Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: K.S.TRAPPER on November 16, 2010, 08:33:00 PM
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I didn't think this day was ever going to happen, We had been talking about it for quite a while be it turkeys or deer. But every time we tried planning it out we just couldn't get together.
Then came the phone call from Charlie " I drew a Kansas buck tag Yeehaw!! The hunt was on and I would do my best to drive him a little crazy for the next few months with some of the good buck pictures we had been getting with are trail cams.
Kansas changed there opening dates from Oct 1st to Sept 20Th a few years ago and that opens up some great hunting with a chance at really patterning some of the deer that are hitting the standing crops while still in the fields mostly the soybeans. We spend alot of time watching are deer in several locations but they soon disappear when the crops are gone and head for the timber.
My oldest son had chosen the deer he would like to go after, He's a fantastic deer that we had been watching for 3 years now and really grew this last year. Here's the first two picks we got of him this year.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/c3.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/c4.jpg)
This left me with the decision of what deer to put Charlie on. One buck was my favorite and I missed him opening day last year after spending months patterning him. A poacher moved in and pushed him out soon after and I thought he was gone for good. I hate trespassers!!! Fortunately the buck showed back up this year in the same place and was going to give us another chance.
He's a very cool buck with a ton of mass and looks like a Mule deer so we named him the "Mulie buck"
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/c5.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/c6-1.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/c7-1.jpg)
A true Kansas giant!! Now all I had to do was get Charlie set up for him.
Tracy
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Best of luck to you guys ! Have a ball !
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OK, I have set this story up in its own window, and it is STAYING there!
Killdeer :bigsmyl:
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Best to you and your son.
That deer looks like he likes having his picture taken. Maybe he will oblige you with a picture you most want him in.
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Originally posted by Killdeer:
OK, I have set this story up in its own window, and it is STAYING there!
Killdeer :bigsmyl:
Yup, me too!
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Best of Luck!
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This mulie buck lives in the smallest piece of timber you have ever seen, Maybe 80yds wide and that's why it was so easy to spook him out last year. I hadn't planned on putting a stand up to keep from spooking him out but when Charlie said he had drawn a tag we went in a couple days before he got there and put up a ladder stand.
I don't mind sitting on the ground and being sneaky but I wanted Charlie to be comfortable. What I didn't know was that the landowners had sprayed there Alfalfa field that he was feeding on and killed it the day before Charlie arrived. Dang it man!!
Charlie should be on here at some point.
Tracy
Tracy
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Good luck you two!!!!!
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:coffee: :archer2:
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Good luck to you guys.
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Holy hickory nuts!
No wonder you don't have hills in Kansas. All the minerals went to antler growth!
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Good luck Tracy!!!!!!!
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Keep it goin Bud! :thumbsup:
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Dang.
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:campfire: :coffee:
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TTT... :campfire:
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If I were a betting person, I'd put my money on Charlie.
It's great that you're doing your best to set Mr. Lamb up in some choice deer country.
God bless,Mudd
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We really had the mulie buck patterned at this point and decided that as soon as my son and I got back from are western Kansas antelope scouting and hunting trip Charlie would show up for a early hunt.
We had planned this antelope trip for months but right before we left I checked are trail cams and a new buck had shown up, He's a 10x6 so we called him " Sweet 16"
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/newbuck.jpg)
The antelope hunt went very fast knowing we had some big bucks back home to hunt plus company coming in and before I new it we were back home and Charlie was here and we were going deer hunting :D
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c10.jpg)
Tracy
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Charlie came in tuesday night the 21st and that day before he got there I ran around and checked the trail cams and changed out SD cards. Thats when I saw the alfalfa field was turning brown and a strong odor of chemicals. I talked to the owners and they explanied what was going on, The good news is the had planted a small new alfalfa field on the west side of the timber but it was just coming up.
The picks showed that Mulie was still showing up but only 9 picks and not the usual 100 plus. He had shed his velvet Sept 8th and was still a very impressive deer.
More picks tonight!!
Tracy
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What do you say when a good friend invites you over to take part in some super deer hunting and sends pictures daily showing better bucks than you've ever seen anywhere period? "Somebody pinch me!", comes to mind.
I'd tried the year before to get a left over Kansas deer tag for Tracy's unit, but had been too late. I'd have been more upset if I knew then what I know now.
But that was last year and this year I got on the stick early and had a permit in my pocket shortly after they went on sale.
All that was left was the gettin' there.
I'd cancelled my usual trip to Wyoming this year for the sake of my sore back which was still on the mend from last fall's surgery.
Add to that a surgery on my wrist this past spring and I had my hands full being strong for the 2010 season.
With each day that passed I seemed to grow stronger in my back and the wrist slowly came back to some semblance of OK... at least the swelling had subsided and it was pain free. That's always a plus.
Let me go check a few pictures.
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:campfire:
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:dunno:
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Be patient guys, I know Tracy is at work and has some more hunting to do, and for Mr. Lamb... :D :archer2:
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Up to remind Charlie!
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Sorry for the delay guys. Still got a sick wife here at home that needs my attention, but also plenty of catch up with all my regular duties.
On top of all that my computer has been glitchin' and I'm not sure what's going on. I'm tryin, but just buckin strong head winds at this time.
