Trad Gang

This post is overdue and I've been missing my buddy Curt Cabrera since the day he left.

  (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/B68015A4-04BA-46C5-BDE8-B18D65471532_zpscu1hevpt.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/B68015A4-04BA-46C5-BDE8-B18D65471532_zpscu1hevpt.jpg.html)

This buck surprised me with all the mass he put on since last year. He's a 4.5yr old!

  (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/FCCF7A2C-7D7E-4B4B-965C-DFE7942BB7EB_zpsknpovmrx.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/FCCF7A2C-7D7E-4B4B-965C-DFE7942BB7EB_zpsknpovmrx.jpg.html)

  (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/BC9D6365-F7CA-4F3F-A18F-9C6D72B4D482_zpsuddxjanx.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/BC9D6365-F7CA-4F3F-A18F-9C6D72B4D482_zpsuddxjanx.jpg.html)

That's a 7" knife made by Randy Burtis, and while not a very wide buck his mass sure makes up for it.

  (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/CEE2F295-990E-460C-8EF0-A6A194BAE3AB_zps7tqk5twp.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/CEE2F295-990E-460C-8EF0-A6A194BAE3AB_zps7tqk5twp.jpg.html)

Curt got here on the 3rd of November from NY after a long 10yrs wait to chase these KS bucks again and little did we know we timed the pre-rut just about perfect.

  (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/A6C7543C-B527-4A06-8909-77E8C8933550_zps3m2lbmai.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/A6C7543C-B527-4A06-8909-77E8C8933550_zps3m2lbmai.jpg.html)

Tracy

:coffee:

It's getting cold around here - perfect time for this story!     :campfire:

You guys sure have deer that put on the mass down there!  Congratulations!

That's some really good mass!

Trailcam picks looked very promising but getting picks of them and seeing them is two different things exspeacially during the rut but that's the way I like it.

We took the first afternoon off so I could show Curt around and some of the new spots. We checked a few cams and a couple new bucks showed up in the last few days.

  (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/8427FBC1-5D5D-4995-A88C-42E41FCD6FBC_zps8wpjvrot.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/8427FBC1-5D5D-4995-A88C-42E41FCD6FBC_zps8wpjvrot.jpg.html)

  (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/7C7BFEF6-ACB7-4B5B-BED6-69D2FA27EB15_zpsg7guopei.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/7C7BFEF6-ACB7-4B5B-BED6-69D2FA27EB15_zpsg7guopei.jpg.html)

Tracy

Looking forward to this thread!

Curt is such a organized hunter and really makes it look easy. Me, I'm always forgetting something but seem to do ok. I always let my guest pick there stands or blinds but I put up a couple double stands at my best spots so we could hunt together the first few days.

    (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/A77743F6-81BD-4FBE-9922-9B15A2C52E17_zpsofggdir8.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/A77743F6-81BD-4FBE-9922-9B15A2C52E17_zpsofggdir8.jpg.html)

First morning was on the Buck Ridge stand!

    (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/F80FBF24-83BA-4AD8-8BF4-1EECE30C6977_zpsrswtr10m.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/F80FBF24-83BA-4AD8-8BF4-1EECE30C6977_zpsrswtr10m.jpg.html)

    (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a7-6.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/a7-6.jpg.html)

Tracy

QuoteOriginally posted by Whip:
It's getting cold around here - perfect time for this story!      :campfire:  

X2

Iv been waiting for this one!!!!

  :campfire:

Awesome Buck, congrats!

Gonna be good.  Awesome buck too.

Great deer. Congrats

Awesome, hope you guys got some great video!
...hopefully no    :biglaugh:   frontal shots   :nono:

Congrats on a KNARLY Buck!!!    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Awesome buck!!

What a beast!  Congrats!!  I look forward to teh rest of the story!

There was one buck I was really hoping Curt could get, I named him LongBeam! He put on more size this year but stayed the same as last year tine wise. Huge body but would really like to get him out of the herd! He's a 6.5yr old deer.

 (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/B90E0BC5-08AE-4B99-B20B-3DE0DCDB8B7E_zpsoj9dgrwb.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/B90E0BC5-08AE-4B99-B20B-3DE0DCDB8B7E_zpsoj9dgrwb.jpg.html)

 (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/7BCBC6A5-7AF9-473C-8302-0FE047DB2F81_zpslonnvkvk.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/7BCBC6A5-7AF9-473C-8302-0FE047DB2F81_zpslonnvkvk.jpg.html)

I had him patterned pretty good and his rub line was running right by the Buck ridge stand. He would hit a couple big scrapes on a old logging road.

 (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/D55BD98B-A22A-4330-ADE4-D95DA27FECEB_zpspk1x4tyq.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/D55BD98B-A22A-4330-ADE4-D95DA27FECEB_zpspk1x4tyq.jpg.html)

 (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/68C8A3CA-1254-48D2-8765-7CC4AEE030EA_zpsn4lmdmkr.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/68C8A3CA-1254-48D2-8765-7CC4AEE030EA_zpsn4lmdmkr.jpg.html)

Then drop down on the rub line that went right past the stand. The stand has been on that ridge for years it's a real hot spot.

 (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/15422E19-D694-4288-B1FA-F30224F91275_zpsutcetg60.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/15422E19-D694-4288-B1FA-F30224F91275_zpsutcetg60.jpg.html)

First morning in the woods and it's just getting daylight but not enough for video yet. Here comes a doe down the hill and she moves past us at 18yds goes behind a ceder tree and we hear a grunt and a small chase Curt is up and ready. I try my camera again and no go, about that time I here walking and out from behind the cedar comes a big old white rack at 12yds it's LB!!!

Tracy

:campfire:     :coffee:

I think you need some of those bucks out of your herd. You should bring em over here and drop them off    :D   congrats on a nice buck

Great buck Tracy, glad we are gonna finally hear the story of the hunt!!    :D

I am tuned in!

He was to close, and coming right at us. He started to turn to his right so Curt shifted for the shot then suddenly he turned 180 to continue down the rubline. I was hugging my tree as tight as I could but could see Curt slowly make one little move to shoot and he got us, stopped looked up and took off that quick.    :mad:    :mad:    :mad:    

I'm standing there slowly beating my head on the tree when Curt taps my foot and says he's still here. Sure enough 50yds out he's standing there like what was that and then skirts us and continues on his way down the line. Funny how fast it can go from good to bad but not to bad because it wouldn't take long and Curt would be all over him again.

We seen many does and young bucks during the morning and a really nice shooter right when Curt put all his cameras up and started to lower his bow. The evening hunt was even better, hope Curt can tell you about it. My good camera is broke so only have phone picks and videos but Curt got some good ones.

Tracy

Bring on the rest of the story!  Congrats on the buck!

Ready for the rest of the story......   :campfire: .....   :coffee:

   Oh yeah....great buck!!

:campfire:    :coffee:

Beautiful buck Tracy that mass is unreal!!

There's nothing like the story of a mature Whitetail in the Timber.  Very cool stuff here. It's got my attention.

Curt can tell you about his week, I can tell you it was nonstop action. Finally got a good south wind so I headed to one of my favorite stands in a leaning oak tree on top of the ridge over looking a large main scrape.

   (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/3573F03E-C861-4A81-8C6A-7B4DFC5882C1_zps9xh968s1.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/3573F03E-C861-4A81-8C6A-7B4DFC5882C1_zps9xh968s1.jpg.html)

Even before daylight I had deer hitting the scrape, after daylight I had bucks chasing does in the valley below me and on the bench across from me. Does started funneling through some working the licking branch then bucks some were pretty good but need a couple years.

I heard deer scatter and looked up and seen a shooter coming i thought. He seen a doe near the scrape and charged her stiff legged and grunting, when he turned sideways and I seen his mass I said good enough then everything is auto pilot. He chased her off and smelt were she stood didn't like it then came strait at me and walked directly under me, I said not good!

Then he turned and walked to the trail at 6 yards angling away, I started to draw but let down then he stopped perfect. He never even moved till the arrow was buried almost to the nock, first thought perfect, second dang He broke my lucky arrow!!!

I hit the far leg and that dougfir arrow from my buddy Treekiller Ron French has killed 3 bucks, a doe and a turkey. He ran down the hill around the bench about a 100yds and I heard 4 loud nasty coughs maybe 15 sec later. The 200g Ace blood trail was easy to follow.

This was my grandson Tristan's first tracking and deer recovery we had a blast.

   (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/7F583371-4BF9-4CE8-82D0-577A775F617A_zpsk7nntp5p.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/7F583371-4BF9-4CE8-82D0-577A775F617A_zpsk7nntp5p.jpg.html)

Thanks for looking!

Tracy

Awesome, congrats on a great hunt.  Look at the mass on that rack!

You sure have a special place to hunt!!!!!

Congrats on a fine buck!

Bisch

Tracey what a great thread and thanks for sending me texts and pictures throughout the year of all those mature bucks it meant a lot keep up the great work out there you guys do it right!!

That's a heck of a buck Tracy!!!!
What day did you shoot him?

Congrats!!!!!

Now it's Curts turn   :readit:    :saywhat:

Stuff dreams are made of.

I wondered how long you would wait to post this! Great job as always Tracy!

That was sure beast of a buck Tracy, congratulations again!

Man, that had to be a thrill to walk up and wrap your fingers around all that bone!  What a stud of a buck - congrats again Tracy!

As others have said great buck and thanks for the pics and story.

That's a great buck! Congrats!

Great deer Tracy!

Awesome buck, congrats.

Incredible......   :readit:    :campfire:

Good job Trace

As always, a good tale well told Tracy. Great pictures too. That one with your grandson is still my favorite though.

QuoteOriginally posted by 23feetupandhappy:
[QB] That's a heck of a buck Tracy!!!!
What day did you shoot him?

Congrats!!!!!

I shot him on the10th

Tracy

Thanks everybody!

Tracy

Massssive! Great buck and story! Congrats!

QuoteOriginally posted by K.S.TRAPPER:

QuoteOriginally posted by 23feetupandhappy:
[QB] That's a heck of a buck Tracy!!!!
What day did you shoot him?

Congrats!!!!!

I shot him on the10th

Tracy [/b]

Interesting, Iv talked with folks around here that said the 10th this year was the most intense rut action they had seen in a couple of years!

Congratulations Tracy!

As always, YOU DONE GOOD....REALLY, REALLY GOOD.   :notworthy:    :notworthy:    :notworthy:

Already text/conversed, BUT congrats again Tracy.  Class act. . .

Dan in KS

WOW!!!
That is some serious mass carried out the beams.
Congatulations.

Did you have pics of him this year? Years past?

Great story of good friends and big buck

QuoteOriginally posted by Bvas:
WOW!!!
That is some serious mass carried out the beams.
Congatulations.

Did you have pics of him this year? Years past?

Yes, that's why I know he is a 4yr old. I only had one pick of him this year though and it was a blurry one. He really put on the size and mass from last year. Easy to follow him the way his beams come around and almost touch.

2014

 (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/D82120E2-FD27-45C5-9BC5-CD3121D9B936_zpsuydvaa3a.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/D82120E2-FD27-45C5-9BC5-CD3121D9B936_zpsuydvaa3a.jpg.html)

2015

 (http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/Mobile%20Uploads/E0750568-6CDB-4C09-B1B8-4AAAC8AF6CEF_zpses33lmpv.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/Mobile%20Uploads/E0750568-6CDB-4C09-B1B8-4AAAC8AF6CEF_zpses33lmpv.jpg.html)

His beams this year were 26.0" each, very deceiving the way they curve in. Main frame 10 with 4 kickers 3 scored. No ground shrinkage on this guy.

Tracy

Ben, we are always in the woods no matter the moon or weather from the 5th-15th The pre-rut is what I want,. Chasing, searching, running scrapes which is what I like to hunt the most during this period and funnels or pinch points between bedding areas of the does. Staging areas are good to but there usually loaded up with scrapes.

When the actual breeding starts everything seems to slow way down, does are hiding anywhere they can, the big boys always have a doe locked down waiting for her to come in and won't let her move much. Only thing running around are the young bucks fun to watch them though. I'm not a fan of the actual rut!

Tracy

That's awesome. I love seeing how some things change while some things stay the same with a bucks antlers from year to year. He really grew his frame from 2-3, then piled on the mass from 3-4.
Congrats again! He's a dandy.

What a cool buck, I call those no doubters. Nice!

Great buck Tracey, I love the mass and tight rack!

My, my, my he's a good one!  Congratulations - love the mass on that guy!     :clapper:

Bernie

Awesome animal!   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Congrats Tracey!  Very nice indeed!

Fantastic Bud! Loved the story!

Congrats Tracey. Beautiful buck. I hope Curt's along to tell his side of the story.

Congrats sir!  That is a fine buck!

I'm here guys, hopefully I'll get back on later and this weekend....busy, busy, busy!!!!    :help:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Guru:
I'm here guys, hopefully I'll get back on later and this weekend....busy, busy, busy!!!!     :saywhat:

We've got plenty of    :thumbsup: