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Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: jonsimoneau on October 08, 2006, 11:55:00 AM

Title: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: jonsimoneau on October 08, 2006, 11:55:00 AM
(http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n132/jonsimoneau/Droptine.jpg)
Before....

 (http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n132/jonsimoneau/catfishhunter.jpg)

 (http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n132/jonsimoneau/catfishhunter2.jpg)

After...
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: jonsimoneau on October 08, 2006, 11:57:00 AM
Got him with a 49lb. Habu recurve, grizzly stick shaft and a Wensel Woodsman head.  I'm still on cloud 9!!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Abel on October 08, 2006, 11:59:00 AM
Jon! You da man! How about a play by play on that bad boy.....or are you saving the story for North American Whitetail and TBM?!!!?
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Bowspirit on October 08, 2006, 11:59:00 AM
Gotta say...that is one amazing buck. I love those two "snakey" tines.  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: StanM on October 08, 2006, 12:06:00 PM
Jon,

That is one outstanding buck!  I've always wanted to see a droptine buck.  Having the Cuddeback pic is pretty cool too.

Stan
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Guru on October 08, 2006, 12:26:00 PM
Congrats Jon....lets hear more about it bud....  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: OconeeDan on October 08, 2006, 12:27:00 PM
WOW!!  Congratulations on a fine buck!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on October 08, 2006, 12:28:00 PM
Excellent buck   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:  Double drops are cool.Good job
We will be waiting for the story

Tracy
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Marblesonac on October 08, 2006, 12:30:00 PM
WOW!!!!! Congratulations!!!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Hot Hap on October 08, 2006, 12:40:00 PM
Nice one Jon! My son told me it had 4 drop tines. Hap
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: traditionalkid131 on October 08, 2006, 12:47:00 PM
That buck has got to be one of the nicest bucks I have ever laid eyes on. That thing is a monster.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: 4runr on October 08, 2006, 12:49:00 PM
Now that is a "MAN" deer.  Holy Moly what a buck!!!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Chad Lewis on October 08, 2006, 12:51:00 PM
I like that after better than the before! Awesome deer.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Jimbob on October 08, 2006, 01:22:00 PM
Is it just me or is his neck already starting to swell?
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Kindred Mark on October 08, 2006, 01:40:00 PM
That's a great buck, congratulations
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Tom on October 08, 2006, 01:43:00 PM
Two or four drops matters not, that is one fine buck. Congrats!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Duckbutt on October 08, 2006, 01:56:00 PM
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Stone Knife on October 08, 2006, 02:06:00 PM
"[heman]"   You are the man! Done it with trad gear what an accomplishment. You should be very proud.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: bayoulongbowman on October 08, 2006, 02:08:00 PM
Jon, seems like we just talked the other day, guys , Jon is one of the good guys in traditional bowhunting, Im so happy for you buddy !!!! thats a dandy buck! congrats ur friend, mark#78      :D            :wavey:    that is a interesting tine on that rack for sure!!!    :D  ..Jon like Guru said , please share some details!!  :notworthy:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Flatstick on October 08, 2006, 02:15:00 PM
Great buck! CONGRATS and lets hear the story!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Two Arrows on October 08, 2006, 02:21:00 PM
What a fantastic looking buck! Congradulations!!!!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: TimBow2 on October 08, 2006, 02:24:00 PM
wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!what a buck of a lifetime!!!!!!congrats  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: jonsimoneau on October 08, 2006, 02:29:00 PM
Thanks Guys!  My girlfriend Jenny and I first saw the buck in July.  I had just returned from hunting in Africa.  I saved for 7 years for that trip, and it was great.  Anyway, I had just obtained permission for a very very small tract of land.  It consisted of nothing more than a hedgerow out in the middle of a cornfield, but near a bunch of CRP.  I had not given the place much thought since it was so small.  But one day in July, we drove through the area right in the middle of the day, and this buck came out of the corn about 40 to 50 yards in front of the truck.  I could not believe my eyes.  My girlfriend Jenny, named the buck catfish hunter.  Just like the legendary fish from the movie "Grumpy Old Men."  The big one that nobody could catch.  She named him this because I obsessed over him ever since I saw him.  That same day, a buddy and myself hung two trail cameras.  We left them alone until Labor day weekend.  In a month, we only got 17 pictures, but he was on the fourth one!  I then enlisted some help from Don Higgins.  We decided on some treestand locations.  On October 4, I hung another stand.  I went there the next day and hunted it.  Just before dark, a nice 2.5 year old 8 pointer came out of the corn, and catfish hunter was bringing up the rear.  It took for ever for him to feel safe enough to leave the corn.  When he did, he gave me an 8 yard shot,  quartering away.  I aimed for the offside shoulder.  Upon the shot, I heard a loud crack, and became concerned.  It all happend so fast that I could not be sure of exact shot placement.  He took off out of there like a bat out of hell.  Tail between his legs and head low to the ground. I was shaking so bad that it took nearly an hour before I could climb down from my tree.  Upon climbing down, I did not find my arrow or even a speck of blood.  I decided to wait until morning to track.  The next day, I called off work, and so did two of my buddies.  I realized then how great my friends really are.  It took nearly an hour before we found ANY blood.  I felt like I might throw up.  Eventually, we found the trail, and it took us 3 hours to go 80 yards, where we lost the trail.  I went home and got Snuffer, my blood tracking wiener dog.  He took us a little further, but he too lost the trail in the grass that was up to my chin.  After that we started grid searching.  I took a wild guess and narrowed down 1/3 of the cover where I figured he would most likely go if he were in fact mortally wounded. At 3:30, my buddy Alan found him.  He went back to the truck looking for me, but I was still out there.  Then I found the deer, but did not know that Alan had already found him.  We were both running towards each other screaming and yelling!  It was a very emotional time for us.  The arrow went in behind the last rib and quartered into the offside shoulder, taking out one lung, and a bunch of arteries.  Because there was no exit hole, the bloodtrail was difficult.  Words cannot describe how I felt when we found him. There was no ground shrinkage.  He got bigger when I walked up to him.  His teeth are worn down to nearly nothing.  He's an old deer.  
Everyone around here knows I've been obsessing over this deer, and I have had a ton of people stop by to take a look, and a bunch of phone calls!  It really is just a dream come true for me!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: 3dmuzzy on October 08, 2006, 02:35:00 PM
Great deer nice tracking Job well done  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Guru on October 08, 2006, 02:35:00 PM
AWESOME!!!!!!  Just plain AWESOME!!!!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: bayoulongbowman on October 08, 2006, 02:36:00 PM
...ladies and gentelmen this is why this site rocks because we share stories  and care and can feel Jon's passion of bowhunting ...   :thumbsup:  Jon its a great time!!! thanks again for sharing buddy!!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: jonsimoneau on October 08, 2006, 02:37:00 PM
Bayoulongbowman, thanks buddy!  Send me your mailing address.  I'm gonna send you the shooting video you wanted.  I could not make copies of it on the computer, but I'm done with it for now.  [email protected]
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: philil on October 08, 2006, 03:15:00 PM
What a great animal and achievement!!
Congratulations!
Phil  :notworthy:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: joe skipp on October 08, 2006, 03:17:00 PM
Outstanding!! A real sweet buck....WAY TO GO!!!!
  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Pat B. on October 08, 2006, 03:27:00 PM
That deer is amazing.. Also amazing that you "held" it together at the moment of truth..

Great achievement !!!!!

Wonderful, I love it...

                    Enjoy

                          Pat
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: fxe on October 08, 2006, 04:11:00 PM
WOW what a DEER.Congrats and great trailing job!   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Joe D on October 08, 2006, 05:52:00 PM
Excellent!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: kojac on October 08, 2006, 05:54:00 PM
wow, they don't get that big by being stupid. You done VERY GOOD!!!  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: AZStickman on October 08, 2006, 06:31:00 PM
WOW..... That's a real Toad with tons of character..... Congrats...... Terry
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: the Ferret on October 08, 2006, 06:40:00 PM
That's a great story, really entertaining, especially the part about you and Alan both finding the deer separately LOL and a what a great deer.

Congrats.   :thumbsup:    :notworthy:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Crooked Stic on October 08, 2006, 07:07:00 PM
Holy Cow!   :bigsmyl:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: bayoulongbowman on October 08, 2006, 09:10:00 PM
is this cool or what!   :D    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: LazerRay on October 08, 2006, 10:22:00 PM
Nice
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Jaz on October 08, 2006, 10:32:00 PM
Abeebadeebadeeba! Wow! That is a monster!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: vermonster13 on October 08, 2006, 10:34:00 PM
:thumbsup:     :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: kerry on October 08, 2006, 11:04:00 PM
Congrats on a great buck.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: JEFF B on October 08, 2006, 11:06:00 PM
AWESOME BRO AWESOME. nice looking buck  :thumbsup:    :archer:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Shaun on October 08, 2006, 11:42:00 PM
That is a lalapalooza! Way to go. Enjoyed the tale of the hunt and the pics. What a feeling that must have been to find him after loosing the trail and feeling so low. What a rush.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: cjones on October 08, 2006, 11:48:00 PM
That awesome, just plain AWESOME! Congrats on a heck of a deer and a great story.  :notworthy:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: BigRonHuntAlot on October 09, 2006, 05:42:00 AM
Congrats. Thats an AWESOME animal. Great Story too.   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Tom Leemans on October 09, 2006, 08:46:00 AM
It's gonna take a while to quit smiling after that one.
  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: JC on October 09, 2006, 10:35:00 AM
Wow, that's one fine animal. Hat's off for picking one, hunting him, and successfully takeing him. Not many can do that, especially against one that size who's obviously been through his share of seasons.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Huntrdfk@Work on October 09, 2006, 10:45:00 AM
Whoa, what a great deer Jon. Congrats on a job well done, you'll surely never forget this one.  Conmgrats again.  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:  


David
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: BillW on October 09, 2006, 12:01:00 PM
I love those drop tines. I have never seen one in person out in the wild. You did a great job hunting a specific deer. That is very rewarding! The buck in my avitar was one such buck so I know how you feel.

Great Job!
Bill
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: bohuntr on October 09, 2006, 12:41:00 PM
Way to go Jon!!! I know what its like having an arrow in a good critter and having some trouble finding it. No worse feeling than when the doubt creeps in and no better feeling than when you make the recovery!!! Congrats on a well earned trophy!!!  Dan
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Jeff Holchin on October 09, 2006, 12:43:00 PM
Wow, congratulations on getting an awesome buck!  I came close to killing a similar buck in Ohio several years ago, so close that the memory still haunts me sometimes.  He was nearly identical but was a 5x5 - I named him "Curly" because of the matching curly droppers.  I think that very first encounter is the best one for a kill, after that they seem to know and can avoid you.  You certainly took full advantage of your opportunity!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: waknstak IL on October 09, 2006, 01:25:00 PM
Awsome Buck!!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Rich LaBombard on October 09, 2006, 02:50:00 PM
fantastic.  
It's fitting that an animal like that, was taken by someone that TRULY appreciates the accomplishment.
This story reminds me of Gene Wensel's tracking of "Woody", the team effort, etc.
Amazing.  Well deserved.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Littlefeather on October 09, 2006, 03:04:00 PM
WOW! I'm speachless! CK
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: swampbuck on October 09, 2006, 03:25:00 PM
Congrads on a fine deer!!Thanks for shareing the story with us.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: MI_Bowhunter on October 09, 2006, 03:37:00 PM
:thumbsup:     :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Talondale on October 09, 2006, 04:07:00 PM
Way to go!  Congrats.  Now you can stop obsessing and start visiting the taxidermists on a regular basis.  Just to check up on him.  :)
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: doctorbrady on October 09, 2006, 05:47:00 PM
Jon,
Did the shooting lessons pay off?  Now I am going to have to ask you for some hunting lessons!!!!  That is a bruiser.  I am tickled to death for you, man.  Brady
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: swamper on October 09, 2006, 09:00:00 PM
congrats...it's great when it all comes together...
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: jonsimoneau on October 09, 2006, 09:40:00 PM
Thanks so much guys.  I'm still having a hard time sleeping at night just thinking about it!  I can't believe it actually happend!

Brady, YES, the shooting lessons from Ricky have helped big time.  He completely revamped my shooting style, and I am shooting better than ever!  

Jon
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: kennym on October 09, 2006, 09:43:00 PM
Jon,heck of a deer,love the drops!!  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: John Krause on October 09, 2006, 10:55:00 PM
Man.  That's the one in a lifetime one. Very nice.......Double drop tines are the most awesome.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: B.O.D. on October 10, 2006, 07:26:00 AM
That is a super-buck Jon, job well done !
I like his Drop-handlebars...kinda like them old 10 speeds...  ;)  
Cary
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Terry Green on October 10, 2006, 07:55:00 AM
Wow, ...we really need to find a smilie con that does back flips....can't believe I didn't see this one sooner.

Congrats sir!!!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Carcajou on October 10, 2006, 09:41:00 AM
Excellent buck! and best of all the perseverance!!

nothing better than when the "plan" comes together!

Congrats!
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: waknstak IL on October 10, 2006, 12:15:00 PM
What a Freak !!!  Talk about a rack with Character.  Great Job
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Noelkman on October 10, 2006, 12:45:00 PM
That is a beautiful buck!! Congratulations, you earned him.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: mshane on October 10, 2006, 12:53:00 PM
Nice buck Jon....
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: hunt it on October 10, 2006, 01:43:00 PM
WOW!!!!!!!!

Awesome buck!! Hope your planning an awesome mount of that guy. A nice pedastal mount that rotates so you can eye him up from where ever your siting.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Gene Wensel on October 10, 2006, 11:08:00 PM
Well done Jon. I'm proud of you. Done right. Great deer and great memories that will last you the rest of your life. Way to go.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Fletcher on October 10, 2006, 11:16:00 PM
Good Grief, Jon!!  What a great deer!!  I'm really proud of you for sticking with the tracking.  Congratulations!    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Brian Halbleib on October 10, 2006, 11:39:00 PM
Fantastic story, great pics and great follow up. Man, how exciting. Stuff like that keeps us going back in the woods every day. Congrats! Enjoy this one for a while, I know you will...

-Brian
 www.bowyersjournal.com (http://www.bowyersjournal.com)
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Gote Rider on October 11, 2006, 05:56:00 AM
Thats a good one.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Two Hats on October 11, 2006, 08:46:00 AM
Congrats,that is a great buck.I want to leave work right now and get to the woods...
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: cdi3d on October 11, 2006, 09:07:00 AM
Wow - Very nice Buck - Those will be great memories -

Mike
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: StickBowManMI on October 11, 2006, 09:15:00 AM
Great Trophy Buck. Must have been the thrill of a lifetime! Congatulations Jon.
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: carphunter100 on October 11, 2006, 09:43:00 AM
Great Buck, dreams do come true sometimes. Congatulations
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Whip on October 11, 2006, 11:27:00 AM
WOW!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!  WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know why I hadn't looked at this before.  Guess I thought it was a bowfishing thread or something.  But WOW!!!!!!  What a buck!!!!
You obviously did everything exactly right, from finding an out of the way spot, not over scouting and making him change habits, waiting to hunt until the right time, making the shot when the pressure is on, and finally, following up a good hit but tough trail.
Persistence pays off, and you have given us all a leason to remember.
I might have already mentioned this, but WOW!!!!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: Hot Hap on October 12, 2006, 03:46:00 PM
To the top for a great buck. Hap
Title: Re: Catfish hunter. Before & After pics. Big buck
Post by: DarkeGreen on October 12, 2006, 04:10:00 PM
That is a deer of a life time right there!