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Great meeting you Charlie! Kevin and I really enjoyed the visit with you at Tracy's. I haven't heard the whole hunt story yet, so we're ready when you and Tracy are! Hope your wife is feeling better.
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Sorry guys I had to run over to Missouri to my daughters after work. Charlie I hope Billie is feeling better.
The picks showed that Mulie was still showing up but only 9 picks and not the usual 100 plus. He had shed his velvet Sept 8th and was still a very impressive deer.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c11.jpg)
Charlie set the first morning but no luck that I can remember. I told Charlie that your not going to see many deer in this spot but if you do it should be THE one he was looking for.
My son was wanting to hunt for his deer also but the wind was completely wrong so he stayed out so as not to spook any of them.
Back at the house we did some target practice.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/c8-1.jpg)
Charlie was nice enough to let me shoot his favorite bow "Curly" that he had made and I was more then impressed, What sweet shooting bow!! I thought this was a cool pick because we caught the arrow in flight.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/c9-1.jpg)
Then Charlie showed us how it was done with some trick shooting.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c12.jpg)
The man can shoot a bow and we were loving every minute of this.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c13.jpg)
Tracy
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Ben... Billie is doing just fine. We spent about 6 hours today running around to doctors and dentists and all just routine stuff.
Anyway.....
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The killing off of the clover wasn't a good thing for hunting the mulie buck. The game camera kept expectations high as he showed up regular if not just a little late for me to be seeing him.
At least we knew I wasn't blowing him out when entering the cover. It was tight in there. No doubt about it. The longest shot to be had was a mere ten yards.
I liked the prospects of a close shot but tried to steel myself for his sudden arrival in close proximity.
Tracy... you're gonna have to supply pics. I'm having trouble with my photoshop.
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Like any good whitetail hunter knows, you need to play the wind when hunting any spot. Tracy has it figured out for each spot.
When the wind failed to cooperate there were other spots for other deer. I came with a variety of strategies pitched in the back of the truck. Rapid Rails and a hang on stand for anything that might present itself that needed an elevated approach. Tree seat (I really like the Millenium brand for lightness and comfort) and ghillie suit where a ground attack seemed prudent. (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/NovemberTracytrip004.jpg) (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/NovemberTracytrip010.jpg) (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/NovemberTracytrip013.jpg)
We would also make use of a pop up blind of Tracy's. (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/NovemberTracytrip001.jpg) Man I've come to really enjoy hunting from them. It's way too relaxing and easy on old bones. (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/NovemberTracytrip003.jpg)
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Charlie didn't have any luck that night and my son Tress still chose to stay out because of the wind. I was already wondering if the mulie was going to come back with all the changes so I started a plan B and went scouting another field that we had been watching with a bunch of bucks in it all summer.
Here's a couple of the bucks we had been seeing.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c14.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c15.jpg)
The action was slower with the soybeans leaves turning yellow and dropping off but there was still some deer coming into the field.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c16.jpg)
Tracy
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And you could tell easy enough where they entered a field as huge semi circles of beans were eaten away to nubs at each fence crossing.
The timing of my arrival and the timing of the beans was critical and if I had to guess, I'd say I was running about 4 or 5 days behinds schedule.
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This is a very large soybean field and I spent many nights crawling out into the middle of it setting up and watching were the bucks were coming out.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c19.jpg)
This one corner was getting most of the action so a camera was set up and a blind put near by.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c18.jpg)
Of course the night Charlie set in the blind I went up to the other end of the field scouting and this guy walked right out in shooting light. I could have put a stalk on him and had a 20yd shot.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c20.jpg)
A very unusual double beam buck and a young one too.
Tracy
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That tree seat Charlie has is awesome, light and very comfortable. Of course gillie suits are just plane cool and work and we were planning on using it if needed.
We gave the mulie one more chance and I decided to hunt that night in a hedge row next to a corn field north of Charlie just in case the big buck was hitting the corn.
Early that morning the wind had finally changed and my son asked me to run him over to his spot and he would stay as long as neccesary. I had kinda forgot that he was hunting because I was worrying about Charlies hunt when my phone buzzed and my son said he had shot the buck he was after. Yahoo!!
With in a few minutes he called back and said he had found him, The shot was 8yds from the ground no blind just sitting in a group of tree's for 9 strait hours and made a perfect shot and the buck ran about 60yds.
Tracy
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Great story/hunt :campfire: :coffee:
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Even though I know about every detail of these hunts, I'm still looking forward very much to reading about them :clapper:
A lot more to come fellas!!
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Awesome! I have always enjoyed reading Charlies posts.....OUTSTANDING that he had a great hunt!!
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Here's another couple of views of one of the field edge blinds... this one is "Motel 6". A big ole blind that is VERY nice to hunt from.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/IMG_1411-1.JPG)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/IMG_1420-1.JPG)
Again the timing was off. The beans were getting brown in a hurry and acorns were starting to fall in the woods everywhere.
The blind that had been so hot just days before became quiet and far from the action. We'd put it back in service later in the season.
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Just to give you an idea of the caliber of bucks we were chasing here is a picture showing Tress' buck from this year and one of Tracy's bucks taken with traditional equipment several years ago.
See any genetic likeness?
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/IMG_0021.JPG)
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Roger... we're just getting warmed up! :campfire:
So far we're still in the early season part of the hunt and I just returned from the rut part of the hunt.
Hope we live up to your expectations... Tracy is doing a great job so far.
He needs to give us some detail about the buck in the above photo.
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The days passed with no action what soever. That's the way it goes sometimes and I know that. I don't think it helped Tracy's spirits much though.
We all know how that goes... you invite a friend to come hunt knowing you've got it going on and bam, right between the eyes nothing.
And try as you might to will something to happen, nothing changes. If you haven't experienced it for yourself, then wait a few years and you will... it's part of the hunt.
If this had been like hunting at home where I could go out whenever I liked and even every day if I wanted, I'd have stacked them up for sure.
But like everyone else out there, Tracy and I had had to make a decision about a certain time frame.
It all had to happen within the confines of 5 or 6 days and that's a hard target to hit just right.
With knees and back aching, I sure hadn't been much help carting out Tress' buck. He was as heavy of body as he was of rack. If it hadn't been for that dang cart, we'd probably still be dragging.
Tracy doesn't like to gut the deer in the area where it is killed (neither do I) so that gave us the FULL package to deal with and I'd bet that package would go well over 200#.
Later when the buck had been skinned and gutted Tracy would take the offal to his special dumping spot.
The neat thing about doing it this way is the possibilities that open up for other species.
Coyotes in particular are drawn to such dumping spots and could be ambushed with a little thoughtful preparation.
We spotted this dog working the dump spot one day and he was so absorbed in filling his belly that he let me sneak (?) within "almost" bow range.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/IMG_1434.JPG)
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Thanks for the story. Very enjoyable to read.
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My only question is: WHY is Tracy holding the antlers of a buck like that- when he shot it a few years ago???? WHY is he not holding the head mount??? You guys make us regular joes very jealous!!!!
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I love that coyote pick Charlie and I really thought you were going to pull it off. :bigsmyl:
That game cart saved are butt's and I have got to have one they work great.
David, I have never had any of my deer mounted I was to much of a tight wad plus I always figured the money spent would be better put toward my next elk hunting trip.
With the kids all grown up now I am thinking about getting some of them done.
Tracy
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Wow,great story...awsome deer.That coyote was cool also.
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As far as details go we are 95% sure that Tress buck is the son of my biggest buck in the pick.
We started noticing the genetic similarities about 3 yrs ago. That is one of the reasons Tress really wanted him so we could have father and son bow hunters with father and son deer, Ironically both were shot at 8yds and complete pass through and they both ran about 60yds.
Here's another view showing the similarities. By the way he was a typical buck up until this year.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c41.jpg)
Tracy
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I don't know what to say, Once the bucks velvet dries and falls off the crops are taken out of the fields there patterns completely change around here.
We took a trip up to my old faithful spot at the lake. I thought Charlie would like it up there because it reminds me alot of southern Missouri nothing but hardwoods and hills and I hoped he would like it too.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c42.jpg)
Tracy
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Tracy & Charlie...been enjoying the hunt and story with you guys so far, thanks for sharing! :campfire:
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He really liked a clearing that we keep mowed and trimmed, The deer use this spot as a stageing area before dropping down into the fields.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c44.jpg)
During the rut this place can be crazy, scrapes and rubs everywere, It's been good to us over the years.
Tracy
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I'm really enjoying this thread! That is some beautiful country and those bucks are amazing!! Thanks for sharing!
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Good luck Charlie.
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thanks for taking us along!!!
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Thankyou for sharing. :campfire:
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Thanks for following along folks. Charlie hunted the clearing the last evening and was busted by the deer coming in with swirling wind. As much as I hated for him to leave it was time but the plans for a November hunt were already made.
Last year November 5th the deer seamed to have been running everywere and this year seemed a bit early. The trail cams were busy and some nice bucks were starting to show up.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/neck8.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/neck5.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/neck7.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/neck6.jpg)
Tracy
Charlie couldn't make it out till the 10th but we still should have some great hunting.
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If you need another "Charlie" to keep his spot warm I can make arrangements!
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(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/t4.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/t3.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/t2.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/t1.jpg)
Tracy
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:campfire:
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I've been waiting for this one for while now.
Some of the best men I know together for a hunt in awesome country.. How can it get any better?
Todd
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Wow! What incredible deer. My wife would divorce me for sure.
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Originally posted by Traddict:
Wow! What incredible deer. My wife would divorce me for sure.
Doesn't she knows it's called hunting and just because they have those awesome bucks on camera doesn't insure that you or anyone, even Charlie will get to bring one home to the wife.
Great story and great pictures!
Thank you for sharing.
God bless, Mudd
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That last evening in the clearing were as full of anticipation as the first night. The pictures I posted earlier of the Ghillie were taken the last afternoon.
It was such a great spot and I had a group of turkeys messing around over in a far corner. There was always the chance they'd ease my way and offer a shot.
Eventually they had fed over to the far corner and the trail that leads to this clearing. I would learn later that they liked to roost over on an adjacent ridge and this behavior was at least fairly regular if not predictable.
Off to my right a good 70 yards away was another corner with a logging road leading off up the ridge and later would be crowned by no less than 5 separate scrapes.
With my scent trail blowing off towards the logging road I wasn't surprised to here blowing at last light as a deer stood off in the gloom and blew snot and the ugly smell of man from it's nose.
As I folded my tree seat and rolled my ghillie I thought what a great hunt it had been and how I was going to hate leaving.
But, I had hunting back home to do and the new farm to figure out.
There'd be a trip with Randy Burtis, JoeKeith, and Terry Green as well to fill the time until the leaves turned golden and the air sparkes with the chill of fall.
Besides, November was coming and that was the good stuff!
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:bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
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Thank you sir! Good read! :campfire:
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Very true Mudd, The cameras just let us know whats around but we don't use them to pattern them up in the timber.
I hope Charlie is dragging a deer out about now so I will post some more picks. I got a few hunts in before he got here and tried to move around and change stands so I could see what was going on.
The sign was looking really good almost everywere and alot of big rubs were showing up.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/rub1.jpg)
Scrapes were in there usaual places and some new spots too. I love scouting and won't bore you guys with all the picks but it helps me keep track each year.
A couple days before Charlie got there I had bucks running everywere and got some decent picks.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c33.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/treestand6.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c4.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c24.jpg)
Tracy
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I wanted to show this buck real quick, His name is " Crazy Legs " and he showed up last year. I'm not sure what happened to him but what ever it was it happened to him very early on in his life. He runs around on that leg like he's not even hurt.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c43.jpg)
One night I could here deer up on the hill and thought I saw horns so I gave a few grunts and got a immediate response. The buck came running down the hill and gave me a few grunts of his own, Alright!!
Then I seen that leg, Wow! thats crazy legs and man has he grown. Pick is not that great because he busted me and was walking away but look close at his right front leg how bad it turns in.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c45.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c46.jpg)
He's been hitting the scrapes pretty hard so I have some good trail cam picks. He didn't have brow tines last year or this year either, Just shows how tuff they are and how much they can grow given the time.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/c8.jpg)
Tracy
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The last picture above was taken in the spot I mentioned that has the logging road and the crown of scrapes.
Crazy leg is just one of several very nice bucks that mark that corner when they come through. The last morning of my second hunt with Tracy I met another one of them.
I'd chosen the pop up blind in the clearing for my final effort in Kansas. Just the day before Tracy and I had removed the old blind that had sat in that place for the last two years and inserted "Motel 6".
Backed into a cluster of Osage and cedar like it was it didn't appear that anything had changed, but it was a huge improvement in roominess.
A guy could stand there in the middle of the blind with all kinds of head room and view almost the entire clearing.
That's what I was doing when I spotted the tips of antlers down toward the logging road. The hill crests between where I was and that point so it wasn't a spot I could watch. I did however keep an eye peeled in that direction.
I could see pretty quickly that he was tending one of the scrapes down there. His antlers and forehead were working the over hanging limb and when his head went down I knew he was pawing hard.
I got my gear gathered and took a stance in the back of the blind. I would try the shot from standing if he came my way.
It didn't take long for me to find out where he would be going as I could plainly see him in a determined walk in my direction.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/ClearingviewR2.jpg)
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The yellow arrow on the left border denotes my position in the pop up.
The red arrow shows the line of travel the buck took.
He was a nice one too. As wide as his ears with decent mass and 8 symetrical points. As he passed between the two saplings out in front of me and the two oaks beyond that I was sure he would come on past at the bottom of the picture. That would have put him at something under 15 yards at the farthest.
I didn't even get concerned when he turned a little to his left and walked over toward the bordering trees. I fully expected him to nose around a little in front of me looking for a hot prospect. And then there were the scrapes back behind me to draw him in. I waited.
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Here's motel 6's new home in the clearing. I need a few more blinds this size they are great for long bows.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c47.jpg)
Tracy
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great stuff guys! Ks is waaay too fun for turkeys I can only imagine chasing monster bucks!
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Great Pics and Story as usual....Hope it turns out well!
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Oh man what a great read. I hope there is more coming.
Tracy...I'll take you Montana Elk hunting if you will later take me Kansas deer hunting!!!
:thumbsup:
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Good stuff guys. I'm enjoying this. Great looking place Tracy!
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Great stuff guys. :campfire:
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Great looking stuff. Enjoyed looking at all of the bucks and the landscape.
Chris
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Thanks everybody :D
love Montana Randy :bigsmyl:
Here's a few more Chris.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c50.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c49.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c51.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c48.jpg)
Tracy
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Good stuff, nice country and great deer, I can see why you like it there.
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Here's a few of my favorite picks wile we were hunting. We hunted together most of the time because I have alot of are stands set up as doubles from hunting with my sons.
I like this stand it puts the hunter in front of me.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c27.jpg)
Charlie enjoying a apple!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c31.jpg)
This was one of are stays in the Motel 6 blind.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c32.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c56.jpg)
Charlie going solo in the 4 oaks stand.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c30.jpg)
I have a story to tell about this bow that Charlie made so I will get some picks down loaded.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c57.jpg)
Tracy
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Looking back over the week long hunt there were many factors that brought me to the clearing on the last morning.
Just the morning before I'd gone there with the intent of staying all day and had done just that. It is such a great spot that I just knew if I logged the hours I'd get the deer.
The old blind was still there that morning and it was cozy enough for the chill temps. A bright sun helped it along as the morning warmed and the light layed it's warm fingers on the blind. But nothing had showed.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/NovemberTracytrip003.jpg)
Tracy showed up toward noon with "Motel 6" and we swapped little for big. Surprisingly enough, nothing really changed in appearance. We took a break for an hour or two and then into the blind we went for the rest of the day.
It was surprisingly uneventful. Toward last light we heard a flock of turkeys passing just out our sight heading toward a favored roosting spot.
We should have seen something. Tracy's son Tress had set there the evening before and had does and a small (you learn to question that description) buck at 10 yards.
I was off sitting in the "4 Oaks" stand that Tracy and I had put up.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/NovemberTracytrip211.jpg)
Tracy was off in another clearing waiting in a spot that would show him movement in the same basic area, but out of my sight. Neither place showed any movement.
We were both pretty astounded by these events. When I'd first seen the "4Oaks" location I was smitten. What a great spot it had looked like.
A heavily used trail angled down from "Buck ridge" into a pretty thick area. It cornered out shortly after a short stretch with a pile of fresh scrapes along it's length.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/NovemberTracytrip076.jpg)
The corner itself showed movement from other directions and was comprised of at least 3 different cover types... classic "edge" in the timber.
Just down hill from the corner was a favored clearing the local deer and turkeys liked to feed and lounge in.
In just the right spot were 4 small white oaks surronded by cedars. A perfect spot to tuck in a ladder stand.... so we did.
Just after that stand was set up, the rains came. We lost a day and a half from sitting out the rain, but looking at it philosophically we both knew that our scent would be washed from those spots we had hunted already and the bucks would likely be making their rounds freshening their scrapes.
We had sat in the double cedar stand in the clearing below "4 Oaks" on the second night of the hunt. We had exactly one raccoon pass by out of range and two does that could have come in range except for an unfavorable wind and the fact that dark had taken over and a shot of any kind would have been unacceptable.
I'd plopped my butt in the stand up on buck ridge that morning but saw only one distant deer that I couldn't identify. I was still optomistic at this point.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/NovemberTracytrip094.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/NovemberTracytrip099.jpg)
After all, the first morning had been such an absolute gang buster start to the hunt.
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Great reading fellas, and boy those are some WHOPPER KANSAS bucks you have there Tracy!!
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Wow !!!
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.jpg)
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Great story so far and looks like there is more to come.
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We are working on some video's for this story and plenty of picks still to go. :bigsmyl:
Tracy
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You guy's are "Lambing" this one up good. My Wife is starting to get upset with me because I'm constantly checking Trad Gang for the lastest installment :clapper:
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Luv it!!! Keep rolling "Lamb" style! :campfire:
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I've been saving the reading of this one until I was home on the computer and could enjoy the pics. Glad to see the story continues...
I'm waiting on the rest! :readit:
Great stuff already, no matter how this turns out :thumbsup:
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I luv the story but the kid in me just can't wait to see the last picture! :thumbsup:
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I'm sure glad everybody is enjoying the thread and were trying very hard to get these video's we have posted of the hunt.
This is big time turkey country
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/b1.jpg)
and usually we get shots at some while we are stand hunting but we only had three days of hunting and that was just not enough time I guess. Here are some of them that I saw the one of the rainy days when I went up to move a stand.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c52.jpg)
There's 2 bearded hens in his group but I only got a picture of this one.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c53.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/b2.jpg)
Anytime you have alot of turkeys your going to have a few of these guys.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Boone%20and%20Crocket%20sheds/a2.jpg)
The second day Charlie and I got to hunt together, Not long after daylight I hear Charlie say Bobcat!!!. While I was just getting the camera turned on Charlie lets out a few mouth calls to see what he would do, Not a big cat but a nice one he went jumped up on a small log and set down like cats always do.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a3.jpg)
Not the best pick but the video was much better. No shot and he was about 50yds out but I always like watching them. That's the third cat we seen so far this season.
Tracy
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Unreal pics like always Tracy. Have You put one of those Centaurs through anything yet?
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Enjoying the pictures, scenery and story. My only other comment is that we need Terry/Rob to add a drool graemlin, because those trail camera and harvest photo's sure have some beautiful bucks in them. Wow.
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Thanks for sharing!!
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The bobcat was definitely one of the cool parts of the hunt Tracy!
The way I remember, it was a pretty gray day. Cold, but not real windy. Activity early on was limited at best.
Bobcats aren't one of those animals you usually see coming from a long way. This one was no different.
It was just a shadow on a shadowless day. Pixelated gray/brown movement against a gray/brown hillside.
I whispered a quick heads up to Tracy (who probably would have seen him real soon anyway), and concentrated on the cats movements.
It was a smallish cat and I'm not sure I would have shot him, but I intended to play the game until it was time to make that decision.
I did a short lip squeak and that helped stop him but didn't coax him one step closer. As a matter of fact, I suspect that exposed as we were in the tree, that the squeak had only served to draw attention to the two big lumps in the oak.
He did sit and watch for a little while like they do, then scooted off over the ridge and into the valley beyond.
Later I would hear squirrels going crazy in the direction he had gone. Squirrels don't care for bobcats much and tell the world in no uncertain words when one is around.
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I've been stalling a little waiting for the word that the pictures and/or video would be ready to present... and not doing much to make that happen.
:knothead:
They tell a story that is at once sad and exciting, of beginnings and endings, of success and failure. They speak of bowhunting the whitetail deer.
