Intro: Hill Country's Miss Hope and Faith....(roster added on page 2)

[Bud B.]

Thanks Bisch. I got about three hours sleep last night and it's raining pretty hard here and there in our area.

Time to relax.

I'll have Faith near some hogs on the 17th.

I'm heading to my other deer spot Monday.

[Rob W.]

Good stuff Bud! Great story and pics.  

[magnus]

Congratulations Bud!!!! What a great hunt and story. That last pic says it all.    

[chinook907]

Awesome Bud !  That didn't take long. It's a little odd seeing pics of the bow. Can't wait to see what hog or other deer you get. Way to go.

[Marc B.]

     Congrats!

[Bud B.]

Thank you all!!

[4runr]

That's just awesome Bud, thanks for the pics and story!!

[elkken]

      The St Judes mojo continues ... Congrats Bud

[huskyarcher]

Congrats Bud! Gotta love it!

[Bud B.]

Forgot to mention one thing....

This is my first Trad buck too     Faith will hold a special place in my heart forever as will the little velvet buck.

[Shedrock]

Congrats!  

[jcar315]

Congrats!!

First rate story telling and pics to match. Way to go!

[Bud B.]

Hunting with Faith.

Yesterday, before daylight, sitting in the stand.

 

 

My quick release back quiver has its advantages for treestand hunting  

 

 

My small area of opportunity. This is a ten year old or so clearcut cutover piece of land. It's hands and knees crawling thick, except for a few places where some trees of size were spared.


 

Yesterday's sunrise.

 

After climbing down tonight, Faith, my quiver of arrows, and a little bit of light from my headlamp as we prepared for the walk out.

 

[Bud B.]

I got Faith into the swampy woods of Columbus County Game Lands near the Waccamaw River here in coastal NC. Saw lots of hog and deer tracks. No actual sightings though. The mosquitoes were as big as yellow jackets and louder when buzzing my head and ears. I have never seen mosquitoes this big. And I've lived in Louisiana and Alaska, where mosquitoes have lore written and spoken about them. These buggers ignored the Termacell. I had to coat myself down with Deep Woods Off to even begin to throw them a curve.

I took a few pics.

Will post later.

[threeunder]

Go get 'em Bud!

[Bud B.]

I found an old treestand way back at the edge of the cypress swamp and some paper mill pines.

 

Some hog tracks in the sandy soil.

 

I went back yesterday evening. Only saw one squirrel and a garter snake.

On my walk in yesterday morning I left good size-12 footprints in the sand as I walked in on the fire road. On my way back to the Jeep I saw my footprints had been over printed by a doe and fawn. Just my luck. I probably pushed them out as I went in. Stepping on swamp oak acorns makes a nice POP when they crush. I'm sure everything alive in the swamp heard me coming. And smelled me with all the Off I had to use.

Last night the mosquitoes had plan "B" in action. They ignored the Thermacell AND the Deep Woods Off. I had sprayed my drawing hand with Off since it stays uncovered except for my Neet finger glove. They bit into my Off coated skin like thr repellant wasn't even there.

I have never experienced mosquitoes like these. NEVER. I feel for the wildlife we hunt that has to put up with them.

Heading back home today.

[Bud B.]

I got Faith out again last evening. Two fawns browsed near my stand for at least 30 minutes. One was a little button buck. About 30 minutes later I saw movement to my left. About ten turkey came strolling silently through. Then just a few minutes later a grey fox trotted through without making a sound. He stopped broadside right in front of my stand but I didn't even think about shooting.

All these critters hadn't a clue I was there.

Still trying with Faith.

   

I emailed Paul and we're working on the info exchange  

Going out again this evening.

[Mike Theis]

Anyone hear anything on Ms Hope? What is she & Denny hunting in September?

[59Alaskan]

CONGRATS BUD!!  Great hunt and very nice pics.  Miss Faith is being treated well so far that's for sure!

[Bud B.]

I sat 'til sunset last night with Miss Faith. About an hour before sunset some fellow and a few others decide to target practice with a pistol. He probably shot a box of 50 rounds from a six-shooter. Needless to say I saw nothing but two squirrels and a bunch of songbirds.

This Thursday will be my last chance with Faith. Then I send her to Paul.

Just before climbing down and right at dark I shot at a rotten stump I had been eyeing my last few outings. I was about 20 feet up, higher than I usually go but in this area I have to go that high to get over scrub growth. Wish it had been a deer. I drilled it with the very flat shooting Miss Faith. By the time I climbed down to retrieve the arrow it had gotten completely dark. I nearly couldn't find the arrow.

One more hunting day with her and it's over for me.  :(