Trad Gang

Hmmmm, only 9 blood spots, or is that deer, or the scenic deer trail???  :clapper:

Kenny...my blood trail wasn't that long.....but i was still made a fool of!!!

  :biglaugh:

:bigsmyl:

That first evening was a winner for sure. After going in to look things over and seeing a very nice eight point blast across the equipment trail my spirit was running high.

I actually saw deer from just about every direction from my chosen stand. It was just a matter of time and the weather at the time seemed just about perfect for what we had in mind.

Hell, we even had deer feeding on acorns in the road where a huge oak hung over the gravel. It would turn out that we were going to run short on acorns while we were there.
The good news is that the deer were hitting the bean fields with a vengence.

Though no candidates for the freezer or the taxidermist came close that first night it wouldn't stay that way for long.

We had a bite to eat after the hunt that we whomped up on the kitchen stove. I don't remember exactly what other gourmet ingredients were involved, but I'm pretty sure one of them was Spam.
  :D  
Kenny dropped in to visit as he did most every night of the hunt. His input and enthusiastic attitude were valuable and always welcome additions to our evenings.

We'd be up and at them early the next morning.

Kenny had dropped off a 4 wheeler so Terry and I made good use of it in getting around the property. The animals were used to it and it saved a lot of boot leather.

I dropped off at my stand without leaving a boot track more than 10 feet from the ladder. I like that. Terry slowed down just enough for me to step clear and with a whispered "good luck" he went putting off through the gap and over the hill to the east of my location.

After hooking the carabiner of my tether to the strap I'd attached to the tree I got busy arranging my gear.
A new Haversack from Teresa Asbell held all my goodies so I strapped it to the side of my stand where it would be handy.

Putting an arrow on the string of my bamboo longbow I attached a toothpick and rubber band to it for an arrow holder and hung the bow on a small hook that Terry had given me for the purpose.

I was so busy being efficient that I didn't notice the three deer feeding through the gloom toward my position.

Now, this is the story telling we know and love.
Well worth the wait, I say.
Thanks for taking the time guys.

:bigsmyl:    :campfire:

I never seem to expect deer movement right at first light and I was firmly wrapped up in the minutia of settling into my stand when a movement out in the beans caught my eye.

At first I thought it was a coyote. But it wasn't moving along like a coyote would. As the darkness was slowly being replaced by light and the gray sky turned a pale blue I could clearly make out the forms of three deer feeding in the beans.

They fed along slowly down the hill roughly from my left. Unless they turned around and went back they'd have to commit to a direction at some point. There current line of travel would take them into the brush at my right front and that didn't seem likely.

It was a doe and two youngsters and any of them would do just fine. I had taken the longbow down from it's hook and waited.

It had gotten completely light out and I watched as one of the trio split off and fed away from me toward the gap in the weeds a hundred yards distant.

If the other two followed I'd be out of the game before it even started.

But the other two continued to feed down the hill. If anything they were getting closer and I fingered the leather grip on my bow in anticipation.

Finally they fed into range. The trophy doe (damn they get big in that part of the state) was now at around 20 yards and I waited for an angle on her.
As she slowly turned her body to the left her rib cage opened up and the KME honed Magnus I w/bleeder slid back toward the bow, riding on a camo, 2216, aluminum shaft.

The middle finger of my leather shooting glove buried at anchor point, back muscles stretching to full extension and the arrow was away in a heart beat.

Charlie got to "Full Extension" this AM.  I bet I know what happens next...

Thats right...dead doe.    :D    :thumbsup:    :campfire:

QuoteOriginally posted by Charlie Lamb:
 I don't remember exactly what other gourmet ingredients were involved, but I'm pretty sure one of them was Spam.
   :D  

Charlie...call me crazy, but I luv spam!!!

Mmmmmm fried SPAM!

SPAM eggs spam & spam...

QuoteOriginally posted by Tom Leemans:
Mmmmmm fried SPAM!

No...  Frying would be Too Modern....had to stay Trad.  Ate it right out of the can...only sliced.     ;)  


BACK UP.....

The 1st afternoon I was following Charlie as I didn't know how far into the field he wanted to go before he parked...as his break lights came on I begin to slow, and out of a big blow down on the adjacent property line bounds a really nice * or 10 pointer onto our property crossed in front of Charlie's truck....bolted across 100 yards of beans into the woods on our property.

I eased up to Charlie, and heavily whispered in his ear...."This must be the place"....he returned a big old grin and a nod....and "Definite good sign".

Looking forward to the rest of the story and hopefully more pictures.

Oh...not only was is just Spam....but we had Chile also.

The next morning was nice and cool, I actually had on a wool pull over.  Too bad this was the last day for an outer layer as the temps would rise buy some 30 degrees for the rest of the hunt....

Anyway, I went back to the same stand and listen to the woods wake up and it wasn't long before the deer showed up....

Again, deer started milling through the gap and northward into that little hidden bay of beans with the wooded cover on bow sides just north of me.  Again, no available shots through the brush...

  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012c1.jpg)

You guys are killing me!!!!!!!!!!  I'm snowed in, can't work due to roads being closed, can't hunt, too much wind.  GIMME, GIMME, GIMME, I NEEEEEEDDDDD, I NEEEEEEDDDDD, I NEEEEEEDDDDD.  :pray:  

Kenny, you are going to have a pm coming about the info for one of these hunts.

God Bless

Then around 8:30 I heard what I thought was a buck grunting.  Then I heard it again and got confirmation.  I immediately turned my shoulder to the audible direction and moments later here comes a doe talking steadily along headed north and then she starts a turn to the east like she's coming into my woodlot.

There are two open entrances on that side and I was hoping she's come in the one directly across from me instead of the one 10 yards further south....but she chose the south one.  By the time I figured out where she would enter I hear more grunting from the direction she had come and sure enough a dandy 8 comes trotting along toting a heavily massed bone colored rack right on her trail....

     (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012b1a.JPG)

She enters the woods and continues south east away from me and I let her pass through my lanes as I await a chance at the buck.....he enters the same exact spot on the same trail, he just needs to stop, unlike the does who moved quickly toward the west side of the wood lot after carefully easing through bow range....  

The buck is a bit more cautious and stops in an opening allowing for me to reach 3/4 draw before he makes a move behind some brush at what I would consider the extent of shot range.  He stands there for what seems like eternity as he just watches his 'gal at the moment'.

Yellow was the 'almost' shot....red was the eternity I watched him with obstructions before they both moved south out of my site.

     (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012d1a.JPG)  

At this point I was really pleased with the events of the 1st complete day of hunting.  One evening and one morning and I'd seen some 18 or 19 deer....and almose filled my buck tag the 1st morning on a Missouri Mounter.

Hmmmmmmmm....better take my phone off airplane mode and see if Charlie had texted me.....
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Great story so far...

FWIW with Missouri being the "Show Me" state, I would be avoiding anything called a "Missouri Mounter".  Maybe that is just me :-)

Img....u lost me...do u need a pic of a mounter?....or am i way lost?

With a white cap dip and white fletch it was easy to follow the spinning arrow as it hit the doe just clipping hair off the top of her shoulder. How's that Randy?

She and her little companion were away in a flash running hard back in the direction they'd come. I watched as they passed out of sight near a big oak along the edge of the field.

The other youngster hit the gap across the field on a run and disappeared. I was more than a little disappointed.
I didn't know what else might show up, but at that moment I was feeling deserted and impotent.

In a few moments I spotted the young deer across the field coming out into the open. I was in the game again.
Watching in the direction of the other deer's departure he walked slowly across toward me. She stopped a moment at my arrow sticking there in the beans and scent checked it thoroughly.

I fidgeted a little trying to get back in a shooting position and the little deer went on alert. It became quite suspicious of me sitting there on the side of that tree. I had some good background cover, but little else.

Slowly she moved directly toward me. Before I knew it she was entering the little path where Terry had dropped me off.
I'd sprayed my rubber boots with no scent spray that morning and there was no brush to hold my scent.

Soon she was standing below me, neck stretched out sniffing the ladder of my stand. I squinted hard and pulled back into my neck gator like a turtle to avoid the stare. You know the one. It's where the animal sees the whites of your eyes and instantly becomes a vapor trail disappearing over the horizon.

Deserted?  Impotent?

Gee, Charlie, I had to get out my Funk & Wagnalls!

I just can't quite imagine or get the visual of you going "turtle"... but so far, good job avoiding the eyeball induced vapor trail  :)

I'll never know why I didn't get busted. Chalk it up the the youthful ignorance of my quarry.

Finally she backed away from the stand and turning directly away walked slowly to the field edge where  she made a left turn.

I was going to shoot whether she stopped or not, but like following a script she stopped in the last gap in the tree limbs before her vitals would have been covered.

Drawing on my earlier performance I focused everything I had on the crease behind her shoulder and sent a Simmons Interceptor w/bleeder to it's mark.

She had been standing at a slight angle as I released and the razorsharp head impacted the off shoulder and stopped, leaving a lot of shaft showing on the entry side.

Running flat out the doe headed back across the field toward the brushy gap. She did a good job of it until at the very end she missed the gap by a couple of yards and went down in the horse weeds. I could see my arrow sticking almost straight up and not moving.
There was no doubt. It was over.
 (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/2012kennylease1.jpg)

The morning went by more slowly from that point on. It wasn't without it's moments, though. I saw several more deer including a small buck that came through the brushy gap. He was a little upset by my deer laying there, but came out and move on up the field anyway.
  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/2012kennylease2.jpg)  

Terry showed up and we went straight to the truck. I pulled down to the deer and we through it in the bed and got the heck out of there. We'd field dress it somewhere other than the field.

Once we were clear of the hunting area we could worry about hero pictures and cleaning chores.
  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/2012kennylease3.jpg)
  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/2012kennylease4.jpg)
  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/2012kennylease5.jpg)

Good shot Charlie,,,,, that's some tender vittttles there     :clapper:

Opps!  That's what happens with big thumbs and a phone,,,,  double post

Nice, real nice. But it seems your losing your touch Charlie. This tale is unraveling way faster than the norm. Almost too fast.   :readit:

Heck Yeah!

The next evening I had no action at all, and neither did Charlie.....now get this....no pull over needed....

This morning I had a doe and little one come in the same way the doe and buck did, but they came in and turned south and stayed behind cover offering no shot even though they were slightly in range......and the temps were rising fast.  It was about to get hot, and shut off our pre rut activity we were afraid....and we were right.

Izzy, they are just gettin started buddy!! Hang on!  :D

Time to change spots for me....and for good reason....the rising temps.  Hot afternoons I'm use to being from the south and killing many a deer in 90 degree heat.

Way to go Charlie!

BTW....Charlie had texted me that morning and I was stoked that we'd had one down already.

I'll fast forward through part of my story. Terry has the real stuff to tell.

For the most part my week went more slowly than T's. Oh yeah, there were plenty of deer to be seen and a couple of interesting revelations were revealed , but otherwise it was pretty ordinary.

Revelation one. Assessing the situation so you know exactly where all the animals will move so you can be ready.

Yep, I had it all figured out. They'd come down the hill feeding in the beans or following the equipment road. They'd come out of the brushy gap across the field or from my left rear at the fence crossing. Yep, I had it figured. They wouldn't come along the equipment road gap on my right... except for that one doe that showed up there while I was watching the sure fire spots.

She ended up turning into the weeds half way through the gap and followed the ditch toward the brushy gap.

They couldn't possibly come from my right rear where the brush was impossibly thick either. Yep I had it figured. I was Fred Bear or somebody like him. I saw it all in my keen hunting mind.

Of course there was the time I'd heard the leaves crunching back in there. I'd swiveled in my seat enough that if I twisted my head around real hard I could see into the brush.
It wasn't a deer. Only a gray squirrel hopping along searching for acorns. Yep! I knew that's what it would be.

And I knew that's what it was a few minutes later when I heard it again. With little more than a casual glance I looked down to see a doe and her offspring moving fast toward the ditch to my right and below me. Good call Fred!!

With purpose the doe lead her charges across the ditch within 15 yards of the grim figure watching from the trees above.

All three moved into the horse weeds along the equipment road gap and stood watching I guess... I couldn't see them through the weeds.
Suddenly one of the youngsters spooked and flew back along the trail they came on. The other two followed, though mom seemed less than enthusiastic about the panic.

Well, that was over. You get to where you can tell that stuff when you see it.
So I went back to watching the sure fire places the deer would come from. That's what I was doing when the trio returned along the same route they'd originally showed up on.

Mom had had her way and they were going to continue on there trip to where ever they'd first intended.
It was a mistake she would soon pay for. there was no doubt about that... in my keen hunter's mind.

Shortly she cleared the horse weeds and walked out in front of me. I was standing ready, bow half raised and fingers firmly on the string.
At slam dunk range she lowered her head to nip some greens. The young ones were occupied with other things. It was go time.

If was one of those guys that don't see the arrow in their peripheral vision I'd have not been bothered by what I saw as I drew the arrow. The tip of the arrow leaned way to the right of where it should have been. There was a hard bend in the aluminum shaft about half way down it's length.

I didn't need to channel Fred Bear to know this situation was over. Soon the doe lead her tasty companions down along the field edge and disappeared in the brushy gap.

Doh! A bent shaft? Am I reading right, Charlie?

Now that's serious bad mojo if I'm seeing that correctly... how'd that happen?  Gotta be a "back story" to that one...

Hate that for ya, Bud...  :(

The bottom line is i don't have a clue how that arrow got in my quiver. I did a thorough check of all my arrows after that and found one more in the quiver that needed to be culled.

My suspicions involve something falling on the quiver in transport or at home or it happened on a follow up shot I made on one of my deer in Kansas.

I lean toward the former. Aluminums have to take a hell of shot to bend that bad.  I immediately cut the nock off of it so it wouldn't make it back into the lineup before I could remove the insert.

I broke it in half and trashed it on my return home.

Sorry Charlie....I think I got ahead....I'd forgot that was the hunt with your bent arrow.

I meant to take notes, or just speak into my cell phone after each of our hunts so we could keep track....being there 5 days....sometimes they start to run together.

I guess I'm up.....

:campfire:

That is a bad feeling. I did that once except I had a....judo on the string. Saved the life of a doe and made me feel even more stupid.RC

Terry's up!!
  :readit:

Bummer on the experience, Charlie. Thanks for sharing at least some conjecture as to the cause.

One reason I shoot carbons was worrying about such things...

Can't wait (well, have to) for the rest of the tales!

Great story telling guys enjoying every word.   :bigsmyl:  

Tracy

Great tales so far, even the errors.  makes me feel normal.  I love teaching, but hate how it makes travel during deer season an impossibility.  I would be all over a spot next year.  Sounds like and incredible property.  Keep em coming.

OK...Charlie did have a hot stand and I told him what I wanted to do....and he said that sounded like a sure enough plan.  This is the place I helped Charlie affix a stand in a cedar over a little pond last year that yielded a deer.  With the temps moving north, I figured I'd give this pond area a shot.

OK....I verified with Charlie that last year all the deer he encountered from the blind AND the cedar came from the right(north)....and I had a south wind, so the set up was right....lets see what happens...

I was set up in this mess of stuff which surrounded a BIG white oak. The oak had a ring of brush around it but was open and plenty roomy around the trunk. Now, this oak was dropping loads of acorns last year, but not that many this year as I found on my lunch sneak in for a quick peek....but there was a brand new scrape right in front of oak on the other side of the 20 yard stretch of beans to the narrow wood line that surrounded a little pond.  I had seen enough, and with the wind right, I definitely thought it was worth a shot.

I was all ghilied up, sporting my new ghilie beret made by Curt n Cade, and sitting in my new smaller version Hunt More chair checking my texts as I had some time to kill since I'd gotten in there early, and nothing was really going to sneak up on me with my occasional view of the open bean field and curved wood line to my right.

  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012blind1.jpg)

  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012blind2.jpg)

  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012blind3.jpg)

  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012blind4.jpg)    


I'd been there maybe 15 minutes when I spotted two bucks feeding in the corner of the bean field, but they looked to have been eating acorn instead from a tree that leaned out over the crop. The texting was over and the phone turned off....I was now on point....

  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzughililook2a.jpg)

I was just wondering if they would make it to the pond and the 'shooter' would offer me a shot.....

I would soon find out ....and will always wonder which one of us was the craziest.....

:bigsmyl:  


:campfire:

You're still excited over Ol' Lucky aren't ya!!  :cool:  

Double post!!  :)

You're right I am still excited but one of the posts was on Bowyers Bench and got moved   :)


Need to see this deer Terry!!!

I meant Terry, I'm a slow typer!!   :biglaugh:

I think this thread should be banned due to the nature of Terry Green sleeping on stand with painted eyelids to look like he's awake!!!  

Great story as usual  ;) .

As a side note: the next 3 hunters are here and killed one doe the first day!!   :goldtooth:

And on the ground with a ghillie to boot!!

Get some!!

Spam and Chili...boy I bet that cabin was in serious need of an air ionizer.  :help:  

This is a fun thread to read.   :thumbsup:

Dang I dig that hat. You look like Side Show Bob from the Simpsons.  
Keep it coming.

yeah yeah yeah and...????

That wasn't a double post...not sure what happened....the 2nd one was the correct one with more detail.

Sorry about that.....

Guys...I've dealing with some issues with my Dad....please bear with me.

Terry your Family comes first,we can wait for a story about your hunt,take care.

Here's a story you wont hear much.....

I'm going to tell it because it might happen to you, and it may help someone down the road if it does....I'm sure it might be too embarrassing for some to tell...but hey, it happened....so here goes...

The bucks made there way up to the south entrance of the pond and I *think* both of them went in and got a drink but not sure...but I know one of them jumped in, or was pushed    :D .

Anyhow, the 'shooter' pops back out and starts coming my way and turns to my left walking right along the edge of the wood line and the bow comes up........ I start getting the rhythm of the gate by watching the elbow...

Straight across from me elbow starts forward and arrow is away.... and sails right over his back....

Wow, I really thought I was focused in on that pocket, how did I do that?...

So....'Lucky' makes a bolt forward and stop...turns around and takes a look...and walks over and starts feeding on some vines quartering away from me.....the 2nd arrow is away.....right over his back.

This time he bolts further down toward a ditch to the north and looks around....no big deal he thinks, so he start horning a tree.

Now his smaller buddy is doing the same thing to a cedar, the one Charlie killed his deer out of last year, just inside the wood line with the view of the pond behind him.  This buck don't have a clue what is going on.

Now after a couple of minutes, the little buck comes out of the woods just north of me and looks for 'Lucky' and spots him.....but Lucky also sees him and starts back towards me....Huh?  Are you kidding, I just might get another shot?

OK OK...calm down Terry, this is not the biggest buck you've ever seen, nor the biggest buck you've ever killed.  Yeah, he's a nice buck, and yes he would look good on the wall and make for a great story and many fond memories on the grill but he's just a deer Terry....so do your stuff.

He's coming with no reservations and meets up with his buddy and turns broadside closer than he's been before.....and AGAIN.....right over his back!!!!

What the heck am I doing?????  Is this just too easy that I can find a way to focus enough to hit this deer that has given me THREE easy shots???

I'd convinced myself that I couldn't hit him in the butt with a base fiddle if he was sedated and tied to a tree!!!!

:thumbsup:

Now both the 'boys' dash off toward the ditch to my left and start milling around, grooming each other, and lightly sparing.  They were in range again soon moving west but Lucky had his back to me offering me no shot,

This went on for about 15 minutes while two does made their way into the pond on the right side to get a drink....they too were at the acorn tree and were clueless of the bright florescent yellow feather birds sailing around.

Finally the bucks started to make a move west grazing on beans.  I stood up and turned my shoulder toward them and waited for yet another shot.  That shot appeared, ever so slightly quartering away....causing a beautiful glow on Lucky's coat and a slight shadow in the crease we hunters long for.  I took a deep breath, and slowly drew the bow and pulled to anchor.....

And again I watched another arrow fly right over his back.  FOUR identical0 shots....an inch over his back and all perfect windage.