It had been so good to see Tracy and family again. I'd had a hard enough time telling myself it would be OK when I pulled out of the drive way and away from the hunting on the new farm that was just really heating up... the best week of the year for me.
But I knew in my heart that better things lay just over the border in Kansas and I'd never experienced the rut in Kansas before and knew that the potential for a great buck far exceeded what I had at home.
Why hunting trips only exist in fast forward, I'll never figure out, but of course it seemed that in no time Tracy I had gone over old times, new trail cam pics,got a good night sleep and were readying our gear beside the truck in the darkness of morning.
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We were hunting buck ridge, or at least would be after a short walk along an old logging trail in leaves that seemed to be up to my calves and extra crunchy.
Of course these little marches in the darkness are full of anticipation and doubt. Since I'd never been there before I wasn't quite sure how far we'd be walking, but I expected the worst... fat guys do that!
It turned out to be a pleasant enough walk. The hill not so steep and the distance not so far. Soon I could just make out the straight lines of the ladder stand a short way below us on the side of the ridge.
We were soon off the ground and settled into the two man set up. I'd never done anything like this before so it was a new experience for me.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/NovemberTracytrip187.jpg)
Light wasn't far behind us as we settled in for the morning. I looked over the area and made mental notes of places to watch. Of course I had a second pair of eyes and ears to help so I didn't expect much would get by us.
It was a perfect situation. The wind spilled continuously down the hill toward us.
Just below the stand and ten yards farther down the hill was the head of a very deep valley.
Anything moving through the area would be funneled around the top of this terrain feature.
I could just make out two trails that passed us on the hillside. One was within 10 yards and the other around 20. There was a third I didn't see directly below us.
As Tracy had said, deer were likely to approach from any direction except the steep valley and that wasn't out of the question... they are deer after all.
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Way cool as always..
Todd
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This has great story and pictures to show what a nice area you are in.
Keep it comming :coffee:
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Real nice thread! Thanks for sharing.
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Charlie and Tracy come on now I am not getting much work done waiting for you tell more of this story.
:-)
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Thanks for taking the time to share this story guys, I, like others, am truly enjoying this.....
David
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What a hunt :bigsmyl:
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This is great, keep it coming! Thanks for sharring.
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I finally got some picks of the bow and down loaded them. Mr. Charlie will have to tell his part of this bow story.
When Charlie and I had some down time while he was here for the early part of this hunt we talked about various types of bows. The hill style bows are one type of bow I haven't had much experience with and don't know much about.
Charlie said he had made several hill style bows and had hunted with them alot. I remember seeing some of Charlie's wonderful pictures and now he was telling me the story's to go with them. I was in heaven!!
I had mentioned that there was a add in TBM many years ago showing a hill style bow called the "natural" It's a all wood bow with no fiberglass. Charlie said he had made one :D and we all know he makes a great bow, Well here's some picks of it.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c59.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c61.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c60.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c63.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c64.jpg)
Charlie can tell you the story of how this bow got it's name. I will say I have never shot a bow as well as I'm shooting this one and it is the quietest bow I have ever shot. I will be hunting with this bow the rest of the season for sure and hope to take a few animals with it :bigsmyl:
Tracy
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Where did that wild 1960's leather grip and strike plate come from? Cool!
This has been a terrific read so far. Is there more? (nudge, nudge.)
Killdeer :bigsmyl:
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Charlie and Tracy-this story is a job well done! thanks for sharing!
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Killy...The leather came from a purse my wife found at a garage sale. I had told her what I was looking for and she found this one. I thought it looked pretty cool and different.
The bow has 3lams of actionboo with a natural bamboo back and walnut belly.
Originally the bow was 10# lighter and two inches longer. While I was rehab-ing from wrist surgery last spring I made the bow using only one hand... my left. Hence the name.
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In a busy world where I don't really have 5 minutes every 5 minutes to spare, I'm opening tradgang every 5 minutes to catch up on this hunt. Win lose or draw, I can't wait for the next post...
Todd
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What a beauty of a bow!!! I have enjoyed this thread so much. Keep it rolling :pray:
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Have enjoyed reading this thread. Don't leave us hanging too long. :campfire:
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Tracy just sent me a bunch of photos to go with the rest of the story, but for whatever reason I can't get them under control. I'll just wing it and hope Tracy is available to throw one in here and there.
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It hadn't even gotten real good and light out yet when I spotted movement up the hill and to my left. A whispered heads up from Tracy came almost at the same moment.
In the gloom of morning I could make out a small buck coming around the hill. Suddenly a second deer was approaching from up the hill on an intercept with the first buck.
There was an interesting bit of interaction as the two met. Rank in the social status of the area was quickly and politely established. Shortly one went up the hill and the larger of the two paralleled the ridge above us.
It was the first morning and this buck was not a candidate for the taxidermist for sure.
This was hot stuff and my imagination got the best of me for a minute or two as I pondered the possibilities of the minutes and hours to come.
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(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c1-1.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c2-1.jpg)
The younger buck was licking the bigger bucks glands.
Tracy
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Alright!!!
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I half wondered how long we would sit before another deer came by. At home it could be over already and nothing much to anticipate. This was different.
In the middle of my daydreaming, a slight commotion up the hill again, got my attention.
A large doe trotted through the brush and into the open above us. One by one 3 more ran to catch up with her.
