The Joan Leonard Memorial Bunny Hunt 2008 (FINAL THANKYOU!!)

[Shawn Leonard]

Izzy, the order has changed. I let Cindy help with the wood as she did not like the other combo. It is now Purpleheart and Leopardwood riser with action boo cored limbs and curly bubinga veneers. OOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Shawn

[jacobsladder]

shawn....i will mail out the michigan st judes proceeds to you tomorrow...thanks..steve

[Shawn Leonard]

Come on Curt, post some more stuff and your story! OOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Shawn

[joe skipp]

first drive we had plenty of rabbits moving. Mike Robin and I busting through about 15 yds apart, Scott trailing a short distance behind in case the rabbits backtrack.

After tripping over vines and getting my face slapped with thorny limbs, I was resting when Bunny out front was yelled. I knew Dave and Killy were standing somewhere in front...not sure how far. Here comes this rabbit..by me and past Mike...right to Scott. One shot..one dead rabbit.

Then I look up to see this Boone and Crockett Rabbit just sitting there about 10 yds away and Ihave no shot through the thick stuff. I yelled to Mike to set up and I'll try to move the rabbit his way. I see Mike kneeling and clearing a path....I made my move and the rabbit made his.

The rabbit was on a dead path to Mike ...I yelled he was coming...at maybe 2 ft the rabbit did a 90 degree and bolted. Seconds later another rabbit came loping by and Mike took some hair off him. Real tough shooting in that thick stuff.....

[Killdeer]

I was working on pics but Clark came in and chatted and turned on the TV and the food arrived and now he's snoring and I worked a LONG day today so I am gonna goof off and go to bed early.    

I write and edit best in an empty house with an old movie to ignore. Ain't happening here.  

[Shawn Leonard]

The second push, which I call the Honey-Hole was awesome, I saw at least 15 bunnies on that push. I heard over 50 shots taken as I was counting everyone, than towards the end the shouting of "BUNNY" and the laughing and swearing drowned evrything else out. It is amazing how eventhe hardest of hard turn into kids again at this hunt. We mat get bloodied and we may get tired but it is well worth it in the end!! OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Shawn

[Tim Kosteczko]

got back to school and back to my computer had a lot to catch up on. I would like to say once again what an awesome weekend, not enough thanks can be said to shawn, his wife and daughter, simply amazing to be able to pull a weekend like that off, and keep a smile on your face the entire time. sure hope you get down this year to shoot some fish with us. lots of stories and memories from this weekend that will stay with everyone for a long time.

Best site i saw all weekend was damon's head shot on his bunny:
Shawn and i had just finished a tiny push along the one stream when we hear the ever present "BUNNY" call, we turn to see a bunny 'haulin' down the hill, arrows fill the sky to the point they "block out the sun", snow and ice fly up as they hit the ground, missing their mark by inches, rabbit continues all out.

I turn my eyes about 50-60 yards downhill, see Damon turn and ready himself. bunny reaches the end of the "Gauntlet" just one man to beat and it is safety at last.

Damon stands his ground, 40 yards ...30...20...10...5... im thinkin ok shoot already. i loose sight of the bunny as it goes into the taller grass. damon draws and releases, i fear he is gonna shoot his foot.

in one motion he shoots bends over and raises his head shot bunny and a load roar fills the February air.
I couldnt help but laugh it was an awesome 10 seconds lol

[Guru]

Sorry guys,between work,kids,and now I'm sick as a dog it's been tough! Hopefully tonight    

[Stone Knife]

When we did the drive on the end of Brier back mountain, I told the kids to stay up top because of the amount of rose bushes that were there. Well I get set up ready to get started and who is by me, Joe. I thought oh well maybe it will be a good learning experience for him. As the drive progressed I noticed that all the kids were involved and plowing through like veteran hunters. This was the first time Aram's daughter Una made the trip, she plowed through like a pro and never complained, this is a pic of her and Becky.

   

[Shawn Leonard]

The kids were great and Tim is right, what a shot. It was a really awesome as ya did not need to see what was going on, ya could hear it in the air, arrows whistling, the twang of bowstrings and than you definitely new if someone connected as Tim said the loud roar of the crowd was awesome!!  Aram ad Jim you can be proud of those two!! OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Shawn

[adkmountainken]

yes, yes, itwas great seeing the young blood hunt and shoot. the furure looks bright for trad archery with that group and what shooters they are!!!

[joe skipp]

I think Dave has some video of the first drive. When I busted through to Dave and Killy, he stated he was watching rabbits criss cross out in front of him...Scott killed on and 2 escaped unharmed.

Dave..you know that gel stuff you put on your feet to prevent blisters....New Foot...I'm buying
you some for your head next year. We'll tape it on and you can bust through brush and never worry about bleeding again. Your head looked like my wifes legs after she shaves....ooops.

How bad is Briarback Mtn...Curtis took a 30 yd shot downhill at a rabbit...I asked him if he was going to retrieve his arrow...after thinking about it, he figured it was best to leave it there. Luckily a driver came by, found it and returned it.

How about Mark Fedrizzi...misses bowseason due to back surgery...comes up Sunday for the hunt and nails a rabbit..        I said nice shot....Scott called it luck...  :eek:  

Next to last drive Sunday, Aram hammers this rabbit with a Judo at 3 ft...the rabbit gets between us, under a blowdown...squirms out loses the arrow and bolts past 4 other hunters. He made the field unscathed and was still running when we left.

If anyone saw us trying to dig out 2 rabbits from some frozen culvert pipes...they would call the boys with the white coats. One rabbit, ran into one end, another rabbit, that was hit ran into the other. We gave it our best shot but the pipe was just too long and are arms too short...
Even the limbs we rammed in there didn't work.
Quite a few rabbits made it to the holes...they must have known we were coming..

[Terry Green]

Shawn....put me down...I'll try my best to make it next year.

[joe skipp]

I have 2 Youth arrows here at my shop. Ciccone dropped them off to me before I left Shawns, I forgot them in my truck.

The wooden arrow has a blunt, aluminum a small adder pt. If the owners don't need or want them back, I would like to keep them here in my shop as Team Pink memorabilia....Pic below....

 

[Terry Green]

Oh Yeah.....gotta slow down....

Thanks for the call Curt....really cool to get your bunny in that fashion....the waiting made it that much sweeter  

[ishiwannabe]

These stories are making me really resent pinched nerves....  :rolleyes:  
I find myself smiling as I read, as I know all these places, and most of the people. It is good that I can merge last years experience with this years.
Next year, I will not be on the sidelines. Heck I might even be a good enough shot to hit a rabbit by then.  :D  
Great hunt, great people and one of the best times I have ever had with a bow in my hands.
Terry...you would be hooked for life.  

[Huntrdfk]

Here are the last of my pics.....here is Justin on one of the last drives of the hunt....

 


Drivers on the last push of a wonderful weekend....

 

And this photo is pretty telling of what the entire weekend is like, we had just finished the last push, I had walked up to the house when I heard a clang.  I turned around to find this group to include Justin, Hunter, Shawn, Curt and Chris taking a few final shots at the steel target......it brought a smile to my face to  them still shooting knowing that the hunt was over....

 


David

[woodchucker]

"Stompers & Standers"

Every year I head to Selkirk for the "Joan Leonard Memorial Bunny Hunt".....THIS,is the highlight of my year and I look forward to it with the anticipation of a kid waiting for Christmas. It is a great Time,and a chance to see old friends,and meet new ones.

When the hunt begins,the "HuntMaster" Shawn,huddles everyone together and explians how a piece of cover will be pushed. Then,the group is devided into 2 groups, "stompers" and "standers". Like a schoolyard Captain before a game,Shawn hand picks his team,"The Stompers". It takes a special type of Bunny Hunter to be a "stomper",and Shawn picks them very carefully.You must jump headlong into the thickest,thorniest,nastiest with total abandon for hide and hair.(especialy your HIDE)You just "bulldoze" through cover that everyone else walks around.This year was my 4th year at the Bunny Hunt.My fisrt year on the first push I raised my hand....."I'll push".....I was assigned as a stander. I was a stander,Oh Well.....But it was a blast anyway.On the last push through "Rabbit Valley",Shawn called out "woodchucker!!!!!" (did I really just hear that?????) After we pushed "Rabbit Valley" and we were back at the house,Shawn stopped me and said "you did really good in there". I was so proud I was bustin' my buttons!!!!! The next year I was on almost every push,and last year too. However.....I realized that Shawn just doesn't need "Stompers" He also needs "Standers" who know the area andact as guides to help place the newcomers in position to get shots at bunnies. It doesn't really mater which side I'm on,we all have fun.But when it's time for Shawn to pick his "team" and I hear him hollar "woodchucker!!!!!" I just smile.....I'm one of "Shawn's Stompers"    

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

[Izzy]

I hear what your saying Chuck bout the "Kid at Christmas thing".I cant believe I almost missed it for a hunt I had booked.Ill be sure to plan around it as long as it continues.This event is legendary and now for me its even better that I get to share it with my son and 2 cousins who I cherish more than anything.And itll only get better when my son Nathan Zane is old enough to join the crew.Ohhhh Yeahhhhh!!!!!

[Shawn Leonard]

Well. I am hoping Curt gets better as he has more pics. I am sure and Killy takes photos like no other and I cannot wait to hear her tales!! The weekend was awesome and when we think it cannot get any better or go any smoother, we pull it off again!! Chuck is right, it gets a bit easier every year as far as setting guys and such as people start to know what they are doing!! Thanks again to everyone. I ordered the bow, from RER. It changed again but here is the final results. I got a 60" T/D with a Purpleheart and Leopardwood riser, actionboo limbcores and waterfall bubinga veneers or curly bubinga. I orderd it with a high wrist and a grip like my Arroyo, now the wait!! It should be a pretty stick!! OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Shawn