SHREW CREW IS BACK

[whitebuffalo]

Sweet porch Ron,, Looks like a real nice time,,JB

[Ron LaClair]

This is the front of the cabin when we were there in August building the deck on the back.

   

[artvin]

Ron, you guys have tooooooo much fun.  It ought to be illegal....lol.

Sounds like another great trip.  

Art

[Mike Falkner]

+1 for Allan Eckert's books about the Ohio frontier.  I like Zane Grey's trilogy about the Zane's also.

[Terry Green]

Congrats guys....I always look forward to this annual thread.  

[smokin joe]

Looks like a great camp. Nice bows too.....

[NoCams]

Ron,
Glad you guys are back so we could get the stories and pics, but at the same time I know you wished you back there now. Bet it is way toooo hard to leave the Haven when it is finally time to come home. That new furniture sure looks comfy along with a good book !

nocams

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I learned a pretty good lesson this year. Ron preaches often abouttaking a compass reading when a deer is hit. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I don't.....

I was in my favorite Shrewhaven spot on Banana Ridge when a shootable doe (not a fawn) came directly down the trail I was on. She paused at about 10 yards, with a sapling covering her front leg. All I had to do was aim left of the sapling, and double lung her.

Frankly, I made a bad shot. It was too far back, and went high through her gut. The exit was low, and the arrow made a complete pass through. She wandered off, not bolting at all, and I took a compass reading as I watched her disapear into the bush. I could see her with my binoculars, just a flick of the tail here and there. I waited 45 minutes, and then climbed down to look at my arrow. There was a small bit of stomach material, but lots of blood, and a solid blood trail.I suspected that my 200 grain Ace head had cut through her liver.

I followed the blood trail about 30 yards, and it was ample. I came to an area where she crossed a trail, and I thought I could see a deer laying in the thicket on the other side. I squatted to see under the brush...and she was staring at me!! I began to quietly back out (I had snuck in quietly, it's my habit to "stalk" a blood trail)but she got twitchy and blew out of there. I rembered the preaching, pulled out my compass, and took a reading on her departure. Then I went back to camp.

It was cool enough, and we decided to wait until morning. Wrong call. It POURED rain all night. When Greg and I went back in the morning, there was ZERO blood. I was glad I had marked last blood with toilet paper. I stood at that spot, re-sighted due north with my compass, and Greg and I walked right to her!!She had gone maybe another 50 yards and died in flight, not bedded. Odds are she died on that last run.

Thanks Ron, for another lesson in woodsmanship!

[JEFF B]

nice deer looks like yall had fun.      

[drewsbow]

congrats guys , huntin camp is way cool isn't it :0)

[NoCams]

Roger,
Great story and great tip for sure ! Gotta know... why is it named Bananna Ridge ???

nocams

[Ron LaClair]

I learned a pretty good lesson this year. Ron preaches often about taking a compass reading when a deer is hit. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I don't.....

Kids...sometimes they listen...sometimes they don't        ...    :D      The tricks I've learned about tracking wounded deer over the years have come from being on many many blood trails and listening to and learning from others with more experience than me. You could almost write a book on what to do and what not to do   AFTER the shot.

Here's the big Ace Super Express 200gr head that I talked Roger into trying this year. You can see the dirt on the head after it passed through into the ground taking out one rib and part of another one on it's way through.     :eek:    

   

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Congrats to all

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I love that picture Ron. Those are awesome heads, and thats a lot coming from me......I have officially forsaken my beloved Magnus!!

NoCams - Because it's shaped like a banana if you see it from an arial view.

[todd smith]

Another Shrew Haven hunt in the past...

Ron, the nice thing is, we can't all go to Shrew Haven and hunt.  Even though it looks like a little piece of heaven on earth and we'd all like to.  But when you post those pictures and write a little about it, well, just for a moment, I AM there.  As if I'm standing right behind you quietly gazing into  Armstrong creek, thoughts drifting... There's a gentle breeze, the strong scent of fall in the air, and the sound of the Armstrong ever flowing...

Thanks Ron!  For sharing Shrew Haven with all of us.  todd

[**DONOTDELETE**]

It's an amazing place Todd. Cosgrove and I were down in a cedar swamp this year...past where Armstrong Creek joins the Brule. Ancient cedars, flat water, and across the river was Wisconsin. Awesome.

[varmint101]

Cool!  I'm always appreciative that you all share camp every year.  Thanks again.

[TNstickn]

Way cool guys. Glad you had a great time!

[pseman]

Good times. Thanks for sharing. Congrats to all.

[Steve O]

Glad to see you fellas had a great time as always.  

That blind blends in real well in the pines.

You know, with all the single bevel broadhead talk, I am "shocked" that a standard 2 blade bouble bevel head actually made it thru a deer    

Who made the pies?  I would have been happy to take Ray's place...