Trad Gang

Fred Gimbel - Greyfox54 - rolled into Pike County, IL tonight around 9pm. I had made it to my folks house earlier in the day and began some flooring work that I am using as an excuse to be here while he chases these big brutes. I may even see if I can introduce a doe or two to one of my arrows. Fred was the highest bidder in this year's auction      :thumbsup:    

I will be taking Fred to one of my brother's stands in the morning and then backing out. The plan is for him to get down later, still hunt and scout during mid-day since all will be quiet for a day or two after this rain. We'll then have a better idea on how we're going to set-up for the next four days.

I hoping to start getting some pictures added to the thread tomorrow, but it's time for bed. Wish us luck     :pray:     ....especially Fred with connecting on a big buck. I figure that'll keep the other big buck$ flowing into St. Jude. Goodnight.      :)

:campfire:     :coffee:

Good Luck...Fred's a great guy    :notworthy:    :pray:

Good luck guys.

Good luck Fred, the cool weather coming in should help. Darren, tell your mom and dad I said hello!

Good Luck Fred. I only live 50 miles to the East by Springfield and was in Pleasant Hill(Pike County) this week for work. Flint

Best of luck. Fred is a good one and so are you for offering these hunts in the Auction.    :thumbsup:

Rain is leaving and the temp is starting to drop Darren! I'm going out in the morning myself. Good luck to everyone and stay safe!

Thanks all for the well-wishes and comments. Scott the folks say hi back at 'ya. Tom, the wind has brought some colder temps - we're very pleased.

Been a long first day and looks to be another long one tomorrow. Thought I should give a quick synopsis of today's action.

Morning hunt: Fred only saw 1 doe from stand he was in. As he was scouting the north end of the farm, he saw 5 different bucks but no shot opportunities.

He hunted in same stand for the evening and had two bucks come in. A 120+ 9 pt around 5:30 and then a small 6 pt 10 mins before dark. Fred has killed some big game, but the 9 pt would have been his biggest whitetail. After seeing some of what my dad has killed over the years, he decided to let the 9 pt walk.

I also had the chance to watch a pretty decent buck make it's way from the neighbors bean field to our woods behind Fred. I had pulled my car over about 400 yds away on a bordering road to glass the area before picking Fred up for the night. The buck made what I thought was a straight path for Fred's stand, but he didn't see him.

We finished up the evening having some pizza and playing cards with my brother and his family along with picking up some more tree stands. As we were driving back we discussed the last 26 hours since he arrived in Illinois. Between the both of us, on the farm and the road we've seen over 20 different bucks with most of them being 2-1/2 or better.

I'm sure Fred is already counting bucks in his sleep. I'd better go do the same.

More updates tomorrow.

Good luck.  Timing should be good.  Chad

sounds like a great time.  Not a better guy anywhere than Fred !  first class all the way !!  
I wish I would have known you had won this hunt Fred, I would have tried to throw in with ya !

I was out in Pike Co. in early Oct. Saw a bunch of deer and 4 slammer bucks...best of luck and pick a spot....short blood trails also!!!

Wow...it's been 3 whole days since my last post. Fred has been hunting hard and has had his chances, but not on any big bucks. Let's hope he closes the deal tomorrow because it's his last day here.

It has truly been a pleasure getting to know Fred. He has lots of interesting hunting stories and an even more interesting life.

The plan tonight was to wait until Fred was done for the evening and then go hang a new stand in the dark where he has been seeing quite few bucks in the mornings. I wasn't going to hunt, but got to the farm about 45 min before dark to help him. On my way out I saw several deer feeding in fields and surprised a doe and her fawn when I pulled into our lane.

With all the sightings I figured I should let my bow get some fresh air. We park just east of the barn which is surrounded by a lush pasture that deer love feeding in at night. There was a steady north wind blowing, so I thought that setting up along the edge of the pasture in what we call the "barn hollow" would be my best bet. First I would have to spy all around the pasture to make sure there were no deer already out, even though I had just parked. To do this, I would have to go into the barn and look out the window or doors on the north, west and south sides. After making my way to the south side I saw 2, no 3, wait...6 de, errrr.....7 deer feeding about 50-60 yds from the SW corner of the barn.

I was now out of options for hunting and mad at myself for not getting here earlier. The only way I was going to kill a deer tonight is if one walked close to one of the barn openings.  ;)  Shortly after feeling discouraged, two of the deer started walking toward me. A few minutes later one of the does was broadside at 15 yds, but I didn't think my set-up could penetrate the 1" plank barn siding and still fly true to its mark. I was beginning to get a little excited because I could watch her moving through the cracks in the siding, but knew I would need to be patient.

The doe must have thought there were greener pastures around the north side of the barn because she started to turn the corner. The first thing I saw was her right ear twitching. I got my bow up and drawn to 3-4" short of full. I shoot 71#, so this means I was holding about 59-62# for nearly 30 seconds before my burning shoulder and arms had enough. All I could see was her nose, right eye, and part of her right ear. I thought the game was over when I had to let down. Fortunately, she went back to feeding and after a few seconds of rest I began to add tension back to the string. She finally took another step and a half and I released while staring intently at a spot just a couple of inches above the point at which her leg met the underside of her chest.

WHAM!!!...down she went...spine shot from 5 yds (did I tell you this was from 5 yds on the ground?!?!). Now, I'm not sure if I blew the shot, she jumped the string or she had started to react from seeing my movement. I don't think I blew the shot, and I think it unlikely that she could jump the string at 5 yds, so my guess is she saw me move. Anyway, I followed up with a quick second shot.

Here's a picture Fred took with my camera right before its batteries died. He took some with his, but it may be a while before he can get them to me. He's got another trip in a few days.

(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/100_0990.jpg)

Shot distance 5 yds. Recovery distance 0 yds. A Snuffer and a Ribtek share the honors.

This is only my second trad deer. The first was also this season, just a few weeks ago in Georgia with the Dudley's. (see St. Jude Armadillo hunt from this year) The coolest thing about it is that both deer were killed on Trad Gang-St. Jude Auction hunts.

I am very grateful for the meat, Fred's help in taking care of the deer tonight and just getting the chance to meet him. And a special thanks to Trad Gang for giving us all a place to gather and share our experiences.

Sweet.  I am extremely happy for you.  Don't forget the meat.

Nice big doe Darren!, although those arrows aren't as cool as your clout shoot finger cutters. Sooo... was your pulse racing a bit?  :eek:

Congrats, old Buddy!  Sounds like a banner year.  Maybe you can start carrying that barn with you everywhere you hunt... sounds like a fine blind!!

Hope Fred gets close encounter of his own on an Illinois deer today.

Way to go!

Daryl

Congrats, Darren!  I'm really hoping Fred will get his chance, but I know he's had a great time and that is enuf for him.

Thanks guys! Tom, it was very exciting. I was just telling Dad this morning that of all the deer I've killed no matter what the method, watching this doe get closer through the barn siding had my heart racing more than any of 'em. Daryl, I like your thinking. I'll have to come up with a "Barn Blind" and market it.

Now, for even better news......Fred called me a few minutes ago and he's killed a buck.   :bigsmyl:  

I'll save the details for later, but will tell you it's not the monster I wanted for him, but he is positively giddy about closing the deal on the last morning. I'm going out to the farm now to help with getting it up to the barn. We'll take pictures and get 'em posted as soon as we can.

All right Fred!!!  And congratulations on the doe Darren!!
Now hurry up and get back here with some pictures  :readit:  

Fred is coming to my cabin along with Tom and Paula Phillips to try for a Wisconsin buck next week.  I hope I can show him as good a time as he has had with you!

:thumbsup:    :clapper:

Way to go, my friend!!  I had a feeling it would come together for you.  Look at all the hunting you would have missed if you'd tagged that 9 pt so early.

Give me a call when you get a break.

Rick

Congrats to both of you  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :clapper:    :clapper:  for both of you, can't
wait to see the pics and read the story......


David

COOL! Congrats to both of you

Way to go Fred! Looking forward to hearing the tale...

Congratulations, Darren and Fred!

Get those pictures up!

:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Congrats...sounds like everyone had a great time! I hunt Pike Co. as well and can't wait to get out there.

Congrats on the doe Darren!

Looking forward to Fred's buck and story.

Congrats to both    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Now com'on, we're waiting...   :cool:    ;)

Congrats Guys!! Now lets see the other one!!  :campfire:

Guys, Just talked to my dad via txt. I told him to get on his horse with posting pics b/c ppl are gettin ancy.  His reply was that BUTCHERING COMES BEORE POSTING PICS.  they're getting all that done and Fred is packing up to leave in the morning.  they'll get the pics up asap!

Alrighty, we just got done getting the deer cut up and in coolers after Fred made a last ditch effort to kill a doe tonight. He had a couple just out of range so no more kills for this hunt. Also spent some time visiting with my folks before Fred and I meet for an early breakfast then he is off to the airport in St. Louis.

Fred hunted extremely hard these last 5 days. He saw somewhere between 20 & 25 different bucks himself. I saw an additional couple that he never saw. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know him and look forward to hunting with him again.

When I got the call this morning, I knew before answering he had something on the ground. His face was lit up when I got to the farm and we promptly headed out to get some pictures and drag the buck UP the hill.

I can't do his story justice, but I'll give you the short version. He got into his stand well before light. We had moved this stand a couple days ago to this hackberry tree. Good cover and multiple shooting lanes on multiple trails in what appeared to be the hottest concentration of activity on the property. This picture is Fred in the stand and our recreated version of his shot angle. BTW, Fred hunted with a safety harness but it came unraveled and is useless. He is taking it back to where he bought it.

   (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/Fredsdeer002.jpg)

After sitting for a while with no action, Fred hung his bow on the limb to the left in the picture and thought he would try his rattling bag and/or grunt tube. As luck would have it, he got an immediate response to the rattling - from 40 yds away! The 6 pt lifted its head from its bed and started looking around. Fred had heard some noise before shooting light from the little group of torn-up saplings but had no idea that there was a buck bedded in there from the time he climbed into his tree.

Fred had a small predicament now. He had gotten the buck's attention but his bow was hanging on a limb and his arrows were in the quiver. The buck is looking around for the source of the rattling and Fred has to move to get ready.

He took his time getting the bow up and the arrow nocked. Fortunately the deer was looking all around and gave him the opportunity to get ready. The buck started to make his way toward some really thick brush off to Fred's right. When it crossed a predetermined spot on the trail where Fred could get an arrow throught an opening for a low chest shot, he dropped the string. Not 100% positive about the shot, he gave the deer an hour before climbing down. In that time a small 10 pt. sauntered by close, but out of range. Fred said their bodies were similar sized, but the 6 pt's rack may have been larger than the 10's.

Ater the hour wait was up Fred got down and began his search. This next pic shows what he found. Do you know what it is?
   ;)  

  (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/Fredsdeer001.jpg)


And the last pic is that of one happy hunter accompanied by the target of his efforts.

  (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/Fredsdeer003.jpg)

We had some technical difficulty with the camera earlier, but we managed these few pics.

I'll add more later and maybe Fred can add some too before he heads up to Joe's place in WI. Besides, I've got to get some sleep, this guy wore me out!

Congrats again Fred!

   :bigsmyl:        :notworthy:

Way to go Fred  :thumbsup:     :thumbsup:

Great story. Glad to hear you are having a great season.

Now that's a 6 point!  Nice deer - nothing sweeter than last minute success.
Congratulations!  

And a great big THANK YOU as well Darren for everything you did to host the hunt for St. Jude.
Outstanding!!  :notworthy:    :notworthy:    :clapper:    :clapper:

Congratulations FRED!!! GREAT JOB!!!  :clapper:

Good hunting Fox. Fine donation and effort for St Judes. Have fun at Joe's place next week.

That is Great !!!!!   good job Fred !!

Okay folks, as promised a few more pictures.

Fred and Dad (the real provider of this hunt for St. Jude every year) with 3 of Dad's bucks off the farm we hunt. They are gun kills, but show the reason why Illinois and Pike County in particular is a destination for trophy seekers.

 (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/100_0957.jpg)

Fred with both of our deer hanging in the barn. I was standing immediately to the right of where the doe is hanging when I shot her. She was a little to the right from where I was standing to take the pic.

 (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/100_0953.jpg)

A few shots of where Fred found his buck laying.

 (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/100_0930-1.jpg)
 (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/100_0925.jpg)
 (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/100_0934.jpg)

And finally, the last field photo before loading him up. You can see the closest arrow is the one that did the job. It was tipped with a Simmons Interceptor and given flight by Fred's Schafer Silvertip (made by Paul). Beautiful shot placement as well.   :thumbsup:  

 (http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/100_0946.jpg)

I hope Fred gets a chance to check in here before heading to Whip's place, but the man is juggling a schedule that would make your head spin. Thanks for going along on the hunt with us and remember to bid high next year!

Thats awesome! It makes me really mad that i cant hunt my own family ground without dropping the ridiculous sum of money for a buck tag.   :banghead:    

Im extremely happy for you Fred that you could take such a nice animal on the property.

And im especially for you Dad that you were able to take a deer with traditional equipment from the place where you started hunting as a boy.   :campfire:  

Hope someone really bids this up again next year. It seems to get better and better every time!

Now this is the way a St. Judes auction should go, The smile on Fred's face says it all. Nicely done Darren, congratulations to all, give your Dad a big ol' atta boy from me.   :thumbsup:

Way cool!  Way to go guys!

:thumbsup:

John,

Seems like way too long since I've seen you, but I've appreciated your posts on this thread.

The respect you have for your Dad is obvious... and well-placed!  I saw that in you and your brother when I met you at Cloverdale years ago.  It's good to see you're still carrying the same class as you hit the adult world! :thumbsup:

Lacrosse?!?!  You're one tough dude!

Hope the Pike County hunt works out for you from time to time.  Sorry 'bout Illinois' confiscatory license fees...      

Thanks for checking in!

Daryl

First a BIG thank you to Trad Gang and Darren and his Family for making this hunt possible . I can't say enough about how well I was treated by Darren and his Folks . Great people , we need more of them . I always have visions of hunting where there are big whitetails and this place not only has them but has lots of them . I think they have a shortage of does as I am sure I seen more rack bucks than does in the few days I was there .
    First day I seen a single doe in the morning and thought that would be the norm . Armed with a topo map and an ariel photo of the property I went scouting in the middle of the day . Even with the rain the leaves were noisy and the woods open so I proceeded to jump 3 nice bucks from their beds and a couple does , and even saw 2 more nice bucks just cruising on the opposite slope .The way the wind funneled up the hollows I was having a hard time figuring where to move a stand . I went back to my original stand for the afternoon hunt and saw a big bodied deer crossing the open hay field towards my stand . I was only about 35 yards in from the field and could see the deer well . I never seen a big buck out in the open like that before and I have been hunting a long time . It was a nice 9 point and he came to within 25 yards and stopped broadside looking in my direction . Even after seeing the great bucks that Darren's Dad shot it took super-human effort to pass on the shot . I only had a couple seconds and the he made the decision for me by walking off. First day and I was full of confidence .
 Second day was like watching a video on Sat . morning . I saw a minimum of 30 deer and probably more chasing each other all day . I had 3 smaller bucks bumping heads about 50 yards from my stand for 20 minutes . Hunting near fields is nice but also frustrating . One doe came in close but I didn't shoot thinking maybe a buck would take up her trail . No such luck but the show alone was worth the price of the hunt .
   From my stand I could see a good rubbed tree off to my left and decided to investigate the area a little more the next day .
   Gotta anwer the phone be back in a few minutes , Fred

Great Job!! Beautiful buck.
GLENN

Well done all the way around!

The next morning I hunted the north hollow stand and saw 3 rack bucks that didn't come my way . This is in an area that every time I went there I saw a couple bucks but couldn't get near them . I usually have my stands in thick pine woods so I felt exposed in open woods with scattered trees with few branches . I went back and followed the rub line from the other stand . I found no less than 30 trees rubbed up in an area about 40 yards square . I was suprised tom have only found 2 scrapes on the farm and one of them was made by Darren's brother Dan . Darren and I scouted the area out and decided to move a stand between the scrapes which were about 100 yards apart and also at the edge of the rubbed trees about 60 yards in from the edge of the field . Also a trail was coming out of a bean field and crossing the fence in the same general area . It was the kind of places you read about but never find . I knew a buck would come by there but wasn't sure if he would come before I had to leave . I hunted it Monday afternoon and saw 2 does and a spike . All 3 gave me shot opertunities but I passed thinking a buck would be trailing , again no luck .
  Darrwen was to meet me that night at the farm and we were to move a stand where I had been seeing the bucks in the northern hollow but after scouting it again that afternoon I couldn't find a place that felt as good as the stand by the rubs . I felt it would pay off if I waited long enough . Tuesday morning I awoke and had my usual breakfast of granola bars and apples and headed to the farm . I got there about 45 minutes before shooting time and snuck into my stand . As I got near the stand I could hear deer walking around on 2 sides of me about 30 yards away but the weren't spooked and I couldn't see them . I climbed up the tree as quiet as I could and settled in to await daylight thinking the only hard part now was figuring out which one to shoot when the sun came up . After a few minutes a few deer walked out to the bean field and jumped the fence , I could hear their hind feet strumming the upper strand of wire . Then I heard one come behind me and walk off to my right and I thought he went out into the hay field . All was quiet when the sun arose . I was in the tree at 5 am and it was now 7:00 . I was starting to think I made a mistake and should have set a stand in the north hollow . Desperate times breed desperate men so I hun g my bow on a branch and took out my rattle bag . I din't rattle too hard as a few days earlier I had tried and got no response so I just went at it moderatly for a couple minutes and then put them back in my fanny pack , hung it on my stand and got out my grunt call and gave a few low grunts all the while scanning the woods for movement . Nothing moving and I look around towards the field and there about 40 yards away is a bucks head looking back and forth . I almost fell out of the tree I was so surprised . He stood up and started to come ovber to see what was up . Somehow I managed to get my bow off the branch behind me while keeping my eyes on the buck . He started to hook up a tree and I nocked an arrow . Now the hard part he was hard to my right and I had to stand and turn to make the shot . I was on the edge of the hopllow and he was on top so we were almost eye level with each other at 25 yards . It was fate , he did the only thing wrong he could do , he turned and faced the field , pawed a small scrape and urinated in it . The time it took him to do this I put to good use by rising and turning on the stand . Like magic when I was set he turned around again and started walking along almost broadside going down the hollow .He was about 20 yards and in thick briers and tall weeds . I had a small opening that would expose his lower chest for about a step or two . There were leaning briers that covered his upper chest while his head was above them . I'm usually not a great shot but I was that day . I hit him low in the chest and he made the classic jump and kick like you see in the videos but as he ran down hill I could see a lot of my arrow sticking out of him . Not a comforting sight . I waited an hour during which time another spike came under my stand and a 10 pt. with a smallish rack came by about 40 yards and sniffed where the buck had bedded and the scrape he made but never came close enough for a shot and I didn't try to encourage him , watching him was good enough . I got down and circled the hollow along the north and south sides seeing if the buck came out and crossed into another hollow . I found no blood leaving the hollow so went back to my stand and started in the direction he went . I figured rather than climb through the briers I would go down about 60 yards to a slope nearer the bottom and look for sign figuring with no exit wound the blood trail would be sparse .There is a little wet runoff ditch which had muddy banks which seemed a good place to look for his tracks running north to south , the deer was running east . In less time than it takes to type this I got to the ditch and imediately saw antlers . I couldn't believe it , what a buck ! I back trailed him and found my arrow about 30 yards from where I hit him and Darren posted a picture of the blood trail which was incredible seeing there qwas no exit wound . The buck didn't go 80 yards and when I got there he was already stiff . You can just see in one of the pics that I hit his front elbow nicking the bone which took some of the zip out of my arrow but I still managed to get both lungs . I had been taking my wood arrows but on this day I brought out some carbons both sets of arrows tipped with my favorites , Simmons Interceptors . My back has been bothering me lately so I left my BW home with the 67# limbs and took my old Silvertip which is 55 # and a real dream to shoot .
  Have to run again , buisness calls , they know I'm home . I will try to continue tomorrow . Thanks for all the support and interest ,  Be well and God Bless ,  Fred

