The clock went off at 5:30 AM. After working three 12 hour shifts, I was tempted to roll back over and sleep in. But I felt like I had a good chance to see a deer at the spot I intended to hunt, so I crawled out of bed and took a quick shower, threw on my camo, and headed out the door.
This would be my first chance to hunt the funnel since I killed the deer there on Thanksgiving morning. I had wanted to hunt there last week, but circumstances had prevented it. This would be my only opportunity this week, and with the forecast calling for a good wind, I pulled into my parking spot with high hopes. I climbed out of the truck, gathered up all my gear, and started the 15 minute walk down to the creek.
One thing concerned me, and that was the fact that we had been blessed with a good rain since my last creek crossing. The water level would be fairly high, and I knew that my boots wouldn't be tall enough to keep my feet dry. Since my hip waders were out of commission due to dry rot, I decided to try another method, which was new to me. I had gotten the idea from Warren Womack, after seeing it in one of his videos. Plastic trash bags.
After easing up to the creek, I pulled the two trash bags out of my cargo pocket of my pants, and quickly pulled one up over each leg. I eased out into the water, and felt my way across. At the mid-point, the water came up just above my knees. As I reached the opposite bank with a pair of dry feet, I couldn't help but grin. I can't believe I had never thought of that.
I removed the bags, and left them by the creek bank for when I returned. I made my way deeper into the swamp, and after crossing two more sloughs I finally arrived on the patch of ground that led to the funnel. It was just starting to get daylight when I reached the base of the tree. On my last two hunts here, I had first used my climber, and last time I had climbed with my gaffs. Today, I had decided to drill the tree. I pulled my Woodpecker drill from my pack and started to drill the first of the ten holes I would need to reach my desired hunting height. After sliding the 10th bolt into place, I quickly hung my Loc On Limit and climbed onto the platform. After pulling up my bow, I nocked an arrow and settled back onto the seat to wait.
On my past two hunts in this tree, I had shot a deer at around 7:45, and another around 8:00. When 8:30 arrived, with no deer seen, I started to lose my enthusiasm. The squirrels were stirring around pretty well, and at one point I almost took a shot at a fat one sitting on a rotten log 10 yards away. I was able to fight the temptation until he moved out of range.
Every deer I had seen in here had approached from my front-left, so that's where I was focusing most of my attention. At 9:21, I heard a commotion, and was surprised to see two deer trotting toward me from behind my tree. I quickly stood, and readied for a shot as they passed on my left. The small doe bounced past me, with a four point hot on her trail. It only took me an instant to decide to shoot the buck, and as he hit a hole that I could shoot through, I bleated loudly to stop him. He was oblivious. I bleated two more times, each time a little louder, but he only had one thing on his mind. The doe, however, had heard it and locked up. The buck actually ran up to her and bumped her, and she turned around and came back by my tree. Once again I tried to stop the buck in a spot where I had a shot, but it fell on deaf ears. I watched them trot on off, and stop about 50 yards out.
I continued to watch them through the thick brush, and would occasionally catch an ear flip, or a tail twitch. I also saw another small buck, a spike or possibly a 4 point, move toward them. After they stood in practically one spot for nearly 20 minutes, the buck once again began to chase the doe. They moved in behind my tree, and stopped again for a good 10 minutes. It was so thick that if I took my eyes off of them for a second, when I looked back I couldn't tell where they were unless some movement betrayed their position. They both finally eased toward me. The buck was the closer of the two, and he eventually got about 7 yards from my tree. With him standing head on, and screened by brush, I could only wait on him to make the next move, hopefully before the wind swirled and revealed my presence. He stood in one spot for a solid 5 minutes. I waited, with slight tension on the bowstring. If he would turn to his right and take one step, I would have a clear, broadside shot. When he decided to move, that's exactly what he did. But before I could draw my bow he had taken two more quick steps and was out of the lane. I could only watch as he walked straight away from me behind a wall of brush.
I glanced over at the doe. She was broadside, about 20 yards away, but it was just too thick for a shot. As I looked back toward the buck, I noticed that he was walking up to a group of 3 more does that I hadn't even seen approach. A few seconds later, he started to run those deer, and to my amazement, they were running in my direction! I prepared for a quick shot to my left-rear, as that's where they were headed. Seeing that the lead deer was a mature doe, I decided to try for her and let the buck walk. As she hit a small opening at 12 yards, I let out a bleat and she pulled up. I hit anchor just as she stopped, and picked a spot low in the crease. The next thing I knew, the arrow was there, but forward of its intended destination. I missed...2 inches to the right. My yellow feathers were sticking out. Anytime my arrow doesn't disappear through the animal, it gives me pause, but immediately I could tell she was hit hard. She streaked off in a controlled crash, stumbling several times before I lost sight of her. She had hooked around the end of a big blowdown tree, headed toward the creek, but I didn't hear her splash. I felt confident she was down. I glanced at my watch, and it was 10:01.
After giving her about 20 minutes, I climbed down and took up the trail. Even when I know pretty much right where they're at, I can't resist walking the blood. Not knowing if I had an exit wound, I didn't know what to expect. I walked over to where I thought she had been standing, and couldn't find any blood. I looked around for a minute, and then happened to glance over about 6 feet to my left and saw piles of blood. Right away I knew I had an exit wound. I continued to walk the blood, taking an occasional picture of the trail. When I found the deer, she was laying about 20 feet from the edge of the creek. All total, she had made it about 50 yards.
A view from my stand.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/hookedn21/Miscellaneous/a8aaf17f.jpg)
A good sign.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/hookedn21/Miscellaneous/024-1.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/hookedn21/Miscellaneous/018-1.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/hookedn21/Miscellaneous/f757e13b.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/hookedn21/Miscellaneous/021-2.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/hookedn21/Miscellaneous/029-2.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/hookedn21/Miscellaneous/020-1.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/hookedn21/Miscellaneous/030-1.jpg)
(Pictures have been resized, there must be a lag with Photobucket.)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/hookedn21/Miscellaneous/Wounds/040.jpg)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/hookedn21/Deer/056.jpg)
A big doe for around here.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/hookedn21/Deer/050.jpg)
Nice !
Well done Chris :thumbsup: Seriously, between you and RC it makes me almost want to move to GA. Almost :)
Congrats on a great year!
:thumbsup:
10 deer.....? :saywhat: what do you do with all the meat.
Fantastic stuff Chris. I suggest the Georgia DNR use you and RC to thin the herds in parks where they are having population issues.
QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
Fantastic stuff Chris. I suggest the Georgia DNR use you and RC to thin the herds in parks where they are having population issues.
Wouldn't that be awesome! Let me find their phone number so you can give them a call! :biglaugh:
View from the stand? Heck I can barely see anything with that big dang broadhead in the way! lol
Seriously, good job man!
Woodpecker drill, loc-on Limit, trashbags for crossings, you must be a student of WHW!
7 is the most ever for me, and I needed two different states to get it done. Congrats!
You better ask for a new skinning knife for Christmas.
QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
10 deer.....? :saywhat: what do you do with all the meat.
Let's see...there's fried deer, baked deer, grilled deer, broiled deer, boiled deer, deer soup, deer stew, deer sandwich... :)
Awesome season. Congrats!!
Heck of a season for you! I bet there are a lot of guys that don't even have 10 deer within bow range all year :)
QuoteOriginally posted by Landshark160:
QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
Fantastic stuff Chris. I suggest the Georgia DNR use you and RC to thin the herds in parks where they are having population issues.
Wouldn't that be awesome! Let me find their phone number so you can give them a call! :biglaugh: [/b]
I just called them...Will you work for beer?
Good job Chris! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Landshark160:
QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
10 deer.....? :saywhat: what do you do with all the meat.
Let's see...there's fried deer, baked deer, grilled deer, broiled deer, boiled deer, deer soup, deer stew, deer sandwich... :) [/b]
And I have not had a shot since 1971.......but this I did see 2 deer for the season!!
sweet!
I wish they would give me 10 deer tags here in Tx!
Congrats on the great season.
Bisch
Congrat on a nice doe and a great year!!!
I like those "stand up" blood trails !
VERY NICE!!! :thumbsup: :clapper:
Congrats! I wish I could see 10 deer a season in Louisiana. Poor hunting around my area.
Excellent!!!
Congrats!
Those battle axes sure make hole :archer:
Congrats....I haven't even been out deer hunting 10 times this season....kids got so much going on....but its fun ready stories like this.
Not sure if its for better or worse though. :biglaugh:
showed him everything he knows....lol
I gotta say Chris hunts hard for his critters and I enjoy the time we spend afield together.He is without a doubt the best shot with a Trad bow I`ve ever seen.Congrats on # 10.RC
Congrats on a full freezers! :thumbsup:
congrats nice shot :thumbsup:
Ron : Thats the same year I was born and now I'm beginnin to think I hexed you by being born in 71 :0(
QuoteOriginally posted by RC:
showed him everything he knows....lol
RC
I do have to give alot of credit to "Lucky" Carter and Warren Womack. I've learned a great deal from them both over the last few years, and they've certainly influenced the way I hunt.
The area around here has a fairly low deer density, estimated at <15 per sq. mile. Like RC said, I've hunted hard, and that's been the key. Here's some of my season stats to this point.
So far I've made 63 hunts for deer. That's 63 individual climbs where I've spent at least one hour on stand. I usually average about 3 hours per sit, so that's roughly 180+ hours up a tree. In all that time, I've seen exactly 63 deer. Of those 63, I've had shots at 11 of them, and managed to connect on all but one.
I'm just blessed to be able to hunt a good bit, and fortunate to have capitalized on most of my opportunities.
QuoteOriginally posted by Landshark160:
Quote[/b]
I do have to give alot of credit to "Lucky" Carter and Warren Womack. So far I've made 63 hunts for deer. That's 63 individual climbs where I've spent at least one hour on stand. I usually average about 3 hours per sit, so that's roughly 180+ hours up a tree. In all that time, I've seen exactly 63 deer. Of those 63, I've had shots at 11 of them, and managed to connect on all but one.
I'm just blessed to be able to hunt a good bit, and fortunate to have capitalized on most of my opportunities. [/qb]
I don't know RC, but I have had the great pleasure of becoming Mr. Warren's friend in recent years and I see a lot of him in you. If you talk to him, ask him about the RUGER CURSE on his bow!
15 deer per square mile is low density? :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh: Young man , you have no idea what low density is!! You are lucky to hunt where you do! I'm glad your having a good season.
I have not been able to hunt nearly as much as normal this year due to my work schedule...BUT threads like theses help ease my pain!
Thanks for posting.
I simply MUST get some of those broadheads! :campfire:
QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
You are lucky to hunt where you do!
Yes sir, I agree. We have pigs too! :bigsmyl:
Yeap love threads like this! Thanks for posting.
congrats!!!
Way to go Chris, awesome season brother! :notworthy: :clapper:
I'd like to "talk" to you a bit about using the Woodpecker system. I'm priveledged to have been given one of Chris Surtees' drill and bolts. I plan on using them quite a bit in the years to come.
I know "how" to use it, but I'd like to hear about how to use it "well" ;)
Pics are awsome! those are lovely shades of red perhaps you could fashion a Christmas card and send it to a P.E.T.A. spokesman and tellem merry Christmas from the Gang.Not! Congrats on a fine season.
I would say that the shot was in the perfect place. Anytime you can hit them just above the "elbow" on a standing broadside deer you center the vitals and have a dead deer in seconds. Congrats.
Dan in KS
Once again congratulations!! What a great season. You have earned the great year as the payoff to all your homework!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Great shot Chris!
Congrats on an excellent season!
Enjoy the feast!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
:thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
Just ordered some treeshark broadheads the other night and after seeing those pictures it looks like I made a good purchase!
Those stats speak volumes about your success!The more time I spend in the woods the luckier I seam to get.Congradulations on an awsome year you deserve it. :thumbsup: :clapper:
Congrats on a fine season, And i thought i was the only one how carried two trash bags with them, Works great as long as the rocks in the bottom of the creek are not sharp, dont ask me how i know this.
OK, you guys are talking in "code" again! Somebody please tell me of the Woodpecker System? I am real curious.
Bisch
Nice shooting! That could take ten years to do in my state,if your lucky enough to draw a tag each year. :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Great story! Thanks for sharing and excellent season!
How on Gods green earth do you get those missles to fly?
QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
QuoteOriginally posted by Landshark160:
QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
Fantastic stuff Chris. I suggest the Georgia DNR use you and RC to thin the herds in parks where they are having population issues.
