This morning something happened to me that was way more than a successful hunt.....stick with me and you'll understand "why"....
As most of you know, most of my season was dedicated to making Cade's first season as memorable as possible.
After a slow start to "our" season, it seemed that everytime out with him, we were right in the thick of things. It was like he became a deer magnet. I wouldn't have it any other way....he did well and isn't done yet.
But, it seemed when I got the opportunity to hunt by myself, deer were few and far between. Don't get me wrong, I had some opportunities early at small bucks that I passed on, but for the life of me I couldn't get a doe close to me to fill a tag or 2.
With a pocket full of tags still, a couple weeks ago, I decided that it wasn't about "how big" anymore....it was time to "deer hunt".
Well..... small bucks, big bucks, and does.....I've seen them all....but absolutely nothing close enough to shoot. I was struggling, and I wanted at least one more deer for the freezer.
I had yet to release a single arrow at a deer all season!
Enough backround of the season, lets fast forward to this morning....
The last week or more I hadn't hunted at all, the kids and wife were sick for a few days....then of course I got it! So today would be the first hunt in over a week.
Up early and out the door headed south to Westchester Co....for those that aren't familiar....it's a bowhunting only county here in NY.
From the time I woke up and hit the shower, something was different.
About half way into the trip, I had a strong feeling of confidence come over me.....I wasn't sure "why"....but it was there........
Set up, and settled in....I just "knew" today I would kill a deer....wasn't sure "why".....but now it was stronger than ever....
Now that it was starting to get light, I grabbed my bow off its hanger, and pulled the arrow with the broadhead I've been loading all fall. The arrow with Chis Surtees' 1 1/4" VPA 3 blade....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/001spike12.JPG)
Before I go any further, I just want let you guys know....I'm not doing any of this for drama....everything I'm writing is an absolutely honest account of the morning....
Just like I had every hunt this fall, I nocked it as I looked to the sky and had a few words with Chris...no fail, everytime.....but today felt different.....but I just didn't know "why"....
....At 8:30 I hear something behind me....I look over my right shoulder and see a deer walking....
I see it's a spike, the same spike Cade almost killed a couple weeks earlier. A couple voice doe grunts, and a few minutes later, he's at 20yds and broadside.....it was going to happen!
I draw "Cy", and send the 30" Beman Bowhunter tipped with Chris' broadhead on it's way.....
At the shot he reacted, and by the time the arrow struck he was on the move and slightly quartering away....the arrow disappeared about mid body....
He ran for about 50yds in a half circle and stopped. At this point, I was fairly confident I'd made a good shot given the angle, but I knew it wasn't perfect.....
So at about 40yds, with him just standing right in front of a big oak, not looking good, I wanted to try to get another arrow in him as I was close to the property line that I have permission to hunt. I found a small lane, picked a spot, and shot again....
When I released I thought..."perfect"....but as it got there I watched it drop low and saw a big "puff" of hair fly as the arrow slammed into the oak!
He ran another 20yds and stopped, again not looking well....I grabbed my camera just in time to catch him going down...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/002spike12.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/003spike12.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/004spike12.JPG)
I climbed down....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/005spike12.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/006spike12.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/007spike12.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/008spike12.JPG)
to be continued...the best is yet to come....
:) :thumbsup:
Congratulations on a "special deer" Curt!
Congrats Curt!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Good going Curt!
Second shot...As you can see from the blood in this and the previous pix...this shot wasn't needed...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/009spike12.JPG)
Chris' broadhead had done a fine job on a so-so shot...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/010spike12.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/011spike12.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/012spike12.JPG)
Today it wasn't about "how big"...today I was just a "deer hunter"...and ya know what, it felt pretty darn good!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/013spike12.JPG)
The second shot fell just short, cutting a trough through the brisket hair and slicing the off foreleg...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/014spike12.JPG)
The overwhelming feeling of success was there this morning, so strong, and it happened....I hadn't hunted so confident in a long time....wasn't sure "why".....just knew today was different....
.
.
.
.
.
.
Fast forward.....I go to dads to hang him up...and go home and settle in with my laptop to enjoy lunch...
I check e mails...then for some reason, without going to Trad Gang first....I click on Face Book....
First thing I read, at the top of my homepage is from Christopher Surtees, Chris' son.....
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"Hard to believe it's been 2 years already things won't ever be the same. I really miss you dad..."
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.
.
.
With tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.....now I knew....."WHY"......
Nice story and nice deer. Congrats. Some days you just get that feeling. :thumbsup:
Thanks Curt. Just...thanks.
I'm gonna go hug my kids right now.
very cool...........
WOW Curt, what a touching end to a nice story and hunt. Congrats and thanks for sharing and taking us along.
Tony
Let's all stand up for Curt (and Chris)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:clapper: Great stuff!
Wow! :clapper:
Wow......... :thumbsup:
:archer:
Congratulations Curt! Thanks for sharing.
Very cool!
Kingsnake
:thumbsup: :clapper:
That's a great story. Thanks for taking us along!
That has to be the most touching story I've ever read... Thank you.
:thumbsup:
:campfire:
Beautiful buck. Congratulations, my friend!
Great Story,Thanks and Congradulations
Amazing
Wow! Great story Curt. Thanks for sharing that.
