Cade is a week away from what he's been dreaming about and preparing for what seems to be his whole life...he finally gets to be a "deer hunter"!
We've been working hard getting ready for next Monday...it came a lot quicker that we thought it would a couple years ago.
Last year NYS lowered their Jr. Archery age to 12 from 14. This year they moved the season from mid-October to October 1st.
I have a bunch of pics to share showing what we've been doing the last month or so getting ready.
But I've been kind of reminiscing lately, thinking back and looking at pix realizing how much he's grown and how far he's become as an archer.
I thought I'd post pix of his "Journey"...
Honest to god...his first shot ever! Just before his 3rd birthday...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0001.JPG)
Second time out shooting...
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First time out in the woods stumping...
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Snow shooting...
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I set a stand on a tree to make sure everything was ok on it and Cade just had to try it out(only a ft off the ground)...
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First time out with me in the fall setting a treestand...
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This time out I said he could only go as long as he walked the whole time himself....you can see how long that lasted...
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a lot more to share, just getting started....
His first 3D shoot...Not a happier kid on earth that day...
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Another 3D...
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they grow up fast.
ChuckC
Absolutely Great.
In the fall of 2006 he got to work out his first blood trail (short version)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTpsPQqq190
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_NNIl-c8pI
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0017.jpg)
Some winter stumping...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HSL-plVT64
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHC1EEQMswU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA_NcrJUvKk
Good luck to Cade. Thanks for taking us along. Hap
:campfire:
His first Muzzy shoot...he came in 6th out of 8 shooters, had a wonderful time, but was determined to do better the next year(he thought it would be cool to win sometime)
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His first JLMBH, where he met his biggest bud "Big Ed"...the start of a very special relationship...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0029.jpg)
Then his next Muzzy...
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As you can see, he came in 3rd!
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A 3D with grandpa...
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"Determination"...
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The deer in NY are in trouble for sure.. This team will be relentless.
The next years JLMBH, again with his bud Bid Ed. Big Ed gifted Cade a longbow made by Big Ed himself. It was gorgeous and cade luv'd it!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0034.JPG)
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That next spring I finally got a gobbler while Cade was in the blind with me!
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That summer he bowfished for the 1st time after just following along for a couple years...
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His very first shot ever captured on video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3rdc90gy4k
Cade,
You got the kind of Dad I wished I had when I was a kid...He really loves you Cade and it shows with all the pics and times spent in the field..Now one day when Pop grows old you take him out in the field and take loads of pics of the special moments with him... Good job Curt on raising your kids and spending much time with them... :thumbsup:
First time frogging and his 1st bowkill!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0040.JPG)
Thanx to our great friend Terry Receveur, his 1st time bowfishing at night on a boat...
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This was the continuing story of Cade's first year-plus of bowfishing. Had no problem hitting fish, just wasn't quite getting the arrow in far enough for the barb to stick...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0042.jpg)
Then his 3rd Muzzy, and he finally did it...1st place!!!
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That fall,2010...we got him all set-up to sit in a treestand with me. We didn't get a deer, but it was great...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0046.JPG)
His first "ghillie hunt"...
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Another JLMBH with his bud Big Ed...
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Very nice Curt, Ive raised my girls the same way, however that young man has the drive to hunt that so few kids have. Good luck and have fun!
Excellent journey!!
Waiting for more! :thumbsup:
Winter stumpin' and getting to build his 1st campfire...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0049.JPG)
Then we got to go to Alabama and spend some time with our great friends, the Wilson family! Cade with Don and another great fellow Larry Surtees...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0050.JPG)
Again, he was hitting fish, but just couldn't get his arrow in far enough to land one! But he had a blast fighting my fish...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0051.JPG)
Cade and another one of the "good guys", "Robtattoo"...
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The next day we hunted pheasant and he did great!
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With another of his biggest "fans", Terry Green...
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Us with Don and Sky...
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His brace of birds!!
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2011 froggin...
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In July we got another chance to go on Capt'n Bob's "Carpaggeddon" with the Receveur family...
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He finally did it! After a year and a half since starting, he finally landed his first carp!!!
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Muzzy 2011...
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A repeat performance, 1st place for the second year in a row in the youth division!!
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On the drive home after Muzzy, Cade told me he was ready to move up into the Junior division next year ever though he was eligible to shoot again in the youth....
The deer have no idea who they are up against:)
Curt, he has always been a deer hunter, just hasn't gone yet!! Go get em Cade!! :thumbsup:
Last year we shared a great hunt...
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After a fall ball double header he still wanted to go out with me, but as you can see he didn't last very long...
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That brings us to 2012....
Cold winter's day stumping...
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Then late this winter and another trip to Alabama with the Wilson's, and his "bowfishing breakout"!!
Don said it best..."all you have to do is put something in front of him"....I don't know how many fish he shot and landed!!!
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more later....
Very cool, Curt!
This is awesome Curt! I cant wait to see him with a bow in his hand in a stand.....
David
Excellent stuff Curt!
Great stuff
Great stuff!!!!!! Go get'em Cade!!! That's a cool time line picture history, thanks for sharing.
Chris
Big Ed, figuring Cade was ready for a new bow, presented him with a beautiful brand new Leon Stewart longbow...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P3250117cadenew.JPG)
These two really have a great relationship!
Back in April while scouting turkey's I found a great spot for a stand for Cade. Only problem was, the main trail the stand would cover was a little too far away for Cade to shoot. Thinking I wanted to keep his shots @ 15yds and under, I knew I had to get the deer closer.
So I collected all the dead branches and sticks that were in the area, and built an angled wall of sorts to kinda ease the deer trail about 5yds. closer to the tree the stand would be in.
The trail was right alongside the big oak to the left...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0072.JPG)
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The tree I picked for Cade's ladderstand...
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You'll see later the results of the effort. Trail cam photos don't lie...
During the spring turkey season with baseball going full bore, he only got out with me once...
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His first time out here in NY...
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He shot and landed a giant!
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He tore up the frogs again!
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A fantastic night bowfishing trip in July with Terry Receveur and Charlie...
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Our last frogging of the year, he tore them up again!
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No words to say , just my favorite post to date!!!
So he makes his jump up to the Junior div. at Muzzy this year as an 11yr. old(juniors is 12-15), shoots his new bow from Big Ed and wins!
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Since Muzzy we really buckled down and got into the serious prep for Oct. 1st....more pix to follow....
What do you call a deer walkin' past Cade this year...... "Dead Deer Walkin". Good luck little man ! :archer2:
Forgot to ask Curt.... what is Cade's setup ? Mason is hunting with your Heritage 250's with fluorescent yellow feathers I bought from you several years back.
This will be a season to remember!!!!
Lots of folks rooting for ya Cade!
:campfire:
I'm looking forward to hearing some good deer hunting stories this fall! Good luck to both of you!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Best of Luck Cade,hopefully it's a season to remember.
QuoteOriginally posted by Guru:
In the fall of 2006 he got to work out his first blood trail (short version)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTpsPQqq190
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_NNIl-c8pI
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0017.jpg)
Some winter stumping...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HSL-plVT64
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHC1EEQMswU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA_NcrJUvKk
Thanks for taking us along, it was great seeing how Cade grew up. As a father of a new bowhunter I can relate 110%. That was a HUGE body buck, how much did he weigh?
No doubt Cade will be a true hunter. Best wishes for an enjoyable season. I will never forget my son's first bow hunt,his stupid dad let him climb a tree full of poison ivy! That evening he had a bobcat walk right under him and I saw it all. He didn't shot because he didn't know if it would be O.K.
Good luck little buddy! You did good Curt :thumbsup:
Curt, it has been a pleasure over the years watching Cade grow up on the pages of TG. I'm sure his success as a hunter will rival your success as his father and mentor. Congrats to both of you. I'm looking forward to another "hero" shot of Cade this coming season.
Good luck Cade. I think the deer are in trouble. Tony Z.
Good stuff here. Enjoy your time now. My son left for college last year. Opening day is not near as good when your best hunting buddy isn't with you.
Great job Curt and best of luck to you both this fall!
Good luck little man!
Right after Muzzy in mid Aug., I went out and bought 3 new ladder stands. I went with a model with a flip up seat and a platform that goes all the way back to the tree. Figured these would be better for Cade, and with the flip-up seat it's easy to get against the tree when standing.
Here's Cade and his sister helping with assembly(I tightened everything after they got done)...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0089.JPG)
We started him out getting familiar with the stands with only one section attached...
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Of course Mae-Mae had to try them out as well after her efforts putting them together...
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A couple days later we added another section to get him a little higher...
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I had gone back to the spot I'd picked back while turkey scouting, and had built the "stick wall" to ease the deer closer to the tree, to set up a trail cam to see if it had worked. First time I went back in to check the cam, I couldn't wait to get back to see what we had. This is just a sample.
I caught myself checking to see if the trail had indeed moved...
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As you can see by the pix, it worked perfect! And deer aren't the only critters using the area. Needless to say we were excited the trail detour had worked. Like I said, I have a lot of other pix of the deer,coyotes, and turkeys....
Time to set the stand...Cade insisted we both wear our "big knives"(Cade's was another gift from his buddy Big Ed...
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Imagining what it would be like shooting...
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Awesome stuff brother! :clapper: Brings back a ton of memories.....as Kenny Chesney says, "don't blink"!
Late August he went and took his bowhunter ed course and scored a 98%!
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One step closer...
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More practice in the yard at full height...
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Man am i pumped for you guys!!!!
glad to see you taking pics and logging them. later in life this will mean allot to you both. im sure when your an old man someday and your son is making his life you will bring these back up and tears will be shed for a great life lived and memories made in them old photos. :campfire:
Looks to me like he's ready. Good luck Cade and have fun!
Great pics Curt.
A shooting session off the deck...
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Another 3D with Glenbo...
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Curt. You are one hell of a dad. My dad was not a hunter. But he took time off work to take me deer hunting when I started out with a gun. I still thank him for this a lot. He had no idea the impact it left on me and how he fueled my greatest passion in life.
We had to go back to "Cade's stand" one last time(about 3 weeks ago) to trim out one last time and pull the trail cam. I waited for a day it was going to rain to wash away some scent after we left. I also let Cade bring his bow and shoot out of the stand just to make sure it was positioned properly and he was comfortable with the shots. I carried in a little piece of foam and moved it around in his shooting lane's....he shot VPA SGT's...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0117.JPG)
In this pic you can see my stand in the tree as well. The plan is for me to carry in a stand to all of the set-ups we have for Cade. I'll climb his stand and set it off the backside of the tree. I'll be right next to him the whole time...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0118.JPG)
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Shooting his Zwickey broadheads that were given to him by Terry Green...
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With my work schedule there was no way I was going to be able to bring Cade to his hunter education class. I was in a pickle!
But our buddy Glenbo came through big time for me and gave up a friday evening and a whole saturday to take Cade to his classes. There's no way I can ever thank him enough for that!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0122.JPG)
Cade aced the test and now had his hunter education card!!
Thanks for sharing Curt, it's been fun watching Cade grow up the last few years and seeing the fine young archer he has become. I'll be waiting for the story of his first deer and the next phase of his hunting adventures.
Good luck to you both.
Wonderful stuff! :clapper:
Scouting a new spot, a couple weeks ago...a couple rubs...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0123.JPG)
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Another treestand practice session...
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Boy he grew up fast ! Great photo story. I still remember my first day bowhunting 34 years ago like it was yesterday. Enjoy every moment and keep the pictures coming.
Curt so glad your teaching Cade to hunt safe and use a safety harness.
I know how you feel my son is 10 and he is ready and it will be his first bow season also. Shooting 45lbs at his draw and is a better shot than a lot of adults i have shot with.Good luck Cade,you and eagleeye show us big boys how its done. :archer2: Great pictures Curt there priceless.
It will be great to see the Frogslayer get some venison! Curt, You have done a great job! Thanks for all the pics, looking forward to some of his deer stories and pictures.
Good luck Cade..your gonna do awesome..you had a great teacher in your dad..he instill the love of the out doors in you and you ran with it, all of us gonna see more of you in future years..just keep it up
This is the type of quality time that will truly make quality memories. Cade, well done, you have worked hard to achieve this level of excellence. :clapper: I'm sure your counting the days until your first deer hunt as the shooter. :archer2:
You have done a wonderful job. Best of luck to Cade
Bring on the adrenaline shakes.
Trust me, you will know when you get them Cade. Good luck guys!
Good luck to you both, the memories of the preparations will rival those of the hunt itself, clearly you've already been successful!
Very good Curt, and good luck Cade! :archer2:
You are a blessed man Curt!
Best of luck to Cade this season and every season to come.
This brings us to this past Thursday and another practice session out of the stand in the yard...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0126.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0127.JPG)
His birthday is this coming Sunday the 30th, the day before the opener on the 1st. This week he'll get one of his presents early....a new camo hunting pack with a bunch of accessories to fill it up!
It has been an honor and pleasure watching Cade grow up and we are really looking forward to this next chapter. Great job, Curt and Good Hunting to both of you!
And that law stinks that you have to be a certain age to go hunting.We are lucky that here in Ohio we don't have that stupid law.Just a 40lb bow regulation.
Good luck to you Cade! :wavey:
Great stuff, Curt, doing it right!
QuoteOriginally posted by NoCams:
Forgot to ask Curt.... what is Cade's setup ? Mason is hunting with your Heritage 250's with fluorescent yellow feathers I bought from you several years back.
Cade's set up....
Leon Stewart 48"Longbow, just shy of 40# at his draw(NYS has a 35# min.)..
His arrows are .800 spine Carbon Express Predator II's about 25.5" long...
His bh's are Zwickey Eskilites on 125gr steel adapters...total arrow weight is around 485grs...
QuoteOriginally posted by frassettor:
QuoteOriginally posted by Guru:
In the fall of 2006 he got to work out his first blood trail (short version)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTpsPQqq190
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_NNIl-c8pI
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0017.jpg)
Some winter stumping...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HSL-plVT64
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHC1EEQMswU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA_NcrJUvKk
Thanks for taking us along, it was great seeing how Cade grew up. As a father of a new bowhunter I can relate 110%. That was a HUGE body buck, how much did he weigh? [/b]
Pretty sure he was around 185# dressed bud...
The Mini-Me comes of age! Congrats!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
That's awesome, good luck Cade!
Its obvious that young man has natural talent, coupled with a mentor that takes care of all his needs. Its obvious from his perpetual smile he is in his "happy place" with you. Keep up the good work, I expect to see more of Cade, and wish you guys a long lifetime of hunting experiences. Good luck Cade!
Boy,you guys sure did your homework! When it does all come together,and I am certiain it will,it will not be beginners luck.Just reward for all your effort. Best of luck Cade. Awesome job Curt.
Awsome good job on both of you. Go get them Cade.
Good luck to Cade and Dad as well. I'm sure it will all be worth the hard work and practice. Don
Good stuff fellas. Noah just took both classes this weekend and I really am in shock still. The most vivid memory of my life is the second he was put in my hands at birth and now here we are 12 years and a lot of living later. Where does the time go???
Curt, it took me a second to figure out who that dark haired fella in the early pics was. You look at my early pics and youd see a different head of hair as well.
Good luck to you fellas, its been a ride watching the transformation from a boy to a man. Congrats Cade on your hunter ed. Kill a buck and I know of a taxidermist down your way who will mount it for free. :thumbsup:
Great pics! Love seeing the adventure unfold.
Good luck Cade!!
I cant wait for next weeks story.
:campfire: :clapper:
Can I come?
:campfire:
Good luck Cade!
That is soooooooooo cool Curt!
Good luck to Cade!
Bisch
What an awesome life story Curt! I know you must be so proud of Cade. I for one are proud to know you through Trad Gang. You are an awesome father. Good Luck Cade!!
What impresses me the most is the attention to detail that has been taken. The tracking events, the first shots with a bow, the first hero pics, and most of all the foresight to document it all. Cade has no idea what this is going to mean to him twenty years from now. He will be one proud man.
For now, however, he should be content being one lucky, happy little boy with a ton of adventure at his doorstep.
Great documentation of coming of age (age to hunt)
Gotta admit.....the story and pics got me a bit choked up. Thanks for taking us along all these years with you Curt....makes me wanna do more with my kids.
Cade....enjoy this season for everything it offers. There really is nothing like the first. We're all rootin' for you!
That is just awesome!
Just read through the whole thing. Great thread Curt. Can't wait to see what he tags this season! :campfire:
Curt & Cade, Totally awesome story. You guys have worked hard and I know its going to pay off big time! Both of you have alot to be proud of.
Just a great pictorial and reminder of what we are put on this earth to do as a father, ambassador, teacher, friend, etc. I can't wait to get home to put some ladder stands together with my 6 and 2 year old sons this evening. Thank you Curt for sharing this with all of us. I will be looking North East to the clouds the morning of Oct 1st down in TN, I bet if I look hard enough I will find clouds that will resemble one of the great pics with Curt and Cade smiling big over a big ol slick head, a juice box, a stickbow, and a feathered shaft.
Definitely one of the neatest threads I've read. I will be following along and rooting for him!
I wish Guru was my daddy! 8-)
Great job Curt ... The dynamic duo, nothing will be safe in the woods. I have really enjoyed all of Cade's adventures and look forward to reading many many more.
Good luck on the opener :archer2:
I was gettin all choaked up, I could hear Kenny rogers singin "through the Years" as I was reading this post. Good Luck Cade. Curt, this is great to see, its awesome!!!
Very inspiring Curt!!! For all of us with younger sons that are shooting already, this is a great road map to follow!!!! My son will turn 5 this December and has been shooting now nearly a year with his Black Rhino long bow I got him for Christmas. I can only hope to share the same kind of memories you and Cade have!!!!
Good luck on the 1st!!!
Nice job Dad!
You're doin' it right!
Ken
one of the best threads ever curt! cant wait to see the end.
What dreams are made of ----.
Good luck fellas.
well its really going to happen i am so happy for you both good luck cade may the spirit of the wolf look over you and guide your arrow to the sweet spot. jeffb,(wolfman jeff)
Curt, What kind of ladder stands are those?
Cade enjoy your time in the woods,it won't be your last but the first time is special.
Good luck Curt & Cade!!
Good Luck to both of you Curt!!!!!
Cade has become a fine young man, just like his Dad!!! Watching him grow has been wonderful... Thank you so much for shareing your experiances with us! I'm sure he will soon be following in your footsteps, and the walls will be full of trophys!!!!!
Go get 'em, Cade! Remember to pick a spot.
Great job, Curt.
Good luck fellas. Have fun!!RC
I sure wish him the best of luck!
Great thread. Looks like you've done a great job with your son. Hope all goes well on the opener.
It's fun watching Cade grow up and progress thur the years.Good luck to you both,be waiting for the story.
Good luck guys!!!
this is a great thread
Good luck, Cade. Make sure your dad takes a lot of photographs. You will both want to remember everything about the day.
This is a awesome thread! If only there were more fathers like you in this world Curt, Keep up the good work Cade and it will pay off! You have put in the practice and the dedication, now it's time to put a deer on the ground. I wish you the best and hope both of you have a great year!
Well done as always Curt, amazing how time goes!! I can relate to the younger pics about the walking on your own :thumbsup: GOOD LUCK...this season can't get here fast enough. Joe
Truly amazing to see him grow up and grow as an archer as well, even though I only had time with him once a year it was a treat and highlight for me to spend time with him and I cannot wait to see how he does this hunting season, which I am sure he will do just fine. Good on you Curt for being such a great Dad and you do get it honest your Dad ain't no slouch in the father department either, great family and great people!
Good Luck to you Cade,
Congrats to both Cade and his Dad,and for Dad doing such a fine job of rsising this young man. It is a pleasure to see him grow up right before our eyes via the pages of Tradgang. And thank you Curt for sharing him and your adventures with us. You gave us a mighty good example to follow. Shoot Straight snd Good Hunting.
Tony
What a great thread! They grow fast,my boy is 20 this year. Enjoy him, looks like you're teaching him right.Good luck on that deer hunt!
I can't believe he's old enough to be hunting deer already! :clapper:
Man time flys but it sure has been a fun journey watching him grow up. Thank you so much for all the wonderful pics over the years buddy and I know there will be plenty more in the future.
Good luck to you two and I will be looking forward to the text, shoot strait Cade :archer2:
Tracy
Good luck to Cade, and Curt, you deserve a hand for the way you have brought him along! After seeing how a lot of kids are being left to grow up on their own, this is very refreshing.
Good Luck Cade! I am sure with your Dad's continued guidance and your great shooting skills, you will be as successful a hunter as he is! Curt you're doing a great job with him....Keep us posted!!!
Thanx so much everyone for the kind words, very much appreciated!
But to be honest I can't take all the credit for the development of cade as an archer and more importantly as a young man.
Cade and I both couldn't ask for a more supportive and loving family.
And when your kid gets to spend time around friends like Big Ed, Terry Receveur, Shawn Leonard, Glenbo, Gary and Timmy Kostzeko, Terry Green, Don and Skyler Wilson, Doug Campbell, Larry Surtees, Robtattoo and so many other TG'ers...it just makes it easy for him to see the right path.
I can't thank everyone enough for all the positive influence!! I have an unbelievable bunch of buds...thank you!!
So anyway, I've been working my butt off getting ready....getting myself together is tough enough, but getting two bowhunters ready is really tough!
I've been getting a bunch of questions about the type of ladderstand I bought with the platform that goes all the way to the tree and the flip-up seat....I bought them right at the store, but this is the link to the stand.....
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=13116339&cp=4406646.4413993.4414427.4414432
more later...
:confused: Is it legal for a junior bowhunter to hunt out of a tree stand in new york
Yep, it sure is.
One of the best threads of the year! Loved the story and a bonus was when it took me back in time when I watched my 12 Y/O take his first deer. Thanks for sharing
I saw the same ladderstand att he Dicks in the Poughkeepsie, I almost bought it. I think I might have to go back and get one.
Now this is BOWHUNTING!!!
Wish you guys the BEST!!!
May the Great Spirit keep your Bow Arm strong, and may You Heart and Arrows fly True!
Thanks for letting us share this wonderful young man's life.
Johnny/JAG
Some more scouting pix...
A good scrapeline...it's non-existent when there aren't any acorns, but every year there a good mast crop, it gets worked hard....got a trail cam on it now...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0128.jpg)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0129.jpg)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0130.jpg)
A low, hang-on stand I set for Cade. It's only about 7-8ft up. But on a side hill that drops away from it. So even though I feel good about keeping it low for Cade, down where the trails are in front of it, it appears higher and out of a deers line of sight, plus the cedars give it good backround cover. It's a killer set-up with a bunch of deer using it including several bucks and a couple good ones!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0131.jpg)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0132.jpg)
This is the same set-up where I killed the doe with Cade last fall. It looks good this year...lots of acorns around!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0133.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0134.JPG)
This past Wednesday, with cade off from school we headed down to my spot in Westchester County. For those that don't know, Westchester is a bowhunting only County. I knew where I wanted this stand to be, but wanted to scout all of the property and also show Cade the property as he'd never been there. After looking over everything, the spot I'd pre-picked for the stand from past hunts looked the most promising....so with Cade's help, the stand went up...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0136.jpg)
Cade sporting his new backpack, the early birthday present...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0137.jpg)
Another stand I set up yesterday. It's on the edge separating a working orchard from an overgrown orchard the deer use for bedding cover. The challenge with edge set-ups like this is if the deer show up in daylight...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0138.jpg)
Cade's killer arrow with Terry Green's gifted Zwickey Eskilites...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0139.jpg)
Thanx again for the well wishes :notworthy:
Best wishes to Cade. Pretty sure I know who'll be the most excited.
;)
This is one thread that I will visit everyday
Go get 'em Cade.
Good luck little buddy!!
Curt, Great story, Good Luck to you and Cade!
It`s an honor for us all, the way you have taken the time to share this journey.
I hope the path leads to a lifetime of incredible adventures for your whole family.
I have two young bowhunters who love this "sport" as we all do, and I can tell you for certain...the BEST is yet to come!
God bless this little bowhunter. :campfire:
That sticker on the lower right corner of your truck looks familiar :)
I can't wait for my boys to be able to draw the 40# min for AR. You are one blessed man.
God Bless,
Nathan
You're in for some good memories and times, Curt....on top of the ones you already have! I wish for you and Cade the best of times this season, and the Baker boys will be tuned in as well! Good luck boys!
Best of luck to Guru and Cade. And a special atta-boy for documenting this for all these years. Trust me, decades from now you'll both look back on these times. The photos and notes will be worth their weight in gold and the memories stirred will be priceless. Life doesn't get much better than a father and sons love BW.
Wow! Thank you all so much for the support and the kind words :notworthy:
Today is Cade's B-day....we are off in a bit to buy his very first hunting license!
Sure wished I would have framed Mason's first license when he was 7..... :banghead:
NY has a "Dead Deer Walkin" today..... tomorrow just might be a different story and pic... :archer2:
Curt, you are an awesome father! A son couldn't ask for more than this. It wasn't just a week ago, I was packing sheep for my dad and his long time hunting buddy. Both of who were monumental in my early development. It is just something special to be part of this circle of tradition being passed on. Nothing could be more important than that man ...
Betcha that'll be his best birthday present ever!
Happy B-day Cade, good luck this year!
We're ready!
Packs are organized, bh's sharpened, license bought.
Wind looks good for "Cade's Stand", so that's where we're heading in the morning. We have other options, but this is the spot that seems to be destined for a great first hunt. So "Cade's Stand" it is!
Excited beyond belief!!
wow awesome post here. i hope i have a son that loves the outdoors as much as cade does. oh and by the way its nice to see another archer with the shelf cut into the proper side of the bow!!! thats right im a south pole to. go stick one guys. good luck.
absolutely gorgeous and great pictures,
many greetings from germany :wavey:
Thomes
Looking forward to a few first day photos Curt..... :thumbsup:
Is it daylight yet! This is the most fun I can have at work. Good luck Cade.
Good Luck Cade ! will be watching this one close today.
Come on Cade, send an arrow through something today!! Good luck!
Good Luck Cade. I always look forward to seeing your adventures.
I sure hope he's field dressing one as I type this! Can't wait to see the results...
Well, we had a great opening day...although we didn't see any deer, it was a morning to remember!
The weather was great, although a little blustery, the wind held true for the most part. Everything went very well except the deer never showed. I don't think the full moon helped either.
We stayed in the tree till 9:30...
Cade is napping now and I will be soon(I have to work all night). We'll be out this afternoon.
Just wanted to share some pix....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0140.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0141.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0142.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0143.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0144.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0145.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0146.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0147.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0148.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0149.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0150.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0151.JPG)
A day we'll never forget...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0152.JPG)
Very cool!
Awesome!! :thumbsup:
Get one for us lefties Cade!! :thumbsup:
That last pic is priceless!
I LOVE IT!!
God Bless,
Nathan
Fantastic continuing story of a father and son....
Pictures are PRICELESS...good father to a great son...good luck Cade..you'll get one soon
way to cool guys. :campfire: and thank you for shearing
Great pics, especially the last one. That image will always be special to both of you. Good luck to the young hunter and his "guide".
Won't be long now !
Pulling for you Cade, good luck, it's only a matter of time now !!
That boy is wearing K.O.M. bunwarmer pants !!!! Lucky kid.
Best way in the world to spend a day!
:clapper: :clapper:
That last pic says it all! :thumbsup:
speechless!
There is always this weekend Cade. Good luck
Glad you men had a great day.Just a matter of time before things happen.Best of luck
QuoteOriginally posted by Rick Butler:
That last pic says it all! :thumbsup:
x2
And the evening hunt went like........ :readit:
John, perhaps the nap cut into the evening hunt time! Hey Cade hang in there buddy next time out you and Pop can do the backstrap boogie!
That is a Great Thing you two got going there,God bless Have Fun..
:campfire:
Go get em Curt & Cade! Great thread, thanks for sharing.
How fast they grow, what an amazing series of pictures you have.
Perfect!
:campfire:
:archer: :clapper:
Awesome stuff Cade and Curt! Great hunt even though the deer didn't cooperate... They will...
Wow, Cade is getting big! Time does fly!
Thank you so much for sharing this very special and private thing with us all. Good luck to your both and Curt you get my vote for father of decade award
What a great story, thanks for sharing! I hope to have a few pics like your last one in the next few years.
Great thread, Curt. Thanks for posting all the pics, too. ;)
It's just a matter of time now.
I'm constantly checking and re-checking this thread for updates. They gotta be out with it being the weekend and all?
I got a text that they were in Westchester County this morning. No other updates........Yet
Will be saying a little prayer that you guys can make it happen!
:thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by longrifle:
That boy is wearing K.O.M. bunwarmer pants !!!! Lucky kid.
This is a perfect time to thank some very generous Trad Gangers.....
A couple months ago I put an add in the classifieds for some small clothing for Cade. I was willing to trade or buy anything I thought would work...
Those KOM wool pants, a KOM hat, and the Mossy Oak "hoodie" were sent to Cade, for nothing, from "Cecil M"! Cade absolutely luvs them!!!
Ryan Steadman sent him a pile of great camo, and "Toddweezl" sent him a great pair of Predator pants as well. All for nothing, just happy that someone would use them....
How awesome is that!!! Thanx again fellas!!
TG'ers are the very best!
When my kids outgrow them....I'll pass them on the same way....
QuoteOriginally posted by South MS Bowhunter:
And the evening hunt went like........ :readit:
Sorry for the lack of updates.....
The afternoon of the opener was hot and we had to cut it a little short because I had to go to work...but Cade got his 1st shot a squirrel!
Getting ready to go in...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0153.JPG)
Big rub we walked by...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0154.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0155.JPG)
Cade drawing on the squirrel...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0156.JPG)
About 15yds, and just over it's head...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0157.JPG)
Again, no deer sighted from stand...but just as we were getting close to the truck I said to Cade....
"wouldn't it be something if we see a deer right by the truck"
....not 3 seconds later a deer snort blasted the evening silence and nearly scared Cade to death!!! He'd never heard a deer snort and had no idea what it was...
Cade, tell Dad to let you get in the top stand ! When Mason went with me I always put him in the top one. We always used climbers back then though. Good luck bud and looking forward to the "rest of this story "...... :readit:
We went back out this morning to a spot about an hour away in Westchester County...which is a bowhunting only county south of where I live, actually not far from NYC.
It's a beautiful piece of property that I luv to hunt because I almost always see deer. I had high hopes and couldn't wait to get Cade there with me to hunt...
We got to the ladderstand just as the sky was starting to lighten. I climbed, set my stand, and then Cade came up and settled into the ladderstand...
Like I said, beautiful property...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0158.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0160.JPG)
Cade passing time on his Ipod...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0161.JPG)
A cool pic Cade took with his Ipod....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0161a.JPG)
Staying loose
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0162.JPG)
Dang it! No deer again!!!!! Time to get down...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0163.JPG)
Cade retrieving his practice shot arrow he shot before he descended....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0164.JPG)
Some rubs,old and new, on the way out...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0165.JPG)
Again, a great time in the tree with my boy, but I'm starting to feel bad about the lack of deer...I even apologized to him about it...he said..."it's ok daddy, you don't have to say you're sorry, it's just good being out together"
He's right....
Curt, actually I feel the same as the great TN hunter, Bobby Worthington does.... He took his boys for a solid year and hunted, "gar holes " on purpose to make sure they really wanted / enjoyed hunting and were not going to just kill a deer. When Cade gets his first it will just make it that much more special. No worries bud, it will come before you know it. Treasure this time !!!
Great thread!!! Good luck guys!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
It's just a matter of time bud! It'll come together. Good luck out there :thumbsup:
Thanx guys!
Jimmy, I thought the same thing...and he really understands....but I still would at least like to get him into some deer. After not getting anything out first morning out I told hime..."if you got one your first time out, you'd think it was easy"...but now after 3 hunts, I sure do want for him to rally "feel" what a deer filled hunt is like.
We'll be at it again in the morning, Cade is off and I don't have to be at work till after dark...keep your fingers crossed for us :pray:
Curt his time will come and you'll be there to share it with him,stay patient,good Luck.
Curt,
Appreciate the patience you have with spending time with your son. Speaking from experience 51 years old and my 3 children are now all past the age of any real influence. While they were young and "moldable" it was hard for me to put self aside and sacrifice "me" time to assist them in the fishing and hunting. For the parent out there with children still reachable pay attention to this tread, it will make for some truly bless times now and later when your old and all you have are the memories. A pastor and friend of mine preached a sermon once titled "living life without regrets" oh for the day I could go back and have a "do over", keep it up Curt!
Just read this whole thread! Curt your a great man and a great father. This is inspiring for a young father like myself. I hope I can be as selfless as you have with your son so my children can learn to enjoy the outdoors as much has Cade does. Absolutely awesome. I wish you and Cade the best of luck with the remainder of your season. Happy and Safe Hunting!
Good luck Curt and Cade!! Still a great thread. I'll be hunting Westchester tomorrow.
Good luck guys!
:thumbsup:
Good luck , and keep at it .
Cade, deer movements have been slow on the farm where I hunt also. keep at it buddy, you will see one soon. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :campfire:
Keep at it guys. The first year I took my youngest son, he sat over 40 hours in a stand before one cold wet afternoon (so bad no one else would go out) when he got his chance and made it count. It started pouring after his shot, so we went back to the camp. Those old men searched for 1-1/2 hours until they found that deer in the thickest thicket that you can imagine. They knew how hard he had hunted and they would not leave the woods until they found him. I treasure that deer more than him.
Next time. It's gonna be incredible for the 2 of you when it happens.
you go get em cade!! good luck little Bro you to curt :pray: :pray:
Thanks Curt for the update. Great to see you two having so much fun together. Good luck Cade!
Thanks so much for the great stories and pictures. It reall y brings back fond memories of my dad and my hunting career. It almost mirrors what we had together. One day Cade will probably pass it on to his son or daughter and everything you have done for him will come full circle. :campfire:
Great thread- good luck guys!
Thanx again fellas!
Yesterday morning we hunted again. We went to a stand where I killed the doe last fall when Cade was with me. We both had very high hopes that this would be the hunt we'd get some up close and personal fun...
Cade's deadly and gorgeous Leon Stewart Lil Slammer "Guapo"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0166.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0167.JPG)
Dang Ipod! But it definitely helps him stay awake!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0168.JPG)
Again, no deer after a couple hrs, so I asked him if wanted to get down and walk around to scout/stump/squirrel hunt, ya know....have some fun...he jumped at the opportunity!
First we both shot a practice arrow before we descended...I thought I shot his arrow in half from the sound it made at impact...here he's giving the "thumbs up" that his arrow survived...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0169.JPG)
An unlucky stump that he put his arrow right thru!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0170.JPG)
A squirrel shot that he just missed...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0171.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0172.JPG)
All dressed up, and no deer to shoot...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0173.JPG)
On the way home we decided to go check out one of my favorite orchards to turkey hunt. I purposely havn't messed with these birds, saving them for Cade to get a crack at them. We found them right where I thought they'd be...but we had to get home.
When we got home I got him set-up with a string tracker, and we shot it to make sure his set-up would work accurately with the string attached...
The string tracker unit, and a Great Northern traditional gadget adapter...it strapped on perfectly over top of his bottom quiver strap...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0174.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0175.JPG)
It shot right on the money! We tested it out to 15yds.....he's ready!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0176.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0177.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0178.JPG)
So this week, the plan is try to get out a couple afternoons after getting his homework done, and before I have to go to work, to try to get into some turkeys and have some fun!!
Wish us luck :pray:
All smiles here!
Sending some luck his way! :campfire:
Curt...we're rooting for you guys! It will happen, don't "sweat" it too much.
Good luck guys!
My son Ben and I are on stand right now checking on your status...
Watched Cade grow up and hunt hard right here on TG! I know its gonna happen this fall. Great Dad work Curt, proud of you both.
Good Luck!
God Bless,
Nathan
I can't wait till he gets a crack at a deer. Funny how everybody is pulling for him!! :thumbsup:
Looking good !
:campfire: :archer:
Curt???? Anxiously awaiting some updates, can you just make this a sticky so it's always on top, my 1st stop of the day!
