kennym LEASE REPORT (buck double down)

[kennym]

Maybe they will be along to tell their tales. Lot more to it than I told! LOL

[Warden609]

       

[Bodork]

Here's my half of the story, Barry will have to tell his!
 Things just really came full circle for me this year. It all started when I was the lucky recipient of a KennyM giveaway. I won all the materials to build a bow. Our group had already booked our third year at Kennys lease, so naturally I thought how cool it would be to take that bow to his lease and kill my first deer. I had no idea what was to come.
 We started our hunt on Saturday in very hot conditions. I was anxious to be back because last year on our last day I was on the ground 35 yards from the biggest buck I have ever seen. I scouted the same area with disappointing results. The sign of heavy deer activity last year in the same area  was non-existent. Very few tracks, no heavy trails, no deer droppings. I was bummed.
  Sunday followed suit with hot temps and very little deer movement where I had always seen deer before.
  Monday yielded the coolest morning so far but the warmth would return in the afternoon. Monday evening I sat at a stand that one of the guys had seen a few does in earlier. I saw nothing. Being from one of the windiest places in the states, I'm always amazed at how calm it is in the morning and evening at the lease.
 Tuesday morning came too quickly for me. I am not a big fan of getting out of bed early and today was no exception. Robert had already gotten up and left and I didn't even hear him. At about 5:00 nature was calling so I got out of bed. Barry was barely stirring and Brian was still in bed. (Brian had shoulder surgery so he was not hunting this year but would drive us around and was the camp chef. Boy did we eat good!) I really wanted to crawl back in bed especially since things had been going so slow. Today was the coolest morning so far with a slight chance of rain so we reluctantly thought we better get out there.
 Brian dropped Barry off first then me. It was later than usual but still pitch dark because of the cloud cover. As I was walking toward my stand I realized I had forgotten my knife but I thought, "I won't need it anyway. I never kill anything!" I climbed into the stand in the darkness and strapped in. Got myself situated and waited for the woods to wake up. Ever so slowly I was able to see my surroundings. A brief light shower and even a breeze or two greeted the morning light.
 I looked at my leg and there was a small frog on it. Where the heck did a frog come from this high up in a tree! Got my phone out to take a pic but he was gone before I could get one. It was around 7:45 by now and I sent the others a text about the frog. Robert replied that it was good luck. As I lowered my phone, I looked into the woods and saw a deer headed right towards my stand at a good pace. I put my phone in my pocket and glanced again. It was a spike but there was another deer following it. I saw antlers. I didn't look at them again, I just knew they were antlers. The spike got right in front of my stand and paused. 'Oh no!, please don't look up!' I thought. He put his head back down and continued walking. He paused again at the clearing to my left but then kept walking. By now the other deer was right in front of my stand at maybe 4-5 yards. As he passed my stand I slowly stood up and started my draw. He paused at the clearing just as the spike had done. I focused on a spot and started my draw. The arrow was on it's way as the deer was still stopped. The lighted nock was shining exactly where I was looking. Most of the fletching was buried in the deer and I could see the business end sticking out as he bolted into the tree farm. It was a text book series of events. I said a quick prayer of thanks, set the timer on my phone and sent a text to the others that I had just nailed a buck! Then a big fist pump in my stand. The time now was about 7:50.
 This was the first deer of my life and I took took it with a bow I had built. Barry found my knife that I had unknowingly dropped the night before while we were walking out after finding my deer. Guys, am I ever blessed!

[bow loving man]

Each Tuesday morning around noon I'm blessed to sit at table with 5 other men I trust completely. We spend an hour talking about our lives and holding each other accountable to living a life of honor.  This year as we loaded the truck and pulled out, headed to Missouri, 4 of us from that group were in the truck! This was going to be a great trip....
It didn't take long for the fun to begin! We talked, cut up, laughed and generally "acted like boys" the whole 10.5 hours to Linneus, Mo.
When we finally arrived, it was like coming home again. The cabin was ready for us and our wonderful host made his way over to make sure we got settled and also gave us the $5 tour of the place! Just being around Kenny makes the whole trip worthwhile!
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the biggest worry was can I get to where I want to hunt without being soaked in sweat! We were dealing with muggy, swealtering 97* heat. Needless to say, we were usually pretty soaked by days end.
I was blessed to encounter Turkeys, and a doe, early in the heated days of our hunt but they just didn't come to fruition!
But on Tuesday morning, the temp dropped some and there was a great temptation to stay under the covers and catch up on sleep! My brothers who help hold me accountable each week did it again today! I got up, got dress, and headed to my favorite spot on the lease even though I knew the wind wasn't in my favor.

