Got back a week ago from my second trip to Caney Creek - a sponsor here, and made some great memories with my dad!
Last year, though no fault of Caney, it was one of those disaster trips for the books. I was sick, ended up with 3 flat tires, locked keys in truck and had to break a window, my dad and I both couldn't get it done (with misses), and we had the 2012 election.
But, I knew Jerry and crew put on a fine operation. We saw lots of real nice deer (I had 3 nice bucks in bow range), and it is a very bowhunter friendly place - not overguided or overhunted, lots of land and different terrain, and you can shoot whatever buck trips your trigger. My kind of place. :thumbsup:
Also, the story-telling, food, and lodging isn't too shabby. :biglaugh:
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t85/whuguet/Lodge_zps48e25733.jpg) (http://s158.photobucket.com/user/whuguet/media/Lodge_zps48e25733.jpg.html)
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t85/whuguet/ffce7e0c-6f34-4516-bcfd-36e0e0c268ba_zps4e6a7b82.jpg) (http://s158.photobucket.com/user/whuguet/media/ffce7e0c-6f34-4516-bcfd-36e0e0c268ba_zps4e6a7b82.jpg.html)
The terrain was pretty different for a Louisianian used to hunting woods and swamps:
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t85/whuguet/2012Caney_zps637af72b.jpg) (http://s158.photobucket.com/user/whuguet/media/2012Caney_zps637af72b.jpg.html)
But it can be deceiving. For example, here is what you might see walking to a stand:
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t85/whuguet/Field2_zpsa30df95e.jpg) (http://s158.photobucket.com/user/whuguet/media/Field2_zpsa30df95e.jpg.html)
But this is what is in the bottom of that crease in the prairie:
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t85/whuguet/Stream2_zpsbcdb6d9a.jpg) (http://s158.photobucket.com/user/whuguet/media/Stream2_zpsbcdb6d9a.jpg.html)
It is sometimes tough to imagine a lot of deer in these "open" areas, but they are there!
:campfire: :coffee:
This is gonna be good.. :campfire:
:campfire:
The first afternoon out I saw four different bucks within 50 yards, and two were of the damn big variety! With 15 minutes of light left, the biggest buck I've ever seen in the wild (I could not look at his rack for more than a second or two to keep it together, but he was a very thick, tall, 10-12 point with a lot of junk around the bases) came bee-lining straight for my tripod hidden in a cedar top. Of course he came straight on and decided to use my tree as his cover while he ghosted the edge. I didn't know what to do. As his rack came out from under the tree, I tried to slowly draw. He whipped his head around in a flash and our eyes met at less than 10 feet. He bolted, but not before stopping at 20 yards with me at full-draw. But it was all rack and butt and no shot.
Where's the hero shot!
Of course I wanted to go back to that stand, so the next morning I find myself sitting around for a couple hours with does and fawns, and about 2.5 hours later the second largest buck from the prior afternoon came on in. He went around the area and the wind wasn't great, but the other deer feeding put his mind at ease and he fed out in front a ways. I decided on a seated shot and had one good window to do it. The other deer filtered off and it felt like my time. It was pin drop quiet (which isn't like most of my KS experiences). As I drew I thought I saw his body language change, and let the arrow fly. I purposefully aimed a couple inches high thinking it was about 25 yards. Well, he dropped at the sound of the bow and my arrow just missed his back right over the lungs. Turned out to be closer to 20 yards. It was an intense experience, and due to my slow flying 600 grain arrow, I knew the arrow went where I aimed. It was probably the first time I was at peace with a miss - which was strange.
:campfire:
The next few days of hunting were both great and demanding. It was cold and windy, but I saw deer and had some very nice sits. It is now the morning of my last day. It is a balmy 15 degrees, and other than trying to keep my hands warm (I hate trying to shoot in gloves), I was feeling pretty good about my stand in a cedar on a wheat field edge with perfect wind.
A doe and yearling came out and the yearling decided to smell around where I walked in the stand. I was standing and frozen wishing him away for the next half hour while he milled around enjoying himself. Then a nice 7 point came out and walked the edge I was in. I almost shot, but again, he was so close that my draw spooked him just a little and I decided not to take the marginal shot.
But, I was standing and in position and thought I heard something coming from the opposite direction a ways off. As soon as I saw decent horns and a buck working the edge licking branches, I decided I'd draw early and hold. So I drew and right after I do, the buck is licking the branch right below me almost looking up at me. He is actually looking over my head and exposing his neck, but I did not have a great shot. He then turned and took a step and at about 10 feet I let the arrow fly. I could hear something like air coming out of a baloon, but knew it was a little high (it was a steep angle). He ran off with about 10" of arrow in him, but I was glad to see the arrow wasn't flopping around. I then heard crashing in the woods.
About 3 hours later we came back and he had died right there about 125 yards from where I shot. He wasn't as big as the first 2 bucks, but it was a memorable ending to a great hunt with my dad!
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t85/whuguet/FieldShot_zps211c721e.jpg) (http://s158.photobucket.com/user/whuguet/media/FieldShot_zps211c721e.jpg.html)
(http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t85/whuguet/CaneyBuck_zpsc0badc9f.jpg) (http://s158.photobucket.com/user/whuguet/media/CaneyBuck_zpsc0badc9f.jpg.html)
Great buck! I really want to hunt Kansas some day, I love the terrain out there!!
Great story, Thanks.
Congratulations. I hunted the week before you and we had terrible weather, I passed a nice Buck the first evening and had a hard time seeing another Shooter the rest of the week. It was a weather thing. Deer where just not moving. I enjoyed my time and the crew at Caney Creek were great. I will definitely be going back for another try at a Monster Kansas Buck. PS Do not plan on loosing any weight on this hunt. Cooking was great.
Congrats, Randy Chamberlin
Nice job! That's a really good whitetail, and you have a good story to with it! Congratulations on a very successful hunt! :thumbsup:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Great story, Great buck. :clapper:
Thanks guys, it's been a season to remember for sure!
Randy, I went week of the 10th, and thought you were there 2 weeks before? Heard the weather was about as bad as it gets for hunting. Yep, the food and stories are both in good supply at Caney Creek.
The year before it was warmer and, not surprisingly, we also had less deer sightings (that and no water anywhere).
Great job Will. I heard Al got one too?
Great buck!
I cannot talk about his due to da rules. :biglaugh:
Edit for Fred: I am referring to choice of weapon (not that he broke any laws or rules - it was a nice one)!
Nice buck :thumbsup:
Congrats on a nice buck and great story.
That's too funny Will ...... I guess he could only hold out only so long!
Will
that's a dandy buck
sounds like ya had a great time
Kevin
Congrats, Will!! Your having quite a fall! It looks like that ugly ole' one piece bow is working out pretty well for you. Is your SXT jealous?
Bill
Also wanted to say there was a ton of TradGang in this hunt. I was hunting at Caney Creek (sponsor), shooting a 51@28" B&W ebony Zipstick (my most accurate bow), feathers from Mangus, strings from Lefties R Us (Allen), 250 gr. VPA Terminators (from Rayzor), Kanati Dual Arc quiver, Wyoming Wildlife (Scott) tab.
I also helped clean my deer with Kevin Halverson's knife (finally had it at the right time), and got to make plenty of deer noises on Jeremy's nice osage grunt call I won on the St. Jude's auction.
Great Buck and looks like a great time. Glad you shared it with your dad.
What is blacked out on the board? do they keep score??? LOL
great story and way to close the deal on a greatbuck!!
Congrats on a nice buck! Looks like a great place.
Congratulations!
Congratulations! I was there with some other Trad Gang guys the week of Oct 26-Nov 1. Jerry Meechum, the owner, had warned me that an early hunt was iffy but I took the chance due to scheduling. Jerry is a hoot and a real storyteller and a hard worker who is doing a lot to make the hunting as best he can. The lodge, equipment, stand placement etc. were all first rate as were the folks who worked with him. One thing I really appreciated was that they treated you like adults and would let you drive your own vehicle to the hunt site once you knew how to get there. Very accommodating as to that and hunting as long as you wanted to. Several guys stayed out all day several times, I just can't sit for that long.
We had terrible weather, warm and a lot of rain, several days of downpours. Jerry had some nice pop up blinds set out in food plots which I used a good bit but the deer didn't yet seem to be using them much. Only saw 3 does, two fork horns and a medium 8 point through Friday morning and missed Fri afternoon due to some work stuff and driving a long way home by myself.
For going to hunt out of a Lodge type environment they have it set up pretty good. Very nice rooms and showers and meals. If I went back it would be later. The area is desolate of people and in the Flint Hills region of Kansas and I really like the area and set up. As I mentioned, first class stands, no butchered ladders taped to a rotten limb type stuff. They were all solid first rate equipment.
I would love to hunt there when the deer were moving. They just weren't when I was there and its frustrating as you know they are out there.
It sounds like a great place to spend some time. Congratulations on your buck!
-Jay
Yes Bill, the SXT is real lonely but can still launch an arrow with more authority!
Cyclic, those were private phone numbers for the folks working.
Sharptop, agree with all you said. There are a lot of deer hiding in that grass! I'm pretty sure I saw that pop up blind in the middle of a wheat field I hunted.
Nice to meet you there, Will! Great story.
That's an awesome buck!
Congrats!
Bisch
Great story Will! Congrats on a fine Buck!
Benjy
nice! that sounds like a great place.
:clapper:
Will, Glad to see you were able to make it back again this year and were able to get it done!
Sounds like you had a much better time than last year. Never knew any one guy to have as much bad luck as was brought on you last year. But you persevered!!!
Congrats on the fine buck, and hope to see you return again soon.
I was suppose to be there during the week of terrible weather, however had to forego the hunt. Hospice was called in for my Father-in-Law and I felt my place was home with my wife.
Looking forward to being there next year for sure!
congrats again.
Congrats Will !!! :clapper:
Bill
So one more "it's a small world" story on this hunt. On one not too eventful morning hunt on a exposed ladder at 20 degrees and windy, after about 5 hours, I start walking out to a rural gravel road - prolly 1 car an hour type road and I see a truck as I approach the gate. He happened to be driving by and offered a warm truck cab to this southerner who had all he could stand and asked about my bow. Turns out it was Justin in this thread and he was hunting the area with a fine Zipper Nitro with elk inlays.
Double post.
Great Story, thanks for sharing. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:archer:
:thumbsup:
Congrats Will! Great story and a very nice buck! Looks like a beautiful place!
Very nice deer! Congrats
Great story! Congrats on a great buck too!!