Post by: Terry Green on July 09, 2014, 08:57:00 AM
Lets make it your TOP 3 unbelievable shots....
I'm not talking about your text book shots, I'm talking about ones that were not the norm, ones you had to 'manufacture', happened out of no where, self defense, some crazy position, or maybe one you don't have a clue how you made or remember how you made.
I'll add mine later on as I have a meeting in a few, but look forward to hearing about yours in the mean time.
I think the stories you guys n gals have will be very entertaining and a tribute to the bows and style we shoot.....
:campfire:
Post by: Mudd on July 09, 2014, 09:24:00 AM
I was a guest on an amazing pheasant hunt with a great group of folks from Tradgang.(This was a St Jude pheasant hunt)
My shot wasn't on a pheasant but on a quail(also fair game for this hunt).
I was walking through the tall grass near a very brushy line running through the field when I saw a quail running in the brush about twenty yards away.
I looked ahead of the direction he was headed and saw a very small opening at about 17 yds. I just knew he was going to pass that opening and started swinging my bow that way.
When I loosed my arrow there wasn't a bird in the gap but by the time the arrow arrived so had the quail.
I was elated to say the least.
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/St%20Jude%20pheasant%20hunt/stjudespheasant2012action60.jpg) (http://s218.photobucket.com/user/mudd57/media/St%20Jude%20pheasant%20hunt/stjudespheasant2012action60.jpg.html)
Someone else made a pretty amazing shot on a quail that day as well.
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/St%20Jude%20pheasant%20hunt/MuddandT.jpg) (http://s218.photobucket.com/user/mudd57/media/St%20Jude%20pheasant%20hunt/MuddandT.jpg.html)
God bless,Mudd
Post by: Scott E on July 09, 2014, 09:26:00 AM
It was late at night and I was going to the let dogs out. I flipped on the flood lights and there was a monster of a raccoon in the yard. I looked at the Mrs and said I'm going to shoot it. I went into my den and grabbed my only strung up bow. A 7 lakes long night that I had barley shot and then I grabbed a broadhead tipped arrow from the previous hunting season. A Doug Fir arrow with a 145 grain Stos up front. I didn't have time to grab a finger tab.
Leading up to the shot I was about to take I hadn't shot in months thanks to the terrible weather we had this past winter. I slid open the sliding glass door and was surprised to see the raccoon unimpressed by my presence. It was still casually feeding on bird seed.
That's when everything goes fuzzy. Complete and total autopilot. Before I knew it the raccoon was trying to run to the nearest tree. I thought I missed but it made it half way up the tree before toppling over. The arrow went in behind the front shoulder and passed through almost the full length of its body.
It's always nice to know that after a few months off I could still hit something.
Post by: Kevin Dill on July 09, 2014, 09:47:00 AM
2: Yukon Territory. I stalked a big black bear for 4 hours, as he hung around an old moose kill. I finally located him in his day bed and moved in. I considered my self fortunate to make it 40 yards. At 30 I began to think "maybe", and at 25 "probably" a shot. The bear was asleep but would rouse up periodically and without warning to check things out. At 15 yards I was amazed and knew I had earned the shot I might get. I kept advancing and angling for a more sure shot. At 5 yards I could go no further. The bear was still on his side but the angle was wrong. Suddenly he raised/stretched a leg and with no notion of how fast it would happen I watched my arrow crash into his chest. He jumped out snarling and growling...did a somersault...and stopped to bite the arrow. That's when the second arrow bit him, and he ran off to die.
1: Rainy day in Ohio. Coming out of the woods and across a field, I noticed a lone doe hanging out. I tried calling her in, but to no effect. She bedded at the edge of the woods but in a hayfield. I did a huge circle downwind and worked my way in about 45 minutes later. I came in from behind her, and used the woods/rain for cover. I made it to 10 yards, but one big problem: the woven wire fence blocked my shot. I tried everything but couldn't find an opening. I noticed the lower wires were rusted and missing, but could make no conventional shot. I was getting desperate as I watched her ears rotate for danger. I sagged to the ground and rested on an elbow, looking through the missing wires. I could actually see her chest when I laid my head near the leaves. I pointed my bow/arrow at the hole in the fence and said "go there"...then pulled to 3/4 draw and released. The arrow flashed under the fence and disappeared. Suddenly the doe was running hard away into the hayfield. I jumped to my feet in time to watch her face-plant and flip over dead about 75 yards away. Heart-shot...under a fence...couldn't actually see her when I released. That's one I wouldn't probably try today, and I'll never have the chance again anyway.
Post by: Jeremy Gentry on July 09, 2014, 09:50:00 AM
Post by: robtattoo on July 09, 2014, 09:59:00 AM
2008 in Texas. I'd been corning & stalking roads for javelina with no luck. Topped a small rise in the sendero & spotted a cottontail off in the distance. I guesstimated it to be probably 150yds. I had no real interest in stalking it, so I figured I could give it a scare & see just how close I could get my arrow.
Shooting a 62# Morrison Cheyenne, 780gn arrow tipped with a Hammer blunt I didn't figure I'd be able to even get within 20' of the poor thing, but I drew a bead, raised my bow, raised it some more aaaaand a liiiitle further and.....shot.
I watched that arrow for what seemed like 10 minutes as it arced through the air. It landed almost vertical in the road & stuck upright.
The rabbit didn't move.
Hmm.
Tried another & landed it within probably 10 yards of the first.
Rabbit's still sat there.
Hmm again.
So, figuring that it was either dead, dumb or deaf I walked up on it. My first arrow had dropped right through the top of it's head & pinned it to the road! I was half amazed & half feeling guilty as hell.
Post by: snag on July 09, 2014, 10:03:00 AM
Post by: gringol on July 09, 2014, 10:11:00 AM
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/gringol/20130920_172141.jpg)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/gringol/20130920_172243.jpg)
Post by: J. Cook on July 09, 2014, 10:25:00 AM
To top it off, the buck ran about 85 yards across a gulley and thicket and literally died right in front of my Dad. The deer was immediately out of sight for me as it headed into a thicket that my father was hunting the other edge of. I knew he was down though because 3 seconds after the shot my dad let out a big "Wooohooooooo" through the quiet West Virginia evening woods. Great memories!!!
Post by: Hot Hap on July 09, 2014, 10:46:00 AM
Hap
Post by: Tony Sanders on July 09, 2014, 11:01:00 AM
You can see the head gone off of the pheasant in the pic, and you can also see the bottom of my wet pants legs because of the water that was in the field. It was a great day afield Bowhunting Pheasants.
Tony
(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn230/SNUFFER8/SCAN0059_zpsfa278068.jpg) (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/SNUFFER8/media/SCAN0059_zpsfa278068.jpg.html)
Post by: Danny Rowan on July 09, 2014, 11:17:00 AM
2. 1967. Was hunting on the same friends ranch south of Ozona, Texas. We were driving back to the ranch house in the old jeep when we spotted a doe in the sage brush flat. Stopped the Jeep and Mike picked up his 22 hornet to scope her, she was about 30 yards out. He confirmed she was a doe and whistled loudly and a nice wide 8 point jumped up right in front of her. I had the same Ben Pearson with an arrow on the string and at about half draw. completed the draw and released and killed him clean at 25 yards. My first big game archery kill and the biggest buck I have ever killed. I was standing beside the jeep by the way, not in the jeep.
Post by: Cody Roiter on July 09, 2014, 11:44:00 AM
Post by: Dan bree on July 09, 2014, 12:02:00 PM
Post by: Gordon Jabben on July 09, 2014, 12:19:00 PM
Post by: monkeyball on July 09, 2014, 12:24:00 PM
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/DSCF6984.jpg) (http://s496.photobucket.com/user/livrht/media/DSCF6984.jpg.html)
They ran off, and I sat there like you do when you do something stupid like I did. It was not to long later and I caught movement on my right. Here they came again. I cautiously got turned and was in a pretty awkward position when I released the second Zwickey which also missed it's mark. Off they went and my head was touching the Oak leaves between my feet. Oh well,it happens.
As I am looking down through the woods I cannot believe it,but here comes that buck again. I am thinking to myself....no way,but here he comes. I have to now get an arrow out of my Cat quiver,get it nocked because this is going to happen. At about 8 yds he stops and any closer and he is going to wind me. I hit full draw and the 3rd Zwickey is gone. I caught him right in front of the left front leg and the Zwickey was buried in the far shoulder. He ran off very wobbly and piled up less than 50 yds away. Unbelievable......
Post by: elkken on July 09, 2014, 03:06:00 PM
Post by: Tree Killer on July 09, 2014, 04:42:00 PM
Had this small bull come directly toward me, then turn to my right. I had to let him go by me at 22 yds to clear a tree and offer a quartering away shot. But by them he was behind a dead blowdown with limbs sticking up every 12-14 inches. His vitals were behind the main stem of the tree, but I knew I could arch my arrow into the kill zone with my Brackenbury recurve.
I timed my shot to coincide with the bulls vitals being in between the limbs...let out a cow chirp that stopped him and released. The arrow flew perfect and quartered up to the far shoulder. The bulls only went 60 yds and piled up.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/trophy%20photos/Whereitlays.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/treekiller/media/trophy%20photos/Whereitlays.jpg.html)
Post by: on July 09, 2014, 05:38:00 PM
Post by: Terry Green on July 09, 2014, 10:17:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Guru:Keep em coming....
I may have made the longest shot of the hunt, but without a doubt Terry made the coolest shot!
This bird flushed straight up and decided to fly right over the line of shooters. Terry swung on the bird and waited till he cleared the other shooters and was directly above his head.
I mean he was twisted, leaning back, reverse canted, shooting directly over his head as the bird crossed about 20ft over his head...and he just hammered him in one of the most contorted positions I've ever seen!
As excited as I got over my shot, I think I carried on even more over the shot I'd just witnessed Terry just pulled off.....it was one of those you really needed to be there, to see it, to appreciate it...
.
.
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1040037bama.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1040036bama.JPG)
Post by: BWD on July 10, 2014, 12:11:00 AM
Post by: Brianlocal3 on July 10, 2014, 07:39:00 AM
I was still hunting thru the oaks when I heard a sound that could only be a flock of turkey's down the ridge in the creek bottom.
As I worked my way down I could see them about 60 yards, and they were heading towards a CRP field. I couldn't make it to them in time and they soon disappeared into the grass. I decided to follow anyway, hoping my noise would be covered by their own.
I could see the grass moving ahead, but no birds. Finally at about 30 yards they flush up and start to fly towards the Treeline, and without thinking I swung up and released. I center punched the trailing bird and it dropped in the field like a brick. I couldn't believe it. Then I took me another 45 min just to find it in the 5' talk grass .
Another one of my favorites was where I was set up 1/2" up a steep ridge with my set up facing the creek bottom. I had a big long nose doe heading my way, when all of a sudden she stops, stomps and hightails it outta there. Just at that time I hear rustling to my right coming from the bottoms, as I look over a coyote is trotting up the creek bottom towards the doe. I swung up, released and watched my arrow take it in the neck. I found him 25 yards later under a gnarly Osage tree.
Post by: Sockrsblur on July 10, 2014, 08:55:00 AM
Post by: ThePushArchery on July 10, 2014, 09:55:00 AM
I have one that stands out in my mind, that is small game related. The big game I've killed have been pretty standard 10 - 25 yard shots from ground and tree. Nothing to write home about.
I had just recently switched to shooting dedicated vertical bow with a lengthy pause at anchor. Really working on my form to get to a solid anchor and expand through the shot with my back. I was sitting about 20 feet up in my climber at the top of a hill. The hill sloped down behind me extremely aggressively. A squirrel did a 10 yard loop in front of me, and headed down the hill never stopping to offer me a shot.
He finally stopped off my left shoulder down the hill. I thought to myself, "shooting vertical bow, I can get my bow pretty close to this tree and shoot over here" never with the intention of actually taking a shot this far down in elevation and distance.
I drew just to feel how it felt. Once I got to anchor and started expanding, it felt perfect, my sight picture looked perfect. So I loosed the string. The arrow struck right behind the squirrels shoulder and he was dead on the spot.
My hunting partner came over to my tree on the way out, and I asked him to recover the squirrel and pace it off. 37 paces with about 40 feet of elevation difference between the squirrel down the hill and my 20 feet up the tree. It was incredible.
Post by: Mudd on July 10, 2014, 09:58:00 AM
I had been doing some horse trading and got a "Sheldon" in trade.
Like always I try to get new bows to the range ASAP so off I went.
I had just laid the bow down to retrieve my arrows from the target when I hear something in the tree tops of the tall pines.
I see a Fox squirrel in the very top jumping from tree to tree. I grabbed my bow and a small game arrow,swinging up and releasing, almost all in one motion.
Here is the results:
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/2010%20season%20photo%20log/DSC00714.jpg) (http://s218.photobucket.com/user/mudd57/media/2010%20season%20photo%20log/DSC00714.jpg.html)
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/mudd57/2010%20season%20photo%20log/DSC00715.jpg) (http://s218.photobucket.com/user/mudd57/media/2010%20season%20photo%20log/DSC00715.jpg.html)
I looked for the photo of the squirrel fried on my plate with mashed potatoes and gravy. (not found)...lol
God bless,Mudd
Post by: longbowman on July 10, 2014, 10:19:00 AM
Post by: Biggamefish on July 10, 2014, 11:17:00 AM
He made me a little plack for it with a new york hunting tag and all and gave it to me for Christmas I still have hanging on my wall.
Post by: Ray Lyon on July 10, 2014, 11:30:00 AM
The first was way back in the early 1970's. I grew up on a cherry farm and we had some large mowed yards. I would spend a lot of time chasing gophers around the farm, both out in the orchards and in the yard. Well, mom was out doing some stuff in the front of the house and a gopher popped up some distance away as I had just come out of the house with my Howard Hill longbow and Judo tipped cedar shaft. I said 'mom, watch this', drew back, released and after a second, wallop. Drilled him from 39 yards. Mom shrieked and I whooped it up.
Number two came in the late 80's when I used to travel to Montana to hunt elk and mule deer in the Big Sky area. A compound hunting friend of mine and I were doing a day trip up the mountain and had just started in when a 3x3 buck stood up. I was in the lead and using a Howard Hill back quiver still. I had an arrow on the string and off before the buck moved and hit him as pretty as you could want. He trotted about 35 yards and tipped over. We paced off the shot afterwards and it was 33 yards. My buddy said 'I had just started reaching for an arrow and you'd already had yours in the air'.
The third came when I was hunting with another friend who was toting a compound. We were hunting southern MI farm country with little plots of hardwoods and lots of fence rows and scrub areas. We got close to his parents house and pulled out the judo points because we often see rabbits along the path to the house. As we moved along slowly, a rabbit took off through the briars about 10 steps away and as I drew and swung with him he approached a small opening and I bowled him over as he hit the opening. My buddy said he couldn't believe I made that shot.
Well, there you have it. As I said, I think the fun of all those was having someone to enjoy the moment with.
Post by: on July 10, 2014, 12:26:00 PM
This is a true story, a short version !
I hunted NJ NY and Pa. all my life -- Thousands of hours in a tree stand over a 40 year period !
Now I venture to Iowa--- the trip, the so called guide - Outfitter-- is yet another story.
I had to put off the trip until the week of Thanks Giving--- I passed some nice bucks-- my so called guide after a week of hunting
my so called guide said are you going to shoot a deer with that recurve ! How BIG of a buck
do you want to shoot--
I said, I will know it when I see him --
It was the last day of my hunt--- he said -- pick you up at 10:30
The morning was the first real cool day of the week. I saw a coyote and some pheasants--
It's now 10:25 something told me to stay.
All the time I am ther I just know it it going to happen-- just a feeling-- I feel confident--
At 10:30 I am not ready to leave. I say one more minute--
That is when I hear it, somone walking in the Switch Grass-- I can't see far in the ambush spot. He popps over the fence--
Like a dream -- is this realy hapening-- wake up Rob
How big is he--- the biggest deer of my life---
will probably never see one bigger--- ( I never have)
If he continues up the hill, I will not get a shot-- if he makes a left turn down the trail.
It will happen ! HERE HE COMES, WALKING SLOW WITH HIS TOUNG HANGING OUT,HEAD DOWN FROM HAVING SOME FUN. dESPITE A FULL MOON ALL WEEK. hE IS HEADED BACK TO HIS BED.
sCOUTING DURING THE WEEK, i THINK HE IS THE ONE i SAW - JUST A FLASH - THIS WAS THICK COVER--
tHERE WAS ONLY A FEW TREES ON THE SIDE HILL.
tHE ONLY PLACE FOR ANY KIND OF STAND .
ok HERE COME THE EXCHUSES - i HAVE BEEN IN THE STAND FOR 5 HOURS-- i HAVE NOT PULLED BACK MY BOW-- my 65# jERRY pIERCE BOW FEELS LIKE 100 POUNDS - AS i DRAW BACK-- HE IS POINT BLANK--
HE IS MASSIVE-- WITH POINTS ALL OVER, THE BASE OF HIS ANTLERS HAVE ABOUT 2" OF CEDAR BARK ON THEM--
All the practice, all the thoughs of what to do go out the window, I cannot wait as he comes down he trail-- more like a rabbit path--
I can't wait, I make the mistake of not letting him get broadside. He is quARTERING TOWARD ME
I pull back - I hit the wall - the arrow is gone.
Can't take it back--
He never looses his stride, a combination of crunchy leaves and a quite bow - or God ! he never hears a thing.
Except for the next arrow that comes out of the quiver - ( the fastest draw I ever made) the rubber on the quiver makes a tiny little squeek.
He stops right below, he looks up--eye ball to eye ball. Minutes go by, my my arm is getting tired. The other hand holding the arrow is now startring to shake. wHEN WILL THIS END
IN one giant leap he is out of sight. I turn completely around, never expecting to shoot in that direction.
There he is -}-----> to be continued !
Post by: on July 10, 2014, 12:27:00 PM
This is a true story, a short version !
I hunted NJ NY and Pa. all my life -- Thousands of hours in a tree stand over a 40 year period !
Now I venture to Iowa--- the trip, the so called guide - Outfitter-- is yet another story.
I had to put off the trip until the week of Thanks Giving--- I passed some nice bucks-- my so called guide after a week of hunting
my so called guide said are you going to shoot a deer with that recurve ! How BIG of a buck
do you want to shoot--
I said, I will know it when I see him --
It was the last day of my hunt--- he said -- pick you up at 10:30
The morning was the first real cool day of the week. I saw a coyote and some pheasants--
It's now 10:25 something told me to stay.
All the time I am ther I just know it it going to happen-- just a feeling-- I feel confident--
At 10:30 I am not ready to leave. I say one more minute--
That is when I hear it, somone walking in the Switch Grass-- I can't see far in the ambush spot. He popps over the fence--
Like a dream -- is this realy hapening-- wake up Rob
How big is he--- the biggest deer of my life---
will probably never see one bigger--- ( I never have)
If he continues up the hill, I will not get a shot-- if he makes a left turn down the trail.
It will happen ! HERE HE COMES, WALKING SLOW WITH HIS TOUNG HANGING OUT,HEAD DOWN FROM HAVING SOME FUN. dESPITE A FULL MOON ALL WEEK. hE IS HEADED BACK TO HIS BED.
sCOUTING DURING THE WEEK, i THINK HE IS THE ONE i SAW - JUST A FLASH - THIS WAS THICK COVER--
tHERE WAS ONLY A FEW TREES ON THE SIDE HILL.
tHE ONLY PLACE FOR ANY KIND OF STAND .
ok HERE COME THE EXCHUSES - i HAVE BEEN IN THE STAND FOR 5 HOURS-- i HAVE NOT PULLED BACK MY BOW-- my 65# jERRY pIERCE BOW FEELS LIKE 100 POUNDS - AS i DRAW BACK-- HE IS POINT BLANK--
HE IS MASSIVE-- WITH POINTS ALL OVER, THE BASE OF HIS ANTLERS HAVE ABOUT 2" OF CEDAR BARK ON THEM--
All the practice, all the thoughs of what to do go out the window, I cannot wait as he comes down he trail-- more like a rabbit path--
I can't wait, I make the mistake of not letting him get broadside. He is quARTERING TOWARD ME
I pull back - I hit the wall - the arrow is gone.
Can't take it back--
He never looses his stride, a combination of crunchy leaves and a quite bow - or God ! he never hears a thing.
Except for the next arrow that comes out of the quiver - ( the fastest draw I ever made) the rubber on the quiver makes a tiny little squeek.
He stops right below, he looks up--eye ball to eye ball. Minutes go by, my my arm is getting tired. The other hand holding the arrow is now startring to shake. wHEN WILL THIS END
IN one giant leap he is out of sight. I turn completely around, never expecting to shoot in that direction.
There he is -}-----> to be continued !
Post by: Sockrsblur on July 10, 2014, 12:36:00 PM
Post by: D. Key on July 10, 2014, 12:38:00 PM
Post by: ChuckC on July 10, 2014, 01:58:00 PM
Well, at first light, a big ol skunk walked under his tree and he nailed it. . . to the ground. It started fighting and fussing and SPRAYING and so he kept shooting. Quiver completely empty (6 arrows), he climbs down and runs to buddy #2, tells the story and they go back to his tree where B2 shoots almost all of his arrows (5) at the skunk before he stops moving. At which time they discovered the skunk was standing on a gravel bar, just under the dirt and all of the arrows were toast.
To make it worse, after we loaded for the drive home, he took off real fast onto the highway and his spit can (we all chewed like hell back then) came tumbling off the dash and spilled all over.
Yup. . unbelievable
ChuckC
Post by: Terry Green on July 10, 2014, 07:30:00 PM
Keep them coming.... :campfire:
Post by: KyRidgeRunner on July 10, 2014, 07:49:00 PM
Post by: habujohn on July 10, 2014, 08:53:00 PM
Post by: tim roberts on July 10, 2014, 09:23:00 PM
Thanks,
Post by: Gdpolk on July 10, 2014, 10:12:00 PM
I was practicing with a fiend. It was hot and sunny so we were under the only good shade tree and shooting at tennis balls thrown out randomly. There was a hornet that came out and wanted us out of the shade. Well we didn't like it and I was having a good day so I told Michael that I'd shoot the hornet. Well I drew back an arrow with a field point on it and let it loose. I split the hornet in two on my first shot at him between his head and thorax. My buddy still talks about that shot today.
Post by: joe ashton on July 11, 2014, 04:30:00 AM
Post by: Ray Lyon on July 11, 2014, 07:15:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by elkken:That's the stuff that (Brackenbury) Legends are made of. :laughing:
Now this tent was WAY down the mountain, I mean a little spec, I was shooting a Cascade Nighthawk Magnum and Dale was shooting a Brackenbury Legend. Dale pulls back the Brackenbury and arches a shot toward the sun and down the mountain. When it hit the tent it let out a popping sound like a big ballon.
Post by: Terry Green on July 11, 2014, 09:50:00 AM
Tom and I had got on some angora goats the 1st day, and these were in the same area...only about 75 yards farther over the top this time.
We were putting a pretty good sneak on em even though they were coming toward us quartering off to our right.
Tom and I had made it to a row of scrubs, and was set up to let them pass.....but we weren't sure that would happen the way they were feeding along the edge of some grass. We were trying to decide, and leaning pretty hard at making an aggressive move across a wide open and barren distance to get in behind some cedars at the edge of the grass....but they were less than 100 yards away. We leaned hard, but continued to hold, as we had the wind in our favor if they passed us out of range for a stalk from the rear. No need in blowing it just yet........
We held too long, and had no choice but to wait.....and that was a good thing. They were now facing us and walking across a sheet of rock....the 8 of them turned into 16, and the 16 turned into 24....then there were about 30 of them in route to pass right by our scrub blind.
Three of them drifted to the right, including the one with the biggest horns, and were coming straight at us as the rest of the herd were in route to pass to our right.......yeah, every one would be in range soon, real soon as there was no forage in their path.
Everyone of them was now in range and all but a few were in the wide open for a shot, but the one I wanted was still in front with the brush blocking a shot. I decided to hold yet again for the one I wanted....the Billy.
Tom was to my left and I was bending over with my head in the cover. I'd left my feet planted away so I would have clearance to shoot by just straightening up from the waist. The one I wanted was only 15 yards away now........then one of the nannys spit.....and spit again. This alerted the whole herd, and the one I wanted perked up to see what the problem was.
My 'Billy' started strutting to the right to see what the fuss was about, and just as 'he' was about to present a perfect broadside shot, the herd started to skeedattle.....as did my 'Billy'.
'He' started galloping as he entered the wide open terrain quartering away. All I remember was swing drawing, and the next thing I remember was watching my arrow intercept 'him' just about perfect.
My prize only made it about 30 more yards or so, and collapsed by a tree in plain view. But my 'Billy' turned out to be a big Nanny :D
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/tx0718.jpg)
Post by: Mudd on July 11, 2014, 12:24:00 PM
Good shooting bud!!
God bless,Mudd
Post by: Ray Lyon on July 11, 2014, 12:38:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Mudd:X2 Mudd
"T" I guess that's what one would call extreme "ground shrink"....lol
Good shooting bud!!
God bless,Mudd
Post by: Terry Green on July 11, 2014, 12:44:00 PM
Her horns were as big as I thought, I just thought she was a smaller 'he'.
Post by: Wallydog on July 11, 2014, 04:02:00 PM
Post by: Mudd on July 11, 2014, 05:07:00 PM
No matter, that was a great trophy.
God bless,Mudd
Post by: reddogge on July 11, 2014, 05:13:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/DamonHowattSuperDiablo.jpg)
Post by: Terry Green on July 11, 2014, 05:22:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Mudd:Ah...Yes....TOO FUNNY!!!
"T" it was that extra male part shrinking that I was referring to....lol
No matter, that was a great trophy.
God bless,Mudd
Post by: JMG on July 11, 2014, 08:08:00 PM
My father, my brother and I went into the woods about 2:00PM that afternoon. We made our way down the "Old Road" That cuts through our property. My brother was the first to cut off to his stand, then my father and then I made my way over the hill to my stand next to a overgrown thicket field. Just prior to me climbing up my tree I heard noise coming from the thicket. I barely had time to nocked an arrow before a decent looking 8 pointer emerged from the side of the thicket looking as if he just been whooped and thrashed. He was gasping for air even. As he made his way up above me on the hill, as hard as it was, I made a decision not to shoot. I sat there watching the 8 pointer and was amazed when he started making a scrape within 30 yards of my position. When all of a sudden he let out, what later I found out to be a loud bellow followed by a series of grunts. Then the thicket "erupted" with noise, (limbs breaking, leaves rustling and grunts),. The 10 pointer came crashing through the edge of the thicket with his ears pinned to the back of his head. He stopped only 10-12 feet on the other side of the tree that I was getting ready to climb up in. He didn't move for what seemed like hours and I thought he was going to hear the thumping of my heart!! He was facing right at the tree that I was on the other side of. I waited for him to turn or something,,,and waited. He then reached up with his rear leg to scratch his face. At that moment I came to full draw and leaned out from the tree that was in between us. I took aim on the one side of his chest. I never wanted to take a frontal shot on a deer, especially a buck of this caliber but I had confidence that I could place my arrow just inside the shoulder blade. As the buck swung back around he noticed something was different but it was to late!! My Zwickey was on its way. It literally knocked him on his rear. He then went crashing back into the thicket with my arrow buried 3/4 of the way in his chest.
I went back and got my father & brother and second guessing my decision to make a frontal shot on him. :banghead: We gave him a little more then a hour before taking up the blood trail. It was more then easy to follow. All of us noticed he was heading for the creek that boarders our property. My dad shaking his head more and more for taking a frontal shot. We got within 40-50 yards of the creek as we was crawling on our hands & knees through some thick stuff following the blood trail when all of a sudden we heard a loud splash just ahead of us. All of us made a b-line for the creek. We got there just in time to see the buck emerge from the water on the other side. He was hurt bad. All I could see was his shoulders on up through a crotch of a tree. As I was drawing my arrow back I can hear my dads voice whispering to me, his to far, let him lay over night, we will find him. I released my Zwickey tipped arrow and everything went into slow motion. My arrow blew the dust off the crotch of that tree and crashed into the spine at the base of the 10 pointers neck!! He went straight down sliding back into the creek!! The next thing I heard was "I be damned" coming from my dad. The shot was 45 yards and shot from my 55# Martin Hunter. We still talk about that shot as if it was yesterday. Thanks for taking the time to read.
Post by: Charlie Lamb on July 11, 2014, 11:49:00 PM
Once a buddy and I were checking fences on the ranch where we worked. I was carrying my bow and was ready for anything that beautiful spring day.
As we moved along a small spring creek that ran up through a green grass meadow ground squirrels would occasionally pop up along the creek bank. They'd grab a quick peek and take off across the green headed for burrows in the bordering sage.
After seeing this happen the third time I decided to take action. When the next squirrel showed his little head over the creek bank I tapped my buddy on the shoulder and as I swung my bow around square with the target I whispered to him to "watch this".
As the squirrel headed for cover I swung the bow up and was quickly "on" the squirrel. No need to hesitate I added a little lead and let the arrow slip.
I think I knew it immediately. You know, that feeling when it all comes together just perfect and you just know nothing will come between the arrow and the target.
It seemed like the arrow was flying in slow motion as it sailed toward the racing squirrel. And of a sudden the arrow and squirrel were all a blur in one confused mess of motion.
My buddy was jumping up and down and yelling while he slapped me on the back. I just smiled... a real big smile.
We stepped off the shot at 65 long strides from where I shot to where the squirrel died.
Post by: dhermon85 on July 12, 2014, 12:04:00 AM
Post by: vintage-bears on July 12, 2014, 09:04:00 AM
When I get to my pc, I have one to share.
Post by: Kanwin on July 12, 2014, 09:35:00 AM
Post by: 4runr on July 12, 2014, 11:13:00 AM
My first trad kill was quite memorable.
My friend Joe Weed (osagetree), invited me down for a weekend hunt on public land. It was October 2006. I had been looking forward to this hunt for weeks. As the time got closer, the temps kept rising. The forecast for the weekend called for 90's. I'm a cold weather person and hunting with temps in the 90's almost kept me home.
Joe said come on man, if nothing else we'll kill some time and just visit.
The first few sits were uneventful, and we were getting discouraged. So on the last morning, Oct.6 (my Mom's birthday), Joe took me in to one of his favorite spots. He had a lock-on way up high in a Hickory, I believe. Got in and settled. It was about 80 degrees at sunup. I herd a slight rustle behind me.
I was up about 25 feet in this tree, and the ground behind me sloped down quickly to a small gravel bottom creek. The rustle I kept hearing sounded like something dragging in gravel.
When it got light enough to see, the first thing I saw was antler tines moving.
There was a buck bedded in the creek. Right on the gravel bar. Well that made sense. It was a lot cooler down there, but I had walked right past him on the way in. Things just seemed a little odd. He wasn't bedded like they normally do. He was laying on his side, and kind of thrashing at times.
He changed positions a couple times and I could tell he wasn't too healthy. I thought maybe he got hit by a car or wounded by another hunter.
I thought about getting down and getting closer and putting him out of his misery, but it was prime time and Joe was doing a slow sneak in a big arc to try to nudge something my way.
All this went on for several hours, then he got up on his feet. He had a pretty decent rack once I could see the whole thing. It looked like he was heading away. I had to make a decision. It was a long shot, at an animal that was obviously suffering. The direction he was heading was thick and brushy.
I was shooting an RER Vortex at the time. I shot it pretty dang well most of the time. I had to try.
The shot was every bit of thirty five yards out and down about 40-45 feet from my elevation. I thought NO WAY! Next thing I knew the arrow was arcing in beautiful flight. He was quartering hard away and the arrow entered at in front of his left hip and buried about 3/4 of its length into his vitals.
He dropped and kicked a couple times and laid still.
Joe arrived some tome later and I directed him to my buck. He about crapped his pants. Couldn't believe my first trad kill was a shot that long.
The buck was sick with Blue tongue desease.
Post by: shankspony on July 12, 2014, 05:08:00 PM
Id never seen a pig die that quick.
Post by: Bowwild on July 12, 2014, 07:16:00 PM
Not amazing other than I happened to connect on a very inattentive starling about 4 decades ago.
Buddies were shooting starlings with shotguns. I showed up with a Bear B Mag. A flock was too high for the scatterguns so I launched a try. It seemed that the entire flock of hundreds saw my arrow coming except for one hapless bird near the tail end of the flock.
That male starling ended up with an arrow between the beak and the eye and it seemed his neck was a stretched out a bit when I fetched him. The shotgunners were only slightly more amazed than I was.
I'm not proud of a couple other shots that would have made this list had I made them. One involved a running antelope and another a small white-tail buck when I was 17. Neither animal was touched and I learned important restraint lessons on both.
Post by: onewhohasfun on July 13, 2014, 07:27:00 AM
One area was a pine plantation in rolling hills. Mature oaks were scattered among the pines leaving small openings in the dense evergreens. This was a prime breeding area loaded with tabletop size scrapes and big rubs. It was mid November.
Friday morning I climbed into a giant oak with big horizontal branches. No tree stand, just standing on a couple large branches. About mid morning a nice 9 pt. came by trailing a doe and I double lunged him with a Zwickey out of my GFA Bighorn recurve. About a 15 yd. shot and he didn't go far.
Well Saturday evening I was in the same tree and not much happened till just before dark. The tending grunt of a buck broke the silence and they were headed right for me.
First the doe, on the same trail I shot the 9 pt on the day before. A nice mature 8 pt.grunting right on her heels. I thought, "This is going to be a piece of cake, I mean, I just did this yesterday."
Well instead of turning left the doe headed right and took of an a run, the buck running right behind her. I'M FACING THE WRONG WAY! So I jumped and spun a 180 while drawing my bow and when my feet hit the wood the arrow was gone.
My arrow hit the buck just before he disappeared thru a wall of pines.
Dark was coming on fast, so after about 10 minutes I got down and took up the trail. As soon as I got into the pines I found my arrow laying there without a lot of blood not 5 yds. from the hit. Looked like a shoulder hit for sure. It started to rain.
Fearing a long tracking job in the dark I ran and got the Coleman lantern and took up the trail.
He only made it 30 yds. Dead in 5 seconds. My shot was perfect behind the left shoulder, hitting the opposite shoulder popped the 2 blade out as he ran.
AS a side note, This is the reason I switched to a stick bow. 3 yrs. earlier I missed a giant buck straight below me. AT 1 YARD. Same group of pines.
That was the last time I ever shot a compound. Never shot one again.
Post by: Sockrsblur on July 13, 2014, 09:58:00 AM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on July 13, 2014, 01:25:00 PM
The distance was about 15 yards. I pulled a cedar arrow from the quiver and laid it across the rest of my 82# Hill Big Five. The aim happened while the shaft was coming slowly across the rest and the release came as I touched anchor and my drawing arm came in line with the arrow.
The shot was a good one but the weasel had vacated his space. A small hole in the snow bank showed where my arrow had landed.
In just seconds the weasel reappeared. I slid a second arrow onto the string.
This shot would turn out to be exactly like the first one. The weasel wasn't there when the arrow got there.
Once again like the proverbial jack in the box the little guy popped up one more time and one more time I eased an arrow from the quiver at my back.
Bearing down like grim death I put a little extra will into this shot. My fingers slipped smoothly from the string and the arrow zipped toward the weasel.
But he had my number. One final time he watched the arrow come and one final time he ducked not to reemerge while I was there.
I moved forward to retrieve my arrows. At the entrance to the weasels tunnel I found one single small hole in the snow. All three of my shots had entered the same hole.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/squatdraw1.jpg)
Post by: Tsalt on July 14, 2014, 12:01:00 AM
I manage to put my phone in my pocket and get on my feet. I grunted to stop the second and larger buck, then watched in despair as my arrow sailed over his back at 25 yards.
It was a windy day so the buck just startled a bit but didn't bolt. But by the time I got the second arrow knocked the buck had started walking again… straight away from me. I could see his tines were well outside his ears and I begged God for another shot.
As I prayed he made a left hand turn and entered the last shooting lane...which I stepped off later at 4o yards. Right here...
