Recap of my trip to WI (complete)

[Cyclic-Rivers]

5 hours after the shot,my Father and buddy went to help track.

There was NO blood.

After 30 yards I found the arrow.  6 inches of shaft was missing on the business end.

 

 

 

We ended up doing a grid search for a few hours. Never found Blood or my deer.  I was quite upset, marked the spot of the arrow and told the other guys to go out hunting.

As we were walking to my buddy during the grid search he motioned that he saw a buck.  Turned out while he was taking a leak, a giant one horn 4 point walked past him at 15 yards completely oblivious to his presence.

With my spirits pretty low, I went to a quiet place to sit and reflect for the afternoon.


A weary doe came in at 10 yards and eventually winded me, she ambled off into the corn field.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

After the long night of being sick to my stomache,  the alarm went off and I was headed back to the woods.

My location this morning would be backed against a giant oak tree along a rub line sporting rubs every 5 or 6 yards.

 

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Around 9 am I caught movement to my right. A beautiful Coyote was looking up in the air and stalking squirrels. Thats pretty awesome I thought.

I did a few hand squeaks after it passed and caught its attention.

It turned and started toward me.

I cant believe I am going to get a shot at a coyote on the ground without a blind.

I could tell it was coming by the shadows from behind a tree.  I draw just before I thought it would pop out.  It popped out a millisecond early and is looking right at me.  I think its aw me move but it paused just long enough for me to drop the string.

Whifff.

I was in such disbelief of the whole situation, That I never picked a spot          

Blown opportunity and a coyote standing at 12 yards.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

After lunch I went back and combed the area for the hit buck again. No Luck!

I was met up by my older brother and father for the last evening at our farm.

We split up and my brother and I went below a gully that tends to hold deer. My father went above it.

I was expecting them to come from behind me and browse a bit before moving on. It seems as if that's what they always do. I had a hard time finding a spot.  This was the best I could do without a treestand. If the deer came from "where they are supposed to" I should be OK.

 

 

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Well its Funny,

when you talk about deer hunting and what they are supposed to do, it never works that way.

A small 1 horned 3 point came over the top of the ridge and straight at me.  The bow was up and I was ready to draw only for him to completely bust me. he was 15 yards and staring straight at me.  

He was looking hard for what seemed like an hour. I was squinting and not looking him in the eye in hopes he would relax and give me a broadside shot.

It wasn't to be and he bolted out of there.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

The next morning would be my last, unfortunately.  Mom has a big dinner planned since I was to fly home on Monday.  (H. Sandy had other plans for that though)

[Cyclic-Rivers]

My little brother and I headed to the woods early but after sleeping in a little.  The plan was to squirrel hunt a bit before going home.

I slowly entered the woods first while he hung back at the field edge.

after going nearly 30 yards by now, I catch movement to my right. DEER

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Plans changed from a squirrel hunt to a Deer hunt real quick and I decided to stalk them since I had made it so far and need more cover.

The wind was good and I started in a direction that should allow me to intersect them with their general direction of travel.

[ti-guy]

Sorry you did'nt find that deer,it has happened to me two,just keep up          

[BowHuntingFool]

Tough one Charlie....maybe your on one???

 

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I have already made it 30 yards and needed to close about 30 more.  I made it about 20 more and the 2 does took off. they were headed for somewhere else but not spooked.

I couldn't figure what had "pushed" them off.

My little brother and I sat down and were just catching up oin old times when a bad A** buck fight broke out up the hillside away from us.  I am sure the does boogied after seeing a buck or both.

The clashing went on for quite some time. If I couldn't hear the bodies being pushed about I probably would have figured it was fake however I know no one was hunting that property.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

For an area that is absolutely inundated with squirrels this morning was pretty quiet.

I watched one from 100 yards away building a nest. It would go up and down a tree every 30 seconds.

It was late and we needed to get back to the cabin to pack up for our journey home.

I decided to put a stalk on this squirrel.  It took me the better part of 45 minutes to stalk within Bow range.  Just as I was about to shoot, 2 other squirrels came racing in. I switched targets and made the shot count. I hit her mid body, when she turned to bite the arrow I had already send a second shaft and hit her between the eyes.

Sorry for the long drawn out tale. I had an awesome trip home!  The deer activity was incredible, the weather and Company was Great!  I only wish I had a few more days!

This is my first Mammalian Bow kill.

 

 

I had already changed as I was running 30 minutes late from the long stalk but here is a hero shot!

 

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Here is another Highlight of my trip.

I was able to shoot with my nephew Oliver. He loves archery and was a recipient of a Mad dog bow. But also has a 69 Bear cat longbow he leaves at Grandpas house.

 

 

 

[JJB]

Hey Charlie - Glad you had a good trip back home to Wisconsin.  Congrats on your squirrel, you'll get your deer on next years trip.  It looks like the cabin is in a beautiful setting, a nice place to enjoy your time off.
-Jay

[smokin joe]

Charlie,
A well-told story about your trip. I love SW Wisconsin and have spent many wonderful days around that part of the state. Great shot on the squirrel. Well done, my friend.
Joe

[wooddamon1]

Looks like some beautiful country, congrats on the squirrel! Always feels good to go home, sad when ya gotta leave...

[Cookus]

Good tale Charlie! Congratulations on the squirrel... They're harder to hit than a deer anyways! You're time is coming. God bless!

[JoeM]

Great story and pics!!  Time well spent with family you guys have a beautiful place.  Joe

[Izzy]

Wow dude, what a trip.Thats some beautiful country for sure and I can only imagine your happiness at getting together with your kin who you are so distant from at this time . Sounds like the place is crawling with deer. Ill be hunting this week myself, I hope to run into some of the rutting activity you experienced. Glad to see you putting that Griffin to use.

      Also, for me, a dead squirrel seems to bring me good luck with the deer so maybe you ought to get ready.    

[SAM E. STEPHENS]

Good times.........
,Sam,