Wouldn't that be awesome! Let me find their phone number so you can give them a call! :biglaugh: [/b]
I just called them...Will you work for beer? [/b]
Ha. I'm a brewer and I'd trade beer for that Kentucky spot. TJ
Perfect shot...your an animal!
Kinda nice you live in a state that allows that many opportunities. In Wa its basically 1 and done. Congrats on a great season.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
OK, you guys are talking in "code" again! Somebody please tell me of the Woodpecker System? I am real curious.
Bisch
The Woodpecker is a folding drill invented by Jerry Simmons. It drills a 3/8" hole, into which you insert 3/8" grade 8 hardened bolts. It's very compact. You can hold the drill and a dozen bolts in one hand, which is enough to get up about 20-24 feet (depending on how far apart you space them). Once you drill a tree, the holes will remain open for the rest of the season. They will grow up in the spring, like they were never even there.
The Woodpecker has been out of production for the past few years, but Dave has plans to reintroduce it for 2012.
QuoteOriginally posted by recurve27128:
How on Gods green earth do you get those missles to fly?
You would be surprised at how well the Treesharks fly. The concave edge reduces the surface area, giving them the flight characteristics of a much smaller head. It's the same with all the Simmons heads.
What a feat!!! If you need a hunting partner?? Have bow and a son in GA... Will travel! LOL
Congratulations, I think that must be some kind of Season record!
Congrates on an awesome shot. Man, did that treeshark put a hole in her! :thumbsup:
Very nice!
OH THE VENISON!
Great job buddy!
I know you have to be a pretty dang good hunter to harvest that many deer but im like you. I put a lot of hard work into my property and way before season i have at least 15 loc-ons already
placed where there's a lot of acorns.
I go to where the acorns are and the wind is right and usually stay in my stand 15 minutes before sunrise and get down between 10-30 AM and 11 AM. If you put the time in it's not luck it's being prepared.
The biggest 2 AL bucks i have ever seen were when i was climbing up into my loc-on and he was 40yds away making a scrape. I dressed and took my rubber boots off to put feet warmers in and didn't realize what i was watching until i got in my stand and dug my Bino's out. He never did see me and i watched him for 15 minute.
The other a 140 class came walking through the open woods at straight up 11 AM. Congradulations on a great year but isn't your season still open and where can i get some of those wicked broadheads.
Joe Van
Oh yea and just for kick and giggles what bow set-up do you have and which loc-ons do you like the best. Also what climber are you using.
And last what kind of job do you have. I thought i had a lot of off time during hunting season but you may have me beat.
Congrats.Great shooting.Got to love those simmons heads.
QuoteOriginally posted by joevan125:
Oh yea and just for kick and giggles what bow set-up do you have and which loc-ons do you like the best. Also what climber are you using.
And last what kind of job do you have. I thought i had a lot of off time during hunting season but you may have me beat.
I started the season with my old trusty Predator recurve, 60" 67#@28". Got my new Centaur longbow, 62" 63#@28", the last week of September and after shooting it for a day, switched over to it for the rest of the season.
I used to put up alot of stands before season, but changed the way I hunt a few years ago and pretty much use only one stand now. I use a Loc On Limit. I hang it every time I climb, and pull it when I come down. Every once in a while I'll hunt the same tree twice in a row and leave it up, but not very often.
My climber is an old Summit Bushmaster I've had for 10 years or so. I find myself using it less and less each year. I only climbed with it once this year.
I work three 12's on the weekend shift. Leaves me 4 days during the week to hunt, which is the best time to be on public land. I'm blessed, not only to have a job during these tough times, but to have one that allows me plenty of time to do what I love.
I have a 62in Centaur 3 weeks away. :bigsmyl:
Very nice! I'm jealous, not of you getting the deer but that you don't have to get up until 5:30am to hunt. I have to get up at 3:30am to get to my spot an 1 1/2 hrs away. LOL
Thanks for posting great story and pictures.
Congratulations on a nice doe. I enjoyed your story. Thanks.
Now that is a whole!! Great shot!
Congrats on a great season! It's hard to beat a Simmons head, I love my Tiger Sharks. What adapter are you using in the glue on tree sharks? Thanks!
QuoteOriginally posted by Southern Sam:
Congrats on a great season! It's hard to beat a Simmons head, I love my Tiger Sharks. What adapter are you using in the glue on tree sharks? Thanks!
Just the standard 42 grain aluminum.