Bunny Hunt for the St. Judes Kids!!! $2800 raised!!!

[Shawn Leonard]

Well as a lot of you know I decided last year to not hold the annual Joan Leonard Memorial Bunny Hunt for 2011 and 2012 due to how large it had become and how hard it was on my house and on my wife. Than came 2011 and Cindy and I felt we still had to do something for the kids of St. Judes. We decided to throw together a quick bunny hunt and raise money like always, just not on such a huge scale. First I want to apologise that I could not invite everyone but it was last minute and I invited people close by and who I could get in touch with quickly!! As always I was overwhelmed with the support!! We had 17 adult hunters and 6 kids. A greater group ya could not ask for!! We raised a total of $2800 dollars, yes $2800!! There should be some stories and yes we killed 3 bunnies with over 100 shots taken over the 2 day weekend!! I want to Thank each and everyone who came and tell you all that Cindy and I love all you guys!! I have a pretty serious health issue right now and this hunt with its comraderie is just the medicine I needed! Thanks again to everyone and lets see some pics and hear a story or two!! I know I have several!! Shawn

[Shawn Leonard]

By the way don't forget 2013 and the Joan Leonard Memorial Bunny Hunt when everyone is invited!!!! Shawn

[Killdeer]

Shawn, you and Cindy rock!
I have been blessed to see how much work goes into putting on this hunt, and even with reduced numbers it is still quite a trick. Congrats on the success, and best of luck, and prayers for your recovery.

Killdeer  

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Shawn and Cindy,

Thank you for having me. It was good medicine to get out on that windy day and see so many friends and acquaintances.  I had the pleasure of seeing 2 of the 3 bunnies get shot. I had 6 close misses my self. ( I would have had more if I wasn't caught in pickers so often) And I saw Mikey roll one over by tripping it up on a full out run.

I personally kicked up over 11 rabbits for others and have the scars to prove it.  Unfortunately 3 of them went the wrong way.

Curt has a tendency to make rabbits run straight at people as if they are going to leave you flat on your back and leave bunny prints across your face    (sorry I didn't shoot at your leg bud, I think you wouldn't have cared for that too much.     ). Also, I dont know how you see rabbits through those brush piles like you did but that was pretty darn cool.  

Hope there are some pics up soon... I was still smiling when I woke up on Sunday morning albeit my eyes burned and my body ached but it felt good.      

[mcgroundstalker]

I'm proud to have been just a (small) part of this hunt! So many times when sinking up to my eye balls in a snow drift I'd think, "What Am I Doing Here?"... Then someone would yell "Bunny!" and    like magic be on my feet again, ready for action. And there was plenty of that...

Thank you Shawn & Cindy for having me again. God Bless you both. The good you do for the St. Jude Kids is outstanding!

... mike ...

[Tdog]

Thank you Shawn & Cindy..For getting all of us back together for the bunny huny and the kids..I had a great time like always. Lots of laughs and misses..Next time I'll try not to smell. The dogs didn't seem to like me. They did get over it though..I can look back on saturdays hunt and smile..Thats what it's all about..Thank you again..God Bless..It was really nice to see you get the hand drawn picture.That was cool..It couldn't have gone to a better person..Hats off to you and Cindy..Hope to see you soon..

[glenbo]

Thanks Shawn and Cindy for having us up again.Your hospitality is overwhelming.Brian and I had a great time and managed to get 6 shots between the two of us.I got two shots off and missed both.Brian shot four times and ended up with a furry judo but no rabbit.It was very nice


 to see everyone and enjoy a day in the field with like minded individuals.The weather started   out great but ended up turning quite cold and windy.It was a pleasure to get warm and have some much needed food.We even won some awsome prizes.Me a nice basket quiver and Brian a weekend hunt in Westchester with Greg.Very generous!Good luck Shawn.I wish you well.
Glen

[Shawn Leonard]

Thankyou, any stories would be great!! I saw 19 rabbits on Saturday alone and managed 8shots over the two days!! I got an assist with Damon that I will tell about later!! Shawn

[ishiwannabe]

OOOOOOOHHHHHHH YYYYYYYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good times. My nephew is still talking about it! Thanks to everyone who helped him out this weekend.

Stories....where to begin? I will have to organize my thoughts.

[Over&Under]

Way to go guys!!!!  

[Stone Knife]

Awesome Shawn, I have been wondering how your doing. Did you have your surgery? God Bless you.

[Guru]

It was an awesome weekend!  Shawn and Cindy were great as always...two amazing people!

I have some pix and stories to share, but it won't be till later today...

Shawn and Cindy, thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking Cade and into your home again and treating us like part of the family.

[ishiwannabe]

Hey Jake, that Treadway worked again.  

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Jamie, I dont think you can blame that shot on the bow    I think your arrow was practically touching it when you were at full draw    

Anyone that doesnt know Jamie, this man is a hunter and survivor through and through.

He was able to pick out a rabbit after a group of hunters had already stomped passed it. I'll leave the rest for Jamie to tell.

[IndianaBowman]

Please get some stories going. I'm sorry to have missed the event. I was able to get up and say Hi on Friday evening, but had an all day Church training event on Sat.

Shawn you were looking pretty good my friend and Cindy is her beautiful self as always. But I have to say, I was most pleased to see our good friend BigEd! As many of you know BigEd had a horrible accident at work that nearly took his shooting fingers. I'm happy to say, he is a miracle in the making. While his fingers are still in need of some serious recovery, I would bet my last nickel that he'll be shooting again before the summer ends. Prayers work fellas!

Tyler wanted to come up very badly and even invited a good friend. His buddy is a beginning archer and he was afraid he'd make a fool of himself and you guys would make fun of him. We told that you guys would be the best teachers he could get and that you'd probably have fun WITH him. Couldn't convince him, so he and Tyler went out rabbit hunting locally.

Thanks again Shawn and Cindy for all you do!

Curt as expected the deer mount is a work of art!

[Bowspirit]

That Jamie...always putting down his own shooting skills, but it's been some time since I can recall him not claiming a rabbit at one of these hunts. Seriously, that calm & cool shot on a bunny that plenty of people passed by was a sight to see...

[sawtoothscream]

where abouts in NY do you have this hunt?

[Shawn Leonard]

The hunt is held 10 minutes south of Albany in the best rabbitat there is!! On the first push thru the Island of trees I was next to Charlie and in 30 yards he put out 3 bunnies, one almost runnin me over!! We got some shootin in there but nothin like the Rabbit Valley!! Damon(Nomad88) took six shots in a matter of 10 minutes and managed to hit one pretty good! The rabbit came back thru the pushers and was shot at a few times and went into a pile. After guys surrounded it and Chris(Bowspirit) gettin a shot and just missing, I snuck up on the pile and saw the bunny ready to burst out. I managed to get an arrow into him before he could break free again, nice double team on a big bunny!! Also on the old road push, I had a lil' more excitement and will tell ya about it in a lil' while!! OOOOHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Shawn

[Anointed Archer]

     very cool!

[J.Williams]

Man,what a good time!Saturday afternoon went by too fast.Shawn,I couldn't quite see you but heard your reaction when you got that bunny and all I could say at the time was OOOOHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!