Trad Gang

Trad Gang Highlights => HIGHLIGHTS 2012 => Topic started by: Croatoan on September 21, 2012, 05:47:00 PM

Title: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Croatoan on September 21, 2012, 05:47:00 PM: My work has been pretty hectic lately with a new acquisition so my field time has been very limited, every single chance I get I hit the woods though. Even if I've only got an hour or so I still try to get out. Our trees are a mix of gold and fire right now and the temperatures are perfect. So far it has been a gorgeous beginning to fall and an excellent start to bow season.

Yesterday afternoon with about two hours of light left I grabbed my bow and my camera and set off down the trail behind the barn.

Words can't do the woods justice.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H1lbZNTdss0/UFzc11d_SkI/AAAAAAAAIJw/iL7SJoFHjKM/s720/050.jpg)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hsd637FcH1s/UFzc8D2c1OI/AAAAAAAAIJ4/uWTUk33MR9s/s720/051.jpg)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kML9zO46w5Y/UFzdHWQUdLI/AAAAAAAAIKI/Vwe28L2yE18/s720/058.jpg)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gzf9AF4fFyA/UFzdP_iSY_I/AAAAAAAAIKU/TLpuH_iKdjk/s720/060.jpg)

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yNsT8Fz-5XY/UFzdVSsDTTI/AAAAAAAAIKc/zKrABs1Dv10/s720/062.jpg)

I'd been still hunting down my old logging road, enjoying just being out. Slight overcast, light breeze and keeping my face into it as I hunted. About an hour before dark I was standing still, leaning lightly on an old maple when a flicker caught my eye about forty yards away and to my left.

We'd finished off last year's venison while in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area back in July and I've had a hankering for more so the adrenalin kicked in. Sure enough a slickhead was working a browsing trail, coming from my left, she'd pass by me at about eighteen yards if everything held true.

Time slowed to a crawl, she was in no hurry and was on high alert. Wolf sign has been heavier this year, we've got a new pack that has moved into the back abutting edge of my property and Superior National. As a result our deer are even more high strung that they usually are and primarily nocturnal year round. I kept wondering why the sound of my thudding heart wasn't causing her to bolt off into the next county!

Finally the moment arrived, broadside at eighteen, she looked away from me. I don't remember bringing the bow up, nor the draw, not the tickle of hitting full draw. I do remember the streaking arrow flying forward and disappearing just behind the shoulder. In a whirl she was gone, leaving me standing there somewhat amazed and at a loss for words.

I knew the hit was good but I still wanted to go through the motions as I learn something new every time I do it. I recovered my arrow, it had passed completely through the deer and hit the ground a good nine or ten yards beyond. The full length 32" arrow tipped with a 200gr Ace Express two blade broadhead had certainly done it's work. The blood trail was heavy and less than fifty yards long, the bow Leon Stewart made for me performed flawlessly as it always has.

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U2vWfb7bnbY/UFzdgngvkEI/AAAAAAAAIKs/XxpnUQ8R8xs/s720/084.jpg)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IbOQMjpAgiw/UFzdktS3EDI/AAAAAAAAIK0/uY96cokEUjg/s720/087.jpg)

First meat of the 2012/13 season, the finest sustenance a man can get to feed my family and myself through the rugged Minnesota winter to come. Hopefully the wind will be in everyone's favor this season!

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gtLNFG_JgEw/UFzdom8jqsI/AAAAAAAAIK8/cOZbZOHu1R0/s720/089.jpg)
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: BenM on September 21, 2012, 06:36:00 PM: Great story and pics. Congrats
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Croatoan on September 21, 2012, 06:58:00 PM: Thanks!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Dendy Cromer on September 21, 2012, 08:31:00 PM: great story and great pictures. Congratulations. Where you live is absolutely beautiful.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: skychief on September 21, 2012, 08:32:00 PM: Enjoyed this. Congratulations and thanks for taking us along!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: RedShaft on September 21, 2012, 09:09:00 PM: you take amazing photos, very impressive! congrats on your deer.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Croatoan on September 21, 2012, 09:18:00 PM: Thanks all, appreciate the compliments.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Shan on September 21, 2012, 09:38:00 PM: those colors are spectacular. congrats, great story
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Huntrdfk on September 21, 2012, 09:41:00 PM: Great story and hunt, congrats!

David
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: blackpenny on September 21, 2012, 11:32:00 PM: good stuff.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: sheephunter on September 22, 2012, 01:20:00 AM: Thanks for sharing! Congrats!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Shedrock on September 22, 2012, 08:48:00 AM: Quote
Originally posted by sheephunter:
Thanks for sharing! Congrats!
X2 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: kwc on September 22, 2012, 01:00:00 PM: nice picture, good shooting
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: stringstretcher on September 22, 2012, 01:18:00 PM: Beautiful colors of fall, and what a great start to the enclosed winter coming.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on September 22, 2012, 03:02:00 PM: :clapper: congrats!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Anointed Archer on September 22, 2012, 05:12:00 PM: very cool :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: glass76 on September 22, 2012, 09:15:00 PM: Beautiful woods you have to hunt in. Congrats on the deer.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Croatoan on September 22, 2012, 11:58:00 PM: Thanks folks!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: OBXarcher on September 23, 2012, 06:41:00 AM: Beautiful pics and congrats on the venison. You are correct it is the best meat around.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: bowhawk archer on September 23, 2012, 11:49:00 AM: Congrats on the deer and some great photos!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: on September 24, 2012, 07:12:00 PM: Congrats! All the pics are good but that last one is awesome.

Bisch
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Croatoan on September 24, 2012, 07:49:00 PM: Thank you!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: stujay on September 25, 2012, 01:01:00 AM: Thanks for sharing your story and those great pics of my favorite time of year. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: joe ashton on September 25, 2012, 01:07:00 AM: ah.. fall colors. and back straps
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: bansheewins on September 25, 2012, 12:30:00 PM: Fall is here. GREAT pictures and story that is getting me pumped up for our season as well this weekend.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: arsurveyor on September 25, 2012, 12:42:00 PM: Congrats.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Izzy on September 25, 2012, 07:06:00 PM: Your pics are 1st class. Congrats on a beautiful beast.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: rastaman on September 25, 2012, 10:07:00 PM: Beautiful pictures and story! Congratulations sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Croatoan on September 27, 2012, 04:32:00 PM: Thank you!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Big Ed on September 27, 2012, 08:57:00 PM: Way to go!!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Jim Rocole on September 27, 2012, 09:15:00 PM: FANTASTIC PICS.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: ron w on September 28, 2012, 07:13:00 PM: :thumbsup: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: maxwell on September 28, 2012, 07:38:00 PM: Great afternoon, congrats. Your pics are awesome what kind of camera did you use??
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: djohnson on September 28, 2012, 08:44:00 PM: Beautiful pictures. Congratulations!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Croatoan on October 01, 2012, 11:50:00 PM: Quote
Originally posted by maxwell:
Great afternoon, congrats. Your pics are awesome what kind of camera did you use??
Thank you.

The camera is a Pentax K-x with a 28-80, no filters, cropped and cleaned up in Picasa3.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: SAM E. STEPHENS on October 02, 2012, 08:00:00 PM: Love those pics , congrats......
,,,Sam,,,,
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: buckeye_hunter on October 02, 2012, 08:52:00 PM: Nice pics!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: gregg dudley on October 03, 2012, 10:51:00 PM: Great pictures. Congratulations.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: ARCHER2 on October 15, 2012, 02:58:00 PM: Man, that's some awesome painting God does isn't it. Congrats to you brother on a fine kill.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Buckskin57 on October 21, 2012, 10:59:00 AM: Congrats and great pics.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Buckskin57 on October 21, 2012, 10:59:00 AM: Congrats and great pics,and writeing.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: ti-guy on November 15, 2012, 10:17:00 PM: Congrats! Nice pics!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Tsalt on November 17, 2012, 08:12:00 PM: Wow, I'm glad ti-guy commented so this post came back to the top. I had never seen it. Beautiful pics!! Great story telling... I felt like I was there! Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: KyRidgeRunner on November 24, 2012, 09:53:00 PM: Graet story and great pics. Congrats on your deer!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: SheltonCreeker on November 24, 2012, 10:29:00 PM: Sweet pictures! Congrats!
Title: Re: Addin' Some Sag to the Meat Pole
Post by: Buxndiverdux on November 30, 2012, 06:22:00 PM: Amazing Photos! Congrats on the doe.