This one started out early and doing something I hadn't done in a long time.....setting a treestand in the dark. Usually not a big deal, but I knew this tree was very big and I'd have my hands full trying to make it work!
I had a bit of a walk, so with just long johns(top and bottom)and boots on, I hit the woods at 5 am with all the rest of my cloths in/on my pack, strapped to my treestand on my back.
Anyone that has dealt with a big tree hanging a stand knows the difficulty of doing so. You can't reach all the way around the tree, and it doesn't help when the hooking/locking mechanism is on the opposite side of the stand that you're hanging it from!
Oh yeah, did I mention I forgot my linesman belt!
As much as I tried not to, I'd worked up a sweat getting it done, and probably made way more noise than I realized...but it was finally hung.
This spot was like "Grand Central Station", and with the wind expected to be west/NW, I just new it would be worth all the effort to get back there and hang this set in the dark.
But Halloween had a "trick" for me before it would offer up a "treat".....the wind was nowhere near what it was predicted to be!
After getting dressed at the bottom of the tree, and climbing back up, I really had no other choice and just hoped to get some action from the south or west. The north was cut off by the wind. But I knew if things didn't work out today, at least the stand was up, and ready for the next time I got a N/NW wind....I settled in....
Within an hour, I caught movement from the south, two does. They were working in slow when all of a sudden only about 40yds. from me, and only 15yds from them....standing up and busting out of the brush here comes a little buck....how and when he got there, I truely have no idea!
His aggresiveness turned the does back the way they were coming from...dang it!
But within a minute I could tell the lead doe was looping around toward me. When she got about 20yds from me, for some reason she started to trot and was crossing only 10 yds out, but moving way too fast.
I hate to stop deer with noise, but as she got right in front of me, I grunted as I was drawing, she stopped, and I shot...
Instantly I could see blood gushing! I'd hit her a little high, obviously cutting the big hose under her spine. I knew she wouldn't go far as she crashed around me in a half circle and ended up stopping about 20 yds. behind me. She stood for a few seconds, then started to stumble...seconds later she was still....
I quickly turned around to see what the other deer were doing, they had no clue what had just happened!
The little 3pt...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020513hallo.JPG)
And with the doe...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020514hallo.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020517hallo.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020518hallo.JPG)
From the stand...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020520hallo.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020522hallo.JPG)
You can see a faint logging road that splits. The deer cam from the right split and the buck was bedded right at the "Y"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020526hallo.JPG)
Very cool! Good shooting Curt! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
From my tree I could see a heavy bloodtrail. The result of another strike from a 160 Snuffer...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020529hallo.JPG)
Been a little while since I'd used my old Skyhook steps. I'll never understand why they stopped making these. I luv um!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020531hallo.JPG)
The start of the bloodtrail, right where I hit her...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020533hallo.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020537hallo.JPG)
As you can see, she din't go far...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020540hallo.JPG)
My old "Staghorn Hiker" up in that big Oak...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020542hallo.JPG)
One of the reasons this spot produced, and probably will again...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020543hallo.JPG)
Effort rewarded...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1020544hallo.JPG)
This one was taken right after the shot...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Deer%2010/th_P1020505.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Deer%2010/?action=view¤t=P1020505.mp4)
This one was taken after they'd worked in a bit...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Deer%2010/th_P1020506.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Deer%2010/?action=view¤t=P1020506.mp4)
Way to go Curt!!!
We can always count on you for a great story and great pics! :notworthy:
nice doe mr curt, thanx for taking us along, ruddy
Beautiful deer!
Great hunt Curt!
You have a knack for spinning it out and the pictures are just like ice cream on a slice of my favorite pie.
Thanks for bringing us along.
God bless,Mudd
Congrats Curt!
Nice doe Curt - and good shooting as usual :thumbsup:
Congratulations!
Good Job Curt! That tree looks like a job buddy. Congrats.. :clapper: :clapper:
Good one, Curt!
Congratulations Curt!
Good job Curt.
Congrats again Curt, great pics and a nice doe. Funny, that morning I tried to moved a stand right after you texted to a tree that ended up being too big, so I feel your pain hanging that stand in the dark......great job!
David
Nicely done Curt.
Nice job once again. Staghorn stands and Skyhook steps -- two things I wish they still made.
Nice Curt! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice Curt, thanks for sharing and taking us on your hunt.
Good Job!!
God Bless,
Nathan
Very nice Buddy! Great Pics as usual
Congratulations, hanging a stand in the dark is a lot of hard work glad you were rewarded well.
Congrats Curt! Well done :thumbsup:
Thanks for taking us along brother, nice work.
Thats a great looking doe, she'll put some meat in the freezer :thumbsup:
Great job Curt! Congrats!! :thumbsup:
Bravo :clapper:
Congrats! Thanx for all the pic's. :clapper:
Fresh venny!That's a good doe...congrats!
:thumbsup:
Good job, and good pics. That's the one thing I don't like about huntin' the ground.......it's hard to take pics. :deadhorse:
Good job Curt.Those KWYK STYKS are something!
awesome story and great pics
:thumbsup: Congrats! good job!
Nice shooten,I like the height of that stand.Congrats
Nice!
Curt,
I was looking at your initial pics (from up in the tree) and I thought "Hey...I recognize that little piece of treestand. That's a Staghorn". I was pretty good friends with Ralph Gorsuch (Sr) and hunted on a bunch of his prototype stands. I still own about a dozen of them. Ralph was a great friend, a muleskinner to trade with, and a tireless hunter. He died several years back and I often think of him when I'm on his stand. He'd be happy to know his stands are still in use, and still finding success beneath them. Congrats on a fine kill.
Kevin
Way to go Bud.
Way to go bud!!!
congrats Guru ! Awesome pics man !
congrats, Curt.
It ALWAYS amazes me to see how big the deer are in you guys' neck of the woods.
That doe is bigger than most 3 year old bucks in SC!
Congratulations, Curt. :clapper:
Great job Curt.Like those snufferized pics.RC
Way to go Curt :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
That is going to be some great table fare!
Nice one and good shot.
Nice sized doe. Glad you were able to stay safe putting the stand up in the dark.
Very nice...congratulations!
Congrats. Nice photo essay.
That the way to do it,Its nice when a plan works out good luck the rest of the season >>>>>---> ED
Way to go Curt :thumbsup: :clapper:
congrats Bro!!
Very nice as usual Curt, I always look forward to your posts.
:thumbsup: :archer: :archer2: Nice Doe Curt!
thanks for sharing the story and pics
Joe
Excellent post and pics!
:thumbsup:
Good job Curt.Nice shooting.I have been waiting for this.
Wow! Excellent story and pics. Beautiful whitetail and great shot!
:thumbsup:
That's how it's done. Great pics. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Congratulations Curt! Thanks for taking us along.
Congrats Curt! Nice doe and wonderful pics, I always enjoy your stories. :thumbsup:
Way to go Buddy :bigsmyl: again congrats!!
Tracy
:thumbsup:
Awesome pics Curtis, congrats! Looks like a fine doe.
That's a nice doe, well worth the effort. Congrats!!
Thanx fellas!!
OUTSTANDING Curt :thumbsup: