Hi everyone. I thought I'd introduce myself by taking you on a brief trip through my introduction to trad archery. ;)
I started my trip by the purchase of a 2004 Bear take-down recurve with 60 lb limbs. Although the bow felt great in the hand,60 lb was to much to start my trad life with. I was lucky enough to get a fine gentleman by the name of Brandon Stahl of Rose Oak Creations to make me a set of 48 lb limbs which fit me and the bow perfectly.
I was off and enjoyed shooting on a daily bases for 6 months until the spring of 2012 when turkey season started. Yes we have those crafty critters up here too. I like to use my mountain bike to ride into areas that I wish to hunt turkey as it's quiet and mobile. Unfortunately, wooden slippery bridge decks promote wipe-outs and upon "hitting the deck" I broke one of my Brandon Stahl limbs. Back to my 60 lb limbs. :mad:
And yes there will be a hunting story involved. :goldtooth: More to come.
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh547/stocker56/bcd94960.jpg)
This sounds good! Keep it coming! :thumbsup:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
:campfire:
Welcome from Indiana. Good first post. :wavey:
Nice, is that a mineral site?
:campfire: , since I didn't get to go on my first elk hunt this year, I love these stories.
I wish my first post were as edge of the seat as this one!
Let loose another'n!
Killdeer :clapper:
Methinks his mountain bike legs got a workout!!
:thumbsup:
Luckily Brandon put me back on the list for a new set of limbs and I'm patiently waiting! :rolleyes:
I then had the great good fortune to meet up with Abe Penner and his lovely wife Tina, owners of Cari-bow Bows, at the B.C. Provincial Trad Shoot and spend the next couple days shooting with them. I was also lucky enough to come away with a new Silver Fox long bow which is not only a shooter but a beautiful piece of art. :bigsmyl:
Elk season is approaching and I decided to use the Bear with it's 60 lb limbs as the "Silver Fox" is just to pretty to take into the bush this year.
I set up a camera in my honey hole which is a mineral lick to see what was coming in. As you seen previously a nice 6 point was coming in on a regular bases as it was hot, into the mid 80's. Need to go cook up some steaks, I'll be back. :goldtooth:
wow two post and already a true trad gang story teller
Sept. 01 was our archery opener, hot, sunny and a full moon, does it get any better. :dunno:
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh547/stocker56/c754bfce.jpg)
Unfortunately, Martin had to head home and I had a Golf Course to prepare for a tournament.
On Sat. Sept 08 I checked the game camera at the mineral lick, I think maybe I need to get serious about sitting on this soon. More to come.
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh547/stocker56/40823123.jpg)
I hate to break the flow of the story but I,m having trouble downloading the pictures from photo bucket. It continually posts the original picture of the 6 point and I can't seem to post any other ones. Any suggestions?
Abe Penner has made about the prettiest bow I've ever seen.
Nice fella, highly ethical person, has some terrific stories, too.
Killdeer
I should also add that for over a year I have been soaking up as much knowledge as these brain cells will take from all of the trad gang member and thank you Rob, Killy and the rest for the kind comments. I hope that as this story progresses that it gives you an idea of the pleasure and contentment that trad archery and this site has brought to me. :thumbsup:
You have a knack for the art of the story Craig - keep it coming!
I don't know what the issue might be with Photobucket - hope you get it figured out. But in the meantime your words are painting wonderful pictures!
Thanks Whip, hope I can GET IT FIGURED.
Computer illiteracy gets frustrating. :banghead:
Photobucket is giving me fits at the moment right now also.
On the evening of Sat. the 08 I got to sit in my tree stand over the mineral lick. I had just settled in when I could hear something approaching. Elk, 3 cows and 2 calves were making there way toward me and just glimpsed through the trees a young 5 point bull.
I tried to keep myself as calm as possible but it was a losing battle. The bull kept cruising on the perimeter and never quite coming in to my effective range of 20 meters or less. Then suddenly he started into the lick, at 20 meters he stopped, facing me and stood there forever. No shot!
He then walked up to the mineral lick at 15 meters and stopped again. Still no shot. Turning broadside he then walked away following the rest of the cows without ever giving me a good solid opportunity. :(
After getting the shakes under control and my heart rate down to normal it was getting dark and time to head out but I was coming back in the morning to try another round. :)
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh547/stocker56/2ce1245e.jpg)
You got us Craig. We're hooked. Well worth the wait for your photos :)
The early morning sky was full of stars and it was an interesting walk out to the mineral lick in the dark. The things you can't see but only hear seem to help you on your way. :scared:
I got settled in my tree stand in the dark and enjoyed how the night came back alive after my passing through. It was only minutes later that I heard approaching animals. There is no mistaking the sound of elk moving through the trees when they are relaxed. Noisy is a word that comes to mind! But no, it's still dark and I can't see anything but the moon light glinting off of hide and horn. :mad:
It's now breaking day light and the silence is broken by a single bugle and close by comes an answer. I look at my wrist watch and it reads 6:00 and I give 3 cow calls with a mouth diaphragm. Nothing, no answer, no movement. 15 minutes later I call again. Silence. I look down at my watch and check the time as I don't want to call anymore then ever 15 minutes. I look up and see horn tips coming trough the bush. Points, a lot of points, this is no 5 point or any bull I have seen on my game camera.
I tell myself don't look at the horns, don't look at the horns but they seem to draw my eyes as the bull comes ever closer.
He's walking straight into me and stopping every 3 or 4 steps. Now he is standing right beside the flagging tape that marks 20 meters but still facing me. I'm a wreck, trying to control my breathing and shaking. He continues on coming in to 15 meters and then suddenly turns broadside and slightly quartering away. NOW! I see a piece of something just behind his left shoulder and direct all of my concentration on just that spot. Come to full draw, hold a second and don't remember telling myself to release.
The arrow suddenly appears right at the point I was staring at embedding itself right up to the fletch and stopping against the other shoulder. The bull stumbles, puts his head down and crashes away at a full run until he goes about 40 meters and stops, looks around and slowly walks away. More to come. :campfire:
:bigsmyl:
AARRRRGGGGHHH!! I'm leaving for the weekend and may not have access to TG for a few days! Excellent thriller!
I sit in my tree stand for another 15 minutes, trying to control the shaking, trying to collect my thoughts and enjoy the moment. Not happening, I need to get out of my tree stand and go look. I go to the last place that I saw the bull standing and cast around for blood which I find a short distance from where he stood. I want to share this with my hunting partner, Martin, so I back out and head to the truck.
I call Martin from the truck and tell him the story. He's as excited as I am and willing to come and give me a hand. Two minutes later he calls me back and asks if his 17 year old son, Ben, and his wife Leeza can come. Are you kidding, with hopefully an elk down and needing to be packed out it sounds like a win, win situation to me.
I wait until Martin and his family arrive and off we go to follow the blood trail. Now Martin had told me that Ben had an eye for following a blood trail and I got to experience this first hand. The kids good and he'll do to take along anytime. After slowly following the trail for about 60 meters we lost it and started casting around looking for more sign. Ben was looking to the left, me to the right and Martin was slowly moving forward. Martin called softly to me that he had found the next blood and for me to come over there. As I was looking at the ground for blood Martin put his hand on my shoulder and pointed at horn tips above the underbrush.
When I walked up to that magnificent animal I can't even describe the feelings and emotions going through me. Martin had to ask me if I was going to touch the bull to bring me back to the here and know. As I touched him and lifted his head a feeling of accomplishment rolled over me as I realized that I had harvested my first trad kill. The bull was a non typical with 8 points on his right side and 8 points on his left side with plenty of mass. I have been blessed to have harvested 12 elk with my rife and 5 with my compound bow but this magnificent animal, this first kill with my recurve, will forever remain the best. :pray:
I am still unable to post a picture of him so if anyone can help me I'll e-mail them a picture and maybe they will have better luck than me.
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh547/stocker56/2e4004d1.jpg)
Great story. Takes me right there into the woods with you. Looking forward to the pictures!
K.C. <><
We were there with you! Thank you for the excellent telling of the hunt!
Congratulations Sir!
Congratulations Craig!!!
I have been waiting for the story to come out. Sharing this with Leeza ,Martin and Ben must have been special.I'm glad all your planing with them worked out.
Great story telling!
Tina an myself had so much fun shooting with the gang in BC. Please say hi to Leeza and Martin for us.
Abe
Somebody help him with the pics - Quickly!
Great story, a Canadian boy getting it done! Congrats.
Great story with a happy ending. :thumbsup:
Congrats!
email me the pics and I will post them for you
danny.rowan@dhs.gov
(http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/50652/2884142220107550218S600x600Q85.jpg) (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2884142220107550218XDpXjD)
Thanks Danny for the offer but I think I got it this time thanks to my darling wife
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh547/stocker56/ba39c072.jpg)
This is my partner and his family
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh547/stocker56/05e35ac4.jpg)
:bigsmyl:
I'd like to thank all the trad gangers who came along on the hunt with me as I relived the moment. I am also thankful for all the information that is forth coming from the members on trad gang. So Far it has been a great journey.
Thank You
:goldtooth:
Congratulations! Great job.
Wow, that is a slammer!!
congratts!...dang nice bull!
First trad kill.
Be hard to top that I'd think...
Great bull, great journey, great friends and outstanding story!!!
Thanks for lettings us join your excitement and reminding us how great this trad journey is.
Chris
I knew this was going to be a good story! Congratulations on your beautiful bull! You have a great gift for words. :clapper:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Awesome!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great adventure, thanks for sharing.
Great story ,thanks for taking the time to share. Congrats
WOW! :campfire:
QuoteOriginally posted by Hopewell Tom:
First trad kill.
Be hard to top that I'd think...
Wow...no kidding!
well done indeed!
Just magnificent! Quit the way to introduce ones self. Your piece of dirt is georgous. Took a sturgeon/salmon trip on the Frasier River a few years back. The whole time I was looking into those mountains wishing I had my bow.
Welcome from Kentucky!
Great story ! Great bull elk !
Congrats !
Nice story and a very nice elk. Congratulations.
Thanks for the tag along. And wonderful job!!
Finally have this photo bucket thing figured. I've added the pics that go with the story. Thanks for waiting. :bigsmyl:
That was a great hunt!!. Thanks for the story and pics. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thanks for taking me along,congrats on a fine bull.
Nice bull!
Congrats, great bull!!!!
Congratulations on a great bull and a great story. :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
wow what a bull!!!!
Wow great story and bull! Congratulations!
Way to go!
:thumbsup:
Congrats! Love elk!
Great bull! where are you located in BC, is that a roosevelt or rocky mountian? Awesome hunt and thanks for taking us along!
Good shoot'n and good story! He's definitely a toad.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/Pictures/buzzards.gif)
Great story, and an awesome bull from the Kootenays!
:jumper: :jumper: :jumper: YEAH BOY!!!! :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
Very special. Thanks for sharing it with us. Oh to live in BC!!!
:clapper:
:thumbsup:
All I can say is "Awesome"! Taking game any other way won't feel the same now.
Great story and a great bull!
Awesome hunt! That is what it is all about for me, stickbows, wild animals, beautiful scenery and great family & friends! Congratulations my Brother... You are living the dream! ~Steve
Fine animal and great story. Thanks for sharing.
Congrats, nice bull!
:clapper: :clapper:
Nice elk man :bigsmyl:
congrats on a beautiful bull,love the story too
Great story telling, Congrats!
Not bad for a first Trad harvest...... :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :notworthy: :notworthy: Unbelievable....... Well done!!
Congratulations on an excellent elk and thank you for taking the time to share your story.
Great adventure and congratulations
Awesome bull!!!!!!!!!
Congrats on a great bull. Thanks for sharing your story and pics.
Well done! That's a bull of a lifetime there!
Great bull,congrats!What have you used?
Cacciatore, a bear take-down bow, 2004 B riser with original 60 lb limbs which are 58 lb at my draw length. A.D. trad lite arrows cut 29 1/4 inches with wraps, three 5 inch left twist parabolic fletches, standard inserts, 175 gr. elite woodsmen broad heads for a total arrow wt. of 520 gr. :archer2:
wow,very nice sir
What a unique rack on a beautiful animal and your story telling is tops!
TOTALLY AWESOME STORY!!
May the "Gods of the Hunt" be with you in your pursuit to take a larger one than this!!
Outstanding. Thanks for sharing.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING WHAT A THRILL THAT MUST HAVE BEEN!!
Wow! Awesome introduction right there. Welcome neighbor!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer2: Doesn't get any better than that, Congrats
WOW!! Thank You for sharing a great adventure!
Glenn
a Dream bull for me ! Congrats well done! Magnificent animal
DANG!!!!! What a bull much less for you first trad kill!!! You are a blessed man indeed! Thanks for taking us along! Blessings
Wow! What a story-Congrats!! :clapper: :clapper:
Great story,pics and awesome bull. Congrats
Look at those eye guards!! Wow to say the least. That is a giant.
Well done.
Jeff
Great elk,Congrats :thumbsup:
Thanks guys for all the kind comments. :goldtooth:
What an awesome bull Craig! And your first with a stick and string.Congratulations :thumbsup: :thumbsup: .
NICE!! But, I always prefer to start out with a spike :bigsmyl: , topping that one is going to be tough.