On September 28th I had my right ankle shattered in a auto accident due to the careless act of another person. I had to undergo emergency surgery that left me the owner of 2 screws, 4 pins and 12-14 staples. I have been laid up since then. But yesterday, my father along with my 2 brothers showed up at my house to erg me to go bow hunting. They said they would load me up on a deer cart and drag me into the woods!! LOL. To be honest with you, it didn't take much convincing!! After a quick shower we was off with bows in hand!
We arrived at our property with eager anticipation and determination to get me into the woods. On our way in we came across numerous deer signs,,rubs & scrapes.
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/martinhunter1/NCM_0071_zpsf0c43f16.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/martinhunter1/media/NCM_0071_zpsf0c43f16.jpg.html)
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/martinhunter1/NCM_0071_zpsf0c43f16.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/martinhunter1/media/NCM_0071_zpsf0c43f16.jpg.html)
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/martinhunter1/NCM_0070_zps5d42c5a8.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/martinhunter1/media/NCM_0070_zps5d42c5a8.jpg.html)
Getting back out in the woods is the best kind of therapy!
My brothers had me on a deer cart dragging me to a place next to a stand on our property that had good cover and plenty of sign. They unloaded me around 1:45PM and off they went. After sitting there for about 45 minutes I decided it would be truly hard for me to get off a shot without being noticed. I then decided to hobble over to the tree stand that was only a few yards away. I said, I can climb that, shouldn't be that hard? Took me some time, But I did it!! Shattered ankle and all.
After being in the stand for about an hour a red fox came by and decided to take a nap right in front of me for a couple hours. He was out cold too!!
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/martinhunter1/NCM_00751_zps3fb42794.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/martinhunter1/media/NCM_00751_zps3fb42794.jpg.html)
It's good that you are out but be careful!
That's neat. Glad to see your determination!
That is awesome! Take it easy and have fun!
Good medicine right there!
Very cool with the fox. Sounds like you owe the family a few brews for coming through for you. I totally understand the need to get out there, I've hunted more than a few times against doctors "orders". hehe
Good for you! I feel your pain I have been laid up since the end of June with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Getting in the woods was what kept me from going crazy! Mother Nature is the best therapist but watch that ankle climbing into tree stands! Sounds like you have great brothers for hauling you out on a deer cart. Good luck on your recovery.
Glad you have good family to help you out bro.
Just take it easy buddy.
If ya don't you'll be recovering much longer.
Dr.'s normally err on the side of caution...but they're generally not dumb.
I am glad that you were able to get out!
If the body is broken or sick, it will usually heal up, but if a broken body leads to a broken mind, you have the potential for serious long term trouble. I would say that this trip was good medicine for your mind and your body both. But be CAREFUL climbing into treestands with a broke ankle!
Then at 4:10PM, (the time my wife gets home from work), I receive a text from my wife, HEY!! Where are you!!!! :mad: Before I can reply I receive 2 more text from both my brothers, OH!! YOU'RE IN TROUBLE!! Hahahaha!! Ugh!! I just replied, sorry Honey but boys will be boys. She failed to see the humor!!
I then noticed the fox was up and looking towards the thicket behind me. He then walked over to where I placed my James Valley Wall Hanger, gave it a whiff and moved on up the hill.
I decided to grab my grunt call & rattle bag and give it a whirl. I hit the grunt call a few times with a short session with the rattle bag around 4:30PM. Within minutes I hear what I believe a snort wheeze from the thicket behind me. Then I hear heavy sparring coming from the same direction. After a few moments of silence I decided to hit a snort wheeze. Then I heard deer moving towards me!! A 6 pointer emerges from the thicket directly behind me at 20 yards!! He stood there for several minutes looking behind him. I could see a slightly bigger 6 pointer about 15 yards behind him. With one swift move of aggression, both bucks was going at it 15-20 yards directly to my left!! After several minutes of heavy sparring I decided to take my shot at the larger 6 pointer. As I was drawing my arrow the 2 bucks put their heads down and started going at it again!! I was confident and let my arrow fly!! But at that very moment the smaller buck dug in and pushed the larger buck slightly back!!! UGH!!! My arrow hit hi in shoulder blade directing forward and down!! My buck took off with my arrow in plain view buried hi in his shoulder directing down. The other buck just stood there looking as if he just won. I watched my buck run up the hill then down the hill to the creek bottom to where I lost sight of him at about 125 yards off.
I then text a friend about the hit because I didn't have to much experience on such hits on deer. I gave him about 40 minutes before hobbling down out of my tree stand. With crutches in hand and bow strapped to my catquiver I worked my way to where I last seen my buck. I picked up the blood trail immediately!! The blood stated thinning out and I was ready to back out and wait. But I looked up ahead and noticed a ton of blood!! So I started following ever so slowly. For 25 yards the blood was horrendous!! I said there's no way a deer can bleed like this and not die!! The blood trail was heading straight for the creek on our property!! Then as soon as I reached the creek, there on the creek bank,,,
Tuned in and enjoying the story. Thanks for sharing.
Chris
:campfire:
Dude! I'm so happy for ya that you was able to crawl out! Then to slam a buck! Just awesome. You made good use if your time!
Those red fox are beautiful
Good on Ya! Be careful, though--don't need a repeat from even a slight fall.
Understand your readiness: spent over a year with chemo that reved up my immune system to allow my body to fight stage 4 lung cancer (melanoma), and just didn't feel like hunting. Didn't pull a bow string for over a year. But once I got a little head of steam up, I was in the woods. What a great dose of medicine!!
