My first time on the trad gang. First, a big shout out to all my buds in the Cool Springs crew. Thanks for joining me for the annual hunt there in Madison. I owe all of my success in traditional archery to my friends Nook and Two Hats who got me into this stuff. I'm clearly obsessed.
So.....the 8pt.......
This is the second biggest buck I've harvested with a longbow.
Taken with a 53#, 54" Treadway, 430grain carbon arrow with a 125grain vented Magnus doing the dirty work.
About 8:30AM, last Saturday, a mature doe and yearling buck were the first deer to show themselves high up on a mountain ledge full of dropping red oaks. It was definitely the coolest and most still morning of the four-day hunt. We endured pretty hot temps, storms and high winds the other three days. I intended on shooting the doe and passed a couple of nice 20 yard opportunities because they were obviously going to be there for a while feeding. About the time I was preparing to take a 15-yard shot on the doe I heard the sound of thrashing in the thick cover below me on the ridge. I looked that way to see this guy grunting, lip curling and rubbing every little sapling he got to as he approached. As if that's not enough excitement another much smaller 8 pt appeared on the ridge doing the same thing! The larger 8pt that was now at about 18 yards coming straight at me did a complete 180, showed his dominance and pushed the little dude away. The doe is now at 10 yards and I'm thinking I'm bound to get busted. But, she eased on up the ridge and the big 8 followed grunting with every couple of steps. I was blessed with a 10 yard, walking, broadside shot. Pretty sure the shot was slightly back. So, I had to wait before going back to find him. Both Nook and paradocs joined me that afternoon. We found him at the bottom of the hollow where I last saw him go. One lung/liver.
Something is burnt in my memory that I thought I'd share. I wasn't sure where I would go that morning. I was feeling a little guilty about sending my cousin, Richie, up a ridge with instructions of where to go instead of going up there with him. I had hunted that ridge two mornings already and Friday afternoon I saw some incredible sign on the ridge where I ended up. I just couldn't decide weather to go with Richie or go to the other ridge. I was sitting with Nook about to send him on his way. He turned to me and said, "go with your gut." Richie got to the right spot and almost had a shot on a nice 6 point and I took a nice 8. I guess my gut was right this time.
Peace,
Travis
Topic: Cool Springs Gang Rides Again (8 pt pics) (Read 814 times)
