A couple of weeks ago I was doing a little scouting/hunting. Being a ground hunter I am always looking for just the right setup. I finally found where a group of Ash trees grew as one which gave me a nice backdrop to setup in front of. When I took off my seat to set it up I was surprised to see this at the base....
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1017111635.jpg)
This just may be my lucky tree.
Very cool!
I get set up and have a pretty good night as far as deer sightings go,had 5 come in that were pushed from somewhere else with the lead doe giving me the staredown at 7 yds.
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1022111540b.jpg)
I sit until quit time,then gather my stuff up and head home.
So I get back home and as I am telling my wife about my night, I realize that my favorite hat is missing. We all have one right? This one has been on my head for more kills than any other.
The next day I carefully backtracked and was glad to spot it...
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1018111345a.jpg)
It is my favorite,and although I do not wear it on every outing there was no way I was going to give it up.
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1018111346.jpg)
This is cool.
So that was on a Tuesday and I don't like hunting the same area to much. I thought Saturday would be time for another go.
I came across these tracks heading in,looks as though I am not the only one that likes the taste of venison......
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1021111613.jpg)
When I was getting close to the area I saw where a buck had a line of scrapes,4 in 50 yds, and as I was planning to lay down a scent line I chose a tree that was just a bit closer to the edge. I set my seat up, unloaded my gear,and got the scent line put down. Did a little snipping in some shooting lanes and got situated.
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1022111659.jpg)
It is thick right here. There is a bedding area off to the northeast and a tractor path to my left or west.
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1022111540.jpg)
Another view.
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1022111539.jpg)
:campfire: :coffee: This is good....what kind'a seat ya using?
So I settle in and enjoy the woods. Wind is strong out of the west and it is overcast and cool. At about 4:00 I hear a Redtail cry. I don't know if you guys have certain things you pay attention to out in the woods,but when I hear a hawk cry it means something is going to happen.
I looked down at my Slammer and saw that she was "focused".
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1020111156-1.jpg)
Ron W. it is a Waldrop. If you sit on one you will say hmmmm..... If you fold it up and put it on your back you will be getting your wallet out.
In my opinion,absolutely the best.
By looking at the photos, your hunting spot looks very nice.
So 5:00 comes,5:30,6:00. At 6:10 I see some movement up in front of me. It looks like two deer are heading out to the tractor path. The first one comes down thru and has her nose to my scent trail,maybe thirteen yards away,and never really came to a stop. The other one is taking her time....come on. (http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1022111540a.jpg)
The tractor path is just beyond that stump by a couple of yards.......
:campfire:
Light is getting less and less and it seemed like forever until she came down into the opening. She stopped in a perfect spot,the Slammer was already up and 99% drawn. Leaning just slightly forward in the seat I came to full draw and burnt a hole on a small leaf that was showing up against her lung area.
I released and she turned and bolted back into the woods behind her. This lay where she stood.
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1022111836.jpg)
:campfire:
I am shooting 40# at 28" and that is what I draw.
I was really wondering about this weight and had asked Leon about it. He said as long as I watched my distance and shot angle there was not going to be a problem. Thank you Leon,you were so right. The arrow is a Beaman Classic 600 spine with a modified Zwickey 4 blade w/ adapter(175gr)and makes an arrow weight of 420gr.
Zip......right through.
(http://i496.photobucket.com/albums/rr330/livrht/1022111836a.jpg)
Sorry for the "dark pictures" of the arrow. Light gathering capabilities on a cell phone camera are limited.
She went about 60-65 yards and it was over.I thanked God for the oppurtunity and the clean kill,called my wife and said I was going to be a little late and started the haul back home.
Good Hunting.
Craig
Nicely done! Love those Slammers! That's the only longbow I can shoot worth beans.
Congratulations, Craig :thumbsup: Gonna be tasty!
Hey, Monk!
Way to "git er done", Son! :)
Glad you found your hat...without it, you'd be one pug ugly mug! :laughing:
Sounds like a dream hunt in many ways! Excellent! Congratulations!
Great story and pictures! Now show us the hero pic or your deer.
Well done Craig, I have been looking at those Waldrop seats for a while......just can't seem to pull the trigger on one....that may change soon!
Craig, I'm waiting for the finale pic. Great story, so cool when it comes together in a new set up. Let's see that bow and the meat. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Way to go, Leon knows his stuff!!
bravo !
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Craig thats awesone!Good job,favorite hat and that Slammer you got her done!Love the pictures. :clapper:
Good Stuff Craig, Well Done and Well Told! CONGRATS!
Excellent.
Great Story, Craig. Congrats!!
Congrats!
Craig,
That's great news. I love your pictures. Now to kill a buck on hat shelf you showed us a few weeks ago :readit:
Hope everything is panning out with the out of state thing :clapper:
Great post! Congrats
:clapper:
Bravo! Thanks for sharing that with us! :thumbsup:
HA! Love the play by play! And from the Ground!! Love it!
:thumbsup: :clapper: :coffee:
:coffee: Excellent! (The hunt and the telling.) So, the shot was about 13 yds. broadside, right?
Great! I've been spending some time on the ground too and have had some close encounters and near misses so far. Looking for the day it comes together.
Really good stuff! :clapper:
Way to go my friend! Thanks for taking us along on your hunt.
Mike
congrats Craig- nice story and pics
Great stuff ,on the edge of the seat the whole time. Congrats
Good story, congrats. I killed my first traditional deer a long time ago with a 40# Leon Stewart longbow. That was a pass through as well.
Great Job Craig Leon Makes a wonderful bow Great Job from the ground > Take care
guess it's just my old eyes.. I was sure you were going to say a hunter was following.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii45/heilakka/stalker.jpg)
Thank you guys. I took no picture of the doe as it was a lot less light till I got to her. Just the right size also,not a cow, but not a calf either.
Hunting from the ground is an awesome experience and you guys that are thinking about the Waldrop seat, consider it an investment,as it is far more than a purchase. Thanks again,
Craig
Well done Craig! I'm glad someone is getting some action. Gotta love ground hunting.
Craig, Thanks for your posts, love them. You also talked me into trying ground hunting and I also at your suggestion, got a Waldrop a few months ago. Sat for 4 hrs on Friday and it is everything you said it was. Will NEVER give it up. Ground hunting takes some getting used to since I have been treestand hunting for a whole lot of years. But liking it and you can be so flexible as to where you hunt, not locked into one location.
Congrats on a fine hunt and harvest!