[bow loving man]

Brian dropped me off and I made the walk to my stand in the dark.  I crawled up in the stand, strapped in and thanked God for another beautiful morning. It was overcast with an occasional sprinkle which really felt nice after all the long hot days we had experienced.  As the Dawn turned into daylight it was a joy to listen to the birds and squirrels come to life. The wind was directly over my left shoulder and my thought was, "I wont see anything close today" I just knew my scent was blowing down the creek from where the deer usually come. About 7:40 I decided to check my phone and Mike had texted about a frog on his leg and then Robert texted back that it must be lucky and then next thing I know Mike texted that he had shot a buck and it ran into the treefarm.  I was so excited for Mike, I was going to wait 30-40 minutes and then walk over to where was and help him find the deer. I texted Kenny and let him know we needed on the treefarm.  Then I heard it. A slight snap of a twig. I looked to my right and low and behold there was a deer 50 yards DOWN wind!!! On second glance it was a nice buck. I laid my phone down and slowly slipped my bow from my boot top(an excellent bow holder per Kenny M). My heart rate began to increase as did my breathing...I told myself to just relax and wait for the shot to present itself, don't force the situation.

As I was watching him work his way closer, a BIG buck jumped up out of the creek!  This boy was at least a 10 point, tines a foot long and deep chocolate in color. He was a bruiser compared to the buck closest to me!  Big Boy stayed close to the creek's edge while the smaller buck picked a trail that would lead right in front of my stand.
Closer and closer he came. I would look at him and then look at BIG Boy, each making their way on different trails right in front of my stand.
Now let me tell you, I shoot lefty and getting that shot presented perfectly is sometimes tricking when I didn't set the stand. But this time it was coming together.
Finally after what seem like 1/2 hour but was only a few minutes, the smaller buck stood broadside to me at 6 yards and the BIG Boy stood down in the creek at about 20 yards...I had a decision to make....

[bow loving man]

I had had a doe jump the string earlier in the week and that thought was present in my mind. The picture of that Big Buck hanging on my wall was also in my mind.... The Big Boy stood on the edge of my effective hunting range, so I made the decision to take the smaller buck standing 6 yards from my stand. I slowly drew my arrow and focused on a little spot behind his shoulder. Next thing I know I see the wave of his hair as my arrow passed through right where I was looking! I never saw the lighted nock of my arrow but I knew the shot was true! He bolted the creek and went up it and disappeared from sight. I put my bow back in my boot and text the boys that I had just shot a buck also. It couldn't have been more than 10 minutes after Mike had shot his! I climbed down and found my arrow and stuck it in the ground where the shot occurred. Brian showed up and he looked at the edge of the creek but didn't see my buck. I told him let's go help Mike then we can come back and find mine, so we did! We found Mike's buck on the tree farm and then Mike and I returned and found my buck dead in the creek just 28 paces from the stand! All four of us shared in the field dressing process. Kenny showed up and started taking pics! The celebration was on! This is a day I'll always remember. A day shared with men I call my brothers. Thanks be to God for this blessing!

[kennym]

Excellent shooting by two great guys! And great help from two more great guys!

I love doing the lease and getting to see and visit with trad minded folks!

[bow loving man]

I forgot my setup. I was shooting a 58" KennyM longbow that I made. It is 62#@28" drawn 29.5". Gt55/75 with 100 brass inserts with 150 grain Steel Force broadhead. Smoked him!

[Bvas]

Awesome job guys!!!!

Getting a buck with a trad bow is sweeet. Getting a buck with a trad bow you made yourself, even sweeter. Or so I've been told. Lol. I'm still working on that one.

Congrats to all!!!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Great Story telling guys!

[rastaman]

Way to go guys!

[Terry Green]

                       

[kennym]

Third group arrived Friday, this group is one guy!

He has scouted and rested a bit from a long drive alone and hung a couple stands. Rained an inch + last nite so all scent is gone from stand hanging. Gonna be cooler this week so is looking good for him.

More later....

[SlowBowinMO]

So much for the "where you going in the morning" evening discussions!      :D

[TIM B]

Keep us posted Kenny!  It's gonna be a better week for sure
Tim B

[kennym]

Tim H , I still ask where are you goin!! LOL

Tim B , our man has seen yotes, bucks, does, skunks , and rain and wind!

[Charlie Lamb]

All the best.  

[Cyclic-Rivers]

[TIM B]

Good report Kenny!  There was plenty of rain n wind this past weekend - weather is breaking though and the deer are moving!  I seen quite a few last night and filled antlerless tag #5!  Good luck boys
Tim B