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/IMG_8170_zps72f257e7.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/IMG_8170_zps72f257e7.jpg.html)
I grunted again and he stopped again
I've heard guys talk about seeing the arrow in slow motion and that's the best way I know how to describe this shot. I watched the arrow arc through the air then drop perfectly into the bucks shoulder with a solid smack. I immediately knew it was a good hit as the buck lurched forward with his left leg looking somewhat limp. He was down in under 60 seconds. The longest shot I've ever attempted resulted in my best buck ever.
(http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h344/timsalters/IMG_8177_zpsb143fcd4.jpg) (http://s1105.photobucket.com/user/timsalters/media/IMG_8177_zpsb143fcd4.jpg.html)
Post by: TooManyHobbies on July 14, 2014, 11:00:00 AM
Post by: Jerry Jeffer on July 14, 2014, 06:42:00 PM
I watched the arrow in the air for what seemed a very long time. The Doe also was watching the arrow, and tried to turn away from it. The arrow entered behind the last rib and buried into the opposite shoulder as she turned to run.
I waited only a few minutes and went to see if my arrow was on the ground, or if I could find blood. Just then, my partner was coming up from his morning sit. He asked if I hit a deer.
"Yes"! I exclaimed.
I stayed at the hit sight, and he looked for blood a bit ahead. A good blood trail started right away and we saw the doe down about 45 yards ahead. She went about 50-60 yards total.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/Snapbucket/EFEA213C-orig.jpg) (http://s47.photobucket.com/user/jjeffer/media/Snapbucket/EFEA213C-orig.jpg.html)
Post by: TimRadke on July 14, 2014, 07:10:00 PM
I won't talk about the other 40 shots I've missed at pheasants that summer...
Post by: Terry Green on July 14, 2014, 07:39:00 PM
Yeah Charlie...I hear ya...laboring HARD to list my 3rd....too many to choose from....I have narrowed it down to 2, two from TX and one from WY!!! I know you know the one from WY. And you've heard about the other two from TX.
C'mon guys....keep them coming. The mind and bow can do pretty amazing things at times...lets showcase them!!!!
Post by: Guru on July 14, 2014, 08:17:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Terry Green:That was awesome to witness!!!
Great reads.....fun reading Mudd's since I was there...brought back great memories. One of my most unbelievable shots was on the previous pheasant hunt. The revers cant leaning back pretzel shot on a pheasant.
QuoteOriginally posted by Guru:Keep em coming.... [/b]
I may have made the longest shot of the hunt, but without a doubt Terry made the coolest shot!
This bird flushed straight up and decided to fly right over the line of shooters. Terry swung on the bird and waited till he cleared the other shooters and was directly above his head.
I mean he was twisted, leaning back, reverse canted, shooting directly over his head as the bird crossed about 20ft over his head...and he just hammered him in one of the most contorted positions I've ever seen!
As excited as I got over my shot, I think I carried on even more over the shot I'd just witnessed Terry just pulled off.....it was one of those you really needed to be there, to see it, to appreciate it...
.
.
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1040037bama.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1040036bama.JPG)
Post by: reddogge on July 14, 2014, 08:41:00 PM
I was shooting a 43# Bear Grizzly, Bear Microflights with Razorheads. At the shot the deer jumped 90 degrees to the arrow flight and the arrow hit him while his hind quarters were still airborne and the Razorhead sliced open his femoral artery and his belly. If you look close you can see the femoral arthery wound. A quick death ensued with the deer going down within eyesight.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Archery/APG5pt1969-1.jpg)
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on July 14, 2014, 08:45:00 PM
Except for this 23+ yard swimming Carp. I thought no way. Had to Clout shoot him but shots were way to far and few between. I shot out all of my line just as it impacted the fish.
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/Bowfishing/1340326193.jpg) (http://s1135.photobucket.com/user/cjohntalk/media/Bowfishing/1340326193.jpg.html)
Post by: Ray Lyon on July 14, 2014, 09:19:00 PM
Post by: Archie on July 15, 2014, 12:35:00 AM
Post by: rbcorbitt on July 16, 2014, 06:12:00 AM
Post by: Kris on July 16, 2014, 09:53:00 AM
I can still picture the white fletched, Judo tipped, MFX 400 arching across my lawn...B A R E L Y clearing the grass berm the squirrel was behind. I heard a very faint P O P...or what I thought was a sound??? No way! I had to finish what I had been doing in the house before I was distracted by this ridiculous and "time wasting" fun.
About 45 mins. later, I ambled down across my lawn to find a stone cold, young grey
squirrel with a 400 shaft half way through both eyes.
Truly amazing (and lucky of course)...I had interpolated where the squirrel should have been and took a blind shot and connected at almost 50 yards.
Kris
notes: There are a 40 vertical feet of grade change across my lawn, this makes the shot "tree-stand like". There are squirrels on my lawn most of the time; so shots are taken often, making these distances familiar and known.
I was shooting a 62" 57#@28" Silvertip recurve.
Post by: maineac on July 16, 2014, 04:38:00 PM
Post by: twitchstick on July 16, 2014, 06:00:00 PM
Post by: wingnut on July 16, 2014, 06:27:00 PM
The hunt started pretty quiet. In fact, we both laid down and took an hour nap to let the sun move a bit more west before we headed up the south side of the drainage. As we moved we began seeing a lot of fresh elk sign and continued to climb. As the drainage turned into basin at the top we flushed a grouse and Paul to off to see if he could collect it for the pot. I waited patiently on the trail and that's where shot number one occurred. As I stood silently on the trail I heard the snarling and snapping of a charging critter directly in front of me. I readied an arrow thinking that this could be the last of me. And then it broke from cover coming at full speed. I drew and released without thought and it was over. A one ounce shrew had met it's maker and non to soon as it was only 4 ft from my foot.
Paul came back with the grouse and I told him the story and showed my kill.
We progressed down the basin to keep the wind right and crossed the creek. All of a sudden there were elk moving right to left. I called and Paul drew and shot. I watched a cow move into a clearing 50 yds ahead and go down. Paul signaled for us to switch positions and I moved forward. He called and another cow presented herself between two trees 35 yds up hill, one covering her shoulder and the other her rear quarters. A ray of the sun broke through and illuminated the kill zone. I drew my longbow and released watching the arrow hit in the middle of the 10 ring if there had been one. She walked up hill 30 yds and collapsed.
And those are the best shots I have ever made.
Mike
Post by: Swinestalker on July 17, 2014, 05:42:00 PM
Post by: Sockrsblur on July 17, 2014, 11:28:00 PM
Post by: fnshtr on July 18, 2014, 07:11:00 PM
A squirrel jumped up on the side of an oak tree about 20 yards away and my son said "shoot him dad!". I pulled up, figuring to ruin or lose the arrow and took him off the side of the tree. He went to school the next day and told his friends what a great shot I was. PURE LUCK!
Also remember a nice little 6 point buck I stalked from 150 yards to within 20 on a windy, rainy morning. I had lost sight of him as I crawled the last 40 yards or so. He had been feeding on acorns on a flat that had been recently timbered. When I raised up to find him, he raised his head and I caught the movement. He was about 20 yards away, just on the other side of a pile of tree tops.
The shot was perfect... he ran up the hill away from me, then turned to his right and stumbled back down the hill and died within about 20 yards of me.
My final one was about 55 yards on a whitetail buck. Long story, but he was standing in a position that it was pretty much kill or miss (between two tree trunks with branches over top).
Enjoying this thread.
Post by: Homebru on July 18, 2014, 10:00:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by onewhohasfun:I shot a Bear bow as a kid, for fun. Stolen by our neighbor. I shot powder burners for a number of years.
......
AS a side note, This is the reason I switched to a stick bow. 3 yrs. earlier I missed a giant buck straight below me. AT 1 YARD. Same group of pines.
That was the last time I ever shot a compound. Never shot one again.
Shortly before my Dad died, he bought a compound bow so that he could hunt in warmer weather with another group of guys (Dad never killed deer but hunted every year).
After Dad died, I inherited the bow. Several years later I decided to hunt with it. One season. I was hunting from the ground and had an encounter with the largest 8-point whitetail deer I've ever seen. Lot's of "holy crap, you shouldn't do that with a whitetail nearby" kinds of things (whistling at the buck, standing and turning around, etc.). That big boy came walking right past me (I was on the ground) and I shot right over his back at about 6 yards. I decided right then and there that the sights on that bow were of no value and neither were the wheels.
homebru
Post by: cahaba on July 18, 2014, 11:27:00 PM
Post by: cahaba on July 18, 2014, 11:28:00 PM
About 45 min. into the hunt I spotted a rabbit out in the open on a little rise in the landscape. I knew the shot was at or beyond my maximum distance of my effective shooting range but everything felt right.
I raise my longbow up stared at the rabbits head and get off a good release. I watched the arrow as it arched toward the target and seen it hit right below the rabbits head in the neck area. The rabbit makes a couple of jumps and took it's last breath.
I walked off the distance of the shot and it was 36 long paces from where I shot to where the rabbit lay. I skinned him out and drop him in a gallon freezer bag.
The rest of the day was uneventful. I got home and asked my wife where the flour was. I basted the rabbit with heated liquefied butter and rolled him in flour. I fried him in a deep cast iron skillet with some scallions and a little wine. My wife loved the taste of the rabbit and said "go kill us some more". She loves the taste of rabbit better than chicken and I do too! Rabbit season starts Oct. 1st. this year and I for one can't wait!
Post by: robertson on July 20, 2014, 05:13:00 AM
My Humble participation :
I was hunting black bear in Quebec fews years ago .
My freind had set a tree machan between three differents trees .
I heart and saw that bear passing under my platform going toward the bait that was 12 yards away , i wait for a good position for the shot and release an arrow that seems to be really good , the bear run full speed to where he was comming but as i was watching him he never make it on the other side of the platform , instead he decided to climb on one of the trees where my platform was fixed !!!
I was just getting out from a bad accident on a motocycle and i just spent 3 years on cast and crutches , i did not want to jump from that hight no way ; that bear stops when he saw me , he was so close that i could reach it with my hand , but he is just there looking at me , i start very slowly to get an arrow from my quiver , i managed to get that arrow on the string very slowly , to get to full draw and released this arrow which went right throught behind the shoulder , after fews seconds his head mooved from one side to the other then he let go and crash on the ground.
This poor bear was so surprised to see me there that he never mooved during all the process .
I could not imagine, one day, to shoot at a bear so close .
Post by: on July 21, 2014, 05:59:00 AM
on a clear bank was a monster bull with eyes shining the size of dimes, we were on our way out and I thought I might as well try a long shot of about 10 yds. the frog was sitting facing the bank and i drew and released the arrow with a hammerhead on the end and nailed him right through the head and anchored him dead on impact into the mud.(my girlfriend said : (your pretty amazing with that bow)...I just grinned an said.
yaa..that was a good shot, as I held up my trophy bullfrog .
Post by: BWallace10327 on July 21, 2014, 08:07:00 AM
Post by: Tedd on July 21, 2014, 02:26:00 PM
The first time I felt it was at about 9-10 years old. I was out shooting whatever I could when I noticed a pigeon land on the barn roof. From where I stood, without creeping closer, I drew back my fiberglass bear 20lb bow and sent a mismatched arrow at that pigeon. Distance must have been close to 40-50 yards. I was hoping it was going to find it's mark because a miss meant a leaking roof! I hit that pigeon perfectly and killed him cleanly.
My best on a deer was a little buck that came to rattling horns. He smelled me and was getting ready to leave. He was pretty far out and down hill at an awkward angle for me. I had just a sliver of an opening in the brush for just a second. The little Morrison longbow somehow came to full draw and my arrow was gone. Like an arching guided missile it dropepd right into the little tennis ball sized opening passing through the deer's heart with almost no friction. The Magnus 2 blade was deep in the dirt on the other side. He ran off and crashed in a few seconds. The blood trail was heavy. I paced it off later at 48 yards. I doubt I could get within a foot of that in 10 shots most days. But that day I had no doubt.
Post by: Matthew Bolton on July 23, 2014, 09:49:00 AM
As soon as I let go I heard the arrow whack him. I'm glad my buddies were there because nobody would believe that I shot a frog that I couldn't see, in the head, at over 15 yards. One of them kept calling it a legendary shot!