:thumbsup: Congrats on a fine deer :thumbsup:
Way to go Bro.
Great story, Curt. I didn't realize Chris had been gone two years already. Now we know...the rest of the story.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Russ
awesome
Great job Curt!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I'm to the same point, of bein just a deer hunter. :)
:thumbsup:
way to go.
Great Job Curt :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thats a very handsome Deer!
Well done Curt !!! :clapper:
Bill
Great story Curt ! Thanks
Great story and Congrats!
This is awesome Curt ! A TRUE trophy !
Hey Curt! Thanks! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats, Some times we need to learn to take what is given to us instead of taking what we think we should have.Life is good
Wow isn't that incredible. See. People leave us all the Time for one reason or another. Stuff happens. But the ones that really touch us, never go anywhere.
Nice one Kurt.
Congrats!
Glad I checked back, looks like you listened to that feeling very well. Cool buck, too!
beautiful story and congrats on your deer and a big thank you for taking us along on Cade's and your season...means alot to me especially since I wasnt able to hunt this year but with your words and pics..it felt like I was there with you to share in you guys season and for that thank you
Great story, thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:
As always Curt, thank you for taking us along... The "Why" is evident...
I can't believe it has been two years either... I was going through my gear getting ready for Solana and came across my Badlands Predator Fall Gray Monster pack that I'd bought from Chris... Lets just say, I know your feelings...
:thumbsup: Cool stuff.
Congratulations on a fine deer Curt. It was just a matter of time.When my phone buzzed yesterday morning I just knew before even looking.Beautiful morning.
Wow! I'm not sure what to say. Excellent? Congrats? May the force be with you?... A famous line comes to mind "in the wind, he's still alive"... It seems there are angels among us! Merry Christmas.
Very cool. Nice shot on a nice buck.
Congrats!
Way to go Curt! :clapper:
Great story, Concrats on the deer!
Excellent story and way to stick with it and put one down
now that's a great story! :campfire:
Wow.
Congrats on a nice buck, thanks for the share.
Awesome bud!!!
Great stuff Curt, I know that special day feeling. It never fails you.
Help from above never hurts. Congrats
Wow! Thank you for posting such a detailed and well told story. Absolutely made my day. Amazing how sometimes it all lines up just perfectly. I got goosebumps when you told of the Facebook posting.
To quote from The A Team..."I love it when a plan comes together".
Great story Curt....sometimes we don't know 'why' until well after. Sounds like you had someone over your shoulder the entire time.
Wow, that is a great story, a great hunt, and a great feeling to understand "Why"!
Congrats
Sometimes the "Why" explains itself later, as in your case Curt.
Thanks for sharing the touching story. :clapper:
Congrats on the deer and the "connection". :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats i'm right with you been hunting with eagleeye all year he is determined to kill the big 10 pt that has been teasing him all season.He has passed more nice bucks up waiting on the big boy.I have only hunted about 10 times all year myself and passed on a nice 10pt about 135 class.This was my best season watching him turn into a bowhunter.Congrats to you and Cade on a great season.One that we will always remember watching our boys turn into a traditional bowhunter with thier first bow kills.
Congrats,love it when it all comes together. :clapper: :clapper:
How cool is that!
Great day Curt!
Gotta love keeping it simple and just deer hunting.
Loving the way you keep Chris in the game...
:thumbsup:
Congrats Curt...great story, thanks for sharing!
Wow, thanks for sharing Curt! Really cool!
Thank you Curt.
awesome Bro :thumbsup: and thank you
Man that is a pretty fat deer. Should be some good eating on him. Love the look of your Raven...real beauty. :thumbsup: :campfire:
Wow!!!
All smiles for you Curt.
Beautiful buck!...THANKS, yet again for sharing.
:campfire:
Congrats Curt! That IS a plump spike! God bless.
:notworthy: :notworthy:
Ahhhhh, sounds like Chris is still making memories with ya Curt!
Great hunt!
Congrats Brothers.
Congrats!
WOW Curt thanks for an awesome story and congrats! I lost my mother this past spring and every time i hear a story like this i break down in tears.
Congratulations on a special buck Curt!
Wow!!!!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Awesome stuff, Curt!
Bisch
Great job Curt, I sent you a PM.. :thumbsup:
"Let us be silent, that we may hear the whisper of God."
That is the reason why... Spirits do speak to us Curt... I am one who believes now more than ever.
... mike ...
WOW,take care of those broadheads,Cut.Great story and feelings.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
Congrats .RC
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: COOL stuff congrats. TD.
Way to go Curt!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
David
Cool story and a great buck! Congrats!
Curt, I realize that what I am writing now isn't a response to your thread, sorry. Please send me an email at rkfrassetto@hotmail .com
The PMS i sent you are saying they are unread, not sure how else to talk to ya bud
:thumbsup:
Guru I love listen to your storys and about Cade its so cool to see a dad take his son and show him the things his father tought him
good stuff right there :thumbsup:
There you go. Cool story, congrats.
Nice Buddy, I remember that spot. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Awesome story and deer! Thanks for taking us along on a very memorable hunt! :thumbsup:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Congratulations on a fine animal and hunt.
Finally got time to read this one.....what can I say???
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Wow! awesome story and ending Curt! Best of luck for the rest of the season.