Okay.. thanks for your patience guys. Half the fun is sharing this stuff with those who understand.
You know it's like we're all a bunch of dudes with the same disease or psychological disorder and can relate. Ha.
I'll try not to milk this out but I have to admit it was really special. Most of you know Gene and I are pretty picky. Our goals are about the same, fully mature buck of 5 1/2 yrs. or older, approx. 160 inches of antler and under the 20 yard line. I know this might make some people jealous but I've pretty much patterned my life to be able to do what I do. It's taken a lot of sacrifice in more ways than one.
Last fall on October 28th I missed the one I named Hurley (because I felt like hurling when my arrow went over his back). We got trail camera pics of him this early fall so he was my main objective. There were higher scoring bucks around but I wanted Hurley for personal reasons and because I had history with him.
We have several stands set up for him but I tried to hunt him only with perfect winds and sparingly so as not to pressure him out of his area. Since Oct. 1st I've passed up four bucks over 150 inches.
One was named "Holyfield" (we tend to name our bucks) because he has a big chunk out of his left ear. He's a standing 7x6. Another we named "Meltdown" because his one mainbeam droops down on the end like it's melted. He's a standing 6x5. But Gene and I both agreed they were each only 4 1/2 yrs. old and if given one more year would likely both be B&C class bucks when fully mature.
Last week I had Holyfield walk by at 5:15 with the sun shining on him in all his glory. I filmed him making four scrapes, doing the overhead branch thing,rubbing, peeing on his hocks, etc. He was 18 yds.
The next morning I sat the stand I missed Hurley from last year. At 8AM Meltdown followed a doe with a pretty face and hung around at 16 yds. for a solid ten minutes. I got great footage of both which I hope you'll get to see in our new DVD "Essential Encounters".. coming soon.
Saturday morning I sat a stand named "Biggie's Dentures". It's located in Biggies Bowl (where Biggie Hoffman shot his biggest buck ever)about halfway between two other stands, Biggies Upper Lip and Biggies Lower Lip (don't you love the names?)Ha.
Anyway, that morning I saw eight bucks and 12 does. Filmed a nice P&Y 5x5 buck that followed a doe right under me at 4 yds. That afternoon the winds were out of the SW and were predicted to switch out of the NW later in the afternoon. I wanted to keep out of Hurley's home for a couple days. I chose a stand we call the "Tennesee Bottoms". It's good for both SW and NW winds. It's about halfway in to the stand I killed that nice one at last fall. As soon as I crossed the creek on entering I knew my timing was right. The whole area was absolutely torn up with rubs and scrapes and I hadn't hunted it yet so it was fresh.
Between 5 PM and 6PM I'd already seen four bucks and NO does. A spike, two 4x4s and a 5x5. At about 6:10 a very nice mature 5x5 came in from over my left shoulder. He walked right passed me at 12 yds. I couldn't turn the camera on for fear of spooking him so I let him walk through, then took some footage as he walked away and then hung the camera back up. I kept looking behind him in case something was following. A couple minutes later movement catches my eye.
There's my buck up on his hind legs working over a high overhead branch. I grabbed the camcorder but just as I was turning it on he drops down, freshens the scrape and here he comes. He's only 50 yds. advancing on me so I had no time to film.
When his head went behind a tree I stood up, when his head went behind another tree I took the bow off the hook. You know how when you're in a stand you chose your "sweet spot"? It's where if you had your choice that's where I'd like my buck to be standing? Well he walked right into my sweet spot broadside at 13 yds., stopped and turned his head directly away from me.
In all honesty I hesitated shooting him because my heart was set on Hurley. But this was just too good of a 4x4 to let walk.
I was shooting my brand new Brian Wessel's Tall Tines takedown. It's a virgin. For those interested, it's 61 lbs. at 28" with a riser of Bolivian Rosewood and limbs of Black Limba. The bow just "fits" and feels right.... great job Brian!
I know this is hard to believe but of the hundreds of big game animals I've bowkilled over the years I have never spine shot a single animal. When I shot, in my minds eye, the arrow looked a little high but not much. I was absolutely shocked when he dropped right in his tracks!
To make a long story short, I finished him off as soon as I could. Then panic set in. I hadn't even touched him yet and what sounded like three coyotes blasted off howling what sounded like less than 100 yds. from us directly downwind. I'm not sure if they smelled blood and were trying to spook me off or what. But then reality struck, I was alone!
The creek I needed to cross to get him out was washed out from recent rains. The sheer walls from the top to the bottom were 30 feet straight down and back up the other side. In fact Gene and I have a rope tied to a tree where we used to cross and pretty much repel ourselves up and down. So I started dragging. I only made it about 75 yds. and was out of gas. Either I'm getting too old or this buck is just too big. Gotta go... be right back.. sorry. BW
Topic: Uncle Barry and his TallTines--Look at THIS!!! (Read 2479 times)