(http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i433/matthewbolton1/Mobile%20Uploads/2DB50A61-7E8E-4B87-B52E-BFFD6BFC4D6D.jpg) (http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/matthewbolton1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2DB50A61-7E8E-4B87-B52E-BFFD6BFC4D6D.jpg.html)
Post by: Joe2Crow on July 23, 2014, 05:23:00 PM
Post by: MAW on July 24, 2014, 04:33:00 PM
Two years ago was my first full season hunting with trad gear. I had had a bountiful season killing a few sika does, a turkey and a big pig. I had a full freezer but couldn't get enough of recurve hunting and found myself in a tree again in doe season in Jamuary. About 15 minutes before dark, a doe came out at about 30 yards. She was extremely skiddish, and I knew she wasn't going to come any closer so I raised my bow, tried to pick a spot, then cut loose. The doe jumped the string, wheeled towards me and dropped in her tracks the instant my arrow got there. It was getting close to dark when I took the shot, and I thought I had hit her in the white throat patch. She barely kicked when she went down, but I nocked another one and put it in the boiler room just in case (my second arrow actually missed, third went into the goodies - full disclosure). When I got out of the tree and went over to take a look, I saw my first arrow had hit her directly in the nose/mouth, gone through her mouth, and buried deep in the spinal cord. She was dead before she hit the ground. I was using a 2 blade broadhead, and it hit in the vertical position leaving a 1/2" cut on the nose dead center. I'm really not proud of this kill at all, and had a pretty bad feeling afterwards. But, as fast as a small TX hill country doe moves in Late January, this shot had to be as lucky as it would have been for me to Howard Hill a quarter in the air at 30 yards...
Figured I'd add one to the pot in hopes of encouraging more posts since I've read evry post on this thread...
Post by: Horne Shooter on July 24, 2014, 10:01:00 PM
#2 Was mule deer hunting in Colorado and had not had much luck. I had to leave early the next day so I decided to stay in camp that evening and fish for rainbows in the lake near us. I was with my hunting buddy and we had caught quite a few fish when we saw a mule deer doe drinking from the lake. We were in a canoe and it was not the best platform to shoot from- we just kind of slowly paddled closer and closer. Anyway, I don't know how far the shot was but probably farther than I should have taken. I concentrated on a dark spot behind her shoulder and released. The arrow arched in and missed the tiny spot by about an inch. She went 20 yards and piled up.
#1 I was hog hunting in South Texas up in a tri-pod and it was very close to dark. I could only see about 15 yards. I pig came walking down the sendero and in that few minutes since I first saw him it was now truly dark. I could only see his outline. I had cut only one shooting lane through the brush and he would not make it to that hole before I would not be able to see him at all. He was about 10 yards and the only way I could shoot through the only small opening I now had available was to turn my bow horizontally and pick a spot at the shadow that was the pig. Upon release he made a squeal and when we found him (about 50 yards later) the arrow was directly behind his front shoulder. Better lucky than good I guess...
There's more but I think I've used up my time!
Post by: rbcorbitt on August 01, 2014, 06:14:00 PM
Post by: Liquid Courage on August 01, 2014, 07:06:00 PM
(http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/sr1378/20130920_0754391_zps31dd7a38.jpg) (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/sr1378/media/20130920_0754391_zps31dd7a38.jpg.html)
(http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/sr1378/20130920_0758111_zpsbf8535da.jpg) (http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/sr1378/media/20130920_0758111_zpsbf8535da.jpg.html)
Post by: Thumper Dunker on August 01, 2014, 08:49:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/timkoi/027_zps61b0331f.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/timkoi/media/027_zps61b0331f.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/timkoi/023_zps7d546a63.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/timkoi/media/023_zps7d546a63.jpg.html)
Post by: dhermon85 on August 01, 2014, 08:50:00 PM
Post by: rbcorbitt on August 05, 2014, 08:29:00 PM
Keep 'em coming!
Post by: Pheonixarcher on September 17, 2014, 05:04:00 AM
Post by: Roger Norris on September 17, 2014, 08:07:00 AM
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/IMG_0596.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/IMG_0596.jpg.html)
Post by: reddogge on September 17, 2014, 08:28:00 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0603/reddogge/Hunting/SAM_2968_zps0ad0590e.jpg)
Post by: KentuckyTJ on September 17, 2014, 08:55:00 AM
The one that comes to my mind is during our 2007 deer season. I had hunted hard for a buck I was interested in taking. I had seen him a two occasions and he kept alluding me. The reason I tell you this is if not for this want I most likely never would have taken the shot at him that I did.
On one evening of mid September I was perched in a large tree in the core of his area in a creek bottom. At deerthirty I see deer coming down the deep banked creek my stand was located on. The creek funneled the deer around a corner and the pinch was made by a field edge 40 yards from the creek in this bend.
The deer were still in their bachelor groups at this time of the year and the first one I could make out was a smaller 8 point this deer had been hanging with. I knew there were other behind him so I stood and readied myself for the moment of truth.
The small 8 made his way down the trail past me. The other buck of the three party group was not far behind, and directly behind him I could see my buck bringing up the rear as usual. The second deer got to about 16 yards from me on the trail and locked up. I think he got a whiff of something that was lurking down the trail high in a tree.
Well he was the cork in the bottle so to speak and although not spooky freaked out I could tell he got just enough that he wasn't going to proceed. My buck about 10 yards behind was looking around like what in the heck is the problem.
At this the spoiler buck turned around and was still trying to figure it all out. My buck turned as well broadside and stopped thankfully. Well what makes this an unbelievable shot in my mind is that the other buck was 6-10 yards in front of my buck and the total distance was 26 yards to where my buck was standing. I normally would never take a 26 yard shot and especially not with another deer close in front or behind.
But in my desired state of this deer and against my better judgement, I drew and released one. The arrow flew true and I watched as it went over the first deers back missing him by about a foot. It then slammed through my bucks boiler room and they both took off. I found the deer about 100 yards up the creek. Am pretty proud of that shot but most likely would never attempt it again.
(http://i47.tinypic.com/2hp0xvo.jpg)
(http://i48.tinypic.com/30i8jzc.jpg)
Post by: ChuckC on September 17, 2014, 09:01:00 AM
Roger, try that shot with a compound, sights and a release !
I almost got to make a great shot last night.
Buck came in at last light, turned off the trail about 40 yards out and went to another trail behind me. My shot would have been thru a screen of brush, deflected off a poplar that I cleared for that very purpose, across and then down an open area we call "the alley" and bam, heart shot on the deer.
Unfortunately the buck caught my scent cause the wind shifted at the last minute and I never took that shot. Maybe tomorrow ?
:knothead:
CHuckC
Post by: archeryprof on September 17, 2014, 04:09:00 PM
Post by: Charlie3 on September 17, 2014, 04:14:00 PM
Post by: archeryprof on September 17, 2014, 04:36:00 PM
Post by: Marshallrobinson on September 17, 2014, 04:41:00 PM
Post by: CoachBGriff on September 18, 2014, 12:10:00 AM
This was my best shot ever! I was trying to build my confidence with a new bow. This did the trick. The distance was only about 13 yards.
Post by: adudeuknow on September 18, 2014, 03:40:00 AM
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/adudeuknow/squirrelshot003_zps3ee1a6fc.jpg) (http://s71.photobucket.com/user/adudeuknow/media/squirrelshot003_zps3ee1a6fc.jpg.html)
Post by: hybridbow hunter on September 18, 2014, 02:39:00 PM
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/hybridbowhunter/BICHEDEJAVA-1.jpg) (http://s758.photobucket.com/user/hybridbowhunter/media/BICHEDEJAVA-1.jpg.html)
Post by: ChuckC on September 18, 2014, 04:39:00 PM
Great story and great shooting. Seems like with trad, you are calling on the force, and not on gadgets. What sort of deer is that ?
ChuckC
Post by: hybridbow hunter on September 19, 2014, 01:40:00 AM
Rusa deer are a tad bigger than whitetails deer with mature doe weighting 100-130# and biggest bucks 320-330#
(http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/hybridbowhunter/DSC03080.jpg) (http://s758.photobucket.com/user/hybridbowhunter/media/DSC03080.jpg.html)
Post by: ChuckC on September 19, 2014, 07:44:00 AM
Thank you
ChuckC
Post by: lbshooter on September 19, 2014, 08:19:00 AM
I am infested with these pests....over 20 yards away sitting on my stone wall... with the Silvertip!!.....love that bow!
Post by: tarponnut on September 19, 2014, 10:45:00 AM
My friend Dave and I were walking from some timber into a small meadow. We spotted a rabbit sitting on the far edge(about 25 yards?), without thinking I drew back my Bear Black Bear recurve and released. The arrow took it in the eye and came out the far ear, it jumped straight up in the air and flopped dead on the ground.
I can picture it like it was yesterday but it was actually 35 years ago.
2.I made a surprising shot on a corn rat in Florida a couple of years ago. Twelve yards, through the head, on video.
It's on my Youtube channel: Jim Dussias
Post by: hybridbow hunter on September 19, 2014, 10:52:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by ChuckC:Yes they have a nice roar. Here is a link about those deer made by a friend. Sorry, It is in French but you can hear the deer at 0:15 sec
very nice. During the rut time, do these deer make special sounds ? Like elk or Red stag ?
Thank you
ChuckC
The one I have heard were more high pitched though
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbfvhs_le-cerf-de-java-a-la-re-union_animals
Post by: Terry Green on February 09, 2018, 08:04:00 AM
Post by: Trenton G. on February 09, 2018, 08:49:00 AM
Post by: Orion on February 09, 2018, 03:53:00 PM
After getting set up in my climbing treestand just at shooting hours during a late season December hunt, a forky buck fallowed my trail in and walked right up to the tree I was in.
It was still not totally light, and as he turned and walked away, I let him get about 8-10 yards out and attempted to shoot him left of the spine as he angled away. Shot felt good, but I couldn't see my arrow fly. Heard a solid thunk though so thought I put a good shot on him.
He bolted in a semi-circle, as I put another arrow on the bow, and stopped about 28n yards away (I paced it off later) facing just a little away from broadside. His head was behind a tree, and I saw one of his hind legs appear to wobble/move backward. Vitals were clear so I decided to put a finishing shot into him.
Watched the arrow arc out and hit him perfectly behind the front leg. He bolted over the ridge.
I lowered my bow, descended the tree and went to retrieve my first arrow. Imagine my surprise, when I found it sticking in the frozen ground with nary a drop of blood on it.
No blood between it and where the deer was standing when I took the second shot. Immediate heavy blood there, and found the deer about 50 yards away in the bottom of the draw. Field dressing confirmed the events. I missed on the first shot, but an X from a 4-blade Zwickey delta was right through the center of the heart.
Guess I'm a better shot when I think the critter is already dead. :bigsmyl:
Post by: on February 09, 2018, 04:20:00 PM
Post by: Buckeye1977 on February 09, 2018, 05:45:00 PM
Post by: nek4me on February 09, 2018, 07:04:00 PM
I slowly leaned back to put the tree between us and in one quick motion drew back and leaned forward and released. I heard a sharp crack like a .22 then looked to see the back half of the Microflite with hair and blood in the splintered end lying across the unseen hole. Thought about digging it out but didn't want to attract attention to what I did there. The woodlot and field is now a neighborhood of homes and I still wonder where that Razorhead and front piece of shaft ended up after all the construction.
Post by: Jerry Gille on February 09, 2018, 11:03:00 PM
Post by: Tim Hoeck on February 10, 2018, 08:48:00 PM
Post by: Ron LaClair on February 11, 2018, 08:51:00 PM
My brother in law said look at that mouse running along the top of the wall. My osage self bow was close by so I grabbed it and a arrow with a judo. As the little rodent scurried along the wall I swung and shot pinning him. I just missed a framed picture which I hadn't noticed.
The other guys were compound shooters so I tried to act nonchalant like it was no big deal. :dunno:
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Runningmouse.jpg)
Post by: Barry Wensel on February 12, 2018, 12:33:00 AM
Post by: batbow on February 12, 2018, 01:30:00 AM
But I did have one this year that was amazing/unbelievable.
Fall turkey this year.
They came in unexpectedly and were quickly wandering out of range when I noticed them. I had been practicing alot with this bow out to 44 yds, and these guys were at about 35 when I shot.
I watched the shot all the way in, took him exactly where I wanted. I thought it was just a real good shot.
Now my buddy who was watching over my shoulder started laughing, and I was like what are you laughing at? He said I cant believe you hit him! I said what do you mean?
He said you skimmed the top of that log about 5 yards in front of him , and the arrow deflected right into his vitals. He said otherwise you woild have shot under him.!
I said no way that was a clean shot, I watched it all the way in.
He says no, the arrow deflected off the log.
So we went and looked, sure enough there was a fresh slice about an inch long right on top of the log!
Then we both laughed and I felt a little silly for actually thinking I could make a shot like that without Lady Luck giving me a little assistance!
Post by: robertson on February 12, 2018, 03:25:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by batbow:
Most of mine are amazing to me! LOL!
But I did have one this year that was amazing/unbelievable.
Fall turkey this year.
They came in unexpectedly and were quickly wandering out of range when I noticed them. I had been practicing alot with this bow out to 44 yds, and these guys were at about 35 when I shot.
I watched the shot all the way in, took him exactly where I wanted. I thought it was just a real good shot.
Now my buddy who was watching over my shoulder started laughing, and I was like what are you laughing at? He said I cant believe you hit him! I said what do you mean?
He said you skimmed the top of that log about 5 yards in front of him , and the arrow deflected right into his vitals. He said otherwise you woild have shot under him.!
I said no way that was a clean shot, I watched it all the way in.
He says no, the arrow deflected off the log.
So we went and looked, sure enough there was a fresh slice about an inch long right on top of the log!
Then we both laughed and I felt a little silly for actually thinking I could make a shot like that without Lady Luck giving me a little assistance!
Post by: robertson on February 12, 2018, 03:28:00 AM
I wanted add that... :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Post by: J from Denmark on February 12, 2018, 08:21:00 AM
Post by: Ron LaClair on February 12, 2018, 09:37:00 AM
Over the years I've made some good running shots on deer and rabbits and once made a wittnessed shot on a caribou running full bore at 35yd's
Barry has some of his "fantastic shots" recorded on video so there's no doubt he's the running shot king. Some may think shooting at a running animal is unethical and maybe it is but I've never lost an animal that I've shot on the run.
To be able to make shots like that takes a lot of practice. I don't practice that kind of shooting anymore so I haven't made any running shots in a long time.
Post by: Barry Wensel on February 12, 2018, 11:34:00 AM
Sad to say, just before I moved to Iowa the golf course discovered rat poison. A lot of life is in proper timing. bw
Post by: Orion on February 12, 2018, 12:15:00 PM
In truth, I tried to shoot the first one in line, but just couldn't get on it, nor the second, but felt good on the third so let it go. Pierced the heart. Distance was about 8 yards.
While in my tree stand many years ago, I decided to take a shot at a large fox squirrel that had been ferrying cobs of corn from the field above me to somewhere deeper in the woods.
He came running by with a full cob in his mouth at about 35 yards. I shot just as he was approaching a drywash, and when the arrow hit, it bowled him over into the ravine. I was actually a bit surprised that I hit him at that distance, but was even more surprised when I retrieved him. The Zwickey judo was lodged right behind his front leg.
Post by: DRR324 on February 12, 2018, 01:37:00 PM
Post by: DarkTimber on February 12, 2018, 02:41:00 PM
I wrote a thread about this hunt a few months back so I apologize if it's redundant to some of you that already read about it.
I was sitting on an exposed mountain side in Idaho, my once in a lifetime Mountain Goat tag in my pocket. I'd spent nearly the last 3 hours climbing and clawing my way up the near vertical mountain. The cold wind hit my face and I could feel the front moving in. The weather stations promised it was bringing several days to a week of snow. As I stared at the mature billy 36 yards below me I knew this might be my only opportunity of the hunt, and maybe of my life. There was no more cover between us and I knew this was as close as I was getting. I'd practiced this shot all summer and my confidence was high. As he rolled up on his belly exposing his lungs I slowly stood and came to full draw. It was one of those shots you know is perfect as soon as it slips from your fingers. When the arrow struck, the billy exploded from his bed and made it about 150 yds before I lost sight of him in a small group of trees....he never made it out.
(https://i.imgur.com/0lBe9sl.jpg)
Post by: J from Denmark on February 12, 2018, 03:10:00 PM
Post by: Bonebuster on February 12, 2018, 09:30:00 PM
I got permission on some private land that had lots of deer, but from what I had been told by the landowner, "there wasn`t much for big bucks around, so don`t be passing small ones while lookin` for a big one".
Boy was he wrong.
Baiting is common in Michigan...and while everyone in the area was baiting, I was not.
I had learned long ago, NOT to expect a big buck to fall for a pile of apples and corn.
It was early October, and unseasonably cold. I found a rub line leading up from a thicket where the wind had torn a bunch of big Poplar trees to the ground. I just had a hunch...and settled in with my brand new Summit Bushmaster climber.
About an hour and a half before dark, I caught some movement. It proved to be a solid 8 point, as wide as his ears. Before long, I noticed he kept looking back...soon, there was a PARADE of racked bucks coming up the hill towards my location.
I got to shaking and sweating and farting like none of you would believe.
The first buck seemed to be the sentry, and all the "smart bucks" seemed to be relying on him as they made their way slowly up the hill.
I slowly readied myself for a shot...deciding that ANY of the bucks heading towards me were "good enough".
After a half hour, I had three racked bucks within easy bow range...all of them "big". Six in total. Shaking from head to toe, I blew it on an 18 inch wide buck with thick bases and at least ten points...shooting over his back at twelve yards.
I couldn`t believe it.
About an hour later, at last light, a lone 1 1/2 yr old doe picked her way thru the thick cover, and stopped at 32 yards. I threaded my best arrow ever thru a 4 inch hole and took out the top of her heart and she was down in 7 seconds.
It is what it is.
Post by: Dick Langer on February 13, 2018, 11:27:00 AM
Here's my story and I'm sticking to it. It's 2007 I'm in Namibia Africa hunting plains game sitting in a tower blind. Having set up my video camera I sit back ready for the days hunt. In the afternoon having watched a parade of animals come to drink a beautiful male gemsbok approaches, I focus the camera and take the duck soup shot. HORROR the shot is low and back all gut, he runs off slows and lays down in full site.
What to do? On my left is desert to my right its wooded but there is a right to left wind no way to approach without spooking him only to run off to be eaten by the jackets.
With sundown fast approaching I fulll zoom the camera on him . In desperation I but as much Kentucky windage as I dare hold my form and release. The arrow takes forever to get there, he mule kicks runs 20 yds and disappears in the veldt. My naked eye says the shot is good I review the camera ( they don't lie) shot placement was perfect THANK GOD !
When the PH picks me up one of the other hunters had a range finder , at the base of the tower blind it was 57 yds. I never practice long shots maybe 30 to 40 yds when going on moose or elk hunts. I call it my desperation shot.
Post by: Doug S on February 13, 2018, 12:34:00 PM
I have shot at 3 running deer in my life. The first was in my second year of bowhunting an ill advised 80 plus yard shot near the end of a hunt in which I wounded a doe in the butt. Which cured me. I felt terrible for weeks. I called a veterinarian to ask about the wound and if he thought she could reproduce still.. I was upset.
The 2nd and 3rd were on deer that someone else had wounded that we were trailing. We jumped the first in a creek about 45 yards and it lit up the far bank quartering away. I hit it perfect at around 60 yards, both lugs. The second we were also trailing when it jumped out of a briar thicket was quartering away running in deep snow about 30 yards when my arrow passed thru its lungs. Both satisfying because the deer were already wounded. The face of the guys with me was priceless.
I didn't practice running shots enough to take those shots regularly. But if somethings wounded Im in!
There is Nothing like making a really good shot with the bow.
A dove , a squirrel, tent, antelope or a Hornet
it doesn't matter
Doug
Post by: DarkTimber on February 13, 2018, 12:41:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by J from Denmark:
Really cool to hear from legends like Barry and Ron
Post by: DarkTimber on February 13, 2018, 12:45:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by DarkTimber:
QuoteOriginally posted by J from Denmark:
Really cool to hear from legends like Barry and Ron
Post by: Doug S on February 13, 2018, 12:56:00 PM
Many times when at a new place or hunting around new people not used to a longbow or recurve after someone makes a couple of good shots on whatever, The challenges start "shoot that or see if you can hit this" .
I was on a ranch in Idaho and was shooting ground squirrels with a friend who had a compound. I was having a good day and was winning 9-4 with most shots out to 45 yds. The owner put me on the hood of his jeep and we drove around looking for the next one. We drove into a new corral and there was a HUGE 2000# bull Bison he owned walking thru. He tapped on the window and points at the bull wanting me to shoot it. I was using rubber blunts. He bet my buddy a dinner against me. But really a Bull after little Squirrels was easy. I think it was around 55 yards. Perfect hit. The Weirdest part was that Bull never even blinked or twitched when hit with 630 grain arrow. Just kept walking. Kinda humbling.
Have lots more of these kind of challenge shots.
we should start a thread on worst shots. I have a couple 5 yarders to tell.
Doug
Post by: Tony Sanders on February 13, 2018, 04:16:00 PM
Tony
(https://i.imgur.com/AxWZDv5.jpg)
Post by: yimbow on February 13, 2018, 05:40:00 PM
Post by: Doug S on February 16, 2018, 09:42:00 AM
Yimbow that was a tough shot.
Post by: J from Denmark on February 17, 2018, 03:44:00 PM
Post by: Trenton G. on February 17, 2018, 10:38:00 PM
Post by: DeerSpotter on February 22, 2018, 01:16:00 PM
To my surprise it landed in the mud right between the doe's legs she was broadside. She just looked around, was's startled and took another drink. I pulled out another arrow, came to full draw and let that go. I was high, I imagined from over reacting from the last shot. When the arrow hit her she dropped straight to the ground and didn't move again. It was a spinal hit. I heard all the air come out of her lungs and then nothing else. First time and last time I ever did that. I cleaned her up and save the heart and liver. And when I got home that's what I had for breakfast the next morning eggs and deer heart.
But I have always remember it, the shot that went in between the deer's legs and she didn't run away.
Carl <------------<<<<
Post by: OkKeith on February 22, 2018, 02:38:00 PM
On my wife Lisa’s first archery turkey hunt we were in the blind together. We spent most of the morning with a back and forth discussion about whether or not I could hit one of the many mosquitoes that were plaguing us. My position was that yes, I could probably hit one with my bow at only twelve yards but I was worried that due to their size I may not kill it and then we would be trapped in the blind with a wounded and angry blood sucker on the rampage. This is not the story.
At just after noon we got a response to my always horrible work on the box call. An apparently tone deaf Tom gobbled back at what Lisa (lovingly) calls my “horrible noise meant to scare cats and other hunters from the surrounding country”. We saw him across the field coming our way. Using my meager skill on the slate call I caused the bird (due to brain worm or a death wish) to move closer to the blind. Finally at 15 yards the bird turned quartering away and came off his strut. Lisa put an arrow behind the forward drumstick with her vintage Red Wing Hunter recurve. The bird made one big pump of his wings and crash landed a few yards into the woods. This is not really the story either.
I have never been one to leap from the blind or carom out into the field after shooting a turkey. If the hit is good, they are dead and not going anywhere… if not, my hope is that they die where they land or leave a decent enough blood trail or other obvious spore that they can be found. I have been blessed to have not lost a bird yet, including this one. Here is where the story really begins.
We left the blind and walked to where the bird indelicately lay with his wings out stretched and his neck crumpled underneath him. I took an arrow from my quiver and gave a good poke (they have those spurs for several reasons). He seemed as dead as the door nail so often talked about. I grinned at my wife as the proud husband I was. She reached down and gathered both legs in one hand to lift him. Her firm grip seemed to put life back into the bird who tried to fly away. She stood there bow in one hand and appearing to fly a living kite only feet from her astonished face. Now… Lisa is a smart gal. She dropped her bow and tried to apply both hands to the bird but it wrenched free of her grasp and (something less than) flew over the short bench and down into the flowing creek. I dropped my bow and was in hot pursuit immediately! By the time I reached the creek bank the bird was nearly across (I didn’t know turkeys could swim!). I bailed into the spring rain swollen torrent reaching to my belt for the knife there. As the bird began struggling up the far bank I drew back and threw the blade with desperation. From just over ten yards the point found home at the base of the bird’s skull killing it instantly.
Time for honesty… first I have no idea why that bird was still alive enough to make that escape. The arrow had passed all the way through the body cavity and disrupted both lungs, the heart and broke the wishbone in two. Second, I had no intention to actually skewer the turkey with the blade of the knife. My thought was to simply hit the dirt above it and slow it down enough to get hold of. I would have probably been better off grabbing a stone from the stream bed, BUT… when providence smiles, its best to smile back and make nice.
Lisa got a beautiful bird with five beards, a spectacular tail and we had Turkey Parmesan for supper.
Post by: Terry Green on September 06, 2018, 11:19:52 AM
I really loved this thread. Great to see what all men can do with a wooden bow without all the technology.
It's a great testimony to the diversity of the Trad bow.
Post by: Trenton G. on September 06, 2018, 11:47:10 AM
Post by: smokin joe on September 06, 2018, 01:33:16 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/wiYdY4s.jpg)
Post by: pavan on September 06, 2018, 02:35:48 PM
Post by: WVFarrier on September 06, 2018, 04:05:17 PM
Post by: toddster on October 03, 2018, 09:39:25 AM
3- This is the one that cemented the "Hill method" to me". I had hog hunted a few times with success. I was out again and doing some stalking, when I came across two boars fussing. I stood by a tree, and watched waiting for a shot, when my wind must of blew and broke them up, one ran the other turned looked in my direction and charged. It was about 20 yards and he was coming. I just went into the "flow" came up and placed a broadhead through the brain. Stepped around tree and the hog which was about 230# dropped few feet passed me. From then on sold.
2- My hunting buddy and we was working a nice tom turkey in the spring. As we both knelt, behind a big downed oak, he was ready with his shotgun, I had my longbow sitting on the log with arrow nocked. We lost the Tom, in the thick foliage and sat quietly waiting. I then could hear the drumming of the Tom, behind us. I slowly turned and see the tom standing 12 yards behind us drumming. I was slowly reaching for my bow, just as my hand got on it, my pal, turned to see the noise, the Tom spooked, and turned ran and jumped in the air to fly off. Just as he got up in the air, without thinking, my bow was up and swung with him. The arrow went through and the bird went down 40 yards away. I turned to my buddy and said, "Let's get him". After we found them, we both stood there taking in what happened, and both of us wondering how I did it. Amazing to let instinct take over.
1- I was hunting from a tree stand, and seen some nice does come through. As, the time passed I looked to my right, across a draw and noticed a nice ten point buck working through, about 50 yards away. I admired him and watched him browse as he was headed toward his bedding area. I then lost him in some think brush, I started pondering how to get to him. After another hour (10ish) I decided it was time to get down and head back. As I did, I cut across the draw, to move to the parking area. I cut across his tracks and knelt down admiring them. Just playing around I decided to sharpen my tracking skills and see if I could track him by just those. I slowly worked, keeping mind of the wind which was perfect. I was lost in fun of being a kid again, then I knelt back down as the track's cut those of other deer. I was kneeling trying to figure them out and leaned forward, I happened to look to the left and at them time caught movement. I could see a deer body get up and move just barely through the thick brush. Then I caught a glimpse of antler, and thought "if must be him". I then noticed the body appear to lay down. I thought about backing out and trying to hunt this area from a stand, then I told myself, "heck, just maybe I can get him". It was thick, so I layed down and began to "worm" through the brush. Side note: Always amazed, that if you get down, how open the brush is. I could see the deer 30 yards away bedded down and after a short while, seen him lick himself and seen the antlers it was him. I slowly, crawled closer. I worked my way around bushes and came to a tree and got behind it. I wanted to try and kneel for a shot, but it was to thick. I then slowly worked my way into position, to take a laying down shot. After about I guess, 20 minutes, I was ready.
It was then the Buck stood up, my heart sank. But after few minutes he bedded back down, this time little further, but had a better opening. I recall what Mr. Hill said "if you have an 8" opening to your target take it". I raised the bow, drew and shot. I recall my white feathers disappearing behind the buck's shoulder, as he exploded out of the brush. I layed there for about 30 minutes, in awe of what just happened. I worked to where to Buck was and looked for sign. Found some blood, but being thick, desided need help. I marked my area, backed out, called my brother. He showed up and about an hour of searching found a nice ten pointer with my arrow clean through him that ran 40 yards. A great memory, thanks for letting me share.
Post by: charles m on April 23, 2022, 06:21:58 PM
I only have two I can really say and both were on running rabbits. I have no clue how I did it, and still can't believe I did it. If I get a 3rd I could *category* I certifiably will.
What an absolute great read for a Saturday afternoon. :campfire:
Post by: Jeff D. Holchin on April 24, 2022, 08:00:47 AM
Post by: Vaquero 45 on April 24, 2022, 10:34:45 AM
Was walking down a trail in turkey season heading out with two guys behind me (who were toteing shotguns) , and I had asked them since I have a recurve bow till we go set up at our places if we ran into any turkeys . Please let me try to get a shot at them .
Anyhow we run rite into a large eastern and I kneel down and fire from 1970 Bear griz 56" incher which they only made for three years.
Got to take a good no rushed shot , he was faceing rite at me at like 18 yards hit him rite square in the chest and he fell over like he had been hit by "lightning " . From a kneeling position I turn around and look at the other two guys . LOL You should have seen the look on there faces because there not "bow people " . I said laughing "you can put your scatterguns down now men ". They didn't think it was as funny as I did . :laughing:
Theres some other stories I will post them individually . Good thread btw ! :thumbsup:
Post by: Sam McMichael on April 24, 2022, 05:04:08 PM
Post by: Bowwild on April 24, 2022, 07:45:44 PM
As my arrow approached the flock they saw or heard it because most, all but 1-3 birds, veered away from the arrow's path. The unluckiest of the bunch was met by my arrow. Down came the starling. He landed 50 yards or so away.
My buddies dad asked where the arrow struck the bird. I told him right in the head. Sure enough I fetched the bird and the arrow was midway through the bird where the beak and skull met. Of course this wasn't a great shot it was just very lucky. I commenced to lose that arrow on the next shot into following flock.
Post by: Terry Green on April 24, 2022, 08:15:08 PM
Post by: Al Dente on April 24, 2022, 08:22:51 PM
Post by: Terry Green on April 25, 2022, 04:50:37 PM
If anyone is bored or stuck at the airport, you would be hard pressed to find a better hunting story to read. This thread is full of hero pics of all kinds from many Tradgangers and a memorial for Chris and a donation presented raised by Tradgangers for his kids. Chris's dad Larry was on the hunt with us.
https://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=53483.0
Post by: BigJim on April 26, 2022, 07:03:41 AM
First was a coyote from the ground at about 25 yards.. I was in Kansas tucked tightly in to two cedars that had grown together and hunting from the ground.. I had cut a small hole to see/shoot through.
I couldn't see anything coming from the left.. dirt road crossing.. heavy deer traffic, and was relying on hearing hooves on the gravel to get ready.. my wife was sitting off to the side on a cooler to attempt to video. After a number of false starts.. thought I heard them coming and signaled for my wife to get ready, a coyote just showed up in my shooting window. I didn't take the time to let her know and let rip with a deadly arrow. Yote piled up in about 50 yards!
Second: While hunting elk/mule deer with a friend in New Mexico, we decided to take a break and hunt turkeys one afternoon. I was all camoed up, but had a full quiver of pink feathers and leaning against a tree. My friend Jamie and his son were off in the bushes doing the calling when I heard noises to my left. As I turned my head to see, I noticed three turkeys moving in the grass. In the fall, any bird is legal so I didn't have to concern myself with size or sex, but just making the shot.
The birds quickly became nervous.. apparently they had heard about me! :goldtooth: I turned quickly and shot all in the same motion and the result was a jake doing summersaults from a fatal shot through the hips!
I'm not sure who was the most amazed.. My friend, the turkey, or Me... :biglaugh:
BigJim
Post by: mnbwhtr on April 26, 2022, 08:29:50 PM
The second and third are about the same. 1988 and 1989, shooting a 75# ASL ( I shot 70'" ASL's from 1980-1992)I was antelope hunting in Wy and trying to put down a gut shot buck. The rancher had saddled his horse and was keeping the buck moving around the pasture trying to push it by myself or another guy. I got in front of it and when it saw me it turned on the after burners coming by at about 35 yds, I drew, pulled ahead of it and shot, hitting the buck right behind the front shoulder. The rancher commented saying that was the luckiest shot he had ever seen.
As luck would have it I was on the same ranch again, same senerio, only this time the rancher came to my blind and got me. We pushed this one until I could get in front of it and made the shot at about 40 yds running flat out but this time I hit it right in the middle and it went down . The rancher said another bowhunter(compound guy "well known" had told him it couldn't be done) but He saw it 2 years in a row and was a beleiver!
There are more, a turkey strutting for an hour at 50-60 yds, I had to leave so I told the guy with me I'd shot for the head and scare it so we could go. I shot and the gobbler took a delta thru the head and went down... distance 51 yds.
And then the time... No just say things go right sometimes and we are blessed!
Post by: LookMomNoSights on April 28, 2022, 09:28:26 AM
Post by: Gun on April 28, 2022, 08:28:49 PM
He agreed saying he had just got the plane back from its annual inspection and wanted to test it anyway. We did find the buck laying up against a patch of Sage near a water tank surrounded by cattle.
After we landed and thanked the rancher, we hurried over to where the buck was laying. Gary walked the fence and I was about 30 yds off to his side. As we got close to the tank I noticed the Buck just ahead of me. I whistled at Gary and pointed where he was. I noticed thru my binocs, that the Buck was still breathing and mentioned that to him. We both had arrows on the sting. Gary was using a Compound. He couldn't see the buck from his angle but kept creeping closer. He said "I just can't see him". I said he's right in front of you. Just then the buck jumped up and bolted away. I quickly swung and shot as he hit full stride, heart shooting him. He stumbled and went down as Gary said "I can't find him in my peep". I told him never mind, he's down.
He was a beautiful Buck and would have made B&C except he had broken off one complete prong.
Post by: pdk25 on April 28, 2022, 11:10:39 PM
Post by: Jim Jackson on April 29, 2022, 10:55:34 AM
Post by: Barry Wensel on May 01, 2022, 02:45:40 PM
One late January I was hunting the rut in Alabama. That day I was hunting with our Olympic Gold Medalist archer Jay Barrs. We were "being carried" into our hunting area by a good 'ol boy named Billy McCoy, who was previously a world champion turkey caller. Walking in through a swamp we jumped an armadillo. Seeing I lived in Montana at the time I asked Billy if they were legal. He said yes. The armadillo was running full bore by then at maybe 15-18 yards. I swung on him and put a Judo tip right through both eyeballs. The guys were impressed.
On an antelope hunt back in the '80s myself, Gene and another guy were walking back to the truck when we topped a small hill and busted a bachelor group of three antelope bucks. They broke running as fast as antelope go at about 25 yds. right to left. I swung on one and shot. My windage was right, but it appeared I was going to hit low. Then suddenly he fell head over heels. What I'm about to tell you is unbelievable but I swear to God it's true, plus I had the two witnesses. When a pronghorn is running full speed their hind legs overlap their front legs in stride. I remember I was shooting a solid yellow wood arrow and a Zwickey Delta, out of a Schafer Silvertip in the low '70s. That single arrow hit when three of his four leg shafts were all aligned, and believe it or not, broke all three legs. When you get 'em down to one leg they can't get away. Ha. Like I said, I hesitate telling people some of these stories but I think I had witnesses on all/most of them.
Another great shot was also in the mid- '80s when I went on a pronghorn bowhunt with my oldest son, Jason, who was in high school at the time. Long story short, we'd just asked a rancher permission to hunt his place. He said yes and as we pulled away I spotted a small group including one nice buck. By the way, I should mention over the years I've only killed a half dozen antelope but all were stalking. I've never killed one from a blind or on a waterhole. I'm not against it, I just used to love to stalk them. Anyway, I let Jason try the stalk. They busted him and as they ran by me going full bore I rolled the nice buck. I didn't even realize the rancher was right behind me and also witnessed it. He was also really impressed.
Actually, I killed my first whitetail buck ever with a bow back in the '60s in Vermont. I was in a ground blind and he busted me and broke running right to left at what later turned out to be 37 yds. My young mind couldn't accept he was getting away... so I heart shot him with a little Red Wing Hunter recurve; cedar shaft and Bear Razorhead... in fact I still have the broken arrow today.
Back in '92 I was hunting javelina in south Texas with custom bowyer Mike Palmer. I'd never killed a javelina at the time. Mike was behind me when I stalked a herd. They broke and I shot a 52 lb. boar javie running at about 20 yds. I heard Mike cheering and him saying, "SUPER shot...you really do that stuff!" I guess he thought my video shots were done via selective editing or something. Ha.
Another that is the sad truth, back in the '80s Paul Schafer was standing behind me with his 16MM film camera when I made another unreal shot on a whitetail. A few days afterwards he came over to the house and I asked him about the footage. He said it "came out good." But the sad part is I never got to see it before his death. I have no idea where it is but I'm sure it's somewhere out there in someone's attic or closet.
Yet another that I hesitate even mentioning because it was so unreal, Gene and I and another guy were filling doe tags in the creek bottoms of MT. I was walking a dry seepage pushing deer to Gene and the other guy. As I walked past a thicket of sage a bedded doe actually held tight and let me walk past her at about 20 feet. After I got by, she lost her cool and bailed out behind me. The angle she was running was hard to explain but almost broadside. But I had to run around another little clump of sagebrush. When I did, it offered me the running shot. Here's the unbelievable part ... when I shot, not only was she running but I was also running parallel to her. Try that with a 74 lb. recurve sometime. Ha.
I swear to God all these stories are true to the best of my memory. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Please consider the fact a lot of these stories were from the old days when we were pioneering the sport and didn't know any better. I think I've only shot one deer running in the last maybe 25 years and very much doubt I will ever again. BW
Post by: Gdpolk on May 01, 2022, 09:09:57 PM
It was early May and NOTHING on the land or air was in season statewide. Squirrel season opens on May 15th in Arkansas and my buddy Michael and I were eagerly awaiting. So, we decided to head on over to Bell Slough WMA to see what stumps we could hammer and bugs we could slay.
The skies were a beautiful blue with about 30% cloud cover with white fluffy cotton ball clouds. It had rained a couple days earlier from a cold front that had moved in. As a result the temperatures were moderate at the low 70’s for highs and there was a light breeze intermittently. Spring green was in full swing with the jonquils, clover, dandelions, and nettle in full bloom. Blackberries were budding but not yet opening. It was just too darned nice to be inside.
We were having a whale of a time, then here comes the ole possum police. Naturally they were curious what we were doing back there when nothing was in season. I had a hunting license but my buddy Michael did not, not that it mattered because nothing was in season and we weren't hunting anyway. But, I knew we would be asked and since he didn't have one on him it would cause a raucous. So, I told Michael to hang back because around the college EVERY SINGLE young man gets carded every single time. When the ole state guy pulled up he asked in a curious but exhausted tone what we were doing. I told him we were out stump shooting and shooting bugs to stay in practice before squirrel season opened on the 15th. I got a confused and distrusting look, “Y’all out here squirrel hunting with those bows?” he replied.
“No sir. We are just shooting rotten stumps, bugs, and mud clots from the crawdads to stay in practice. Squirrel isn’t in season. As a matter of fact nothing is in season yet but when it opens we want to be in good practice.” I replied.
“Are you licensed to be here?”
“Sure…I guess” I replied. “But, nothing is in season and we aren’t hunting. Nobody needs a license to simply be on public land. But, I have my hunting license if you’d like to see it.” I started digging around in my pockets and pulled it out along with my driver’s license to hand to the man.
He studied it a while and sized Michael and I up as he let out a disgruntled growlish “hmmmmmm…You say your just shooting stumps and bugs? Do you have any broadheads on those arrows?”
“No sir, just Judo points. They aren’t good for much of anything other than plinking and not loosing arrows in the grass.” I showed him my arrow.
He just paused for a while and pointed at a dragonfly about 15-17 yards out and asked “Do you think you could hit that dragonfly?”
“Probably. Sometimes they lift off just as the arrows approach and you miss even if it’s a good shot but I can give it a whirl if you like. That’s what we are out here to do anyway.”
He paused and started puling out the pad to do what I can assume is write us a warning simply to document we were there and I got an idea. So, I asked, “Do you plan to write us a ticket that can’t and won’t hold up? How about this instead? I get one shot to hit your dragonfly and if I do you remember us and simply wave as you pass by next time we see each other. If I miss, you can write us up and we can go hang out for half a day in court but I’d rather not have the inconvenience.”
His brows furrowed a little and he nodded that he agreed and the hunt was on. In the back of my mind I knew that I actually only hit a dragonfly about 1/50 times that I let an arrow loose at them. They are elite predators and quite agile. It was a steep odd against me but here we were. Just as I drew back he flew off and I eased off but it circled back and stopped even closer. Now he was at about 12 yards or so by my best guess. I had one rubber blunt and one Judo point with me so I used the Judo just hoping that if I got close enough it would snag the bug.
As I drew back the breeze settled and the flower that the dragonfly landed on came still. Luckily for me he also turned to quarter away from me steeply and used his wings to balance a bit on his perch. It was a beautiful bluish green dragonfly with a wide, thick, well fed body. I could see my peripheral vision darkening and closing in as I stared at the center section of that dragonfly’s body. Eventually I just sighed out some air right as I hit anchor and it felt perfect. THUNK. I dropped the string and watched the arrow pluck the top of the dandelion smooth off the stem. I saw a few things fly on the impact but to be honest I wasn’t sure if I had hit the dragonfly or not. Given the silence from both Michael and the game warden I’m not sure they knew either.
So, I walked over there and found parts of the flower. I picked them up and kept searching. On the ground about 2’ to the left I found a head, part of a body, and one wing attached. So I picked it up and a few more pieces of flower. As I walked over to the game warden I showed no signs of my excitement or disbelief that I had beat all odds. When I opened my palm and stretched out my hand to tell him “See…here is the flower and part of that dragonfly. That’s what we are here doing. We are just shooting bugs and rotten stumps to stay in practice. We will be back on May 15th to hunt squirrel and if you’d like to check us then I can assure you that we will be in compliance with all laws so at least do us the favor and check us at our truck rather than walking in on us please.”
That ole game warded grinned ear to ear with an open mouth grin and said from the bottom of his gut, “Well I’ll be darned! That’s the best darn shooting I’ve seen in a long time! Y’all kids go have some fun. We won’t be bothering you all anymore. The guys won’t believe this when I tell them. I’m so happy we bumped into each other. I hope you all get a bunch in a couple of weeks!”
For the next few years that I lived there I never got so much as a smile and wave out of any of them and it was all due to my dragonfly hunt.
Post by: Terry Green on May 02, 2022, 07:11:20 AM
Post by: Mike Yancey on May 03, 2022, 09:29:35 AM
I have many etched it my mind, but one of the best and most rewarding was watching this arrow pass through this trophy kudu in South Africa from a bow that I made. The kudu was knocked off his feet and only went about 60 yards before falling for good.
Post by: Russell Southerland on May 03, 2022, 05:02:33 PM
T, surprised you didn't mention the bumble bee and/or mouse shots at Ray's Hog Haven. Or, the one hog you shot 3 times in seconds and all 3 were kill shots. These stories get around you know.
Post by: Mike Yancey on May 05, 2022, 08:48:25 AM
This is a shot that was a dandy and the hunt was special. The shot was 44 yards, double lung pass through. There was a herd of cow elk coming down a game trail as I was stalking through the New Mexico woods. I could see that there was no bull in the bunch and they were spaced out a ways down the trail. I noticed that they all were walking in front of me on the trail and there was a break in the brush with a hole just prefect height to hit where you needed. I knew that I would either hit the limbs or thread the arrow through the hole about the size of a five gallon bucket, the only thing to do was time my shot at that distance. As they kept filling past I readied my longbow made for me by my very good friend Neal Brown from MS. As one of the big cows nose was right at the hole I released and watched the arrow and the elk meet at the perfect time. Resulting in a passthrough and a 60 yard blood trail.
This was a once in a life time elk tag in New Mexico's Valle Vidal unit and I had been on several bulls earlier in the hunt but was very proud to have the chance to take this cow towards the end of the hunt.
The day my buddy and I were packing meat my good friend Ed Scott was being buried there in New Mexico. I had the opportunity to go see him before he passed while he still knew what was going on and we were good. They said that day he passed he kept talking in his sedated state to his wife and daughter about my elk hunt and if I was hunting. It seemed fitting that the day and time he was being laid to rest I was packing an elk out. I pulled the bloody arrow from my quiver that had killed the elk and said a little something for Ed and sent the arrow into the beautiful New Mexico mountains for good.
Post by: Mike Malvaini on June 02, 2023, 09:15:06 AM
Post by: LookMomNoSights on June 02, 2023, 01:36:20 PM
Post by: toddster on June 02, 2023, 02:30:58 PM
It was late hunting season in Illinois, the weather in morning as usual was 10, but by end of day up to 38. I had been tree stand hunting all day, as for various reason's had not taken a deer that season yet and needed meat in freezer and this would be my last hunt of the season. As the weather began to change to another snow storm and getting darker, along with half frozen, with no game in sight, I decided to call it.
I took down my stand and steps and began to long walk out to vehicle. As I was about half way, I noticed a Doe ahead of me 40 yards crossing a creek to my side. I immediately checked the wind and was in my favor. I knew she was going to cross this open area that was like 50 yards of laid down grass, then out to a huge picked corn field. As I watched her, she got half way across and bedded down. I checked my watch, still legal shooting time. I dropped to knees (back when they was good), got the stand and steps secure. I took my Hill longbow and one arrow and began to plan my stalk. It was little doubt how it would go, the creek she crossed was deep and lead away from her and then I thought my scent may change coming out of it, so it would be a belly stalk.
I laid down and slowly began to crawl in and angle from her, to ensure keep wind in my favor. As I did, I was lucky in that this was an old pasture that had few worn down paths from cattle. This allowed me to dip into them and crawl a little faster since out of view. After about 25 minutes of crawling, peeping to ensure she still there and ensuring not to disturb to much grass to alert her, I had managed to get within 18 yards of her. I really wanted to get a little closer with the light starting to fade more, decided it was now or never.
It then hit me, there is no way I was going to be able to "pop" up and shoot her, no way to get up to my knees with no trees for cover. So, I would take the laying down shot, this I had practiced as I learn to shoot from Mr. Schulz "hitting them like Howard Hill", and glad I did. I moved a little, and began to feel the wind slowly shift. I got my arm out in front with bow, arrow on the string. I arched my back up once to verify she was still there. I then arched once more, drawing the string, feeling anchor as I was focused right behind the bent leg, I could barely see. The arrow flew, and I seen the Doe jump up and bolt from the bed.
She ran into the picked field, then I lost her from sight, as the grey turned into black.
I decided to lay there for few minutes, I got my flashlight out as I stood up. I walked over to where I last seen her exit. I turned the light on and there was blood. I lifted the beam and swung it to right, nothing, then left and there she lay in a pile. The arrow passed through both lungs and heart.
Post by: Terry Green on June 05, 2023, 10:14:23 AM
Thank for the new additions guys! :campfire:
Post by: Sam Spade on June 06, 2023, 09:05:25 AM
Post by: Pompano Joe on July 30, 2024, 09:21:12 AM
Post by: artifaker1 on July 30, 2024, 09:14:50 PM
Post by: PrimitivePete on August 07, 2024, 01:51:27 PM
Post by: BS on August 08, 2024, 10:01:59 PM
First two misses did even scare him.
Post by: Terry Green on August 09, 2024, 01:41:41 PM
Keep them coming guys, I might be inserting some of these in a project I'm working on.