Just wondering if those two fun loving brothers have put any holes in any Iowa monsters yet?
Gene - 1
Barry- 0
No Pics?
If you go to facebook Gene added a picture on the "Brothers of the Bow" group. I would post it here but don't want to steal Gene's thunder.
Such skilled brothers, they are surely gifted. I love seeing their stories, even from years ago.
Not on facebook,guess i'll have to wait.
The main thing that I now admire about Gene and Barry is their undying love for the sport after all these years doing it. Good seasons bad seasons warm weather cold weather these guys worked hard to route their lives around their biggest passion in life. They do it well and they love it. Both have been my heroes since I was a kid and became interested in bowhunting. Keep doing your thing guys!
Gene shot one the other day. I've been maybe a little too picky. I passed up one a couple weeks ago I probably should have shot. I took over a half hour of great video footage of him at 15 to 25 yds. though. I would have shot him but one of my good friends who finally drew Iowa was flying in the next day. I really wanted him to have a crack at him. Really interesting buck nicknamed "Clubfoot". I almost shot him last year as a "cull" because he had a healed leg injury and a messed up rack. The only reason I didn't shoot him was there was a monster in the same area and I only had one tag left. I didn't think he'd get better... wrong! Apparently the injury healed and he grew the normal antler this year. What a gorgeous buck. He better not come by me again. I don't know how to post pictures or I would. I ALMOST got a 200 inch N/T this morning. Frankly it was 50/50. He didn't have a clue I was there. If he turned right he was going to walk by at 12 yds. If he turned left no shot. Bummer! Best of luck to all. BW
Thanks for the update UB,we will be waiting for Gene's pics. and yours in the near future, good luck, and remember "aim small-hit small"
Here you go UB...you are a prince to pass up that buck.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/Clubfoot1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/Clubfoot2.jpg
And here he is last year from the injury:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Clubfoot2011.jpg
Yea , I would have passed him also....he needs 2 or 3 more years..... :banghead: :biglaugh:
Looks like he likes the "rope swing" you guys put out for him.
Gene has a TON of great photos and info for his Bowhunter Magazine "Wicked Wicks" article, Part 2. He has doe tags to fill and a Kansas tag as well so doubt he will be around to tell the story of this buck for a while, but it is a good one. Seems it involves a very willing doe...
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/bd5a7cb15f2b43bc0d429ee646db47a4.jpg)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/f2d083d0c7ff572f1561e50664077a8c.jpg)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/d9d89714fb26787c192580eb60329829.jpg)
Nice buck!
Hey Barry,
Besides big bucks...how are you feeling?
Absolutely gorgeous bucks they just don't get that old around here.
That's a very interesting picture sequence on "Clubfoot" from one year to the next. I would have never guessed his rack would recover like that. What an amazing animal the whitetail deer is.
Gene and Barry, all I can say is I feel fortunate that you guys share your adventures with the bowhunting community. I still go back to "Bowhunting October Whitetails" as one of my favorite all time bowhunting films. Great stuff, guys.
Awesome pics , congrats to the Brothers!!!
Congratulations Gene, it's great to see you guys still at it and sharing along the way! Wishing the Brothers (and us) many more years!
Barry, that's awfully nice of you to hold that tree up and keep it from falling on Gene while the picture was taken.
Barry and Gene:
I have followed you guys for a long time and you have taken some really nice animals. I never tire of hearing your stories.
Congrats to you, Gene on a fine animal. Barry...What were you thinking??????
God bless, guys.
I sure hope somebody makes a movie about you guys! Seriously, before you both turn 50. :)
You guys are admired by a lot of us in the hinterlands.
Imagine the perfect Whitetail woods, rolling hills, rotational crops, consistent winds, the right amount of pressure. Thats what I saw when I went to Iowa. Great Management. Perfect, is all I need to say. Hope to get back there some day.
Are ya'll hearing any gobbling?
Great bucks... just finished reading Gene's latest book....and started Barry's. Always great reads....though I REALLY REALLY REALLY miss their RAMBLIN REDNECK stories in the older PBS Magazines. When I was in military overseas....I would be crying and rolling reading some of their stories....I remember the bear carcass they threw off a bridge...hahahahaha
Anyhow....great hunters, great guys and have enjoyed knowing them through the PBS and their writings even if from afar. I met Roger Rothhaar a few years ago in a bear camp in Saskatchewan....met Fred Anderson at ETAR a couple years in a row....maybe one day I can meet the Wensels, John Strunk, and Dick Robertson and complete my bucket list of people I respect as hunters and as people.
QuoteOriginally posted by joebuck:
Are ya'll hearing any gobbling?
Joey if bucks gobble then they are hearing em.
I've always admired the twins persistence and dedication to chasing whitetails. Keep after em boys.
Glad to see the boys are still doing what they do best nicely done Gene, cant wait to hear the story. I wouldnt want to be on Barry hit list he get it done.
Thank's for the Pic's Barry!You FINE Gentelman,do it your way, with much admiration by those that follow behind your exploits!You are both Examples, to those that need to take it to the next level!Live Long and Prosper Barry & Gene.
PS I Love Gene's Shirt!
Congratulations again Gene. Nice Buck!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
i always enjoy the stories and pics. keep us updated :wavey:
I love you Guys. Anyone that lets Biggie hang around some has to be good people.I enjoy anything you guys write or film. God bless,RC.
Irregardless of the bowyer, the bow is only as good as the man holding it.
For me, heros of our sport. Whitetails beware.
Awesome deer! You guys are trail blazers. Always a pleasure to see what the two of you are up to.
Nice deer Gene. Good luck Barry, patience can pay off big time.
(Got a deer named Big Time?)
Beautiful buck! What's the deal with the rope?
Ho hum, just another GREAT deer from the twins. Barry, here's hoping that you are fully recovered and ready to drag another big deer out of the woods.
You guys need to reprint "And the Horse You Rode In On"; my copy was destroyed, and it was one of a very few books that made me laugh out loud.
As always, very impressive whitetails. Every year I look forward to "show and tell" time from the Wensels. Good luck to both of them the rest of the season.
I guess it's time to tell the story even though I'll upset the guy not liking us talking about ourselves. We went into this season feeling very optimistic, having run trail cameras all spring and summer and through October during my hanging rope project. I got photos of multiple great bucks ripen to "come of age." We like to actually get into the woods, unlike most of today's modern bowhunters who often restrict their hunts to food plot edges. Everything was going as planned until right around Halloween, when the acorn crop depleted. Several neighboring farms still have standing corn and beans. Many of the deer, especially the does, moved to the buffets. We were seeing less than half of normal deer numbers with a very high percentage of immature bucks, very few does, compounded by warm temps, high winds, east winds, etc. On November 9th, I chose to sit a stand we call "Side Saddle." I rattled in two immature bucks but both came in from behind me, not the direction I expected. The wind was not as predicted so about 9am I climbed down to check the wind at another stand we call "Crossfire." Not good there either, so I moved over the ridge to a stand we call "Ashes." That was good to go. About 9:30 I was settled in and rattled the antlers. A one antlered forkhorn came running in. I filmed him walk past. Ten minutes later, I heard what I like to hear in November, the chop/chop of running deer with a tending grunt. A doe came past followed by a nice heavy 5x5 buck. They passed broadside at 20 yards but the buck never stopped to offer a shot. They finally stopped at 30 yards back in some brush. I watched the buck mount the doe once, then a minute later, he bred her a second time. Obviously these whitetail bucks "heal up" after sex a whole lot quicker than I do! I was in the middle of trying to decide whether to name this doe "Juicy Lucy" or "Sweaty Betty" when she went into the "honeymoon pose" with her back arched, doing whatever they do to move the love juices from the "play pen" up into the "baby carriage." She then walked down the ridge to bed down 15 yards crosswind from me while the big guy stood guard back in the brush for 8 or 10 minutes. About then, I saw the forkie arrive back on the scene. Suddenly the big buck decided to leave. I guess he was done with her and started up the ridge. I wheezed. When I did, the doe jumped up, the forkie charged in and she actually allowed the teenager to mount her when the big guy had second thoughts about the deal and came back to intervene. When he cleared the brush at 15 yards, I shot. I saw blood instantly and knew he was in deep trouble. Everyone in the party departed in three different directions. I sat back down to soak in the moment, planning on waiting an hour or so before taking the trail. This is what I live for. About 20 minutes later, I heard more running deer. It was the same doe followed by the forkie and a new 5x4 they had picked up along the way. The 5x4 ran off the forkie, then mounted the doe right in front of my stand. I had the camcorder going by then. A minute later, they came right under my stand and he mounted her again. That made five times she had been bred by three different bucks! We need more slut does like her! They moved up the ridge, she bedded again and the 5x4 stood guard duty. By then, I needed to climb down so I dropped my rattling antlers and lowered my bow. They both moved off. I had a good blood trail that lead right to my buck. He is a nice heavy ten point, probably 5 1/2 years old according to his teeth. I found it interesting that I had no trail camera photos of him, meaning he was either camera shy or just passing through the area. I shot him with my old 55# 58" Morrison Dakota that Bob built me in 2000. I used some sort of three blade broadhead named after my daddy. Another great memory. I am blessed.
Thanks for sharing that Gene and a hearty congratulations! This is the "taxidermist from Brooklyn". Dont know if you remember me but I sure remembner you! I could "see" what you write. Thanks again for sharing your hunt. .........Philip PS: I swear by those 3 blade heads named after your Dad also!
Way to go Gene. Thanks for teaching me "the rope trick". They're still working here in VA.
Kyle
Sounds like a case for Maury Povich. Maybe she'll have triplets that all look different!
:biglaugh:
Great story Gene.
That's not the way Barry tells it.......
RC, they let me hang out with them cause I make them look like they've lost weight
Yep, another nice buck..
But hey, don't leave us hanging !!
Tell us about the rope... What ya dunking that thing in ??
That's quite a morning. Congrat's.
Guys there is an article in Bowhunter magazine explaining the rope. Pretty neat stuff.
The rope is dipped in Smokey's Deer Lure. Perhaps Gene or Barry will explain?
Thanks to the Wensels for their unselfish sharing of knowledge, tips, and stories all these years. You guys are a real inspiration to us all! Keep it up!
Your Grandfather's first name was Karch?
Good story Gene and another phenominal buck!
:thumbsup:
Great story telling Gene. Congratulations and thanks for the laughs!!
Congrats Gene and thanks for all the great tips, stories and film you and brother Barry have shared with us all over the years ! Been a fan now since the 80's. :archer2:
Maybe I can send Steve O. a copy of the article on the rope wicks. He might be able to post a link to it and some photos of bucks using it. So far, I'm really impressed. I sat this afternoon with a doe tag and had a buck come up the ridge I was watching, walk over to my wick, give himself a facial and then walked right under my tree. If I shared photos of some of the great bucks using my wicks this fall, it would cause a lot of sleep loss...
Seriously, guys. Look at the picture of "Barry's deer still walking" he has rope rings around his neck.
Still wondering what the rope's for???
:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
Congrats Mr. Gene on another FINE buck!!
Congratulations on another fine buck Gene. Mike Mitten was telling me about your rope article for Bowhunter back in July. I see I have that issue and am going to catch up on some reading this week. Good chance there will be a rope or two hanging on my property next year. Thanks for all the knowledge you have shared, but what the heck, it gives you a chance to talk about yourself. ;^)
Can somebody post a link to the article about the "scent ropes" please?
The article, "Wicked Wicks", is in Bowhunter Magazine. It may still be on the news stands. I am not going to put anything in here until I am sure it is OK to do so with them. Just as we are respectful of Terry and his sponsors, we should do the same for others. Gene is double checking with Curt Wells, so stand by. Gene has some incredible photos for part 2 of the article as well as some tremendous footage for the next installment of the Primal Dreams film series.
Great buck, and great story!
congrats
chris <><
Gene is working his magic on the Kansas whitetails now, he asked me to post these pics of the "wicks" in action.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/2f4bde6a3ddce96924a0cb77ad148863.jpg)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/aeb1172ce66fcbf193378b862faa362d.jpg)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/4a6ab4e7acc1e3063d5d9ae688c482f6.jpg)
I looked locally for the issue of Bowhunter with the article in it yesterday but was unable to find it. However, I did find part 1 of the article on-line minus the illustrations.
Gene, congrats on another awesome deer! Gene and Barry, thank you for all you give to the bowhunting community with your knowledge and stories and you both deserve every big deer you get with the amount of work you put into them.
Thanks for the story, Charley
Thank you Gene for the update and cool story. Watch out Kansas bucks,Genes on the loose.
Thanks Gene and Barry.
Here is part 1 of Wicked Wicks.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Wicked+wicks%3a+when+it+comes+to+licking+branches%2c+think+vertical!-a0302524711
I have to get me one of those ropes!
:thumbsup:
I think it should be called "The Love Rope".
"Noose of Love"
homebru
Gene,
I just read the story and you should of rated that for mature audiance's only Surprised that buck didn't go light up a smoke after all that action....Well he did get smoked didn't he? This rope trick is going to be something.. :biglaugh:
Awesome buck! :notworthy:
Give them enough rope and they will ..... themselves. (you fill in the blank).
I just wonder how much of Smokey's you have to buy to last thru a season. Does Smokey sell that stuff by the quart?
I hung one after this thread was posted. I hunted the spot today and was shocked at how tore up it is. The other scrapes(no rope, natural scrapes) I passed on my way in and out were all dried up. I had 9 does come in to the rope today. They came in 3 groups. Not all used the rope. I have hunted this stand for 4 years and have never had deer come in form so many different directions before. I am sold! Thanks Barry, Gene and Smokey's!!!
FYI Tradgangers
If you are going to try "Genes" method...
Contact Smokey (tradgang sponsor) at 304-564-4087
Ask for the "Wicked Wicks Special" a 4 buck combo of preorbital lure, in a volume that will get you started! Good luck Boys and Girls!!
Smokey will also recommend other lures to use in combination...
Thanks Bill! I have the rope and was wondering about the Smokey's. I've been looking for the magazine but all the stores around here are lame. I'm going to try to find it at a Books-a-Million in Munice today. The link was great but I thought it would be nice to have the mag.
This is awesome. Guess who else will be hanging a rope out for the rest of the season!! Thanks Gene, Barry and Smokey!
Gene has the article posted on the Brothers of the Bow website.
Click here:
Wicked Wicks Bowhunter Magazine Article (http://www.brothersofthebow.com/html/wickedwicks.html)
ttt
I just put all my money in rope stocks , I see sales going through the roof :D