Joan Leonard Memorial Bunny Hunt 09(My Final Thankyou!!)

[Stone Knife]

My Bunny was working it's way back through a mess of shooters, every one yelling out it's progress. Finally I saw it coming through the edge of the brush, having learned some patience over the years, I just let it come, it decided to turn and try to make it across the overgrown field. It wasn't running fast but it was moving along, I just switched over to auto pilot the shot was perfect, folks were yelling out nice shot as I ran to get it I fell got up again and finally made it to the bunny before it could get a chance to escape like I have seen them do before, even with the  best of hits. Bill showed up and said he got it on film. While standing there with my bunny I saw Curt put a hit on one, looked like a good hit but he got away even though he had been dove at a couple times,those rabbits are a lot tougher than people give them credit for.

[No-sage]

Some thoughts, observations and wisdom gained from my weekend:

The rabbits at Shawn’s place are truly amazing.  Not only for their toughness, but also for their quantity.

Briarback Mountain still has some briars left..  No matter how many we seem to get imbedded in us, there still seems to be plenty.  

A Montana cowboy can disassemble a rabbit down to the eating parts (the video is no hoax) in about ¼ of the time it takes a New Yorker.

Dead rabbits sure can pee far…. and with exceptional accuracy.

Noah now has a lucky rabbits foot as a charm,  but Izzy has the real lucky charm.

Pennsylvania guys can brush dive as good as anyone I’ve ever seen.  I think it was a half twisting single from the pike position….. not a hint of a splash.   Myself and fellow judge Bassi gave it a 10.

Even teenagers can hustle you out of a buck if you let your guard down.  Pleasure doing business with you Hunter.   Diiiiinnnnggggg.

Apparently, with my hunting cap on,  I somehow resemble a clown????   With it off I look normal, sort of???

15 pieces of gum in your mouth is kids stuff.  16 makes you drool buckets. Somehow that’s gross???

Everyone shoots my bows better than I do.

Fleet feet trump bolting bunny.

There’s a cool town in Montana that welcomes NY’s called Boz Angeles.

I’ll never look at a dollar bill the same way….. Thanks Nicole.

I’ll be back… I have to wash my hands like 100 times.  Thanks again Nicole.

[ishiwannabe]

[Wapiti Chaser]

 

Apparently, with my hunting cap on, I somehow resemble a clown???? With it off I look normal, sort of???


Man that puts a picture in my head Keith ! LMAO

[swampbuck]

Now thats some funny stuff right there            

I missed seeing the head first dive off the edge of the creek bottom into briarback but Brent was still laughin so hard he was just about crying tellin me the story

Mikey was kind enuff to let me push almost thru the rose bush I saw a bunny run into before he noticed the hole            It's not to bad when your still on top 4-5' off the ground it's when what your standin on let;s loose and ya drop those 4-5' down into *^)$%*^)^%(^) that it get's a little ruff

Speakin of "ruff" I think I've got most of the thorns outta Sonny and his tail wasn't as bad as it looked there for awhile and even stopped bleeding before we finished that last push.If he had it his way we'd still be huntin

[drewsbow]

I will start off by thanking Shawn , Cindy and family for putting this all together . I know it takes tons of work to make it all happen. It was great to see all the great folks again this year . This is the best group of people in the world to hunt with.

I got to meet Doug , It was great to finally meet ya Doug  :0)

 I got to witness David shooting a rabbit full out trying to run him over . Awesome shot David :0)
 I also got to see Mikey shoot his first bunny from the edge of the bowl at briar back mountain . Awesome :0)
 This is such a great shoot and the people that attend make it even better . it was great to see the old friends as well as the new . All the best to everyone . Thanks again Shawn :0)  Drew

[nanook712]

Shawn once more you and your family have out done yourselves, two thumbs up!! Hard to believe this was our 7th hunt and thats not counting the first time we met up at Meathooks. I could be wrong but I think it makes this hunt almost as old as the Trad Gang.
  I had my share of shots but no sucess, I know I came real close on a couple of crossing shots but was  horrible on those full bore right at you,charging shots. maybe we can come up with a way to practice them? Maybe you could hide in the shed and fire tennis balls at us with that potatoe launcher! I did see Greg make a fine shot on one bent on taking him out. Is 90lbs enought for rabbits?

[Izzy]

Wow Shawn you made me blush with all that hoopla over the mad flying bunny shot.I would never have made it without my lucky charm Noah at my side.I missed one in the same exact spot just 30 seconds before the one I shot, maybe it was the same one that thought he could get over on me a second time."NOTTTTT! A little while later I saw Nikita shoot at one and it ran under a rose bush.While I was putting a Mohawk Stalk on it I saw another one hiding even closer, whats that saying about a rabbit in the hand?I shot and zipped a 770 grain ash shaft through his neck.From picking him up I hear Noah yelling Bunny and look up in time to see another bunny charging us.I mustered up the courage to face him and as I came to anchor my leading leg fell straight down a chuck hole 3 feet deep!!!He ran and I swung with one leg above ground and shot at the same time as Noah.That bunny got away but both our arrows were almost touching right under the bunny but we didnt cut a hair.

[Izzy]

My only regret of the weekend was not being there for Jamie and Mikeys bunnies.Theyre 2 of the hardest charging bunny hunters in history and they sur deserve them bunnies.Congrats to all my bunny bagging buddies.

[Huntrdfk]

It's amazing all that can go on that you don't hear about until you read it here, even though you were there!!!!!!  Dead rabbits peeing, Izzy shooting with one leg in a hole, Keith looking normal........    

We had pushed the island of trees and then the squirrel woods, with arrows flying at running rabbits on each push, a couple even died!  A few of us were pushing this small bowl when we pushed a rabbit out, it streaked dead away and up the hill, right at Bill and his camera.  Later he would say as he was looking in the viewfinder all he saw was a bunch of arrows pointed at him, that's when we all heard, "Don't shoot me!"  I'm still laughing as I sit here typing.....the rabbit ran right by his feet and escaped unscathed.

The last real push of the first day is through the Rabbit Valley.....(don't you just love that Shawn has all of these places named?)  As we filtered into position, I found myself standing with Drew.  We looked around and realized that we were completely surrounded by bloodthirsty bunny hunters, some close and some further away.  We resigned ourselves to just standing, watching, and talking, which I was really enjoying.......and then the sound of BUNNY reached us loud and clear. We could see this rabbit coming through the briars towards us, it got through the line about twenty five yards in front of us still coming strong, as I put tension on the string I realized I had a baseball hat on with the brim forward, which just wouldn't do.  I flipped the hat off just as I heard Drew shoot, the rabbit kept coming and at about 10 feet I shot and got lucky, hitting him square through the head!  I swear that rabbit would have passed me at about two feet if he had kept coming.  Hunter was just in front of us, so he came back and held the rabbit for the hero shot......this just may become my avatar....

 

We finished this push, and met together at the beginning of the valley, with one group milling around up the hill, one out in the field and one pushing some down the hill.  These next three pics will give an idea of how many people were here on Saturday....

Uphill...

 

In the field....

 

Pushing cover down hill....

 

Shortly after this we headed back to the house for a much needed dinner(after a little fundraising shootoff).....

David

[mcgroundstalker]

So there I was... Just standing there, up high in the open watchin' all the action at "The Bowl". Think that's the name of it. Anyhow... Kinda reminded me of that scene in Dances With Wolves when Kevin Cosner (spell check) rode past all the grey coats shootin' at him... Get the picture? Bunnies to the left of me! Bunnies to the right of me! Arrows flyin' all over! Bunny commin' in on the run!

Don't even remember drawing or shooting. Guess that's the way it is when you are "in the zone". I do remember Jamie doin' a head dive for (my) rabbit. Three holes were just feet away in the hillside. I think shooting downhill kept the arrow from passing through. Then Jamies touch down pass saved the day!

Can't Wait To Do It Again! All Of You Are Great To Be Around! I just can't understand why I am so tired, and my legs hurt, and I have alot of gas..........     :rolleyes:    

... mike ...

P.S. Think maybe I shoulda told Tom about the bunny holes BEFORE he dove into that rose bush? Nahhhhh... Why ruin his fun?     :p

[Izzy]

Keith, remember most people like clowns.Noah and I sure do.He gets a kick out of you.Brent, sorry for not draining that bunny before I let Doug skin and quarter it.That will make a nice yote hunting coat now.You wont even have to call.Just hope its not bunny estrous or youll have to watch your back when your wearing it.  

[Shawn Leonard]

$5300 OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Shawn

[Wapiti Chaser]

Most people like clowns but others are scared to death of them !!!!!    
But he still makes a nice bow.

[ron w]

Keiths bows are not nice!!!!! They are incredible and I'm really glad that was blessed to win it in the drawing. I still think it was a dream untill I look up on the bow rack. I never win anything.

[No-sage]

Do me a favor RR.... don't bring it hunting.  I don't need your hex rubbin off on my bows.  I still want to hunt with them.  

[adkmountainken]

Keith,
 i will PROMISE to put Ron on deer with your bow then we will see what King Of Hex can do with it!

[Big Ed]

Dave that picture explains what it's all about. I enjoyed watching all the youngsters, truely the future of our great sport. Those kids were warriors. I didn't hear a complaint out of any of them. Let me tell ya these kids can flat out shoot.
 I would go into all my shots on the first day but it would probably take hours. I beleive I had eleven shots. Bill has a few on film including the one that ran between us. I had to wait for the bunny to get by him. I believe it was Guru and I that caused the " don't shoot me" screams.  Can't help but grin when thinking of the time I had and the friends I met. Thanks again to Shawn,Cindy and all that made this possible. And it all will help to save the life or lives of children. I does not get much better than that. I'll chime in later. Good night to all, Big Ed

[Guru]

What a weekend for my boy and I!

Cade and I got to Shawn, Cindy, and Pops' house on Friday evening. We were very lucky to share a great meal with David, Hunter, Cindy, Shawn,Pop, and of course my buddy and special guest Doug Campbell....

 It wasn't long before things were getting exchanged. Hunter gave Cade a very nice little recurve(thank you so much little buddy,Cade is so pumped about his bow!).....We gave Shawn a pair of brush chaps(that didn't fit)we gave hunter a doz. team pink carbon arrows and cool neck knife.....we gave David and Doug each a snakeskin primitive arrow...the weekend was off to a wonderful start!!! Everyone was all smiles as we each faded off for the night. Full of excitement,some took longer than others to do so.....

Next morning...the boys were warming up for the day playing  with Cade's "DS's".....
 

One of the first to show up was one of the best guys you could ever share a hunt with, Terry Receveur(sp?), and he had his son Tyler and daughter Jen. Be proud brother, those are to fine "little one's" you have there! More on the Receveur's soon......

Folks were showing up and the shooting started.Cade's new bow was a perfect fit. A little harder to pull, but he seemed to shoot it just fine. He was the first to ring Mikey's "gong target"....
 

Then he heart shot this bear....
 
 

Jen was the first to try the "arrow munching steel bunny target". Her first shot of the day and she drilled it!
 

Bowspirit's little bro shooting steel....
 

Then Doug made his first attempt and also drilled it perfect!
 

Then Shawn got awful concerned about me being they to watch him shoot at the steel.I should have known he was up to something!  I never realized looking through my camera until after he smashed the arrow. It was one of my carbons! Jamie had found it the day before from a previous hunt and Shawn had it planned to smash it right under my nose! Luv ya buddy....
 

[Guru]

Cade shooting Steel with Bill Langer filming.....
 

It was real cool meeting Bill, Mr. Langer, and bro in law John after watching them all kill so many critters on film. What a great family! Definately one of the highlights for me!          

Hunterdfk, BBassi, Doug, Vermonster.....
 

The future of our sport...What a great bunch of kids!
 

Gotta say goodnight for now.....