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I barely had time to think that a buck could actually be chasing this bunch when Tracy hissed,"nice buck"!
As quick as that there he was in all his bad-ass glory. I'd gotten to my feet to be prepared if one of the does offered a shot and now I was homing in on this buck.
I knew it would all depend on what the does did and they were quickly putting distance between themselves, the buck and the end of my arrow.
Suddenly the lead doe swerved to her left and headed down the hill toward an area of heavy cedars that is often used for bedding.
The buck was a scant 20 yards back and matching them step for step.
"FFFTT, FFFTT, FFFFFFFFFF!" Tracy snort wheezed at the buck and brought him to a stop, but only for a moment.
He quickly moved to catch up with the does who had also stopped.
Tracy did it again and again the buck stopped to look. But it didn't hold his curiosity long.
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great post thanks for sharing!
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It was another beautiful sinrise and we were in for a great morning. I was really looking forward to spending this time with Charlie.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c14-1.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c12-1.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c11-1.jpg)
Tracy
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(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c9.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c10-1.jpg)
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Had it happened any differently I'd still have been pleased as punch with this little interlude, but the gremlins of the hunt weren't through with me by a long shot.
By all rights the does should have continued down the hill and out of sight. What they did made me suck in a quick breath and the wheels of avarice began to spin in my head... they had turned back our way and were walking single file on the trail that passed closest to our tree.
My primary objective at that point was:
A. don't spook the does.
B. try to figure where the shot might come.
As the first doe passed underneath us I had a clue where I would take the shot, but still needed to hold very still until all of the does had passed beneath as well as the buck.
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(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c15-1.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c16-1.jpg)
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Oh my gosh, is this where we stop for the night???? :knothead:
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I froze in place waiting for the buck. At last the little doe bringing up the rear was under the stand and the buck was quickly approaching.
There was no doubt in my mind now. I knew where the shot would come and it wouldn't be on the side of the tree I was facing. I needed to get turned around as fast as possible as soon as the buck was below.
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As soon as I seen this buck coming through the woods following these does all stiff legged and grunting all I could think was I know this buck, Thats ol triple beam #2 I have trail cam picks of him. Cooooooool!!!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c3-1.jpg)
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Great pic! I believe I would have dropped the camera and grabbed the bow with that one!
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This is realllllly heating up Lamb!!!!
Looking forward to more!
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Man,this is good stuff,what its all about.Best of luck!
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:pray:
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I don't want a bed time story that is "To be Continued" :banghead: :banghead:
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That is a great pic, that dude has character and a serious neck!
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charlie dont make me drive over an wake you up.. :knothead:
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Awesome story guys! The pics to go along with it are great.
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What are you using for a camera?? Great pics!!!
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That is one pretty deer! i love wierd antlers!
Thanks for the story and pictures thus far!
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I'm in a bind for time right now guys and won't be able to sit down with this until this evening. Promise to get it all wrapped up and thanks for your patience.
:notworthy:
Have a happy turkey day!!
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Thank you Charlie and Tracy for taking us along. This is already a Tradgang classic and we aren't done yet.
Happy Thanksgiving. :campfire:
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Happy Thanksgiving!!
Thanks everybody and Like Charlie said we will finish this up tonight. :campfire:
Just got in from hunting and froze my butt off at 15 deg butt worth it the bucks are chasing the last 3 days and I have been seeing really good deer.
The picks were taken off one of my video's I shot that morning and the camera I'm using is a Cannon S5Is.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/b1-2.jpg)
It's a great camera for the price and the video's it shoots are awesome. Here's a couple trail cam picks of this buck for you guys.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/b3.jpg)
He broke that G2 some time before he showed up.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/b2-2.jpg)
Tracy
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:campfire:
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:coffee:
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It all got a little crazy for a moment or two. I was pretty sure I had a doe right under me and another on the other side of the tree, but the buck was at the base of the tree and I started pivoting around to face the way they were going and not the way they had been coming.
Getting turned around seemed to go very well. The buck was just walking out from the other side of my tree and the does were walking off without a clue. I had long since determined that I would shoot this buck if presented an opportunity so his rack ceased to hold any interest for me. It was his ribs that I was interested in and getting a good look at them from a broadside perspective.
My bow sat comfortably in my left hand, my Buffalo Big Shot glove wrapped around the string with familiarity I knew when it happened it would be all on instinct and would happen suddenly.
The buck walked slowly out from behind my tree and a few yards past me to a small, crooked sapling barely 5 yards from the base of the tree.
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(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c4-1.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c5-1.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c6.jpg)
This was just to cool!!
Tracy
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I had no shot at this time as the buck was moving almost straight away and I really don't care for that shot. Being so close in would only complicate things.
The does were moving off up the hill slightly and I figured with some confidence that the buck would turn toward them as he cleared the sapling and open up his rib cage to me.
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Great storytelling guys!!! :notworthy: :notworthy:
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There was tension growing between my drawing fingers and the string on "Curly". Just a few more steps and the buck would be clear of the sapling and at a much better angle.
And then it happened. The video shows it best, but you'll get the drift pretty quickly from the still photo's.
As the buck stepped around the sapling he suddenly stopped and in the same motion swung his head around and looked right up at me.
Why will always be a mystery to me but it happened. As quickly as he had looked up he spun and was trotting rapidly away. He didn't stop again until he was 20 yards away with heavy protection between me and him.
From there it didn't get any better and I eventually watched that buck walk out of my life. Forever? Maybe not!! Perhaps next year we'll meet again and he'll be that much bigger.
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Oh crap!!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c7.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c19-1.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c20-1.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c8.jpg)
Dang it man :banghead: :dunno:
Tracy
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Great pictures, story telling, etc. My heart was starting to pound!
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SUPER photography boys!! I like it! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Sorry you didn't get the shot,but that had to be excellent anyway!
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As I sat in the pop up watching the symetrical 8 cross the clearing on the last day I was thinking how this would be a reprieve from the misfortunes of the week just past.
I calmly watched and waited for the shot I knew would come, only to have the buck walk right into the woods and out of my life forever.
I tried a few soft grunts and even rattled softly to no avail. He was gone but the memories of a week just over would stay with me forever and the pictures of what might have been will be there even when I'm too old and feeble to climb the hills and sit in the frosty darkness of a November morning.
My buddy Tracy had done a hell of a job trying to help me get a buck. He's put one in front of me twice and I guess a guy can't ask more than that.
But the trophy in this hunt was not out in the woods so much as it is in the heart of the hunter and that's just fine with me.
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What can you say, It's happened to me more times then I can count but none of them hurt as bad as this one did. I really thought this set up was going to work out and it almost did, Almost!!
What a first day it had been with its highs and lows and I was looking forward to spending many more days with Charlie. I think this picture sum's it up!!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c18-1.jpg)
Lots of thoughts going through this bow hunters mind about then, What if's, Why not, Maybe tomorrow!!
Who was to know it was going to rain for the next two days and only leave us a couple more days to hunt.
Tracy
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:thumbsup:
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Awesome story... Thanks for sharing!!! This has been one of the best stories I have ever read. It really sums up the traditional bowhunter.
Again, thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!!
:thumbsup:
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nice hunt guys! Thanks for the pics.
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Great photography and thanks for bringing us along on your hunt. :campfire:
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Are You Kidding Me!!!
I just knew I would see a picture with you holding that buck. Man I hate it when that happens but ya know what, it happens to use all and thats one of the reasons we all Love this thing we call bowhuntin'. Great story guys :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
thanks!!!
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Great great story and so close. It is amazing how lucky a big old buck can get or what he can sense!
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A wonderful story and well told by you both.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
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This is a awesome story , love the bow part , bless ya for sharing...Marco#78
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Great story telling guys! :thumbsup:
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Charlie, Next year it will happen! Just click your heels and say" there's no place like home" and when you open your eyes you'll be back in Kansas!It worked for Dorthy and it will work for you.
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We've all been there, just makes it sweeter when it all works out! :clapper:
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Great hunt, and great photo essay. Thanks for bringing me along.
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Dang it, that brings back memories of close encounters of the supernatural. Terrific story and pictures, enjoyed every minute.
:thumbsup:
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That will get the heart pumping, so you know your alive :thumbsup:
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Wow.... I really enjoyed the over-the-shoulder pics. Awesome thread you-two. Thanks for taking me along for the ride. :thumbsup:
Charlie... I look forward to hearing some stories from the "new" farm as well. :thumbsup:
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Great read guys!
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great story guys as this truly is the essence of being a traditional hunter! :goldtooth:
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...I enjoyed that...
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May have been said already, but if so it bears repeating.
This thread is destined for the "Classics" section.
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See if we can get a better ending this year, Mr. Charlie drew another tag and we have been patterning a couple monsters for him. :bigsmyl:
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Y2.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Y22.jpg)
Tracy
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Thanks for the heads up. I'll check back about this time next year to see if Charlies story tellin is done. :laughing:
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cool thread
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After a few of Tracy's pics I've increased my practice time by double.
:help:
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Boy Charlie I sure hope you put one of those big guys down :thumbsup: I'm sure having a hard time not coming out this year :( Good Luck!!!
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Great to see this thread again.
Good comment Charlie, can't be too ready for the likes of those bucks.
Looking forward to the Fall 2012 installment.
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Been thinking about my buddy Charlie and while looking for another thread I ran into this old thread, Sure brought back some good memory's.
Mr. Charlie is in the Hospital right now recovering from his second knee replacement surgery. Say some prayers for him for a complete recovery if you would and thanks for looking.
Tracy
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Thanks for bumping this thread Tracy. It was nice reading it again.
Prayers sent for Charlie and a quick recovery.
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Thanks Tracy, I hadn't seen this thread yet. I came to the Tradgang party after it's original posting. A fantastic story from two fantastic bowhunters. I hang in every word Charlie and yourself write here. Thanks again!!!
Jake
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Great stuff Tracy.
Prayers for Charlie's speedy recovery.
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Thanks for bringing that story up brother. One of my favorites.
They released me from the hospital today and I'm at home. The next couple of weeks will be filled with boredom and some pain.
Just a small step on the road to a much better life.
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Good news buddy!!! Expect a call from me in the next few days. So glad your out of there and doing better you sure are a tuff one. :bigsmyl:
Tracy
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I can't express how pleased I am that you're on your way back to happy hunting without the pain.
and a little taller too!....lol
God bless,Mudd
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Great read. Glad it was brought back up. Hope your recovery is speedy Mr. Charlie.