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Author Topic: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)  (Read 18259 times)

Offline Van/TX

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #100 on: January 01, 2005, 10:43:00 AM »
Good Grief  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:  ....Van
Retired USAF (1966 - 1989)
Retired DoD Civilian (1989 - 2009)
And drawing Social Security!
I love this country ;-)

Offline Jakeboy at home

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #101 on: January 01, 2005, 11:42:00 AM »
What a monster! I'd probably be too scared of it to shoot!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Jakeboy

Offline Hawkwind

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #102 on: January 01, 2005, 02:57:00 PM »
Wow NICE BUCK

What broadhead you use on that one   :saywhat:

Offline Frank V

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #103 on: January 01, 2005, 06:03:00 PM »
Gene & Barry

   WOW!!!!! Congratulations, I love to hear of family teaming up to hunt. Thanks for letting us share with your joy. Frank
U.S.A. "Ride For The Brand Or Leave."

Offline Morning Star

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #104 on: January 01, 2005, 07:17:00 PM »
Congratulations,

I'm continually impressed with your strategies guys, sometimes I kick myself in the but for being to conservative when chasing the big'ns.

You got me in the mood to make a nudge the last weekend!

Again, it's good to be an Iowan EEEHHH!
Iowa Bowhunters Association - Your voice in Iowa's bowhunting and deer hunting issues!

Offline Bobby Castello

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #105 on: January 01, 2005, 08:06:00 PM »
Great deer guys.Down here in Florida we can only dream of deer like that.Wishing you the best in 2005!Maybe a new book.I've read Come November 3 times,learn something new each time!
Hunt hard,but have fun!

Offline Gene Wensel

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #106 on: January 01, 2005, 10:12:00 PM »
I guess its about time I get on here to thank you people for the congratulations, comments and expressions of mutual happiness for what happened to Barry and I this season. We're still floating on high. Lets face it, at sixty years old, we're almost wrinkled old men now. What hair is left is gray, our eyes are not as good as they used to be and I seem to use ladder stands more than monkey seats. I told someone I used to stand in my treestands until my feet got tired, then sat for a while. Now I sit until my ass gets sore, then stand up for a while :>) My dad used to say there is a fine line between wisdom and senility.
   Most of you know we've been at this game all our lives. A lot of time, effort, teamwork, mental stress and lost sleep went into this one. We constantly worried over multiple close gunshots, poaching, pressuring him too much, etc. Having it all come together, taking him fair and square the right way was most important. Just knowing he was out there made use of the alarm clock unnecessary.
   Knowing the passion that guys like us share is a special thing. This is far more than an accomplishment for my brother and I. It is who we are and its nice to know there are lots of others who feel like us.
   I will plan on writing a magazine story with all the details but here are some to fill in the blank spots. I named this buck Woody...not as in Woodsman and not as in woodpeckers. Enough said. Woody is a very special deer. He has it all. Brains, dominance and unpredictable movement patterns. His rack has good tine length, good mass, bladed tines, a wide spread (30" outside), four droptines, a dark forehead, lots of character in his face and scars from fighting other bucks whose racks fit between his main beams. We have at least three set camera pix of him (three more rolls of trail camera film are yet to be developed as of this writing). Last night I discovered I have a shed antler from him two years ago before he developed the droptines. No question about it. I think he is 5 1/2 years old. Cementum analysis will confirm this later.
   I spotted him first in September of 2003. I saw him twice and Barry saw him twice that season. Barry came close to getting a shot at him. A couple friends hunting the same area also had close encounters. We never found his sheds last spring. Barry got video footage of him on October 17 this season. He disappeared when the rut kicked in. I suspect he went on the road spreading his seeds.
    Both of us killed great bucks in early November so our tags were filled. Each of us saw Woody half a dozen times before our late season primitive weapons buck tags kicked in after Christmas, but before Christmas he was always out of range, in low light and never in the same place twice anyway. I was lucky enough to take almost 40 minutes of footage of him one evening during gun season but since I don't hunt with guns, I only had my video camera with me. I got other great deer footage in late November, filled some doe tags and Barry even got footage of a bobcat stalking and killing a squirrel ten yards from his stand. I still don't understand why a guy can't hunt with a bow and arrow during gun season in this state.
   By Christmas, Woody's preferred unpicked bean field was pretty much depleted of beans. He moved to a neighboring property to feed on standing corn nightly. When antlers started shedding on local mature bucks, we decided to get more aggressive in our hunting strategies a few days ago. I will save the details for the magazine article but we were blessed with good luck, good friends, good weather, good wind directions, good stand placement and plans that all fell into place. The rest is history.
   You know I've heard all this wild stuff that happens when someone kills a monster. My phone has been busy more often than not. Emails are relentless. Biggie Hoffman had to be tied down to be kept from driving up from Georgia just to fondle a set of deer antlers. This morning I was offered $20,000. for Woody's warm nuts, presumably for live sperm. I told the guy they had already assunmed room temperature. Hell, I'll sell Barry's jewels for ten grand though.
    I'm sure there will be rumors arise. They will all be untrue. When a guy really loves this sort of stuff and spends a good portion of his life pondering choices, you can't help but wonder about deer and people as individuals and ask oneself why we do what we do. I once heard a guy say if he ever killed a giant nontypical he would give up bowhunting because he had "done it all." I know another guy who in fact did hang it up. I can't help but wonder if they ever loved it in the first place.
   I'm fairly certain I've now taken the biggest buck of my life. I don't know how many more seasons I'll get but I'm running below 3/4 of a tank. I'm not only grateful for the opportunity and the outcome, but thankful for close friends, an understanding wife/family and a brother who shares the passion as much as I do. I'm a lucky and blessed guy.
   You know that feeling of "hunter's remorse" that sets in after the fact? It ain't happening this time. I feel GREAT. Thank you one and all. May all your hunts get better.

Offline Timo

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #107 on: January 01, 2005, 10:51:00 PM »
Good words Gene.Thanks for taking the time to pen them.

Now.....PUT A TAPE ON HIM ALREADY?  :D
(Enny o yuns know ware thu heart o a stumpytail izz??)

Offline Dave Bulla

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #108 on: January 01, 2005, 11:00:00 PM »
Once again, gotta say congratulations to you all.

Aaaaannnndddd....I gotta ask if there is any chance of seeing any of that video here or in a production video in the future?
Dave


I've come to believe that the keys to shooting well for me are good form, trusting the bow to do all the work, and having the confidence in the bow and myself to remain motionless and relaxed at release until the arrow hits the mark.

Offline bowbender61

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #109 on: January 01, 2005, 11:12:00 PM »
WOW Gene! What a buck.

Congratulations to both you and Barry. Like others have said, It couldn't have happened to a nicer couple of guys. Sure would like to see that brute in Kzoo sometime. Every time I think of you guys, I can't help but think about the story of the natives, baboon, and the superglue.   :D
bowbender61

Offline Warren H. Womack

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #110 on: January 01, 2005, 11:29:00 PM »
Gene, Thanks a lot for taking the time to share those details, of this special event, with the TradGang membership.

You and your brother Barry, have certainly been an inspiration and source of knowledge for most all of us. It's always nice to see our hero's, continue to shine.

With me being 6 months older than the two of you, I can certainly relate to a lot of your, in this time in my life, comments.

Thank You,

Warren
>>>==Warren==>>>

Online R. Combs

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #111 on: January 02, 2005, 08:49:00 AM »
Gene, congratulations to you and Barry.

My heart would still be jumping out of my chest if I had a deer that size come by my stand.

Rick

Online Al Dente

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #112 on: January 02, 2005, 09:19:00 AM »
Congratulations to both of you.  What a truly spectacular and beautiful animal.  And i don't mean Barry.  You guys put a ton of effort into it and deserve it.  Kudos to the both of you again.  All the best, Al.
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Offline sticknstring202

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #113 on: January 02, 2005, 10:36:00 AM »
Awesome deer and Awesome pic Barry. The snakeskin backed bow aint bad either.

Offline kojac

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #114 on: January 02, 2005, 01:45:00 PM »
I have to disagree a little with some of the prior posts, It could happen to a better guy, (me) but I know you guys have worked hard at what ya get.

Every time I'm on here I have GOT to pull this thread up and look at that monster. wow
Brian

"Hunting...is about the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and  the Hunted...All the hunter has to do is show up"

Offline joe lucas

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #115 on: January 02, 2005, 01:55:00 PM »
:notworthy:

Offline Allen Ziebarth

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #116 on: January 02, 2005, 02:07:00 PM »
Dang Barry, was that you behind Gene in the first pic?
I almost didn't recognize you with your hat on straight!
CONGRATS on that WHOPPER!!!

You both deserve a big pat on the back this season.

Allen

Offline Carcajou

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #117 on: January 03, 2005, 07:39:00 AM »
Holey #@*&^! nice deer! Excellent photo! Now share some of the details, will ya???
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Offline ber643

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #118 on: January 03, 2005, 07:54:00 AM »
There oughta be a law agin two brudders with so much "good stuff" goin' for 'em!   ;)    :thumbsup:
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Offline Biggie Hoffman

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Re: Gene Wensel Scores BIG (with Pic)
« Reply #119 on: January 03, 2005, 12:11:00 PM »
The deer looks like 4&1/2 maybe 5&1/2 years old....just think how big he woulda been had you showed some restraint and waited another year...
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