That's great Fred !  thanks so much for sharing .. !!!  You da man !!

I think I have been on 7 St. Jude's hunts now and every one has been fantastic ! The people you meet from on here are without a doubt the finest people on earth . I can't say enough about the hospitality shown me by Darren and his family . It was great spending some time with his Mom and Dad  and just chewing the fat with them . Solid people . I felt a little uneasy moving one of the stands that Darren's brother, Danny , had set up for me . I just go with my gut feelings , maybe I would have got a bigger buck if I left it where it was . I say this from expierience as I was able to drive over to Quincey and meet Danny and his family . The mounts of BIG bucks he has harvested make you want to drool . He is a premier hunter . His wife and son are great and very good card players .( I know they let me win because I was company )You couldn't find a better chance to harvest a big Pike Co. buck anywhere else . I whett my appetite on this one and will be sure to bid high next year . They grow a lot bigger then the one I got . Maybe by saying all this now you will forget about it and I will be able to steal this one again come June .
  Thanks again for everyone's interest and comments . Trad-gang is awesome . By the way I leave tomorrow for Wisconsin with Tom Phillips to see if Whip can put me on a dumb half blind old buck that doesn't hear too well . I like them easy .   Be well , Fred

I know Fred is making his roundabout journey to Whip's place today, but we want to thank you again along with Scott & Chip and their buddies from the last two years. My family has sincerely enjoyed meeting top notch people who have been so generous with their bids and represented the trad community so well.   :thumbsup:  

Good luck to Fred, Joe, Tom & Paula as they try to keep this season going. I know you'll have a great time!   :campfire:

Congradulations Fred! Hap

Fred.....what goes around comes around....

St Judes hunts have been good to you....as you have been good to St Judes.

I am so tickled for you I'm beside myself.....looks like you got the long lost brother of The Paradise there.

Congrats sir!!!  Wish I could have been there just to hear the story in person.  That's just dandy!!!

Congrats to all concerned!!!!

Great deer, great folks, and a great time in IL.

Good luck at Whip's place.

A Big CONGRATULATIONS to everyone involved! It all sounds like the sort of thing one grows to expect form the people on this site...  :clapper:

Don't know how I missed this thread!  Congrats on your buck! and Darren on his doe!  

Hopefully, I will be back in the mix to bid on this hunt next year!

Very nice fella's!

Congrats!!!! Nice looking buck. And that neck is swelt!!!!