Hey Mark!
Cade hasn't been out since the last update with pix.
We have a good weekend of hunting planned though...
We'll hunting in the morning which should be great with a lot less moon, and a cold front moving in...it's gonna be chilly!
Baseball game tomorrow afternoon. But we'll be back at it Sunday morning...can't wait!!!
Time to go shoot our bows....I hear the bus coming...
Great thread Guru...here's to hoping Cade gets to into some action soon!
:campfire:
Well...after talking to Cade when he got home....its been decided that we'll turkey hunt in the morning.
I've been saving one of my most reliable fall turk spots with Cade in mind. Been checking on the birds every few days when possible, and it seems they are roosting right where they usually do this time of year. On the way home from work this morning I found them right where I hoped!
So, we did some turkey practice this afternoon again...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0179.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0180.JPG)
If all goes as planned, the birds should show in the orchard within an hour after daylight :pray:
It's true,it will happen.Right now he is learning about hunting and patience.I'd like to see some game in front of him too.I think he's ready.Good luck Cade.
:pray: :pray: :pray:
Great stuff, I can't wait until my son is old enough to bowhunt.
Love the pics of Cade shooting next to the truck, I love my girls but there is no way I would let them [or me] shoot that close to my truck! Looking forward [not really] to the thread "oops look what Cade shot!" looking forward to his hero pics, Todd
Awesome thread - could be the best I have ever read - what a scrapbook hard copies will make - good luck guys.
<><
<----------------<<<<<<<<
Okay Cade, being that you are, "Up to Bat", in the morning it is off to bed for you bud ! Good luck tomorrow morning... :pray:
:campfire: :coffee:
Waiting to see how the morning went. :coffee:
10/13/12...AM
What a morning.....so action packed I'll do my best to keep it short, but sweet!
Cold!!! I mean cold...28 degrees, and with the first frost of the fall, the kind of morning you just "know" it's gonna be good!
As mentioned in my last update on Fri., Cade decided to try for a turkey. But the best part about this spot is that it's also a great place to kill a deer out of the blind. Last year, the first 2 times I hunted turks there, I had 3 bucks(including a giant 8pt) and a couple does pass through. But until this year, our season didn't open till mid-October. This year that all changed with out Oct. 1st opener....deer were now fair game...adding to the allure of this spot!
We were set-up right in the same spot I've killed fall birds in the past before daylight...organized, string tracker attached, and ready to go.
The spot is a corner of the orchard where the farmer has pushed up a huge brush line of old trees. It almost forces the deer to enter/exit the woods on a old atv trail that was only 12yds. away from us.It also makes a great backround for the blind the way the deer usually come from....especially in low light.
We were just sitting enjoying each other company then I look up the hill in the orchard and see a deer coming....and I can immediately tell from the big body and how it's walking, it's a buck!
I tell Cade, he sees it and grabs his bow out of the holder while I look through my Leica's and see it's not only a buck...but a real nice buck! From my quick peek I could tell he was at least an 8pt, but I honestly thought he was more!!!!
He's closing fast walking at a brisk pace just like a buck that's late to get back to bed would, coming straight to us down the hill at us....
"This is all happening way to fast", is what I'm thinking....
Just as he's about to make a sharp right turn to go into the atv trail, he takes a step or 2 to the left which gives him enough room when he turn right, to get broadside for us, then in two steps turns right to go into the trail.....I stop him just before he's about to enter the wood line....
.....I notice Cade draw.....everything seemed to just stop......
He releases and like an orange lazer with a white tracer behind it....I see it go right over the heavy bucks shoulders! I immediately excitedly whispered, "just over his back"!!!!!!!
At the shot the buck whirled toward us, turned 180, which put the string around his neck, and took off back up the hill, running like the "boogy man" had a hold of him!!!
My first reaction was to hold the line and break it so it wouldn't pull the whole spool out, but a split second later just as I was about to grab it I thought.....well maybe my eyes deceived me, and the arrow was indeed in the deer....the string was absolutely screaming out of the spool!
With the string going out Cade was thinking maybe he did hit him....but soon the 2500ft of line was coming to an end and with a "pop"...the end of the spool, with label attached came out and danced away........
Strike one!!!
Needless to say there was a lot of whispering going on for the next few minutes.......
With the spool in his tracker done, I took my tracker out of my pack and attached to to Cade's bow and got another arrow ready.....
He was disappointed he missed, but I told him no big deal, it's not over yet....
To be honest, after a bit, his spirits were recovered enough that we shared a good laugh about the shot...we've all been there!
Shorty after he shot at the buck, the turkey's began to tree call....I called back....they answered and we were "in the chips"!!!! They flew down on the other side of the creek, but I was confident with some calling they'd come for a visit....
A half hour later Cade excitedly whispers...."DEER"!!!!!!
Here comes a doe with two big fawns in tow!
When the doe got to about 40yds, and downwind of where the buck had dragged Cade's arrow to, she stiffened up....then noticed the blind!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0181.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0182.JPG)
In this pic you can see the string in the backround....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0183.JPG)
Knowing we only had one tracker spool left for the turkeys that seemed to be getting closer....I reached up and cut the string in his Zwickey Eskilite....no need for any extra noise when shooting at a very "aware" deer!
She really wanted to come down and enter the woods on the atv trail, but between what she saw and smelling the arrow and probably the string that was on the ground...she would come in, then walk back....she repeated this a couple times....
Then her curiosity got the best of her and she closed to 15yds. and went broadside....
I had whispered earlier to Cade.... "aim right at the bottom of her body"...figuring she'd drop.
He drew....shot.....she dropped......and his arrow sailed right over her back!!!! Dang it!!!!!
I would later ask Cade where he'd "picked his spot"??? He said..."the normal spot"....I guess I was whispering so low, he'd never heard me when I said to aim at the bottom of her bodyline.....
Strike 2!!!!
We joked as we readied his last broadhead arrow in his quiver with the tracking string about it being his last bullet....make it count!
He said..."maybe the 3rd time will be the charm"...
Now the whole time this was going on with the doe, we could hear the turkeys and could tell they had flown back to our side of the creek.
I looked to my right and turkey stepped out of the woods, and, we still hear some behind us!
He grabbed his bow out of it's holder again!!!
The bird to our right was 70 or so yards away, but the ones behind us were close. From past experience, when they are behind the blind, they come out right on the atv trail....Cade was ready to make this one count!!
With the help of the rays of sunlight casting shadows...we could see that a turkey was coming out of the trail......seconds later a hen stepped out and stood at 12yds......Cade draws and shoots a beautiful arrow............
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.right over her back!!!!!! Dang it again!!!!!!
He was out of bullets!!!!!!
The only arrow that remained in his quiver had a small game thumper on it....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0184.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0185.JPG)
Time to collect the arrows and string. Here he is showing me how the turkey stood for the shot...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0186.JPG)
And where the buck stood earlier...same spot...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0187.JPG)
The set-up....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0188.JPG)
more pix to come....
Moments that neither one of you will ever forget!!!!
David
:campfire: :coffee:
Guru, I want to thank you for allowing us to tag along with you and cade on your adventures. As a father of two young boys 3,1.5 I can't wait to get them in the field as you have with cade. Keep the stories and pictures a coming, and good luck this season.
Doe arrow...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0189.JPG)
Turkey arrow...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0190.JPG)
Buck arrow....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0191.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0192.JPG)
The "carnage"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0193.JPG)
Heavy frost....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0194.JPG)
Cade wanted to follow the string to see where he went. I had to collect the 2500ft of line anyway so off we went...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0195.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0196.JPG)
All packed up and headed for the truck...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0197.JPG)
Cade's spirits are high, and now he's more determined than ever to make one count!!!
What an awesome experience for us to share, way better than I could ever have imagined!!!!!
No, we didn't bring anything home with us physically....but what memories of this morning we'll carry forever....
That will be a mourning you'll never forget :campfire:
What a great way to spend a morning!
:clapper:
I still have fond memories of the many "opportunities" of my early years bowhunting......opportunities that ended exactly the same way.....over their backs! Lessons Learned for another day!!!
Keep at it Cade.....your "day" is coming soon!
Can you think of a better way to spend a nice cold morning?
Thanks for sharing with us!
:campfire:
What an exciting morning! A lot of memories for sure! Great pictures and story as always!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Man I was on the edge of my seat reading this hoping Cade would connect! Thanks for sharing and hang in there Cade its gonna happen soon enough for sure! Thanks for sharing curt!
LOL.... Doe, Buck and Turkey arrow ! Why to go Cade, someday there will be something attached to the end of the string :bigsmyl:
Curt,
Cherish these moments as they sure do grow up fast. The guy in my avatar is my youngest son, who is now thirty-two and who has been hunting with me ever since he was three years old. My son has twin, twelve year old boys and I really enjoy those moments afield with them... how time flys.
Nice !!
Awesome Bro!
Cade, even the boys in Hawaii are talking about you!!! We're all rooting for you buddy!
Story remind me of the first time I took Staci hunting for goats with a stickbow.
Thanks for sharing! You guys make awesome team!
Aloha!
Ryan
The misses make the hits sweeter young man! :thumbsup:
:jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
:archer:
What an exciting morning! Awesome hunt guys! You keep at em Cade it's going to happen soon enough. Knowing your dad and turkeys he will have plenty more of them in front of you in the days to come. Keep shooting and good luck!
Cade count your blessings young man as there are adults out here who would love to had an opportunity to shoot just one arrow at either of your 3 intended targets.
:archer:
PS: I have a feeling that your connection is coming and soon.
You'll get it bud! You had a morning many of us can only dream of.
Think of it as getting all the "misses" out of the way. Now you're good for a couple dead critters....
Next time Cade! You got the first shot jitters out now so it's time to bear down buddy! Good luck!
WOW!!! Keep at it guys. What an exciting thread!!! Thanks for sharing!!
Way to go little man, don't ever give up.
I have emptied my quiver before also Cade don't feel bad.Go get them.
I wish I would have had a single shot to miss this morning! Keep after 'em, and soon your guide will be gutting and dragging your deer Cade :-)
Hang in there! The ones you miss are the ones you dont have to clean! Thats what I tell myself.
Cade buddy you got this. I have missed more than most Go get them.
Get a GFA quiver or something on that order as a back up... and take more arrows!!!!!! :goldtooth:
Congrats on a GREAT hunt. I've always thought a clean miss was the SECOND best of all possible outcomes when I shot an arrow at an animal.
I'm betting that on a hunt very soon, you are going to experience the BEST of all possible outcomes, and I am looking forward to the pics!
The spring after I came in 3rd at the ibo in recurve, I proceeded to shoot over 7 turkeys from a blind. Got them all on video. I got it done finally but I flat suck shooting out of a blind. Cade, you WILL GET IT DONE. that I have no doubt. great thread. DB
It all about the journy my friend! this is awesome!
:clapper: :clapper:
Good Luck Cade. We all get excited, its why we do this :thumbsup:
Cade, I built a picket fence around a young deer years ago, I had a 6 arrow quiver and shot 5 time at the same deer. Shot from 5, 7, 10, 13, 18 yards :scared: and finally said I will not shoot the last arrow. Thought it must be the lords will for that deer to live :pray:
WOW talk about action. Man Curt i would have been on my back in the blind clutching my chest. Way to go guys
Thanx so much guys...
I'm telling you, my words used to describe this hunt from yesterday morning fall far short of the emotion we shared yesterday!
Excitement, laughter, and some heartbreak!
You should have seen his nocked arrow shaking while he waited for the doe to give him a shot!!
To quote Cade while we were in the blind..."Daddy, this is so, so much better than any 'game' I've ever played...thank you so much for bringing me along.....I love you!"
As a father, it doesn't get any better than that...
Hey Cade...don't sweat it, I missed 11shots before I killed my first deer when I was a kid. And that was with a compound!!!! I hope that buck makes a mistake and walks by you again! Go get them Buddy!!!!
Curt...keep us posted, I think all of Trad Gang is watching this one.
No it doesnt Curt.Nothing better than teaching your son how to hunt.
Oop...double post
Yikes...triple post
:jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
Great story I felt like I was there...Congrats on a great hunt!
Keep going fellas. You can do it young man!
Part of paying your dues!! That's the great part of trad when you connect you've earned it. Keep swinging!!
Hang in there Cade. :thumbsup:
Sounds like it was a great hunt. Heck, you had more shots in a day than some of us have had ever...
What an AWESOME morning! Thanks for sharing Curt. :thumbsup: I felt like I was sitting in the blind with you. My heart was racing the whole time I was reading this. I know it's gonna happen REAL soon with encounters like that. Good luck Cade and stay in good spirits. Thanks again Curt for sharing "The Hunt" with Cade and with all of the gritty details with us here on TradGang.
Awsome hunt.Killing ain`t everything but I`m sure will happen soon. stay on`m.RC
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Best thread ever. We r rooting for you guys. Be patient. It will happen.
Well, ya'll is in 'em now ! Clean them heads up and get back at it bud ! :archer2:
Stay with em Cade!! Lot of action there!!
It will work out soon and Cade will appreciate it more than ever now. Great morning for sure!
Cade, You're doing great. We're all rooting for you, I know I check trad gang every couple of days just to see how you're doing.
NICE..your on your way Cade...next arrow you shoot gonna have a dead critter on the end of it..keep it buddy
Nice! It sounds like you guys are having a great time. PS. If I remember right I shot over the backs of around 15 deer before I learned to aim lower to avoid them ducking the string.
Great effort Cade and Guru!
Keep at it, it's just a matter of time...
Keep at it Cade!! You missed for a reason...the Lord has something planned for you!
First deer I shot, I missed 3 does in one day before finally taking a buck when I was 12.
Sounds like an awesome hunt! I've been waiting for the update like this, with arrows released! Great stuff. Keep your head up Cade, you WILL score soon.
Hunting is actually not about killing. It is about EXACTLY what this thread represents! Time spent with the ones you love.
:bigsmyl: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Keep after them Cade! You can do it!
Everyone misses now and then. I missed 2 rabbits yesterday, one of them 3 TIMES!! :knothead:
Thanx for the support fellas...like I said he's just more determined than ever to make it happen!
So anyway....that evening he had a baseball game, so we didn't hunt.
But Sunday morning we planned to hit a stand we hadn't hunted yet, we had a good wind....but just a we were loading the truck the predicted rain hit!
So a quick change of gear and some clothing, we decided to try the same spot where we had all the action the day before....we'd at least stay dry in the blind.....
Nothing came in at first light even though Cade was hoping beyond hope that the buck would show again first thing.....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0198.JPG)
First action was the turkeys that started to call behind us, then one to our right. The bird to our right flew down into the orchard...took a wide berth around us...and called the rest of the other birds up the hill to her and we never heard or saw them again....then I saw a deer coming!
I could quickly see it was a doe with 2 big fawns following it...the same group from yesterday, the doe Cade shot at...
Then I saw 2 more does coming behind them!
But the old gal had learned a lesson and was on to the blind immediately. She actually came close enough to shoot at, but was nowhere near position to shoot, and she was so jumpy I wasn't gonna let Cade shoot unless she was super close...eventually she started blowing and took everyone with her....exciting stuff!!!
Not quite as big a daddy's yet, but closing quickly...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0199.JPG)
Sunday afternoon we hit another orchard with the DB blind. I have a stand here, but the wind was wrong for it.
The deer were already out in the orchard when we got there at 3:30! Of course they spooked and went back in. I thought for sure they'd come back out before dark.
Cade's Stewart Lil' Slammer....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0200.JPG)
The view...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0201.JPG)
We forgot the second stool, so he had to sit on his pack...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0202.JPG)
The deer never did come back out, but we did have a couple come in behind us, but they never came close enough before it got dark.
All in all a great weekend of hunting for us!!
AWESOME thread...Cade gonna get something real soon..I just feel it
So after hunting that spot 2 mornings in a row and having all the deer action, I knew I needed to ditch the Double Bull...they were on to the "big box"!
After looking for good trees and not finding much on the edge...it was time to make a ground blind with all the stuff piled up in the corner I thought I could build a really good one that the deer would hardly notice.....so I went at it yesterday just before it started to pour....perfect!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0204.jpg)
This is what the spot looked like Saturday morning....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0188.JPG)
This is what it looks like now...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0205.jpg)
The front edge is high and low to allow shooting...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0206.jpg)
Plenty of room...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0207.jpg)
I'm so pumped about the next time we get to try this spot!
Today I put up a low stand at the orchard we hunted Sunday evening.
It gets us up just enough to see over the existing brush, about 6ft. high...with the right wind it should be killer!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0208.JPG)
You can hardly see the stand, it's dead center in the small double tree...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0209.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0210.JPG)
This just too cool...can't wait for the next episode!
Beautiful place Curt...made even more beautiful by what happens whenever the two of you are there.
Ain`t it something how a sharp broadhead changes the look of his bow? It makes it all REAL...It makes it real, and it`s finally here! I remember the first time my oldest son nocked a broadhead tipped arrow...real indeed.
Before long, you`ll be sharing cold weather clothes...you`ll smile when he makes different choices than you. What works for you will be different than what works for him. Before long, YOU will be cold BEFORE he is. Boots will be the same size, or, if your lucky, yours will be too small. SOMEHOW, he will ALWAYS end up with the BEST cold weather socks...even if they were a Christmas present of YOURS! :D And it will be so good!!!
This thread has me going back in time...wishing I had taken more pictures. Lesson learned.
Thanks for sharing everything...from stump shooting and a first campfire, to his first day as a deer hunter.
Good luck Cade...hunt hard and shoot straight.
:campfire:
Curt, that was awesome! I pray that one day my son and I will have those kind of adventures together!
That boy is a killing machine....keep up the greatwork!!!
Thanks for continuing this thread. I'm anxiously awaiting the next update!
:campfire:
Please don't take any of this the wrong way, I'm rootin for ya as much as the next guy.I haven't responded to this thread waiting for this moment. Cade, I for one am glad you missed, means your human, with human emotions. Seems like some kids today are just stone-cold killers, making statements like "Yea, had some ground shrinkage there, I thought he was a 160 but turns out he's only about a 145." The day you stop getting unglued when your quarry gets near is the day to stop, reconsider and do something different.
A couple good things about a clean miss are; you get all the excitement without all the guttin and draggin, I call it "catch and release hunting". you learn what it takes to control your excitement. and you get to do it all again!
Now you know what you have to do to make it happen, and it will happen. Speaking from experience; don't rush things, only take the shot you KNOW you can make. BURN a hole in that spot. make sure your anchored. You got nothing to prove to nobody.
And again, I want to thank your father, and all the other fathers on here that are bringing their kids up right. Thanks
Ahhh..those misses really burn the desire into your psyche forever. You two are a great team!
I'm loving that ground blind. I look forward to your next hunt along with ya.
Man Curt you had me going there, I had goose bumps just reading along and can't wait to read more. Keep the updates coming and will look forward to more.
Good luck Cade! I have a tough time shooting out of a blind too and have to mentally tell myself what yardage the animal is at or I shoot to high.
Good luck! I love this thread!
Keep at it boys. It only a matter of time..Great thread..Good luck guys..
Yep, to watch your trad journey Cade over the years has been fulfilling to us all. If you can hit a frog buddy I promise you you can hit a deer. When the next one walks by your setup just invision that frog sitting right on those lungs and kill it.
:thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing this amazing story with us. I look forward to the rest of the story and the thrilling ending which we all hope is coming.
:campfire:
Thank you for sharing all of this! This is the best thread I have ever read on TradGang! It's gonna happen and I CAN'T wait to read about it!
Matt
Great thread and best of luck Cade.It will happen soon.
An absolutely priceless morning! Great times, and many more to come I'm sure.
Curt
I know what you're going though. My 9 year old son is having a blast bowhunting with me for the first time this year. He is shooting a 45 lb Bear Takedown. This morning we had a basket 8 within 25 yds but could not seal the deal. Maybe next week.
Good luck to you and your son.
This was more of a family and friends weekend, than a hunting weekend. I got to watch my nephew, who plays NCAA div.1 soccer play 2 games this weekend, Cade had a baseball game, my sis was down from upstate, and my bud Peter Iacavazzi was in town to train cadets....but...we did get to have a quick hunt Sat. morning....we hit the ground blind!
Evene though this was a well built, and well placed blind...I knew it would still be tough to pull off killing a deer out of it for Cade as he's not experienced enough to know "when to move"...
Long story story short....the big doe and fawns came in to about 40yds., but she was very, very weary and caught Cade make a move.
Then another doe with a single fawn got in tight on us, and once again Cade got "caught"....a good learning experience for him.
Here's some pix of the morning...
Fog...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0211.JPG)
Deer ninjas...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0212.JPG)
Looking back at the blind....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0213.JPG)
Time to go play baseball.....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0214.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0215.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0216.JPG)
Great pics!! That BH arrow combo look as big as a tomahawk missle in that one pic. :thumbsup: Joe
Nice !!
Alrighty bout time for an update and "again" I wish you would make this a sticky so I do not have to go back thru 6 pages of threads to find it!!!!! Thanks
QuoteOriginally posted by JoeM:
That BH arrow combo look as big as a tomahawk missle in that one pic.
x2, that's a cool looking pic, I took a double take bc it looked fake, lol.
Happy hunting Cade!
That bow and arrow is Curt's.....Cade's is sporting a Zwikey Eskilite....you can see it in the back ground.
Hear tail...... :readit:
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Or, is it ...Heard Tail :goldtooth:
Stay with em guys!! Looks like a great time bein had!!
This one will have to wait till tomorrow...so many emotions....words won't be good enough...but Ill try....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer008.JPG)
That's actually against the rules!! Can't wait till morning!
Take your time.......but I can't wait.....
David
Awesome! I bet everyone is on cloud 9 at your place! Can't wait to hear all about it tomorrow
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Oh WOW... This is gonna be good!!! So happy for you Guys. :bigsmyl: :clapper: :clapper:
:campfire:
This is turning out to be a great year. I can't tell you how many "first kills" I've seen or heard this year
:D
:thumbsup:
OOOOOHHH YEA we got blood!! :bigsmyl:
:jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
Oh Man... :campfire: :pray:
:bigsmyl:
Morning.. :campfire: :coffee:
This ought to be real good. Waiting to hear the good news.
Good on you for hanging in there till the goal is accomplished.
:D :D :D
I'm waiting!! Looking good!! :thumbsup:
This is awesome!! I can see it now. Curt and Cade sitting in the blind. Big buck comes in range. The tension is unbelievable. Overcome with emotion Curt shoves Cade out of the way and arrows the buck.
How'd I do?
;)
That's pretty funny Charlie!
David
Just something to think about while we wait. Doesn't speak well of my parenting style, though.
:D
Cade come on the bus is picking me up soon :biglaugh:
:campfire:
Great!! Funny how all of us are just pulling for him!!
God Bless,
Nathan
This is my favorite thread of all time... Keep it coming guys.
:archer2:
:campfire:
It's morning in Kansas...
Looking forward to the details. :)
:campfire:
:pray: :coffee:
In the photo Cade's smile takes up just about the whole frame!
Lot's of folks looking forward to the tales of the hunt! :thumbsup:
:bigsmyl:
Oh this is worse than waiting for Terry and Charlie to update their stories! It's been real cool watching Cade grow up on here. You can see the hunter/shooter in his eyes on his full draw pics. Look at this kid shoot folks. That's what your form should look like.
:archer2:
Looking forward to the story!
AAARGGH this suspence is killing me. :bigsmyl:
I love the way blood looks on fall leaves!!! Can't wait to hear the story and to give a big congrats to Cade!!!
I think i'll wait till the book comes out !!!!!!! :confused:
Which will come first..... Cade's story or Election Day......tap, tap, tap..... :help:
I bet Cade's friends at school already heard the story ... if he went :cool: :bigsmyl:
Curt and Cade you can give us a little more :banghead:
Danggit Curt you just screwed up my productive day, I will get nothing done now since I will keep coming back here to check on this, dang you!!!! :)
I KNOW what you mean Mark, I keep coming back also to see if the story is up, haha, can't wait for it. Congrats to Curt and Cade
:saywhat: :campfire:
I'm wearing out my "refresh" button!
Awful lot of foot dragging going on here haha
OK no update for a WHILE... We all know you could have posted a pic of Cade with his deer just as easily as a pic of some blood... :nono:
Where is the little Graemlin that has its foot tapping waiting on a picture..
Congrats to Cade!!
God Bless,
Nathan
ok i got more time invested in this story than i do in a tree stand....lol.......i love and hate these stories that are dragged out......
Well Boy's, it is no longer morning here in Oklahoma!!!! Best be gettin' on with it :goldtooth:
:campfire:
Gotta give the old man some time to sleep. He is stuck working some in humane hours at work.
This is awful... Charlie Lamb, I blame you!
Maybe they're negotiating the rights for a new reality series on the Outdoor Channel !!! Never know these days :bigsmyl:
:campfire:
Curt, are you sure you're not a women????? Come on bring it!
Been following this post since day one without a comment. Great job Curt. Cade is a lucky young man to have a dad like you; course he already knows that; "I love you daddy"; Sweeter words have never been spoken. Enjoy the journey. :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Bill Turner:
Been following this post since day one without a comment. Great job Curt. Cade is a lucky young man to have a dad like you; course he already knows that; "I love you daddy"; Sweeter words have never been spoken. Enjoy the journey. :thumbsup:
X2
:campfire:
Can't wait my 17 year old killed his first traditional deer two years ago. I'm convinced I was more excited than he was!
Maybe this story is going to the publisher 1st...lol
:campfire: :archer:
i think this story will be worth the wait :campfire: unless charlie`s right :biglaugh:
It appears theres news to come boys!
Get ready!
The suspense is killing me.
If you are still checking here for "the rest of the story," it looks like Curt started a new thread to tell us about Cade's achievement:
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=122346
The title is: "He made this one count!"
Thanx fellas....ok, here we go....
I was off of work because of Sandy, we were lucky, but others weren't so lucky. Cade was also off of school for the 2nd day in a row as well.
By yesterday afternoon the rain had stopped with the exception of an occasional very light drizzle. I figured with the storm having the critters laying low for over a day....they'd probably be moving pretty good.
The wind was still blowing more than usual, but it was in a steady direction, and nowhere near like it had been a day earlier....that was truly scary!
We decided to hit the low stand that I'd set about a week and a half earlier...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0208.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0209.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0210.JPG)
As seen in the pix, this stand was very low to take advantage of the available cover. I would carry in my old Staghorn Hiker lok on to attach it to the other trunk next to the ladder.
We park quite a ways away from the part of the orchard we were hunting. After we got there we went through the routine that I'm passing on to Cade....we don't wear any of our hunting clothing in the truck or anyplace else. Packs, harness, and clothing all travels in our HS Scent-Safe bags. Boots travel in plastic bags and are only worn while hunting.
I got dressed, strapped my pack to the stand and slung it on my back. Then, like usual, went to the other side of the truck to help Cade....he's learning.....
We carefully picked a route through the orchard that I though would be optimal for how I thought the deer would move, and were soon at the base of the ladderstand. I went up and locked the Staghorn on the other trunk. Cade went up and got into the Staghorn, then I climbed up and just sat on the ladderstand. I left my bow on the ground....
We settled in and soon Cade was busy on his Ipod...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer001.JPG)
As you can see in the pix, things looked very different now. A lot of our leaf cover was now on the ground. But I was still confident we'd be fine if something showed up, and I liked the fact we could see a lot better all around us.
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer002.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer003.JPG)
We glimpsed two deer back in the heavy cover, but they seemed to be headed away from us, and were quickly out of site.
The deer were up and moving early just as I'd hoped!
A bit later I looked into the woods behind us and caught some movement....turkeys...and they were headed our way!
Cade slowly got his Lil' Slammer in his hand and slowly got into position to shoot just in case they came into the orchard "close enough"....
Before we knew it, the lead bird, a jake...had popped out at about 15yds and stopped to scan the orchard. I saw Cade "ooozing" the string back......
With a slight twang the arrow was away....he missed just high!
Funny thing is, the birds hardly even noticed something was "wrong"....he nocked another arrow as the birds that were out in the orchard slowly moved off....but others were still coming!
Minutes later another came out just a bit further than the first. Cade drew again as the bird walked out.....another one just a bit high and in the dirt!!
Laughing(I couldn't help myself), I told him... "that's enough bud, you only have one broadhead arrow left, we need to save it for a deer"....not sure why I found it funny that he missed twice....but I know it's very easy to do with turks, I've been there!!!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer004.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer005.JPG)
So with his last arrow nocked deer started popping out into the orchard to the north of us about 50yds as the light started to fade fast.
They weren't coming our way, instead heading further out into the orchard, and downwind of our set-up.
Then, Cade says to me....."Daddy....deer right there"!
I looked back to the south and saw a big doe standing about 30yds away out in the orchard!
Then I noticed a smalled doe out in front of her...
The bigger doe was very cautious, and I could tell she knew something wasn't "right"....she looked to turn away and go back into the woods....but the smaller doe stayed out and got curious!!!
You know what they say about curiosity and the cat....well obviously this deer didn't know the story and it started to come closer to "investigate"....I held my breath......
Just like does do a lot, she knew "something" was there, but was cautiously coming in to find "it"...25yds.....20yds.....15yds....oh my gosh this might happen!
I was whispering to Cade to....."be patient, and let her get as close as possible".....10yds....
By now it very last shooting light, and this deer was right in Cade's "money shot" range....something had to "give"...and soon!
She turned right.....I whispered "shoot"....but I don't think it was necessary....Cade was already starting to draw.....the Lil' Slammer "Guapo" arched to fully loaded and with a dull twang the arrow sprung from Cade's hand like an orange missile.....I was concentrating on the deer....
I barely saw the arrow, but knew by the sound, and by the reaction of the deer.....Cade had made a solid hit....but I honestly didn't know where he'd hit it....
At impact, the deer buckled, tucked it's tail and took off in a low run......"you hit her Cade, but I couldn't tell where"!!!!!
To that he answered...."I hit her real good Daddy! It looked almost perfect! I know it was in the chest! Oh my god daddy, oh my god daddy!!!!"
The deer hit the woods with a crash, and almost instantly everything went silent.....
With that I about lost it.....I was shaking so bad, I was glad I was sitting down!
I asked Cade a couple more time if he was sure what he saw? He even said one time that if it wasn't in the lungs, he was for sure in the liver, but was 99% sure he'd hit the lungs. He was convinced he'd made a good shot....and he'd convinced me now as well. We were excited beyond words....but it would get even better.
We sat for a while and laughed at each other as we watched each other shake so bad....amazing!
After we calmed down enough, maybe 15minutes after the shot, we climbed down and as quietly as possible packed up. Then I went out into the orchard to check the spot of the shot....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer006.JPG)
Instant blood! Oh my!!!!
To help us wait a bit more we walked back to the truck to move it a little closer.
Soon we were back....maybe a half hour since the shot.....we started along the trail.....5yds into it....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer007.JPG)
About 20yds. into it....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer008.JPG)
The blood was there, but not exactly gushing out. Cade was shooting a little 2 blade, and I'm used to seeing bloodtrails from my deer after I put a big 3 blade through them....I hoped this perceived..."lack of blood" was just a product of his equipment....we followed along and after about 30yds we hit the edge of the woods were she entered...again, there was blood, but not a lot...we continued into the woods....
It was slow going, but 20yds into the woods my Wensel Bros. Main Beam light hit something bright orange....the arrow!!!!
It had blood broadhead to nock with blood soaked feathers!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer009.JPG)
But to be honest, it looked more "livery" than lung. But we still had blood, Cade had me convinced the shot was good, we still had blood......so we continued....at this point we were about 50yds into the trail.....
Another slow 20yds Cade was getting worried, and honestly, I was too a bit. I explained to him how easy it is to miss things at night with only the help of a flashlight......"we'll try a little bit more, but if we don't find it soon, we'll have to back out and I'll come back in the morning".....I really didn't want to have to do that!
He understood as the blood was getting real hard to follow. Another tough 20yds and we'd lost the blood again.....we both searched close to the last drop found. Cade was about 5yds. to my right with his head down looking....I swept my flashlight beam forward and caught "something"....
My heart jumped into my throat as I got my binos up and lined up my flashlight.....white belly, dead deer!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!
As calmly as I could, I whispered to Cade that I'd found blood, and he needed to come over....
He said..... "where daddy"... I said right here, and I think there's some more up ahead.....he looked up, I lined my flashlight up and he saw "his deer"!!!!!
I'll never be able to put this part into words...
he about knocked me over as he jumped up to hug me tighter than he ever has! He kept repeating...."we did it daddy, we did it daddy"....an unbelievable, indescribable feeling for us! Somehow I kept the tears back!
We started toward the deer....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer010.JPG)
I don't know how many times we hugged, kissed, and told each other how much we loved the other....he'd done it!
As soon as we walked up to it, we could see that he'd hit it a bit higher than he thought....and when we rolled her over we could see the had re-directed back a bit and exited back slightly and was clogged with fat.....
High entrance, clogged exit....that explained the lack of blood....
We dragged her out to the orchard for pix....
Not a happier boy on the face of the earth last night!!!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer011.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer012.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer013.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer014.JPG)
.
.
.
.
.
"Proud" doesn't even come close...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer015.JPG)
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:clapper:
Way to go, love that smile !
:archer:
Congratulations to you Cade! The smiles say it all!
Awesome Story! Congratulations!
Great Job guys! congratulations!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Good shooting Cade!
:thumbsup:
Yep, that smile says it all. Heck I've enjoyed this about as much as you have! Good job!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: congratulations Cade that is a great deer and you "Nailed" her!!!
Great job Dad... every young boy should be so lucky as to have a father like you.
Gene
Outstanding!!!!!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: congrats to the both of you.great story enjoyed the ride thanks
AWESOME! Congratulations Cade and Curt. This IMO is the best thread I have ever seen on TG. Way to get it done guys!
Absolutely without a doubt the greatest thing I've seen in a long while! Congratulations doesn't even begin to describe how happy I am for you guys. This thread has been amazing! Great stuff right here!
That is so awesome guy's, congratulation to both of you.
How about that!!!!!!!!!
Outstanding.
Now that's what its all about! Congratulations to you both! :clapper: :clapper:
Way to go, guys!
The first of many such experiences, I'm sure.
Talk about preparation! Had to work out! Congratulations to both of you!
Neither of you could be any luckier than to have each other! This has been a wonderful journey. Thank you for taking me along.
Excellent job! Super example of what a dad should do for his kids!
:clapper:
Congratulations Cade!!!!! It took me 20 years longer than you to get one! Great job bud.
Heck yeah, fantastic feelings that can't be bought. Great job young man and welcome to the Brotherhood!
This is by far my favorite thread, of any board I frequent, of all time. Great job guys. I can't imagine the emotions. I had to fight off tears too!
Beyound words....Congrats young MAN, you too Daddy.
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GREAT shot Cade,I'm happy for you,Curt both of your expression are priceless,hope you guys share many more memories together.
Congrats Cade and Guru!!!!!!
Awesome story and pics!!!!!!!
Just the begining of a life time of hunting together!
Thanks for the pic yesterday morning, been waiting ever since to see the story on here. Great job!!
That'll give you the warm fuzzys! I wonder if that grin has worn off yet?
Well deserved !!!!
I've been following along from the begining. Somehow I knew it was only a matter of time. Fantastic. Thanks for taking us along. Well done and congrats. A memory that will last a lifetime. Bravo. :clapper:
Jeff Harper
Awesome! Congrats Cade, great shot!
Doesn't get any better then a Father and Son making memories!
Congrats again!
Way to go Cade. Great story and pictures. Proud PaPa for sure. :clapper:
Congrats!!
Thank you for bring us along. I could feel and imagine the emotions.
Way to go Cade.
Truly a once in a life time monent, nothing like the first one! Way to hold it together Cade, GREAT JOB!
cecil
Way to go Cade!!!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Yee Haw, the news I have been waiting for, can't tell you how excited I am to see this and happy for both of you, that is just incredible and knew he could do it, no doubt!
Awesome!!!!
congrats Cade!!!!! :clapper:
Very cool. I was next to my son and daughter when they shot their first deer. Better than any deer I ever shot!
outstanding Curt and Cade. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
A bowhunter NEVER forgets his first deer, especially when witnessed by the proud father.
That's just plain awesome! Congrats Cade and dad too. The first of many to come I'm sure.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Congrats guys! Great story! :clapper:
Congrats Cade and Guru...great story!!!
Amazing! What a thread!
Congratulations!
Brent
Great story Guru, and great trophy Cade. The start of a great hunting adventure I'm sure. :clapper: :goldtooth:
Awesome, congrats.
Well done lads.....a moment for ever
Well done lads.....a moment for ever
Congrats Cade, what a GREAT first deer!!! What a great thread Curt, and as always thanks for taking the "GANG" along in your journey with Cade. :clapper:
Congratulations to both of you! This thread has made me smile every step of the way.
Excellent!
AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations - great job Cade great job Guru - you guys are what dedicated bowhunting is all about. May the blessings continue.
<><
<-------------------------<<<<<<<<
Still more to come, The boy is on Fire!!! :campfire:
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Awesome job Cade!!!
quote:
Originally posted by Big Ed:
Still more to come, The boy is on Fire!!! :bigsmyl: :campfire: :coffee:
Great Hunt,Congrats Cade and Dad.Those Turks do get small.Great story,THANKS.
What a story. Congratulations to both! Doesn't get any better.
Congrats Cade! Good job Curt.
Critters are still fallin. :saywhat:
He's taking after his Dad Izzy, he can't kill just one.......
David
Curt,Congrats to both of you job well done the smile on cades face says it all just great....ED
NICE!!!!!!!!!!! That is a perfect deer to start a hunting career with. Great shot. I'm proud of both of you.
He did it again!!!
Still can't believe it, a morning I'll never, ever forget as long as I live!
Last night, with the predicted NNW wind, I left it up to Cade to choose where we should hunt. I had it narrowed to 2 stands....The Ant Tree(which I have an experience from last weekend to tell about someday soon), or Grandpa's Stand....
....He quickly chose Grandpa's Stand....which really was a great choice, as it had not been hunted at all yet.
It's a stand that is literally 150yds from my mom and dads house. I set a small ladderstand there a few years ago so dad can come and go as he pleases.
This year, knowing Cade would be hunting, I switched it from the small single man stand, to a 2 man ladderstand. I wanted him to hunt with his grandpa, or we could share it as well.
Setting that 2 man stand by myself back in Sept. was and probably will always be the single hardest stand set I've ever done!!
Dad said he would help, but had to go take care of something first...I told him I was just going to carry it in, leave it till he could help me....and get the small one out. Well, I was hardheaded and stubborn enough to believe I could do it myself......I did it, BUT I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!!!!!
So we pulled into my parents place, and went through the routine of putting on our hunting clothes outside of the truck....all set....we walked the short distance to the stand nice and quiet.
I climbed first, got hooked in, got his harness belt around the tree for him.....and up he came...
I hooked him up to his belt, and we readied ourselves. All set he asked to pull his bow back a few times....and he did....all good.
It was barely getting light now, so after he warmed up a bit, it was my turn to pull back a few times. I did twice, and was about to hang my bow back up when Cade sharply whispers...."DEER"!
They had gotten tight on us already...he could see them, I couldn't....he slowly stood and got his bow in his hand.
My low light vision isn't what it was once, and hunting with Cade this year has really made that clear....he has amazing young eyes!
I finally did see the first one move about 20yds in front of us, soon I saw the second one....
When we got into the stand, I decided I would cover the left side, he would cover the right(looking out). The right side would be an easier shot since we are both lefties.
So there we were not knowing which way the deer would go.....
Cade could see two more deer behind the 2 that were in front of us...but I couldn't see them because of the foliage.
These deer were in no hurry, it was cold too, about 32 degrees...so after about 10 minutes of holding his bow Cade whispered that his hands were getting cold! So were mine!
But the deer were headed for his side, and it was now light enough to shoot.
Little by little, they got closer and more to the right....this just might happen!!!
The second deer was bigger than the first, so as the first deer worked into shooting position, Cade decided to "roll the dice", he'd try for the bigger one that was in front of us, close enough, but not broadside....the other one walked away....
The deer in front of us, turned, and started the way the first one went....this was getting very tense to say the least!!!
This deer knew something wasn't "right", it was acting much more wary than the first....lifting it's nose catching some of our scent, but not figuring out where we were.
Now it's 12yds away, quartering toward us....and it looks right at us!!
This whole time I'm right over Cade's shoulder whispering advice whenever I thought necessary.
The deer really got interested in the giant "blob" in the trees....head bob, foot stomp....a couple minutes more and it finally starts moving away again following the same path as the first...
It stops, broadside at 12yds, but it's near leg was back.....I whispered to Cade...."wait!"
It started walking again, but very,very slowly....I whispered..."shoot"......
Now if I was ever given a choice in my life to only remember one arrow I ever saw shot...it would be this arrow Cade was about to release.......
Remember now...I'm right over his shoulder...looking right down his arrow....just like this(the deer had just crossed over the log when he shot)...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer001.JPG)
Cade carefully drew his Lil' Slammer "Guapo", just like I've watched him do a thousand times, with a barely audible..."thunk", he released the arrow.....
....And I watched the most beautiful, arching, orange arrow flight I've ever seen as his arrow started out of his bow.....rose up above the deer....then dropped right in tight to the shoulder!!!! Maybe too tight!!!!
I watched the deer buckle, and tear out down the trail into the thicket along side us...taking Cade's arrow with it!
I followed it as best I could as it joined the first deer and they both ran off....last I saw of them were 2 white tails about 60yds. away.....then nothing!
Cade turned to me looking a bit worried he'd hit to high and forward. I told him...."if the arrow hit where I thought it did....the only thing we'll have to worry about is if the arrow went in far enough!"
We talked and thought about the shot.....I told him...."it looked very tight to the shoulder but hopefully not too tight....but....the arrow wasn't flopping as it ran off....and there was no sharp bone sound at impact.....both good signs that the arrow just might be perfect"....we were both very excited, but still a little worried....
I also told him...."if those deer decide to move back the way the other two deer ran, they'd just about have to come right back by us as the piece of cover they ran into abruptly ended up the way they'd run".
When I tell you we were excited and shaking, it would be a gross understatement.....this was awesome! Could he have just killed his second deer in 5 days!! Ho-ly cow!!!
We decided to sit for an hour before we'd get down.
We saw a one horned spike, but he never came close.
As we sat and talked, it was decided we'd get down, check for blood, walk out back to my parents house so grandma could make us breakfast, then with grandpas help....we'd go back out and look for the deer....sounds about like a perfect deer hunt huh?
45 minutes later...only one deer walked back out of the thicket....another great sign!!
I looked one more time with binos from the tree for blood and this time saw something red! Oh yeah!!!!
Now it had been an hour so, so we packed up and got down to check the blood....but no further....
One anxious(but a little worried) little bowhunter..
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer002.JPG)
This is where the deer stood at the shot...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer003.JPG)
Blood after about 7-8yds....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer004.JPG)
Time to head out for a good breakfast by grandma!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer005.JPG)
After a hardy pancake breakfast we were back outside putting our hunting cloths back on, and off we were look for Cade's deer loaded with nervous anticipation!!!
The bloodtrail was good, but not great. The blood itself looked good and bright.
Bubbles, another great sign!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer006.JPG)
Within 30yds. we came upon the arrow...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer007.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer008.JPG)
more coming.....
The arrow looked all positve, and showed us that the arrow had indeed made it in "far enough"!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer009.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer010.JPG)
I assured Cade that the deer wouldn't be too far.....I was 100% positive of that now!
He asked to take the lead...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer011.JPG)
That freed me up a little more to search ahead. A little further along the trail, I showed Cade that the deer was now stumbling and moving erratic....we went about another 5yds and I looked ahead and saw this....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer012.JPG)
He wasted no time getting to his deer!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer013.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer014.JPG)
As I looked around at the blood that was all around the deer....I saw this...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer015.JPG)
The Zwickey Eskilite gifted to him from Terry Green, but not so green anymore....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer016.JPG)
Cade quickly noticed it had a "bad eye"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer017.JPG)
He couldn't wait to roll it over to see where his shot was.....he'd slid it just, and I mean just, behind the shoulder blade....perfect!
One extremely happy, 12 year old bowhunter!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer018.JPG)
I took this one while he wasn't paying attention as he looked at the "bad eye"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer019.JPG)
One extremely happy and proud grandpa!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer020.JPG)
Then there's me....the proudest father in the world!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer021.JPG)
Three generations....it just doesn't get any better!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer022.JPG)
Maybe this just might be the most perfect deer hunting morning I'll ever experience.... who knows what the future brings....but I do know one thing.....I'll never forget the flight of that arrow....
Awsome tale and hunting.
Congrats to all three of you!!
Wow,What a thread! Congrats to all of you!!! Time for a nice buck now!
Thats just plain awesome. Congrats all around!
Thank you all so, so much for the kind words!
It does my heart good to hear that we are inspiring other dads with young kids to get them as involved as possible in our wonderful sport....there is no greater reward...no doubt about it!
I've been fielding a bunch of questions about Cade's equipment....
He's shoot a Leon Stewart 48" Lil' Slammer longbow that's about 37-38# at his 22" draw.
His arrows are .800 spine CX Predator II's. With the insert, 125 steel adapter, and 110 grain
n Zwickey Eskilite they weigh about 480grs if I remember correctly.
Deer #1....
This deer he hit in the ribs and got both lungs, liver, and the arrow went out the other side and almost all the way though at impact. As it fled it pulled all the way thru....so it was just about a complete pass thru at impact....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer016.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer017.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade1stdeer018.JPG)
While we were prepping for this season I had no doubts, that even at his short draw, his set-up would do the job with good shot selection.
So far. so good!
Thanx again :notworthy:
Deer #2...
On this deer he hit so close to the shoulder blade, until we butcher it up, I can't be sure he didn't nick it. We're butchering tomorrow, so I'll know better exactly if any bone was "nicked".
It was slightly quartering away and it at least went thru the muscle around the shoulder before entering the ribs. pretty sure the arrow just barely made it to the other lung. We only found a shallow slash in the far lung.
Near lung...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer023.JPG)
Far lung...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/cade2deer024.JPG)
We're heading out tomorrow to see if he can do it again :pray:
Wouldn`t it be something if he manages an arrow into a rut stinking buck!!!
All smiles here Curt!
Boney....that's what we're hoping for!!
I was in one of the ladderstands we set for Cade 3 days ago by myself because he was at school, and had a beautiful, stocky spike go by at 6yds with his nose to the ground!!
Man how I wished he was with me...I just know he'd a have hammered'um!!
Maybe tomorrow :pray:
Good luck to you and Cade tomorrow Curt!
Cade's on a roll!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
Sending him any luck I might have!!!
Would love nothing more than continuation of this saga!
Just awesome Cade and Curt. Good luck to you two in the days yet to come.
Awesome, my boys are inspired by his (Cade's) achievements. Tell him he is doing an awesome job.
Well....he came very close to doing it again!!
I swear the boy has become a deer magnet!!
Up early and headed south to our spot in Westchester Co. that's about an hour away.
Dressed in the dark, we headed in....
When we were getting close to the stand, in the red light of our headlights,I noticed something was "different".
There was a tree down, and it looked like it might be ours!
On the way down Cade and I had talked about what damage super-storm Sandy may have done on the property we hunt. The evidence of the devastation was all along the roads once we got into Westchester Co., even the darkness couldn't hide it from my trucks headlights.....things were a mess!
We jokingly talked about what we'd do if our ladderstand was in a twisted mess under our tree if it had blown down.
Well it almost happened!!
In our red headlights, we could see just how lucky we were....the tree right next to ours, the tree that shares a common base with the tree the stand is in had gone down in the storm!!!
I checked out our stand from the ground, and did so on the way up and at the top....it was fine....we were lucky!
hang on....
You may want to buy a bigger freezer.
This is what the set up looked like back in late Sept. when we set it up....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0137.jpg)
So anyway...we got set up...
With the air barely moving and the crunchy snow, we knew it would be easy to see and hear anything moving...Cade's 1st bowhunt in the snow.
Sunrise...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0217.JPG)
My cover tree was no longer...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0218.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0219.JPG)
It wasn't long when Cade whispers.."deer"....a small buck was angling away from us about 150yds away and was soon out of sight.
Not 20 minutes later...again I hear in an excited whisper..."deer"!
A doe and fawn were crossing through a backyard(urban deer hunting) about 200yds away....they were angling to our right, heading east and soon disappeared behind a knob in front of us.
A minute later they re-appeared to the east side of the knob and for whatever reason they turned and headed right for us!
Cade picked up his bow and so did I. But it was soon evident that they were going to pass right in front of Cade!
Walking at a steady pace, I doe grunted with my voice to stop her as Cade drew, but she just slowed down a bit and Cade released.......just a bit high, and looked like only a few cut hairs off her back....dang it!!!! He'd almost did it again.....I swear he's a magnet!
She walked just in front of the big oak....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0220.JPG)
We saw a few more deer, nothing close, so after a few hrs. we were ready to climb down....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0221.JPG)
Just that close to his 3rd...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0222.JPG)
Good look at just how close we came to losing our stand...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0223.JPG)
We went for a walk to check out another area on the property and saw a lot more evidence of the severity of super storm Sandy...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0224.JPG)
Looks like Cade's sleeping-in tomorrow...so I'll be on my own in the morning.....Maybe I'll get a chance to shoot ;) :archer:
This is the best 32 pages I have ever read. I didn't make it through the first three pages before I told my wife that I was getting our daughter a bow for Christmas this year. She just turned three in October. Thank you for this post and good luck to you and Cade for Tue rest of the season.
Keep the stories coming! Like Citycop wrote, this has been a great 32 pages.
Wow! That's really all there is to say. Wow....
Congrats again Cade and Curt.
So, so close again yesterday morning!!!
Gun season is in up here where we live in NY, given my past "luck" during gun season, mommy wont let Cade bowhunt up here with the boom sticks. So that leaves us with an hr trip south to Westchester County.
I'd hunted down there the day before and came as close as I've been all season to shooting a mature buck. Had him close enough, but never did release an arrow! He was a "tank", huge body, probably 4.5yrs old. The coolest part is I believe he was just a giant 6pt!
So, with Cade off for his Thanksgiving vacation starting Wednesday....we headed south at 4:00am.
Cade got a good nap on the way down, we got dressed, and by 5:45 we were set up.
Not too cold, but definitely deceivingly chilly. Super still and quiet....
An hour into the hunt we hadn't seen anything yet, and for the first time this season Cade was saying he was getting cold. We've been out on colder days, but for whatever reason, today was different.
I explained to him about doing some isometrics, wiggling his toes in his boots and such that I use to stay comfortable on stand. I also explained that you can't just do it few reps and expect it to work, you have to keep with it with many reps and he would feel the results.
I kept asking him if he was ok and asked if he could stick it out till 9:30....but all but guaranteed him we'd see deer soon.
We also talked about he'd had such a great season so far, but I was disappointed that the rut may have passed him by and he never really got a chance to witness some real rut action.
It seems every time I'm in a tree with him I can't help but think about "next year", and how I want to work even harder to be even better prepared for us to hunt together. I was thinking to myself about how I wanted to make a great effort to try to find some more and better hunting areas for him/us to hunt........
Then it happened!!!!!!
I see deer come flying up the hill below us...1...2...3....4, I see spikes on the 4th deer...then a 5th deer that I didn't see well...
This is all happening behind Cade and he's a little lower than me, but he can still see some of what just happened.....they go out of sight....minutes go by.....
I catch a flash and see that a deer is running back up toward where where I first saw them....a big, big doe...then another deer is coming and I see a rack and Cade can see him too!!!!!
He's a nice 8pt..... then comes the spike from earlier......for the next 15 minutes or so we just stood and watched the show from about 100yds away. They walked ...ran... stood....whatever the doe did....the 8pt did and the spike just hung back.
Cade says to me ..."daddy if the big one comes close,you take the shot, I know you've been waiting for a buck like that all season"
They were slowly working closer, but still over 80yds away...I couldn't see the doe anymore and didn't know where the spike was....then all hell broke loose again and I could see the 8pt start running up toward us!
I sharply whispered to Cade to grab his bow as I grabbed for mine, just before the big doe appeared, busting up over the hill about 45 yds away...the spike was hot on her tail and the 8pt didn't like it one bit and was trying hard to catch up!
They went by 30yds away running hard, turned to the east around a pond, then cut back south and disappeared over the ridge about 100yds away.....Cade was witness to one of nature greatest shows!!!
A few seconds later a smaller deer appeared trotting over toward where they had gone out of sight. It stood on top of the ridge looking. I could tell it was watching what was going on below her.
After a minute or 2, she wheeled around and started running right toward us, something was after her....we grabbed for our bows again!!!!!
Another deer came over the hill and was now going around the pond the opposite way they had gone before, I could see it was the spike and he was now bearing down on us too!
As the small doe ran toward us I asked Cade if he wanted to shoot her....he passed knowing the buck was coming...
The spike slowed to a walk,the back of his mouth pulled back in the typical "gasping look" of a tired deer....he was now 20yds and closing....
I see Cade adjust his feet preparing for the shot....I whisper..."pick a spot and drill him buddy!"
As he neared 15yds and broadside, looking right over his shoulder, I softly grunted to spot him...he stopped....and I waited for the arrow to fly...........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I look down at Cade and he hadn't even drawn....and the buck was off in pursuit again....
"Why didn't you shoot"????
He says...."Daddy, when he stopped his leg was back and he turned just a little to us, so I wasn't 100% sure about the shot"
I smiled.... he'd made a great decision!
Then I though about it and he was right, the deer had done exactly as he'd said....it was a shot I would have taken without hesitation given the heavy set up I shoot....but with his light equipment...the shot just wasn't there....
He said he had no regrets not shooting.
He continues to make me proud!!!
The big doe and 8pt never showed again, but we did see a different spike show at about 100yds away to the west of us. We grunted, he looked....
Then Cade asked if he could use his grunt call. And he did for the first time of the season.
Again, the spike looked, came to us a little, then walked off. He liked using the call...
A few pix from the morning....
Cade right after he witnessed all the rut action...for some reason, he wasn't cold anymore ;)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0225.JPG)
The flat below the ridge is where the show started...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0226.JPG)
The pond....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0227.JPG)
As much as we hated to do it, it was time to leave...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0228.JPG)
Cade among the shadows checking out where the deer walked by...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0229.JPG)
Looking for hair from his close encounter 2 weeks earlier.....he found some too...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0230.JPG)
Packing up....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0231.JPG)
Quote of the day from Cade.....
"I LIKE THE RUT"
Good stuff, brother! Thanks for sharing it. :thumbsup:
Great stuff guys! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Awesome Bro!!
Absolutely Awesome! Glad you the both of you!
There is alot of joy in your words!
Keep up the good work.
Tell Cade some of the BEST shots are never taken...perhaps the most difficult lesson to teach, AND to learn!
THANKS yet again!
Curt,
Cool story and pictures. Stuff some handwarmers inside of Cades inner layers somewhere. I use that and toe warmers in my boots to ease the cold of the late season hunts. I can get an extra couple of hours on stand with those little gems helping.
:thumbsup:
Just want to bring this TTT for the guys that are looking for updates....Thanx for your interest guys :notworthy:
No hunting for Cade since that last update before Thanksgiving.
This weekend we are attending my sisters 50th b-day party so no hunting this weekend for us.
Hopefully next weekend. He's still practicing almost daily in anticipation of heading out again.
As for me....I've been hunting and have located a buck I really want to kill.
He's the biggest 4 pointer I've ever seen!He's a big mature deer,heavy in the body and horns...but only 4points....I want him bad!
Good luck out there Curt. I love being able to chase a target buck. The first time you get him in range is a rush for sure.
We have a 3 weekend break from bow hunting here in IA. I have plenty of things I need to do around the house anyhow, so the break is welcomed.
Keep us all posted!
Good luck guys, we still have a month.
Good luck on the buck Curt! I hope Cade gets a crack at a buck too before the season is over!
Good luck guys!
:campfire: Looking forward to more excitement!
I almost forgot....even though he didn't hunt this past week.....the blessings did continue for Cade!
Trag Gang is a wonderful place :notworthy: :notworthy:
He received gifts for his success from 2 very generous Trad Gang members....
One day he gets a one of those big flat cardboard "envelope like" deal curled up in the mailbox....
It's from my buddy, TG'r Gregg Dudly......inside a great letter written to Cade and a signed Fred Bear hunting photo that was once a part of Art Botzenmeyer, long time purchasing manager for Bear archery!
I won't go into exact words, thats between Cade and Gregg....but in it he congratulated Cade on his success....wished him a lifetime of success and a hope to share camp with him someday.
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0232.JPG)
Thanks again buddy! As Cade gets older and learns more about the "history" of this gift, he'll appreciate it even more that he does now, it's getting framed and will hang in his bedroom....sure gonna miss seeing you at Solana...
Then the next day another box comes...it's from TG'r "SheltonCreeker", David Gage(I knew what it was because David had sent a pm and asked if he could send something to Cade).
David is fine young man raising young children and said we were an inspiration to him....thank you...
Again, a very heartfelt letter about how much he's enjoyed our threads over the years, congratulated Cade on his success this year and in the future, and he also said he hoped their paths cross in the future.
In the box for Cade were two brand new , button-up, Predator camo shirts for Cade to grow into....one brown deception, and one Cade called his "Terry Green shirt", in spring Green!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0233.JPG)
Thank you so much David, and I wish you the same success with you children...
I'll say it again.......Trad Gang is a wonderful place :campfire:
How cool is this?... Way!!...I'm saying!!
:archer:
That's awesome! I agree TradGang is a wonderful place! Good luck with the four pointer!
Guru, the photos of Cade and his ventures bring back memories to many of us of our own childhood. The photo of him with the frog on the end of the arrow sure brought home some of my early memories of shooting frogs with a target arrow and then hurrying to get to them before they got off the fletched end of the arrow. Thanks for the inspiration.
:thumbsup: :clapper:
This has got to be one of the coolest threads ever! Congrats again to Cade, good luck on getting that 4pt Curt.
Bisch
Good luck guys!
Love the story!! Good luck on the heavy 4!
:thumbsup:
Well, It's certainly been a while....
I've been hunting, but Cade has not been out since the last hunt reported here before Thanksgiving.
He's still practicing and is looking forward to a few days of hunting after Christmas.
Westchester is the only thing open now for deer. We have Thursday-Monday to hunt and try to finish up the season strong.
I'm hoping he gets one more chance, and it would be great if it's a buck!
Anyway, the next few days we'll practice plenty and be ready for later on this week.
Stay tuned.....
:campfire:
Good luck Cade!
Good luck fellers.RC
Good luck guys.
Steve H
Good luck guys.
Steve H
Good luck to you two!
I hope y'all finish strong!
Bisch
good luck, as always I will be looking forward to the stories.
David
Good luck guys :thumbsup:
Good luck and Merry Christmas.
Thanx for the well wishes :notworthy:
Thought I'd share a few pix of todays practice session...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0234.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0235.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0236.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0237.JPG)
Mae-Mae with her red, JT-44 3pc. recurve she won at Muzzy this year. Cade actually pulled the winning ticket for her...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0238.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0239.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/journ0240.JPG)
We shoot off the deck standing on a bench to simulate the confines of a treestand.
A great, fun practice session.
Cade and I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, God Bless you and your family.
Waiting on the Granddaughter to wake up this morning,,, I skimmed through this entire thread.
Great stories of a Father and Son. Just fantastic all around.
I have a comment and something for Cade to think about...
Get as many down as you can before your sister has time to catch up! :saywhat:
Awesomeness! Peace be unto you and yours.
Some people wonder what's wrong with the youth in America, we have just read one of the great success stories of our modern day culture. Congratulations Guru, and to you both for not just entertaining us with a great story, but showing some young Father what being a Father is all about.
Blessings to your family
Thank you Jim....
Waiting for Mae-Mae to start hunting. Cade's on his own. :readit: :p :archer2:
:campfire: Thanks for sharing!