This is the story of a big buck I hunted for 5 1/2 years(78-82). Early college years, I was lucky to own a bow. This was pre-cell phone days. My father had just landed a job as a professor at ISU in Terre Haute, 1977. So we moved from PA to IN. Moving from the Eastern woodlands to the wide open corn and bean fields, laced with drainage ditches and a river or two was a totally different world for me. Started my search for someplace to hunt. Driving down dirt roads, especially those that lead to a creek or river. Since everything was so "wide open", I figured my Ben Pearson 45# recurve wasn't enough. I went to the dark side for about three years. Started with a Bear Whitetail Hunter, then switched to a Browning Tracker solid wood riser compound.(77-79)
I found some good looking farm land that was literally at the end of a dirt dirt road. The abandoned RR track ran along the edge, and I figured it would be OK to hike/scout along that. So I walked along it in both directions with a pair of binos to look for deer and sign. I covered the area along the RR from one paved road to the next, probably 2-3 miles. The other side of the creek was owned by the Milner's who I knew from church. So I hiked in on their side and along the creek. Good deer sign was all over. So back to the other side I go to ask the farmer if I could hunt his side of the creek.
Knocked on the door and Mr. Ogden invited me in. I asked if he minded if I bow hunted his land, and that Mr. Milner had granted me access. He just stared at me. Told him I'd leave all gates in position I found them, open or closed. I'd pick up any trash I found and carry it out, etc,,, SILENCE. Then he said, "Sure you can hunt, this is a coal company lease that I farm, but you are the first person to ever ask to hunt. I explained that back East hunting without permission was illegal and dangerous. He said you'll be fine. You have my permission to remove any stands you find. EUREEKA! I told him what my truck looked like and that I'd park off to the side past his gate.
The first time I saw HIM was in 1978, I had stumbled onto a couple good trails that run along Honey Creek that looked like cattle trails. Also, found an old apple tree that I could crawl up into and perch. One day I was sitting in the tree about 8 feet up, out of the corner of my eye I catch movement coming my way. As the buck passed under my feet I drew the Bear and focused on a spot. The buck stopped at knife distance and looked over his shoulder, I glanced too. There was "Bullwinkle"!!! He turned and bolted, catching my motion. The first buck started ahead and I turned my head back and released. Hit was a little farther back, but the 2117 disappeared to the vanes. That was the biggest buck I had ever seen in the woods. Good solid 10 point with antlers outside his ears. The tree started to shake, so I figured I'd better climb down.
Topic: "Bullwinkle" (Read 1733 times)