I could only laugh as they decided it was time to move....but they did so ever so gingerly.  I watched his rack disappear over the hill silhouetted by the westward sun.....

There I was, sitting down again to try and gain some sort of composure, and come to grips with that had just happened.

Sure, I'd missed before,....been a while since I'd missed two animals in a row, cant remember when, and we all get into some sort of funk from time to time, but this was a total dismantling of my abilities to hit an animal that was just right there' FOUR times.

Like I said earlier....I don't know which one of use was out of our minds the most....me for missing the same exact way 4 times, or Lucky for allowing me to get 4 shots at him.

He earned a last name at this moment in time.....

He would now be known as Mr. Lucky Charms.

Man I doin,t know whats going on here.I sent Kenny a PM and put my name on the list,but there seems to be very strange things happening.Charlie's arrows are some how bent like a boomarang and Terry,s bow is shooting high.I may have to give this place some more thought.  :D

:scared:    :scared:    :scared:   Sometimes even the best miss high, remember the Bacon Strip this past August?   :saywhat:  Since I cant hunt a for a few days this is keeping me going.

You can imagine what all was going through my head while I watched the does in the pond area playing around.  I'd never even heard of something like that happening to anyone, and not only did I witness it, I actually executed that bizarre performance.

I had one arrow left and I don't even know why I put it on the shelf, but I did.

Here comes big mamma out of the pond the same way she entered, just like Lucky did, and the little one was tailing 10 yards or so behind....no, if she turned like Lucky did, I wasn't even going to shoot....nope, I didn't deserve to shoot I told my self.  No way am I going to continue the madness.

She turned just as Lucky and walked the same path, and I found myself timing the rhythm of her gate just as I did Lucky.....watching that elbow moving back and forth......

She approached the same exact shooting lane never missing stride and somehow the bow just came up.....

I am going to wager that your nock point moved.  Am I right?

Must be the new and improved "salad hat" that is making your bow shoot high.  Most likey sped those arrows up to 300fps.   :saywhat:

Some deer just lead "Charmed" lives Terry...  I know you well enough to know that setback didn't slow you down in the least...

This is making my day...  I think we have all had a day or two like that...  Well maybe not quite like that     :)

I can't believe you beat my personal best - I missed a monster buck 3 times, just over the back with perfect windage each time. I don't often carry 5 arrows, but might have to if I'm gonna reclaim the title...

Terry, I must say when you do something, you do it well.

Great story. I bet you redeem yourself.

What resulted from the bow coming up???

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  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012heart.jpg)

A big Nanny Doe for Hope.

   (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012hopedoe1a.jpg)
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I'll have some more pics of her in the AM....lost my editing software here at the house somewhere, somehow.....

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See? I told ya.  :goldtooth:  

Congratulations.

Congratulations Terry! That doe eased your dander... She's tastier anyway!

Congrats T!  I knew it wouldn't slow you down!

Im glad I am in good company with some of this stuff. Great shot on the doe Terry.

Wow! "T"

I've seen you shoot and that's just bizarre.

I bet you were devastated after number 4 arrow.

It does however make someone who is at best an average shot feel better about our misses.

I mean if can happen to someone who shoots like you can, then it can happen to anyone.

Your perfect hit on the doe proves what you can do.

God bless,Mudd

Nice!!!

She didn't go far  ;)

Def a nice doe!!  :bigsmyl:

News flash!! Another deer down!! Small racked big bodied buck, and forgot camera again!!  :banghead:

The problem could have been Lucky Charms didn't have a heart.   :laughing:

This is wy I seldom post stories Some guys now how to do it well.I'm not one of them.Great job guys   :thumbsup:    :clapper:

Through the years, I have come to believe that we take the animals the good Lord intended us to take. There have been times I could've stabbed deer with a knife, they were THAT close! or I have passed on gimme shots for no reason, other than to enjoy the moment.

Then there's those other moments. You said it Terry "and somehow the bow just came up....."

Yes, there's no feeling like that total let down when you miss. I miss-judged the wind 2 years ago and watched my arrow take a left turn and harmlessly brush a magnificent buck's butt, instead of putting him down. I decided to not dwell on it, because what goes around...right Terry?

There we go, I knew sooner or later something was gonna get itself killed. So what was wrong with your bow???    :readit:

QuoteOriginally posted by Gatekeeper:
The problem could have been Lucky Charms didn't have a heart.     :laughing:  

Now I wasn't going to come up with some sort of list of excuses.....

But that right there is the best one that anyone could ever come up with!!!

I saw the arrow enter the heart, and she entered the pond's wood line for two bound then turned right for 4 more bound and was down.

He's some better pics....


And in case some of you didn't catch it earlier.....I was hunting with Hope.  

She was a big Girl.

    (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012herodoe1.jpg)

    (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012herodoe2.jpg)

    (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012herodoe3.jpg)  

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I'll be back with a pic of my 'hide out' and pics of Mr. Lucky Charms that I took the next day...along with some short video clips of him.
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Terry that poor 'ol doe had no idea you were down to your "starvation" arrow  :)  Great shooting!!!

It takes an honest man to admit to misses...Someone who ain't afraid to "put it out there". If it can happen like that to a fella that has killed some great critters from wiley hogs, to bears, to buffalo, to big deer then it can happen to ANYONE! Ol lucky just had a horseshoe up his arse...'cause I can bet he never come closer to being dead than having you that close   :campfire:  

Congrats on makin' meat with Hope!!!

Way to go Terry!   :clapper:

Dang that's a big doe   :scared:  

Way to go!!

WoW thats a big deer,perfect shot on that one!  :thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

Here's my 'Hide Out'.....

  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012hideout2.jpg)

While I'm loading Lucky pics n clips...

Anyone ever see anything like this at the base of the neck of a deer?

  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/mizzu2012hopedoeswirla.jpg)

Yeah all our deer around here have that Terry. Sometimes the hair tips aren't that dark and it isn't as clear. And sometime the circle patter isn't as perfect either.

Awesome stuff Congrats!

Looks like a big ol cowlick   :laughing:

:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

My Nemesis....

  Lucky Charms clip 1 (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/MVI_Lucky33.MOV)

  Lucky Charms clip 2 (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/MVI_Lucky35.MOV)

  Lucky Charms clip 3 (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/MVI_Lucky36.MOV)

Terry, sent ya a text pic!!

Kenny, did you just send Terry a picture of Lucky Charms in the back of somebody else's truck?
 :dunno:

No ,LOL, sent him a pic of him that I took a month back......

If I was as smart as this smart fone, I'd post it here!!  :biglaugh:

Terry, I think that's a crop circle. I have seen the hair grow that way but never darker like that.

Chris

That was a neat whorl , never saw one quite like it!!

There's a great reason to keep a diary on hunting trips. It's so you can keep the days and the events straight.
Maybe it's my age or I.Q. but I can't remember what happened when. I know Terry got pretty intense in his pursuit of "Lucky" and the discussions at night were more game plan strategy than anything.

My own days were busy enough, and I anticipated a nice buck showing up every time I was in the woods.
If you drew a straight line from my stand to the oak/pond site it couldn't be more than a few hundred yards, yet I don't believe I was seeing any of the deer that Terry was.
"Lucky" sure never showed up.

I saw bucks alright... probably at least 4 different ones.I could have shot one for sure but even with the relaxing of the point restrictions due to CWD I wasn't interested in burning my tag on him.

The oak tree up the hill continued to show deer late in the day, scrounging for the remaining acorns. I thought about a ground set up there, but most of the deer wandered down my way anyway so I never did that.

One evening I looked up to see a lone deer feeding under that oak. It finally moved out into the beans and fed around for 15 minutes or so before I saw two more deer cross over from the tree farm.

Had any of them sported decent racks I'd have seen it from where I was. I raised my Leica's just out of curiosity.
Interestingly enough the last two deer were little bucks. A spike and a narrow, high,6 point. As they finished looking around under the oak, they moved out into the beans.

That made the lone animal (a young doe) pretty nervous and she scooted down the hill toward me.  It looked like she would hit the gap on my left and cross over the fence behind me.
Either that or she'd come by straight out in front of me. Either way, she would be in trouble.

The closer she got the more sure I was that she was headed toward the gap on my left. I turned my bow in that direction and stood ready.

Finally she stood at the entrance to the little lane that was the trail to the fence crossing. With plenty of room in my freezer at home I eyed the plump little critter.

She stood calmly surveying her back trail as if to be sure that the boys weren't following. Her tail flipped twice and I knew she'd be moving.
What happened next made me chuckle. With a playful hop she bounded past me and lightly sailed over the fence and out of sight. It still makes me smile.

Even in the heat it was obvious that rut behavior was gathering intensity. I noticed a fresh rub along a brushy draw in the middle of the field one morning and that afternoon found a fresh scrape along the woodline I followed to my stand.
  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/2012kennylease11.jpg)

That this activity was happening well after dark I had little doubt. All I could do was bide my time and put in the hours on stand.

I even put a stand up in the little wood lot that held the oak which dropped acorns on the county road. I think I was too late with that plan. The acorns appeared to be gone as best as I could tell.

Then one evening I was sitting there counting hedge apples on a tree across the way when I heard the unmistakable sound of a squirrel foraging in the leaves to my right rear.

What's that old saying about "fool me once"? I turned slowly and carefully, straining a not so limber neck to see what was close behind me.

Bingo!! A small, lone, doe moved slowly in the direction the group had the other day. I looked around but saw no others.
It was stopped now and staring off across the fence toward the tree farm. I thought possibly it could be mama and twin or even a lusty buck, but saw nothing.

After a long time standing still the doe flipped her tail and turned all the way around. I knew instinctively that she would cross the ditch and come up onto the trail to my left.

I swiveled around, grabbed my bow and released the tooth pick/rubber band arrow holder. She could turn toward the fence and I'd have no shot, but since I figured she'd come from that way I doubted she would do that. I was right.

I don't normally like to stop a deer like they do in the TV programs, but this deer was moving with a purpose. I gave a low whistle and she stopped just as I hit full draw.
  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/2012kennylease12.jpg)

In the fading light the arrow was a mere flicker in the gloom. I had the sense that the hit was further back than it should have been and the doe lit out like the devil was after her.

I watched as she followed a similar path as the one I'd shot just days before (red line). She was headed to the same spot, but like her predecessor she didn't make it (yellow line).
   (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/2012kennylease10.jpg)  

   (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/2012kennylease8.jpg)

Well done Charlie!!!  Great story and pictures   :)  

  :campfire:

I texted Terry that we had business to take care of and was standing by the trail as he came putting up on the 4 wheeler... when used as the tool they are I love them. It sure saved my old achin back from the drag. I just hate to see them misused when leaving boot tracks is more appropriate.

  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/2012kennylease9.jpg)

When we opened her up I found that the shot was indeed off the mark. Most likely the bow string had hooked a button on my bibs which always throws the arrow left and up.

The modified STOS (I added a bleeder) had done it's job and reinforced why I like a multiblade head. I don't know if it was the main blade or the bleeder that cut the dorsal aorta on it way through, the fact is that one of them did. Would a two blade have slipped on through without cutting it? Absolutely, maybe!

Woohoo!! Love me some does!! I too know when that feeling that sometimes comes, as if we just know what the deer has planned, but actually comes together sometimes too!!

Terry, your right, it did get hysterical!! I actually laughted out loud when I read it. I guess it's because we have all missed like that (maybe not 4 times) as if we started this journey yesterday....

God bless,
Nathan

I only hope I look that good on that 4whlr Charlie!! Love that pic, usin it like it is sposed to be.

Well this story has me making ajustments to my equipment.I just went out to the shop and added another blade tipped arrow to my quiver.Usually only carry 3 arrows with blades and one small game arrow.I would not want to run out of ammo tomorrow.Now on with the story....  :bigsmyl:

Good stories and tender venison !

Way to go Terry! Way to go Charlie!   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Congrats again Charlie!

Awesome fellas....great story tellin!!!!

Good shootin', Charlie!

During the week I had to make a couple of trips into town to check my email. Thanks goodness there is a McDonald's in Brookfield. I'm not the most gifted technology guy on the planet, but found it easy to use there WiFi connection.

Good thing I did. I'd been waiting to here from the printer about the progress of my book and was more than a little preoccupied with getting my mail.

It turns out there were some issues that needed addressing and I took my laptop back to the cabin to work in peace.

  (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/2012kennylease6.jpg)  

I was able to make the needed edits and another trip to town and I got the stress level evened out.

All together it had been another great trip at Kenny's lease. It's been overlooked by most here and I guess I'm conflicted about that.

It's for a great cause. The lease money provides income for an older couple who can use it no doubt.
By having it under Kenny's control the deer herd is prospering. Terry and I both noticed an increase in numbers and quality of bucks seen on this hunt.

On the other hand, if Terry and I are the only one's using this opportunity it feeds that selfish nature in me.... more deer for me.
  :D  

We'll be back next year for sure. I still have a date with one of the big old bucks that haunt the property and I know Terry has a score to settle.

"Terry and I both noticed an increase in numbers and quality of bucks seen on this hunt."

And you really didn't get to the big piece of land!  I'm gonna work on better,easier access next year!    :thumbsup:    

Great to see you guys again!
   :)

Charlie, Terry,
Man those were some great stories and pics.  I can hardly contain myself.  I am ready for my trip.  You guys went the same week that me and my son in law went last year.  We also saw some chasing and lots of deer.  Good huntin guys!

Carlie, as you said, it is a great lease.  I hope you didn't rib ole Terry too much about old Lucky.

Terry, did you loose any arras I need to look for this year?  I found the one you lost last year.  :goldtooth:

Great story guys, thanks for sharing.  :clapper:

Great story!!!   well the time changed last night an i woke up at 330 ..this was a great read. thanks for the storys fellas..

 Terry did you ever figure out what was going on? an the clump of hair on the neck i shot a doe last year an cut it open an was filled with a ball of loose hair?

Glad to see Charlie carrying on this thread...I've been away from internet for a few days...will get back to this on this evening....

T

""T"" your audience awaits   :)  

  :campfire:

Great Story tellin fellas   :thumbsup:    :campfire:

:coffee:

Ahhh, the rut is about to blow up here!!

The 3 hunters on my lease are seeing bucks, several little ones and some big.

The older brother, I think 84 years young, rattled in 4 bucks today, and they rattled him also!!  2 quite large ones and 2 smaller. He was excited!!

He had never rattled before, and to bring 4 in in one day is quite a feat!! LOL

No deer were taken, bur the excitement level was high tonight!!

Not only that, but last night, he was picking up his gear, near the old pallet stand when he heard heavy hoofbeats, said he thought it was a horse, then an elk, but it was a biiiggg buck  scentchecking in the cut beanfield.

Its about to pop guys, if you haven't been seeing bucks and are discouraged, get right back out there.

Tomorrow is Magic Wednesday in MO, the Wed. before gun season it usually happens here in N MO (and I'm takin off work!!) :bigsmyl:    :bigsmyl:    :bigsmyl:    :bigsmyl:

Go get em  Kenny!! Hope you have a lot of Magic. Don't forget your camera. I like seeing all your pics of bucks you been seeing.    :thumbsup:

Sorry I've not followed up....got issues with Dad still and all sorts of stuff going on.

I had a great night the next night after the 'bizarre' night before...and had a parade of does walk between me and the pond while I was taking pics and clips of Lucky down in the corner.

Count have shot a hand full of em as they came in different groups...

The next night I'd get in that corner IF the wind was right.

As for the last two mornings...they had been rather slow....not sure if it was the moon phase or the heat or combo of both....the deer were just not moving in the 'open range' areas, and Charlie and I didn't want to go into their bedding areas and bust them....so we just tuffed out the AMs.

T,

Sorry to hear about your Dad problems...lived thru those for over 2 years... they can suck the verve outa ya...

Sounds like it was a grand experience for you and Charlie, both!

I had heard Charlies book proceeds were going to sponsering a middle aged guy to come hunt with him and kenny next year.

Thanks Charlie!  :) .   Great thread guys!

Take care of your Dad.
The stories, and we can wait.

The next afternoon...I got 'in their lap'....moving to the corner where they were feeding on the pin oak acorns.

The wind was PERFECT for the hunt, and the local I needed to get into. Although the spot I needed to hide was littered with very little cover other than my gillie.

Once again, I'd be sitting on my HuntMore Chair....

Terry u are one bad man in that gillie hat! lol

I ended up having a momma and little one IN MY LAP that next evening...I could not believe I had ANOTER momma doe fooled on the ground, and only a few weeds and SIX yards between us.

I had the buck beat again....had him in range, but the shot I wanted I did not get....something along the lines of a horse fly bite insued, and I witnessed a very bizzare retreat of Lucky.

All and all, Charlie and I could have no doubt, if i'd done my job on the buck and Charlie wouldn't have had a bent arrow,...could have easily taken home 6 or 7 deer that weekend and that's no joke....

AND, that would have been off the SMALL property of just 150 acres!!!

Lots of great memories for sure...and Charlie and I will be back next year Lord willing.

Terry, Ol Lucky will be bigger next year, and used up more luck. So hope to see ya next season!!  :coffee:

Great report !!!!! - this is an excellent hunt at a bargain price - beautiful I hope it stays archery managed for many years - just a few groups dedicated to what we do can support this property. I suspect these middle dates will be full from here on - I sure hope so. Good luck with it kenny this project is done very well. Charlie and Terry you guys hunt for all the right reasons  :)  
<><
<-----------------<<<<<<<

Hi Cory,

It will be trad only as long as I am with it! I love the idea of a level playing field for all participants, no 50 yd shots!(except the pesky nephew gunner that I have to let hunt during gun)

I hope the deer are all taking refuge there since rifle opened today!

Kenny I guess we will see how Lucky's luck stands up to a gun?????

PM me your contact info Kenny, if you don't mind...  got a couple of questions...

As long as Ol Lucky stays put on the lease, he won't have to worry! If only the girls don't lead him astray!  :D  

PM sent

The truck is loaded and the Arkansas boys will be headed north about 3:00 in the a.m.  Can't wait!  Those Missouri deer are in for a chase.
 :pray:

Hi Kenny,
         Did you ever run into the young buck you had on trail cam that was huge for his age or know if he was taken anywhere nearby?

David... good luck and have fun. Wish I was going back
  :wavey:    :wavey:

Man, you guys are making me sick, I SO wanted to get down to MO this year, but due to my fumbling around in Iowa I didn't have enough time left.  I like Missouri...I went so far as to buy a farm out there this fall(that I don't even have time to hunt this year!  :(  ).  Will have plenty of time to scout it out, though, for next year.

I WILL get down and visit next year Kenny...I know I've been saying that the last couple years...but it WILL happen next fall.  I'll see you some day the first week or two of November next year.  Watch out for the Toyota with Indiana plates!

R

Let me know where your farm is and I'll do some advance scouting for you... like you need my help!
  :D

Ron,

Haven't seen hide nor hair, but didn't have cameras up on that one due to being a 1/2 mile walk in to get the cards. Didn't want to be intruding on the deer sweatin it up all summer!!

Ryan, I'll most likely be around, hard to pry me outta N MO 1st 2 weeks of Nov!!  :D  

This is for Darrel, David has been textin me reports this eve,

3:33 pm - 14 turkey and 6 deer while hangin some stands

4:05 pm -forkhorn passed at 5 yds

4:21 pm - small buck w/2 does

Last text, I will go check on em in a bit!!  :D

Kenny I just got off the phone with David a few moments ago. Sounds like they're seeing lots of deer!!!!!  Saturday can't get here fast enough.
Gotta take care if those Black Friday shoppers and then I'm outa here    :goldtooth:   Gonna be hard to keep my foot off the petal.  
I gotta feeling one of them is going to fling and arrow or two tomorrow!!

David and crew should be home by now, so y'all can go ahead and pressure them til they tell their tales!!  :goldtooth:  

One more group of guys at years end....

Well, we need some stories, sleep and unpacking can wait!