Best of luck!
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/martinhunter1/NCM_00761_zpse75afb7e.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/martinhunter1/media/NCM_00761_zpse75afb7e.jpg.html)
You can see my broken arrow with my broadhead slightly sticking out in front lower part of the front shoulder.
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/martinhunter1/NCM_00781_zps494c4486.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/martinhunter1/media/NCM_00781_zps494c4486.jpg.html)
I want to truly thank my friend, another tadganger, who helped me by giving his experiences with such hits. I also want to thank my father and 2 brothers who helped me get into the woods and my deer out of the woods!!
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a639/martinhunter1/NCM_00791_zpsff650376.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/martinhunter1/media/NCM_00791_zpsff650376.jpg.html)
Also to say sorry to my doctors and wife!!! LOL!! Some things are well worth it!! :biglaugh:
Excellent!
Excellent! x2
Congrats!
Sometimes the hardest to do things leave the best memories...and stories..
Great job!
Great story, Congratulations!
Good for you, congratulations on the deer and for having friends that helped you out.
you will never forget this hunt!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
What a story! Congratulations on a well earned buck!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Great story, that must have been a heavy load to pull with you AND the deer on that cart. That would have made for a good picture.....
Awesome! Congrats on the buck!
Way to go! Great story and congrats on a great buck!
Bisch
Congrats on a nice buck! :thumbsup:
Great story and Congrats on the buck!! Assume your wife forgave you?
Yes, only after she knew I was ok and me putting meat in the freezer! LOL. She's pretty understanding but continues to say I am way to stubborn to things the easy way for some reason?? LOL
Congrats! Great story and nice buck! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Sins of our youth...I'm sure our more Sr. members here can remember doing a lot of such things...what I now learn is they somehow come back to haunt you as you add on years!
Sounds like it all went well. and you surely got a nice deer for being a "hop-a-long" fella!
I bet folks would pay money to see a video of you being hauled around in a deer cart!! :)
Congratulations!
Congratulations man! You can't beat family that's for sure.
Like they say...It's easier to ask for forgivness, than it is to ask for permission! Congrats on a nice deer!
Congrats on the buck...I broke my leg and blew out my knee in January. Been on crutches ever since and had another surgery in the middle of September. Still on crutches and watching deer every night behind my house. Finally hobled out and built a quick ground blind as I could not take it anymore. Wife said no treestands this year, so I am gonna give it a go as soon as the wind is in my favor..Thanks for your story, best of luck with that ankle..
Way to go John!!!
Thanks Don!! As always good to see you. Hope all is well with you over there in Jersey. And Scott, I hope you get your chance soon!! I was literally going bonkers sitting here on the couch and like you I could not take it anymore. I was lucky enough to have a family who took the time to help me get into the woods. I also wish you a speedy recovery Scott!!!
That's what I call physical therapy. :)
I'm with creekwood. Good going and speedy recovery from here on out.
Thats too cool. :thumbsup:
That's crazy good right there!!!
What do wives and doctors know anyhow. Great job dude! :thumbsup:
JMG
Congratulations :thumbsup: & thanks for sharing your hunt with us.
Please do take care of your ankle though.
Great job and an awesome story. Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:
Awesome story! Way to go! :clapper:
Great post John! Glad I could help, but with that kind of exit wound their pretty easy to follow! :eek: Nice to see you out and about. Tim
:thumbsup:
Great story, thanks for sharing and getting out of the house.
Great story! Lot of memories made in the woods. :thumbsup:
Thet thar is some blood letin.
Cool story!
B
Way to go John!!!!
What a great story from a great guy from a great family.
You have truly inspired me....again!
Now that you got your deer you can rest up,and heal that ankle.
Congrats....
Tim.
John,
When we were "PMing" a few days ago, I told you, "I hope you find a way to work around your injuries and at least get to sit out in the woods. It is the best of all therapies!" :rolleyes:
Ummm... you took it a l-i-t-t-l-e further than I actually meant! :saywhat:
Way To GO, Friend! :archer:
Good for you!! Congratulations on a fine buck!
Glenn
Thanks for taking us along on the hunt! Well done.
JMG
:archer:
PS: sometimes it's just easier to get forgiveness than to get permission.
Awesome story way to get after it!!
Sounds like the best kind of medicine to me. Congratulations! But, take it easy climbing trees.
Sounds like me once. I went elk hunting for 5 days with appendex attacks and stiches in left index finger(iam a lefty). A few days after getting home, I had appendex taken out.
That is so cool!
Congrats!
Congrats! I love your story!
Congratulations sir! Great story. Be safe and heal up quickly. Sounds like you have many more years of hunting to do by His great grace.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer:
Good job, man!
Way to go!!!! :banghead: so I feel your pain.
One question though, who rode in who's lap in the cart on the way out? :laughing:
:thumbsup:
this is a great story!~ =)
way to keep at it
awesome
Man yeah!
Love the pics, and the fox was way cool!
Congrats! I once shoot a deer a couple of days after having my appendix out. I still had the drain tube from the hospital in when hunting. I figured I could be depressed healing at home or be content healing on the mountain. Some people just don't understand our passion.
Congrats on your buck!
Great Job...Congrats on your buck
Great story !!!!
Great story!
Great story!
Congrats.
Sounds like you were in capable hands.
Brave, going up the tree one one leg though.
Nicely done! Great bow!
You were rewarded for being BAD :archer: