Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: zipper bowss on October 01, 2011, 04:32:00 PM
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This looks like the start of a good story!!
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mooooore
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Originally posted by Thebear_78:
This looks like the start of a good story!!
I agree. Can't wait to hear the whole story from Bill !!!
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Can't wait!
Glenn
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I want to start by saying this is not a high fence hunt. The property is fenced with a 4 ft. woven wire cattle fence. This is a 4000 acre property that has approximately 200 bison on it. I was there to hunt, and aloud to take 1 of the 8 cow bison that had broken one of their horns. It took me a little while to get my head around that 1 of 8 animals on 4000 acres. A hunt indeed, and just what I had been longing for. A bison hunt, that was just that a hunt. This is the nearest thing possible to hunting the herds of days gone.
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Very cool! Can't wait for the rest :campfire:
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This is on my bucket list. I will be watching this one. :campfire:
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Great pictures, and looking foward to reading and seeing how this adventure turns out. Thanks for posting Zip,
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HUMMM, Bison hunting how do you choose your equipment for a bison? It has to be special, because to me this was a very special hunt. The choice was actually quite easy. My buddy Benjy had given me a dozen or so cane arrows over the last couple of years, all of which were fletched with 2 turkey and 1 goose feather. Some of the turkey feathers came from turkeys I had killed. One of these special arrows shot very well from my newly completed longbow. Now all I needed was a good sturdy broad head. Not just any broad head one with some real mojo. Again that was easy. All I had to do is steel an Abowyer Brown bear off of one of Tracy’s arrows that she had taken game with. For my bow I chose my newly designed 3 piece longbow. It is special, not only because it is a super performer but also because it is the sister woods to Tom Jenkin’s new SXT recurve.Even the knives I took on this hunt had mojo to spare. One was given to me by Danny Rowen, another by Bill Kissner, the third was given to me by my grandfather nearly 30 years ago.
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:archer: :coffee:
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Wayne is an experienced guide who had been in on nearly 50 bow hunts for bison. This was however, only the third with traditional gear. He was confident that we could get within longbow range of one of these great animals. Despite the fact that many of them will be in the herd and have hundreds of eyes and noses watching their backs, Wayne would later explain that not all of the bison would be within the main herd. Only those that needed the protection of the family group would be with the rest of the herd. Since this was the tail end of the breeding season the main herd would consist of those cows with calves and the main breeding bulls. Outside of this main herd would be several smaller satellite groups with the same make up. There are also some lone animals. As I mentioned, these are animals that have no need for the protection or socialization of the herd. Old bulls that have been kicked out by younger breeding bulls and dry cows will all be on their own or in small groups.
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Where does your adventure take place?? That don't look like Ohio to me but I could be wrong. :) Can't wait for the rest of the story.
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Back to the hunt. The first mornings hunt started on a high vantage point with bino’s doing much of the leg work. The plan was to glass from several of these high open points to locate the heard. We did not have any luck locating the herd from this overlook so we moved on to the next vantage point. From this high point we could see that the main herd of around 100 animals was in a huge meadow nearly two miles away and across the river. That is when Wayne explained that not all the bison will be together and we should keep looking on our side of the river. Then tomorrow if we did not locate one of the 8 cows we were after we could start the days hunt on the other side of the river. It was on our move to the third glassing location that we spotted our first bison on our side of the river. Wayne knew right of that it was either a cow or a young bull. All I knew was it was a bison and it was dang cool just to be within 200 yards of it. As the bison trotted off Wayne put his binoculars on it and could tell it was a cow. She stopped and turned broadside before going out of sight. That is when Wayne told us that this bison we had just blundered on was one of the 8 cows I would be permitted to shoot. I was floored, we had only just begun the hunt and right here in front of us is was one of the 8 animals we were looking for. I just could not believe it 8 animals on 4000 acres and here she is only an hour into the hunt. As I looked her over with my bino’s I mentioned that she did have two horns. Wayne then explained that what I was seeing was the core that the other horn had grown from and it was not actually a horn. To myself I thought, HUH Rookie mistake.
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This is when all that good mojo from the special gear was about to come into play. The wind was in our favor from the start and as she moved off it was apparent that she was not overly spooked and would likely not go too far. The ridge we were on was very large and shaped like a half moon. The top of the ridge was fairly flat to rolling ground with steep wooded gully’s going off each side. I did not know it at the time but the farther out the crescent shaped ridge you go the narrower it got. This too would prove to be in our benefit. After making a big circle to come in from a direction the cow did not expect danger we eased back up to the edge of the ridge to try to relocate the lone cow. She was nowhere to be found.
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:campfire:
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Now what? A plan was made. Well, let’s just ease out this ridge checking every wooded draw with the binoculars until we either find her or we are satisfied she is gone. At this point I am really feeling it. I have heard folks say I have waited for this moment all my life. I can’t say that I have wanted to hunt bison all my life but I will say I can’t remember not being awed by these amazing creatures. Now thanks to the help of some good friends here I am on a ridge in the middle of nowhere trying to locate a mature cow buffalo. Even now after the meat is in the freezer I still can hardly believe it.
We checked every gully for about 300 yards. Then just as we came over a role in the ridge there she was about 100 yards out on top of the ridge with us! Luckily she was feeding away from us and did not see us pop up over the small hill on top of the main ridge. At this point the bison was in some short grass just feeding along. Because of the short grass and steep side hills there was no way to try for a stalk. We just had to keep an eye on her and hope she would feed to a more favorable location.
After shadowing the bison for a couple of hundred yards she fed around the ridge far enough that some large pines would block our approach. Tracy and I slipped over the edge of the ridge to use the terrain and the pines for cover. As we snuck up to the spot we last saw the bison. It was instantly apparent that the new problem was going to now be that she had fed so far around this ever narrowing ridge. It was going to be tough to get broadside to her for a shot. The bison was then so generous as to alleviate this new problem by disappearing once again. We did not have to do too much head scratching before the old plan of checking gully’s became the new plan of you guessed it checking gully’s. At this point of the ridge there were no more gully’s to check. The ridge began to drop off into creek bottom on both sides. We could not have gone more than 50 yards when Wayne, who was standing at the edge of the ridge glassing down to the bottom hit the ground. Tracy and I were only about 30 yards down the ridge on the same side of the ridge as he was and when we saw him get down we did the same. Wayne started excitedly pointing over the ridge and toward us. He was trying to tell us the bison was just on the other side of the ridge. I mouthed to him how far? His reply was 55 yards. Keep in mind we were about 30 yards farther down the ridge than he was and when I crawled up to look over the ridge the big girl was nearly in our lap.
I looked back at Tracy and signed to her to come up here the bison is 20 yards. Tracy had the video camera and was trying to get up to the edge of the ridge to make sure she got all this action on film. The bison did not know we were in the world and was just feeding along. Once the bison’s head went behind a bush I stood up on top of the ridge and prepared for the shot. Tracy got up and got the bison in frame as I picked my shot. The shot was to about 25 yards and Benjy’s cane arrow was on the string. This was it. This was the moment we all live for. The bison was quartering away and we were above her. I remember thinking how tall the grass was and it was making it difficult to see just where her front leg was. I knew I needed to hit her at about 5-7 ribs forward of the back of her rib cage and the height needed to be about even with the tall grass that retch nearly halfway up her body. That angle would allow the arrow to intersect with the off shoulder. I don’t remember the weight of the bow as the string came back, I don’t remember touching my anchor, I don’t remember the release. I only remember the white fur tracer hitting the spot I had chosen on her side. PERFECT!!
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I was seeing it through your words....great telling.
Keep it up. I'm hooked!
:thumbsup:
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The arrow sank deep and I knew it was a good clean humanely killing shot. At the impact the buffalo did not bolt off. As so many animals do when shot with a razor sharp broad head she only trotted a short distance and stopped. She may have gone 60 yards and was already beginning to show signs that she was indeed in trouble. I watched her for a few seconds then I noticed that one of the side ridges went down near where she was standing. I decided to use the ridge for cover to try to get a second arrow in her. I did not relay my plan to Tracy I just took off. Little did I know as soon as I got out of sight the buffalo went down. Wayne and Tracy tried to quietly get my attention but with the steady wind in my face I could not hear them. As I tried to sneak down the back side of the steep ridge my footing gave and I slid a few inches. The bison was only about 70 yards away and must have heard me knock these few small rocks loose because when I got to where I could see her she was on her feet again. Luckily there was a large pine between me and her so with this new found cover I started my stalk for a second shot.
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why must you leave in a good spot,come on
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The bison continued to stand. I could tell from her body language that she knew something was above her but she was too weak to really turn completely around and face the danger. I knew she was ready to make a move at any second but she continued to stand and I continued to close the gap from behind my pine tree cover. I knew the pine that was allowing me to get close was also going to prevent me from having a standing shot. My best guess was the pine tree was around 25 yards from the bison. My plan was to get to the tree before taking a second shot. It was not to be. I could tell the bison wanted to move off. She started to move her back leg forward when I stepped from behind the cover of the tree trunk and hit my knees. I needed to be on my knees to allow the trajectory of the arrow to make it cleanly past the bottom limbs of the pine tree. Not knowing that when I moved away from the tree I moved directly in front of the Tracy’s video camera. Although the camera was the last thing I was thinking about. I figured the shot to be 35 yards. The cow was quartering away and the impact point needed to be at the back of the rib cage to reach the lungs. Once again the shot was away and connected just where it needed to be. Just as with the first arrow this second lethal shot buried clear to the fletching. The cow ran after this second shot. She made the tree line and was out of sight. I later stepped off the second shot which ended up 37 yards.
It was only after meeting back up with Wayne and Tracy that I learned that the cow had indeed gone down. They both agreed that though the second shot was not necessary it is only good insurance to take an opportunity when it is available.
Now the waiting game started. We decided to give the bison an hour before taking up the track. That would soon prove unnecessary. She was laying dead just inside the tree line.
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I can think of no more fitting end to such a magnificent animal. From the first shot impact until she was down for good was under a minute. She weighed in right at 800 lbs.
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Very nice Bill,What are the specs on your Zipper.They say Bison is real good eating.
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what a hunt,now wheres the video. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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2elkhunt
The Nitro longbow is 60"52#@28" The limbs are carbon and foam
The cane arrow is 630 grains
The carbons are 615 grains.The Nitro longbow shot them at 170 fps.
Funny thing after it was all done and Wayne called in a couple of guys to help us get the big girl out. One of them asked "so did you use a Mathews"? I just said no I used a longbow. His response was cool what weight? When I told him it was 52# he said thats too light.You could tell the guy was not trying to be rude that is just what popped into his mind. Keep in mind we are standing next to the dead buffalo. I just smiled and said not all longbows are created equal. :D
The meat is very good.It is quite lean and has a good flavor.I expect it would be very easy to over cook.
Grinch
My editing program crashed.It is cool video though and will be on our next DVD. Once I cough up the money for the new program that is.
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Great stuff Bill !!! :thumbsup:
Bill
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Thanks Bill, Thats very cool!
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A couple of monster bulls.
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On the stock
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across the river
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Very cool Bill.Lots of yum!!!!!!!!!
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Congrats and thank you for taking us a long :)
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:campfire: Awesome pics and story. Congrats and thanks so much for sharing!
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:thumbsup:
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What a great story!!! I thoroughly enjoyed your hunt
God bless you, Steve
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Well-done!
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Where did you book this hunt and how much was it
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Awesome stuff Bill! Congrats bro!!
Is this the new design that Tom and I got to shoot the prototype of at your house that day?
Mike
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WOW what a cool hunt! Congratulations Bill she is a beauty! Very impressive shooting under all that pressure. Way to go! :clapper: Thanks for sharing.
Bill, what state were you hunting in?
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Very nice story! Can't wait to see the DVD...Doc
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Congratulations Bill, What a great hunt and a good ole'story tellin'
Chuck
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Thanks for the story and congrats on a great buffalo. :clapper:
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Congratulations, great story :notworthy:
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Awesome, simply awesome !!! Thanks for sharing with us ! :campfire:
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Bill your account of the hunt was outstanding,I'm glad some of us get to live their dreams,awesome hunt.
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Great stuff Bill. What a beast!!
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Congratulations on a fine hunt and success. All guides are not equal, as well. He knew what the ole girl was going to do. Great pictures.
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Great hunt and photos!
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Now that is an awesome hunt and story. Congrats.
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That one had me on the edge of my seat for a bit.
What a great opportunity to take an animal like that. Nice shooting.
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Enjoyed reading your story and pic's. What a beast! Congrats!!
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I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to tag along on your awesome hunt.
I'd love to see the video.
Thank you for sharing everything with us.
God bless,Mudd
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Wow, what an adventure and fantastic shooting under such pressure. Congrats brother and let me know when the cookout is.
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Congrats Bill :thumbsup: Looks like a very fun hunt.
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You the man Bill. I'm planning on killing one this spring. Get cracking on my one piece and Ill be using that for my buff. :clapper:
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:thumbsup: :notworthy: Well done Bill. I guess 52# will do the job....like we didn't know that!!!
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I know several of you would like to know the who, what, were, and when of this hunt. The fact is it is not that kind of hunt. I only got invited on this hunt because I know a guy who knows a guy, and that guy knew how much I wanted to do a bison hunt like this. At this point it is a very limited hunt and I was quite lucky to get in on it. However, the word is it MAY become available in the next 3-5 years. IF that happens I will be more than happy to help in any way possible to make this experience accessible to any of you that are interested.
Yea Mike, this is the next generation of that prototype you and Tom shot. It only has a couple of minor changes.
Thanks all, for the encouragement. It took me 4.5 hours to type out this story.
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Excellent hunt & story! Maybe one day; but, bison are as close to impossible as imaginable. Most likely I'll just hunt through others. Thanks for the outrageous ride Zip!
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Great!!
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Thanks for letting me come along, thru the great photos!
:bigsmyl:
Johnny/JAG
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thanks for sharing! what kind of penetration did you get on your shots?
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Congrats!!!
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Congrats Bill,great trophy!For sure that is a thrilling experience.
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Purely Awesome!!!
Glenn
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Great story! Thank you for sharing and congratulations on a terrific hunt!! Another one for my "bucket list" for sure! Well done! :clapper:
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Great pictures and an edge of the seat recap of your hunt Bill! Thanks for posting it. I cannot wait for the video!
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Wow! Very cool! I have been away from the computer for a few days so I just saw this. Congrats Bill, That was an awesome story and hunt! I am glad to see that cane arrow worked for you.
Benjy
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Very cool hunt Bill, looking forward to the video!!
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Great story and pictures. Congratulations on a hunt of a lifetime.
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Awsome stuff.
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Well done! On the hunt and the story! Thank you!
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Good comment - 4.5 hours to type out. You're twice as fast as me!
Great story/hunt. Thanks for taking the time to share.
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Thanks all! It was an amazing hunt and I still can hardly believe the way it all played out. I still wake up at night thinking about and I am always smiling.
The cane arrow worked out great, Benjy! The penetration was good with the cane arrow. It stopped about 6” short of the feathers. The carbon arrow went all the way to the fletching. I am confident that if either shot would have been broad side and not quartering away. Both arrows would have likely made two holes.
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Awesome Story Bill!!!!!
Enjoyed the "over the shoulder" story telling. Great shooting, and a great hero pic. That new longbow must be somthing.
Congrats!!!
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Way to go Bill,when does Tracy get to play.
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Nice story and pics! I take it that 4.5 hours of story telling involved use of spell check. :D
Congrats and time to buy a new deep freezer!
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Bill, Fantastic story and hunt. Thanks for sharing it!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Bill - you da' man!!!!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Thanks for sharing the hunt with us. Great that you had Tracy along as videographer.
I'll give you a "proper" congratulations the next time I see you.
Enjoy those fine buffalo steaks!
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Hopefully they are able to make this hunt more available. I would really like to see others get to enjoy this hunt.
Joe
Tracy got to play in MN. She just had a rough way to go. The other predators sure made it rough on her. She shot a giant doe that we let lay over night. Unfortunately the wolves found her first. There was nothing left except the head, a piece of hide, and one hip bone. Then just at the shot coyotes spooked another doe.
Will
You know me too well. I nearly wore out the spell check.
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Don't know how I missed this one.??
Bill,
Congrats on an awesome hunt and thanks for the great story telling.!
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Got so excited I double posted.. :biglaugh:
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I'm glad you brought this up, I enjoyed it a second time!
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Must have hit when my internet was down.
2 hrs to type and wore out spell checker!
Sounds like sharing was almost more trying than the hunt itself! :jumper:
You are ever the entertainer, Bill! I really enjoyed it!
how long was that longbow? Pretty impressive performance for 52#!
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"Not all Longbows are created equal".
Classic line right there! Congrats Bill! :thumbsup:
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Bill, I too missed this. what a great story. My sincere congrats. I knew when I read the part about the abowyer brown bear heads, that It wasn't gonna be a long trail after the shot. Maybe I'll see yall again some day. Don
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Thank you all.I am glad you enjoyed the story.This hunt is one I have wanted to do for a long time.
Hey Doc,My longbow is a 60"er.
Don,I am willing to bet our pathes will cross again somew here.
Bill
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Bill
Glad I found this thread!!!! Awesome story! I look forward to the Zipper DVD!!!! Watch out Fred Bear.....Bill Dunn's becoming my hero!!!
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Gosh, i missed this the first time around too!
Awesome hunt and pictures, Bill!
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That is cool!
Congrtas!
Bisch
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Great stuff.
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Awesome hunt! Bravo! :clapper:
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Congrats Bill! Great read as well!
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That's awesome. Thanks for sharing the story.
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TTT
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I just had some Bison burgers for lunch. :D
Thanks for bringing this back up Izzy.
Bill
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Save me a couple for Halloween!
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Will do Felix! :thumbsup:
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Bill, thanks for the story and the photos. Can't wait to see the video!
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Bill, thanks for the story and the photos. Can't wait to see the video!