Well fellas, here we go.  Last year as soon as Darrell and I pulled out on HWY 5 going home we started planning this years hunt.  What a place to hunt!  I like to hunt hard.  No messing around.  We are here to hunt deer.  That kind of hunting.

This year me and my son Noah (red wolf archer)went ahead of my son-in-law Darrell by a couple days.  We got to Linneus about 11:30 a.m. and visited with Kenny for a while and unloaded the truck.  Went to south lease to hang a couple stands in places we saw lots of deer last year.  While hanging the stands we kicked up 14 turkey and 4 doe.  Three of the doe didn't even run off.  They just hung around.

We decided to let those spots wait till morning and go to north lease and sit a couple stands Kenny already had hanging.  I went to n.e. corner of the property where I missed a deer last year and Noah hunted Charlie's stand.  That is what we called it because Charlie had some good luck from it already this year.  I'm gonna tell my side of the hunt and get ol red wolf to tell his.

It was a very exciting first afternoon.  We had been worried about not seeing deer because we were hunting after gun season and during a special gun doe season.  I climbed up about 3:15 and by 4:00 I already had a great opportunity on a fork horn at 5 yards.  I let him walk.  A few minutes later I heard a buck grunt behind me.  I eased my head around to see a small buck hurding around a couple doe in the bean field about 40 yards away.  I tried to keep my eye on him and the doe but they were very active.  He grunted several times and acted like he was going to move on so I grunted back at him.  This scared the largest do so badly you would think she had been shot!  That was the last I saw of them.  Right at dark I saw three more doe moving down the east fence line about 100 yards away.  What a way to start a hunt!

:campfire:

:coffee:

My hopes were ,with one gun hunter 30 yards from the edge of the big parcel of land, the deer on adjoining farms would move into the property to take refuge with no human intrusion.

I think it sorta worked like that!  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Kenny was wrong, it didn't sorta work it really worked!  I told him a few months ago I felt good about seeing deer and boy did we.

On day two of the hunt we went out extra early  (5:30 a.m.) to get on the stands.  Soon after daylight I saw a big bodied deer on the south edge of the draw walking around the bean field.  Didn't appear to be feeding.  It had it's head downd and moving pretty quick.  I figure it to be a buck.  Mid morning I saw three doe move into the woods very close to spot I saw the big bodied deer.  I soon lost sight of them.  Near 9:30 I had two doe bust me at 15 yards.  Sneaky were they.  I never saw or heard them till it was too late.

Noah was a turkey magnet all week.  He had turkey all around him all mornig but no deer.  Don't know about you guys but I can hardly blink my eyes while in a tree and the turkeys are gone.

We got off our stands about 10:30 and went to camp for some late breakfast.

"Noah was a turkey magnet all week. He had turkey all around him all mornig but no deer. Don't know about you guys but I can hardly blink my eyes while in a tree and the turkeys are gone."

Wearin blaze orange don't help there either!! LOL

Sorry guys for not getting back to this sooner.  Been out of town and am heading out again tomorrow.

Thursday afternoon neither of us saw deer.  We were hunting stands that produced last year and had some good sign but not many daytime deer.  It was also a south wind stand.  The wind was supposed to change to the north on Friday.  

Friday morning the wind had changed to north and was blowing 30 mph.  The temp was also about 30.  Brutal cold for us warm blooded Arkansasans.  I hunted the "gap" stand and Noah went back to Charlie's stand on the north property.

I lasted about 1 hour maybe.  The wind and cold about blew me out of my tree.  I decided to get down about 7:30.  I was in the process of getting my pack and quiver on and turned to see a doe being chased by a shooter buck about 30 yards away.  Should I stay or should I go?  I was wanting to stay but was so cold I could not stand it.  I decided to get down.  I lowered my bow and turned loose of the string.  I truned to climb down and 4 doe were staring at me from 20 yards.  :banghead:

You needed one of these that day!!  :campfire:  

I was slaving over the hot shop tools that morning!!  :goldtooth:

That was 6 deer in about 10 minutes.  I climbed down and deciced to make a real big circle and sneak back into the wind to where the deer had all gone.  They had all gone to a spot the deer guide Kenny M had told me about the night before.  

I circled around to the dried up creek that the deer had gone to.  It took me about an hour or so to get there.  I had just found a nice root wad to sit on and looked up to see a deer coming my way.  I got ready!  I steadied my feet and stood up.  It was coming perfect.  My heart went from really excited to let down a little when a pretty big bodied spike passed by me at 15 yards.

I felt pretty good about the spot.  It would be good for a north or south wind.  I sat there another hour.  Then I saw him.  I saw a no doubter.  A really big bodied buck with a head full of big yellow antlers.  He worked his way around the creek on the far side at about 40 yards.  Passed by and never knew I was anywhere around.  Jumped a fence and was gone.

I deciced that this is where I was going to spend as much time as I could to try to get a shot at this deer.

The weather was terrible and I had seen 8 deer by 11:00.  Now to put up a stand and hopefully see this buck again.

"deer guide Kenny M"

:laughing:

Noah hunted the north property and was determined to sit the bad weather longer than ole dad.  He figured he would never hear the end of it if he called it a morning.  He didn't know that old dad had already hit the ground.  :D  

He saw a doe and a nice shooter buck crosing the field at the rock crossing but no shot.

We met for a snak and talked out our morning.  I told him of my plan and we decided to try to scout a new spot out for him.  I wanted to try a spot that Darrell and I liked last year but never hunted on the south property.  

We'll call this he levee stand.  We found lots of sign.  I'll bet we found at least 10 fresh scrapes that stretched out about 50-60 yards.  We set Noah up where the deer were transitioning from bean fields and the woods and thickets.  A natural funnel.  It looked great!

We set up the stand in a pin oak close to an old levee.  A small tree with lots of limbs.  He was hidden very well.  The deer would come in close.  Hope he shoots straight is what I was thinking.

We set me up in the dry creek about 20 yards from where the big buck jumped the fence to the big thicket.  Back to camp for a little rest before the evening hunt.

Kenny, I thought you would like the deer guide handle.  Ha Ha!

I may not be the smartest guy around but when a hunter tells me he saw more than one group of deer go to a certain place.  I pay attention!
 :goldtooth:

:campfire:

:campfire:

We didn't get much rest.  Time to go.  Wind was still howeling.  I saw of all things another spike!  Noah saw a great big buck trailing a doe about 40-50 yards behind him.  No shots.  But we felt we had great stands for the next couple days.  The wind was supposed to blow west north west for the next few days.  We were really excited about what we had seen.  Both of us were on really good bucks!

Saturday morning 11-24-12 will be a day I will probably never forget.  It started out very early and very cold.  The wind had subsided but the temps were in the 20's.  I put on alot of cloths.  I don't like wearing so many cloths but I don't like getting cold either.

My morning started with 2 doe moving across a sage grass field about 200 yards away coming to me and coming directly where I had just walked to my stand.  Sure enough, when they got to about 30 yards they smelled where I had been and they truned and walked back the way they came.

At 9:30 it happened.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw a deer moving across the same sage field that the doe had just come from.  It was the big buck!  I immediately stood up.  He was headed west into the wind.  I watched him continue on the same path and thought he would keep going so I decided to give him a little grunt to stop him.  

I grunted twice and his head went up.  He immediately turned north and headed straight to the dry creek at a much quicker pace.  He entered the creek about 60 yards from me.  He truned again and was headed straight for me.  

He closed the distace very quickly.  All the while I was praying "please don't let me miss"!  When I say he was headed straight for me I mean on a straight line.  He stopped at 5 yards behind a split fork birch tree and looked right up at me.  I was at full draw.  We played peek a boo for a couple seconds.  He turned broadside, I let loose the string.  The grizzly tipped fir arrow burried to the fletch very high in the ribs on a steep angle.

I watched him run off.  He ran very well for a deer shot like that.  By the time I got to my phone to text my son he had already sent me a text to tell me he had missed a spike.  I told him what I had done and we decided to give him at least an hour to lay down and die.

I put my phone in my pocket and was searching the area for sign of the deer when another deer appears.  It was a doe.  Then another doe appears followed by 13 more.  They all went to the same sage grass field. Then at least three more bucks joined them.  I was watching at least 20 deer and had just shot a huge 8 pointer.  I watched the deer for 45 minutes.  After they all left, I got down to find about 14" of the working end of my arrow painted red with blood.  I was feeling pretty good.  Time to go meet Noah.

:campfire:

:campfire:    :archer2:    :dunno:

I sent Kenny a text to see if he could help with the tracking.  We met at 11:00 and started looking.  We started where the shot took place and quickly found some blood.  The blood was scarce.  The buck went west down the dry creek and made a left turn to head back the same way he came to the creek.  We found very little blood and it got worse.  He didn't bleed.  We lost his trail.  Of course this all took place over about 2 hours.  By about 1:00 we stopped looking.  I was sick!  I was wishing I was home and not deer hunting.

By this time the third party of our group my son-in-law had made it to MO.  I didn't want to be a wet blanket so I tried my best to put on my best hunting face and get ready to hunt again.

I don't know what happened.  At 5 yards I shot a little high.  Maybe he did duck a little when I shot.  I just don't know.  The arrow had full penetration.  We found all the arrow.  It was bloody from the fletching to the point.

It was a beautiful buck.  He wasn't the widest deer but had very tall yellow tines.   He would have went well over 200 LB.  The best deer I have shot with any weapon.  

I guess that is hunting.  I don't know.  I went from very high to the lowest of lows in 3 hours.  I saw many more deer the rest of the trip but didn't take any more shots.  I did see a bigger buck and put Darrell to hunting him, but he was not seen by Darrell.

This is by far my favorite place of all my hunting spots to go to hunt white tail deer with traditional equipment.  The deer are not presured and it is obvious by how they react to people.  

The last two days of our hunt I hunted from the ground.  I got to within 10 feet of an old mama doe.  I did get busted when I started to draw but had some what of a since of pride knowing how close I was to her.

If there are any out there thinking about a place to trukey hunt this spring.  I can tell you where to go.  We saw turkey every day.  I am certain some were the same birds every day but we saw at least 50 turkey.  We saw them on both farms.

Kenny was a great host.  He checked on us every day.  Even Thanksgiving!  He even helped us eat some deer.  You would have to look long and hard to find a better guy anywhere.  If the Lord is willing and I can make it I'll be back again next year.

Thanks for sharing your hunt with us David. Sorry to hear you did not recover your buck, like you said, that's hunting.
Safe travels..

I felt really bad for David on this one, after 100 yds I knew it was gonna be rough, poor blood and the deer never slowed up, much laid down.

When you have an exit  hole as low as from a 5 yard shot, there should be much blood.

The blood ran out after maybe 140 yds, and after much looking, David found one more watery drop smaller than a dime going into the thick cedar and pinoak bedding area. We looked thru it but found nothing more. I hate when that happens, but like I told David, if you hunt much, it has happened or will happen to you .

My regret is not having a tracking dog lined up that I could call in since it is now legal in MO. Sorry David!

:(

It happens as Kenny said. Never a good feeling though. Watery blood after a long ways tends to be a flesh hit and maybe the deer will be fine.RC

For what its worth, our view from behind the dog has been that "high-chest shot" deer that aren't recovered fairly quickly tend to be non-fatal hits.  We get alot of these calls, have never found a truly high-chest shot deer.  We generally track 800-1500 yards before I break the news to the hunter that its likely non-fatal.  We've taken to calling these "1000 yard tracks to nowhere."  You might have gotten a lung and killed that deer, but from our experience thats not likely.  High loin - see if Kenny gets a picture this winter, wouldn't surprise me.

R

That makes me feel better.  I lost a doe last week after I let her be over night.  Found the business end of the arrow coated in the morning about 250 yards from the shot where she entered the marsh.  I'm thinking it wasn't lethal as I watched her take a couple nibbles of grass in the fading light.

Still don't like the thought of it.  You'll get the next one.

Great hunt thanks for sharing.  As for the buck, I'm sorry to say I've been there and it sounds like the same shot too.  That said, the buck I shot was killed a mile away a few weeks later still chasing does.    :campfire:

What a great trip even with the loss.....Loosing one is a gut buster but it happens. Let's hope he shows up on a trail camera next year we'll name him Lucky II

Thanks for sharing your hunt.......


 :campfire:

Thanks guys for following along.  Me and the boys had a great time.  Lots of laughs and good food.  The laughs were mostly at me.  Go figure?

Kenny, no worries.  We did all we could do to find the deer.  I have been on some dog recovery for deer.  I have only been on one that the deer was found.  I believe he ran a long way.  I'm gonna try to learn a lesson and not shoot one that is so close to me next time.

If anyone wants to hunt quality deer book a hunt with Kenny for next year!  I certainly hope to be back.

Congrats to all of the lucky hunters! When does the season end in MO? It sounds like a trad hunters paradise. Thanks, Mike.

Season ends in Missouri, January 15th.

Season never ends, but you can only shoot em til jan 15 th  :bigsmyl:

"Season never ends" - Good one Kenny.
I agree totally, a bit consuming at times, but what the hey.
Keep at it.

The 2 guys from ID and UT are back, Clint killed a doe last nite. Said he was covered up with deer!!these guys are hardcore, Dan hung a stand at 11:00 last nite!   :bigsmyl:

Was contacted by an outstanding friend here

I can't believe what a great hunt this is

Unreal    :archer2:    :archer2:

TTT    :bigsmyl:    :campfire: