on a tremendous buck!!! Great story telling skills, you should look at submitting articles.
Mark
-
What a Beautiful Buck,Might be the Nicest I've seen this year,Great story and the way it was told,as others have said,you could write magazine articles,$$$,Good Luck
Kurt
-
Love those cold weather pics. Beautiful animal for a not so fair weather hunter.
-
Thanks for bringing me on your hunt and Congratulations on a beautiful buck!
-
I think I'll set my stand next to yours next year. Its been a year of success buddy, can't wait for next year... lets go hunting
(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu323/jgoemaat1/Picture062.jpg)
-
"trying to let my brain catch up to what my body just did".
This line encompasses the feeling I've had after shooting a few bucks in my time. The time between knowing you are about to shoot up until after the shot is a blur. In this state your body just seems to take over and with repetitive practice a well placed shot is hopefully made. Thanks for sharing your experience with us and congrats on a fine specimen.
-
Wow! :goldtooth: