(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/PlatteRiverview10-23-10.jpg)
Hey, I feel like a stranger to this place after being largely under water the past few months. Divorce will do that to you, even when it's a good thing it doesn't mean it's an easy thing. Trying to get out from under $96K of individual debt my ex admits to running up all by herself (credit/gambling/who knows what else) yets wants me to cover has been challenging but there are brighter days ahead.
Anyway, thought I'd update you on my hunting season this year with stick and string, especially now that I'm out of buck tags in my home state of NE.
For the first time I shared many of my hunts (31 of my 74 hunts currently) with a hunting partner, a lady who shoots wheels but has traditional values and I wouldn't be surprised to see her try a stick in the near future. It's been enjoyable to hunt with someone with the same ethics and respect for the land and animals. Plus she's a natural and has taken a 152" 5x6 back in Sept. and three antlerless deer so far; most of which I got to see taken from ringside which was cool. Was shaking like crazy from 60y away as I watched her arrow the big one through my binos.
For me, I had a close call with that big 5x6 a few days earlier but my daughters (ages 7/9) spooked it off after being quiet enough to let numerous does and three small bucks walk by that night. Wasn't meant to be and I can't afford the taxidermy right now anyway! Ha. I've had the girls out with me about 10x as well.
I've been fortunate enough to still take two decent bucks and two big does, one of each with my hunting partner sitting beside me. All deer taken with a Pronghorn longbow and Wensel Woodsman heads. The latter buck was taken with my backup PH, a 'Curly Ash' special I purchased through TradGang! The others were taken with the 'Green Machine.'
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG_1538.jpg)
This doe above taken Oct. 9 at 15 yds. and went 0. Through the front shoulder area and severed the spine where it drops low there.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG_3770.jpg)
This doe was taken Nov. 2 at 15 yds. and went maybe 40 with a perfect, tight double lunger.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG_3780a.jpg)
Took this buck Nov. 12 at 14 yds. and he went maybe 50-60 after a great double-lunger. We were in a double-set stand just 10' up so it was really a cool, close encounter on a buck she had originally wanted to be one of hers but since she already had the big one in the bag, it was my turn and I was kind of feeling the need to let the air out of something.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG_3812a.jpg)
Then on Nov. 20 during our rifle season (you can bowhunt with a special permit this year...$75 or so), I took this buck after a tense, stand-off and snort-wheezing him into action. The shot was 20y but I was a hair back and got liver. A long, arduous 250y trailing job but patience won out.
Still some more does hopefully to add to the freezer for myself or co-workers who don't hunt. Again, sorry I haven't been contributing much to this forum (or any others), but it's been that kind of summer and fall. Anxious now that the season's winding down to visit here more often and continue work on the second book.
Sorry to hear of your troubles Bryce. Congrats on the deer and look forward to your second book. Keep your head up better things will come.
Good looking deer Bryce :wavey:
Welcome home brother.
I am glad to read that things are looking up for you.
Congratulations on the new hunting partner and to both of your bowhunting successes.
God bless,Mudd
I always enjoy it when you share your hunts with us. Congrats on a good season, and I hope the homefront skies brighten a bit.
Glad to see you back, I always enjoy your stories!
One door closes, another opens...
Great job on the deer! :thumbsup:
Congrats and welcome back! Glad things are looking up for you.
Congrats on youre hunting results and the new hunting partner! Best moments shared with a good partner or youre girls is best moments doubled!
Nice deer... Good luck in the future take care :campfire:
The sun will shine again someday soon. JFTR, hope my ex is as happy gone as I am she is.
Keep doing whatever. Nice looking GF. Hunting w/daughters is a lasting impression for them, you too. Best of luck
Congrats on the Deer and there is nothing better than having a good hunting partner.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Glad to have you back. Life happens to all of us. Congrats on some great critters and pray better times are ahead for you and your family.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Glad to hear you are pulling thru these trying times and am really excited to hear the new book is coming along well also.
I "always" enjoy your posts! Congrats and Happy Thanksgiving!
Only a teacher would use the word Hiatus......
Nice going Bryce, and good luck in the future!
Good to have you back Bryce!!!
Good to see you back Bryce ! :thumbsup:
Glad you're finding time for another book!
Good luck with all your new endeavors!
Life sure is a cruel mistress at times...
But good to see your chin up mate and look forward to your 2nd book. Thanks for the first you sent out to Baghdad for me...
ak.
Welcome back Bryce. I survived (as have others) what you've been through. Life goes on. Thanks for sharing the hunting stories.
I dunno, but it doesn't LOOK like ole' Bryce is suffering too badly!
P.S. pick up the phone the next time I call!
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve H.:
I dunno, but it doesn't LOOK like ole' Bryce is suffering too badly!
I gotta agree with that one Steve :clapper:
I agree Steve. I've been married for almost 28 yrs. and have never got my Wife to hunt with Me.
Glad Your back, have always enjoyed Your hunting stories.
glad to see you posting again bryce..im sure its tough, but its funny how things always seem to turn around in the end...
good luck, and god speed! and if the 2nd book is half as good as the first, i'll send ya a check right now!!
happy holidays to you and yours..
jamie
Bryce:
Welcome back man... The road looks a lot better for you from where I sit... You should keep her.... Good luck.
Bryce, keep your chin up. GOOD to see you back. BILL
Thanks for the kind words. Life is complicated, and it's still complicated, so don't read too much into the photos posted. My pal and I are both shipwreck survivors of sorts and our similar life experiences, jobs and love for God and bowhunting and the outdoors has made for a friendship I value, much like the camaraderie here.
Have been able to get my daughters out a number of times this fall, including a night when we had 3 dink bucks and several does pose for us at 10 yards, but the big 5x6 my partner would eventually kill came up to 25 yards but by then the girls had lost some of their patience and he melted away before following the same trail the other deer had. Ouch. But my daughters are by far the best trophy I could ever want.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG_1521-1.jpg)
We've used the Double Bull, the Buddy Ladder stands, and even the double-set Morning Stand my friend and I hunt from (with me standing the whole time) while the girls are with me. Quality time that I hope will continue to bond them to me so when they get older and have to make big choices they'll defer to what their old man would want them to do.
And on one crazy evening, my friend and her two boys and her parents (from AZ) all ended up in the same Double Bull because it started raining. Good times! She noted with all those bodies in the blind she didn't think she could draw her bow. I noted that with a longbow, it can be hard with just one body in there sometimes. Ha.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG_1495-1.jpg)
My friend has two sons and a daughter and we've taken them out a bunch too. The oldest boy killed his first deer (with a rifle) during an antlerless season hunt with us mentoring, and the daughter got to watch mom take a spike that qualified as antlerless under our regs. And here's another picture showing the family angle to bowhunting.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG_1514.jpg)
And this last picture is of my girls from a couple years ago when they helped on a blood trail. Beats TV any day.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/08Sept20doe3-1.jpg)
Thanks again for the welcome back.
Congrats on a great season and wishing you more happy days ahead!
Life sucks sometimes, but I'm thinkin it beats the alternative. You're a lucky man, welcome back.
Bryce,
Sorry to hear about the struggles, but
glad to hear things are coming around for you.
Your backup Pronghorn sounds like the one I sold you a year or so ago.
Do you still have copies of your first book? If so,
how much and where do I send the money?
I've enjoyed reading your posts over the years, so the book has to great.
Thanks,
Ron Bruce
Montan
Welcome back Bryce, good to see you here again. Glad that things are starting to get better for you. Looks like you had a heck of a nice deer season with your girls!
Since I never got a chance to talk to you after I got your book, I just wanted you to know that it is a great read and I really enjoyed it!
Glad to see you back.
Doug
Bryce, great to have you back. Glad you are healing with the help a God's great outdoors and your kids and a friend!
Be sure to answer the phone for Steve. I'm sure he gets lonely way up there in the frozen North. He's probably snowed in!
I can relate. My divorce was final yesterday.
:thumbsup: :clapper: