I hesitate telling you guys this because I don't want for anyone to think we're hunting an enclosure or something. Actually it's three adjoining farms owned by three good friends who allow us to hunt. And by the way, there's not a single food plot on any of the farms. We're just hunting the structural terrain. I know you guys appreciate hearing this stuff so I'll relate what happened today. As most of you know I got a big buck last weekend and although I have a couple doe tags I'm mostly just taking video footage. This morning at 9 AM I had the one we call Holyfield (because of the chunk out of his left ear) come by at 10 yds. He was a 7x6 last week but he broke off a point so he's now a 6x6. Gene and I both decided he was only 4 1/2 so we took him off the hit list for another season. I already passed him up last week. Got some great footage in the sunshine though. Then this afternoon I sat a stand we call Ol' Yeller. At 4:20 here comes three does running right to me followed by Hurley, the big non-typical I want more than any of them. He's absolutely stunning in real life. The trail camera pics just don't do him justice. The wind was out of the SE and they were NE of me. The does got to 30 yds. and I felt the wind shift out of the SW. They busted me before I got the camera on, then I couldn't move. He stood there at 42 yds. (the high-tech boys would have got him) for a full five minutes but I couldn't blink because of the does watching me. Finally one of the does snorted and he took off to the NW. I got a few seconds of footage just as he topped out the pasture. Very frustrating in that he stood there in the sunlight for five minutes in all his glory and I didn't get a lick of film for everyone to enjoy. Before I finish this I forgot to tell everyone last week (while I still had my tag) I sat the same stand I sat this morning. It was a hard frost that morning, but I had stuff I needed to do so headed out about 10 AM. As I slipped out along a skid road the frost had melted and it was quiet going. As I rounded a bend there on the logging road 50 yds. from me was Hurley standing in a scrape doing the overhead branch thing. I saw him before he saw me. I back-stepped three or four paces and knelt down in a little cedar. Here he comes right to me. If he continued on the skid road when he rounded another tree he was going to be 15 yds. But he only got 1/4 of the way and took a left down into the hardwoods. I didn't want to wheeze because he would have just circled downwind and busted me, so I let him walk away and quietly slipped out. Then I realized when I saw him he was working a big scrape right in front of one of our trail cameras. On pulling the chip we found out the camera wasn't working. I wonder what Walt Larson would say about that since it was a Cuddeback? Anyway, back to this afternoon. At 5:55 here comes seven does followed by a huge bodied non-typical. His left antler is stunted and his right has a couple long N/T points. I got some footage of him. Then five minutes later here comes four does and a spikehorn. They all crossed the fence and walked right under me. Behind them was the giant we call Picket. He's a standing 6x6 typical that will push the 180's. I got some poor footage trying to maneuver the camera from auto to manual focus so it wouldn't focus on the twigs between us. Here he comes. He stops at 20 yds. behind and under a leafy overhanging branch and worked a scrape. Now, as I said in my book, weird stuff seems to happen to me. I'm sure he's going to walk right under me. Just as he's ready to come to me my cell phone in my shirt pocket goes off. Yes... I had it on vibrate but he heard it and locked up. It buzzed like a dozen times and he just stood there. It stopped ringing and everything was cool... until the chime thingy goes off to tell me I have a message. That's all it took and he ran the other way. Granted, I only have doe tags but I was still a frazzled wreck. I wanted to share this because it's not often one sees THREE Boone and Crockett class bucks in a single day. Here's hoping this will give you guys the confidence to hang in there because you never know when it'll happen. Best of luck to all. BW
Dang Barry.........I want some of what YOU had for breakfast today. It sounds like you had a day for the "record books". Thanks for taking us along.
Winterhawk1960
P.S. I think in the late season......ol' Hurley is gonna be in trouble.
Great story UB. I would need some high grade pharmacueticals if I had something like that within 100yds of me ! Hate it that the wind switched on ya, but at the same time sorta glad that I am not the only one that seems to happen to. We have no where near that caliber deer here in TN but I have had two solid 140's bust me at 40-50yds when the wind switched at the worse time. One totally turned himself wrongside out, the other just simply turned and went back the way he and his girlfirend came. The first was a evening hunt when my scent was falling and the buck was in a deep hollow, the second a morning hunt with thermals rising. The first got a solid whiff I am sure by the way he acted, the second only a little due to the thermals taking most over his head.
Love the ground encounter you had with Hurley ! That is awesome. Been thru the cell phone vibrating thing as well. Bout jumped out of the tree one day when I bumped the voice dialing button on the Blackberry and it says in a thundering voice, " Say a command " !!! How much longer does Hurley have before you can buck hunt again UB ??? I am sure when that date comes Hurley is going to make the front page, haha !!!
I know you are making videos but can we get a few still photos as a teaser? Love to see those bucks. I am lucky to see one or two P&Y bucks in a season - let aloe three booners in a day.
Bob Urban
Hopefully you'll get a crack at Hurley with that late season tag. I was in love with Iowa the first time I went back in 94.
Barry,
Need a bow caddy?
The rest of us could only wish for a day like that. I doubt that I have ever seen a B and C whitetail in the wild, let alone three in one day. I'm happy seeing a P and Y whitetail once or twice in a season. If you guys get overwhelmed with huge deer, I would be happy to try and help out.
Those kinda stories keep us all dreamin" Barry! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Gun season starts here next Friday. Stories like this are what keeps me pluggin away with the bow.
It's refreshing to hear that sometimes you get busted too. I feel better already.
Please think about putting up more pics of these guys....gives us stuff to drool over. Great names too!
Barry asked me to put some photos of these bucks up for you guys. This is "Pickit".
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/197a1c81.png)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/b48d25bc.png)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/7e435089.png)
This is "Holyfield"
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/816b1314.png)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/eb01cf73.png)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/41dbf2a6.png)
These are like mugshots...I expect next the boys will have them all in a lineup somehow!
Thanks Barry...the story is certainly motivating! It's by no chance that you had that kind of action but rather a type of "luck" that you have created for yourself. I think you'll hear alot of "I wish, I wish" over stories like yours but know that we know it is by no accident that you get to hunt where you do and kill the deer you do. What's motivating for me is that I know I can have that too...just depends how bad I want it!
I'd blow more sunshine up your *%#>? but I gotta go start knocking on doors to get some better spots....Thanks...Ryan
Awesome deer and an awesome time in the woods!
And the crowd favorite, "Hurley".
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/4996e371.png)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/2c4e043e.png)
Don't feel too sorry for Barry that he doesn't have another buck tag until December, since he used up his first tag on "Burly"
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/c5863533.png)
Yup, we appreciate hearing this kinda stuff!
Wow!!!!! Great bucks
WOW! Just to see one in a season would be something but three in a single day, WOW! WOW! WOW!
Jack
Yeah. And I hunt PA:) LOL! Leaving today for a week upstate to hunt. Finally get a chance to get out. Couldn't decide on which bows to take, so I grabbed 5 of them. The others will have to sit this one out. Wish me luck!
Can you imagine how much fun that would be?!!!
I bet with that many big bucks cruising, certain areas begin to stink like a buck.
Please don`t hesitate to tell us ANYTHING! Anytime you get the urge to type, just let it all hang out...let your freak flag fly. We love to hear whatever you got to say. :D
:bigsmyl:
You suck!!! (how's that for a different response ;) )
Thanks for those pics!
They are all amazing, but I think Pickett is my favorite.
QuoteOriginally posted by Charlie Lamb:
You suck!!! (how's that for a different response ;) )
HAAAAAA!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing that with us Barry, that's a day to remember for a long, long time......feel free to share with us whenever you want.......
David
Way too cool. Sounds like a great day.
It would definately be hard to act like i'm not jealous but I will try,lol. If I wanted to see a buck like that around here I would have to interupt one of Allen Warren's hunts on the Paradice Ranch. Which just happens to be about 5 miles from here. Too bad that the high fence wasn't enough that they put some kind of material on the fence so that you can't see thru. They would probly still want to charge me to take a few pictures tho so that is off the table,lol. Could you just email me the pics so I can at least see them too,lol.
Looks like I need to move to Iowa and make some new friends :D
Sounds like an awesome morning! Always love reading the exploits of you you and your brother.
I have a couple of friends in Iowa and I agree with Charlie ---------
Hey, I'm in need of some cameras.. At one time you were using SG's.. What do you prefer now, Barry ?
Don't ya just love this time of the year !
I have to agree with Mr. Lamb.....After all I see 3 deer a YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!! :saywhat:
I sure am glad that I wasn't the one that called you Uncle BW.. :laughing:
awesome day in the woods!!! Thanks for sharing...
Wow, what a great day! Here in IL it can happen at any time, but I doubt we have the age structure on my little farm and my neighbors to have 3...we have one though that calls the section his home, and THAT is all that matters. Way to go on a great day!
OK,
On average.How many 4 1/2+ year old bucks do the Wensels hunt per season?
Thanks for sharing you hunt with us. :thumbsup:
I sure hope you bought a lotto ticket that day!! Oh and I concur with Charlies response. :D What a great day in the woods! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Aren't you telling Gene where they are? :D
i can't wait to see some of your film of those big boys, i love watching big bucks do there thing. thanks for sharing barry
Holy Cow.... the "Picket" buck is absolute perfection! Incredible!
Hey Barry....I couldnt find the "emoticon" sticking up his middle finger but you get the idea. You just have to use your imagination.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Like I do when I want to "see" bucks like these.
:D
Seriously thanks for sharing Bare.
Didnt my family invite you into our deer camp once upon a time. About time to return the favor dont-cha-think. :pray: :goldtooth:
Them's gotta be Iowa bucks. Tough to believe you can find beauties like those in the lower P. Not saying they don't exist, just saying those brutes don't look like what we grow around here. I think, if I saw any of those guys headed my way, I'd more than likely fall out off my stand in amazement.
Thanks for sharing fellas!
Yes, those are Iowa bucks. Barry and computers aren't the best of friends, so he asked me to post them for him.
Gun, Gene has his own Booners to hunt, I am sure you will see one not breathing shortly...
Man, I don't think there's a deer as big as any one of those in the entire state of South Carolina.
how do deer this big not get killed by gun hunters? these deer would never stand a chance of getting this big/old in Alabama.
Once again this is why you are know as the CLOSER Uncle B and why all your hardwork/time in the field pays off.
I had a "Three Dink Day"....I am just hopin for a good chance at a mature buck. I've only seen one true "booner" in my life in the wild, I think. I'm with Lamb, too.
Still, I love to hear those stories, Barry...keep us informed!
I could trade my best Hog spot for that deer heaven.LOL.What a place for the giants.
Maybe the twins will appreciate more some Italian food and wine,because they must be tired of sausages.
Thanks for sharing Uncle Barry.
You're livin my dreams Barry,I hope one day just to kill a Pope and Young.Thaks for sharing.
That's why we go out. You never know what your going to see, all though it helps if your hunting some place that you know has some serious potential. But I'm sure that's why UB moved to Iowa in the first place. Way to go UB and can't wait to see your upcoming movie.
You are certainly living a blessed life. Enjoy and appreciate it. Three booners in a day, incredible!
Just an interesting update. I sat the same stand I sat yesterday afternoon today (this afternoon/evening) and never saw a single deer. And we think we understand whitetails. BW
How about possums; did ya see any possums, grin ?
Those pics and the close encounters with these magnificent deer is what dreams are made of.
Actually these deer will make you dream even larger.
Incredible!! :clapper:
Wher did you say you got that horse shoe?
Fantastic stuff, thanks for sharing.
What a group of magnificant animals. All I can say is WOW. You are truly blessed, sir.
Thanks for sharing.
Kyle
What a day Barry. Thanks for telling us about it. Can't wait to see some footage.
Sat a stand last Wed and saw 7 bucks - never spooking one. Sat it again the next two mornings and never saw a deer. Baffling!
Great story, thanks for posting.
By the way, I'm reading "Once upon a Tine" on the train home from NYC everyday and I don't think the average commuter to NYC understands the whole sideways hat thing ( cover photo ) from the looks I'm getting.
Wow, great story and photos. Thanks Barry.
Keep the stories coming. Thanks
Maybe if I live long enough I'll have a day like that myself!!!
A guy can dream can't he? 8^)
:notworthy:
kybowman
thanks for sharing
thanks for sharing
Uncle B...great story. huh...maybe we should call ol Walt Larsen...my $300 cuddeback is a piece of... yup it has never worked, I had it on an elk wallow where 3 different 350" class bulls were seen...but I have no pictures...just a very expensive "mud coated" camera...
Love ya B
Peter
Thanks for sharing with us. :thumbsup:
Yeah....thanks for sharing Barry......just a couple of Sunday's back I had chances at 3 big bucks in one day on three different stands.....that's was really cool.
Keep us posted. :campfire:
You the man.
I don't think if you ground up all the racks I've seen in the last two weeks would make one of those. Thanks for sharing Barry.