The Shrewhaven threads are just one of many threads that I thoroughly enjoy reading, sometimes more then ounce. I would love to hear all the stories that you fellas want to share. The misses, the harvests, the memories! It doesn't matter if the stories are from this year or from 30 years ago...
Let's try and keep this up top for all to enjoy! Would be neat to have a thread just for the shrew haven stories. The coffees on fellas .....
:campfire:
We have plenty of stories! :bigsmyl:
I learned a lesson on this doe....one of our hard and fast rules is to look at your compass after you put an arrow in a deer. Get a line on the track...
I killed this deer off the ground, and I had been mostly hunting out of tree's at the time. Getting a direction on the deer from a tree is kinda second nature. So when i saw the arrow in this deers chest, I watched her bound away out of sight, and checked my compass. Northwest.
We looked for that deer in the direction I noted for hours. No blood, nothing. I SAW the arrow punch into her ribs, broadside. Dang.
Tom Jenkins, who is probably one of the best trackers around, brought us back to the kill sight. I said "Northwest" he started a grid search North EAST. In short order he found the arrow. Lots of blood. 40 yards away we found the deer. She had made her original bound in the direction I called, but dropped off Banana Ridge in the process. While out of sight she must have changed direction. Had I been in a tree I would have seen this. Lesson learned....when hunting on the ground, pay EXTRA attention to the wounded deers departure.
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/Shrewhaven2010/ShrewHaven2010108-1.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/Shrewhaven2010/ShrewHaven2010108-1.jpg.html)
I call this the hunt for the snowstorm buck. Some years ago before the Shrewhaven cabin was moved to the spot it is now,. I was hunting over a scrape on a late fall day. I had been watching this scape for several days hoping to catch the buck that made it when he came in to check it.
About an hour before dark it started to snow, light at first but soon it was coming down so hard you couldn't see 30yd's. At this point the ground was bare but the snow was coming so heavy it soon covered the ground. I was about to head in because I thought the deer wouldn't be moving in this storm when I saw him coming through the white screen like a ghost out of the fog or in this case snow.
I barely had time to get ready and put an arrow on the string of my 72# osage selfbow. As he circled the scrape to get downwind I sent a cedar shaft tipped with one of Glenn Parkers big Timberwolf 2 bld. broadheads. The shot took him in the neck and he went down thrashing. I was elated for just a few seconds and then much to my surprise he was up and running. He headed down hill towards Armstrong Creek and I heard him splash as he crossed into the heavy cedar swamp near where the cabin now stands.
I took up the trail right away because I thought I'd lose it in the heavy snow if I waited. He was leaving a pretty good trail in the snow but after I got across the ArmStrong into the dark swamp there was no snow on the ground yet and the trail was hard to follow. With my flashlight and on my hands and knees I picked up his trai and slowly followed deeper into the swamp.
After losing the trail several times then finding it again I finely came onto him well after dark. Having no rope and too far from camp to drag him out that night, I dressed him and hung him off the ground the best that I could with my bowstring. As it turned out if I hadn't hung him off the ground that night he would have been buried in the snow and I may not have found him.
I got back to camp at 11:00pm that night as it continued to snow very hard. There was no one to greet me as I was camping alone. I crawled into my sleeping bag not realizing what was in store for me the next day.
When I stepped outside the next morning I couldn't believe the amount of snow that had accumulated during the night. A foot and a half of the fluffy white stuff lay on the ground. I thought, how in the world am I going to get my deer out of that swamp, and am I even going to be able to find him.
I knew there was a fellow bowhunter camped a mile or so from me and he had a canoe. I thought if he would let me borrow his canoe I could float down Armstrong Creek and get close to my buck. I pushed snow with the bumper of my 4x4 to the fellows camp and found him snuggled by the fire enjoying a cup of coffee.
It ended up the fellow offered to go with me and help. I gladly accepted his offer and luckly we remembered to bring a camera. Here's the buck with his head above the snow held by the bowstring from my John Strunk osage bow.
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Snowstorm_Buck.jpg)
I took this picture of my helper as he brought the canoe in to pick up the buck.
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Armstrong%20Creek%20Buck.jpg)
He took this shot of me coming back up the creek.
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Buck-in-canoe.jpg)
I don't think I've posted this picture before of me looking to where Armstrong creek winds out of sight to the north. It's part of 440 acres of private land that we call home every fall. The hill to the right is part of the mile long Banana Ridge, so named because of it's banana shape. The top of the ridge holds the best stand of oaks for miles around.
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Overlooking_Armstrong_creek.JPG)
great stories ron and pics ...thxs for sharing!!
I am a big Shrewhaven fan also,love all the stories. Thank You
Ron,
Great to hear the story behind that last pic in your first post...admired it many times. It has my two favorites...canoes and bow-killed whitetails! In the second pic of your help arriving, Armstrong appears to be quite a bit wider than what we'd call a "crik" in my neck of the woods, or is that just the angle?
Always fun reading hunting camp stories, it's these memories from the past that turn it into something we hunters hold dear.
Ron, the snow storm buck story and pics are great! :campfire:
:thumbsup: :campfire: :archer:
Pretty excellent stuff for sure!
:campfire:
Great stories so far guys.... :campfire:
QuoteIn the second pic of your help arriving, Armstrong appears to be quite a bit wider than what we'd call a "crik" in my neck of the woods, or is that just the angle?
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Armstrong%20Creek%20Buck.jpg)
That's actually the Brule river near the junction of the Armstrong. The Brule river is the Michigan/Wisconsin border and that's Wisconsin in the background. The buck was headed for the river but he ran out of blood about 100 yards from the river.
We loaded him in the canoe and the last picture was going back up the Armstrong.
The snowstorm buck was actually the inspiration for the story poem "The Ghost of Armstrong Creek" :readit:
:bigsmyl:
This little section of pines is one of my favorite spots. And before any of my camp mates run their mouth, it's the WOOL that makes me look fat. :bigsmyl:
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/IMG_0851.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/IMG_0851.jpg.html)
Ya Roger it must be the wool...unhuh, yep it's the wool... :rolleyes:
:laughing:
Just stay away from that last hunk of pie ;)
And Lord help the fell that gets in fron of Ron when Greg hollers "Lets Eat" :scared:
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/hunting/Hunting028-1.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/hunting/Hunting028-1.jpg.html)
Great stories, thanks for sharing! :campfire:
Thanks for sharing the great story Ron. Brings back memories of hunts on the Ford river back in the 70's. The Ford is about 25 miles east of the Armstrong creek.
Ron that started the Thanksgiving morning out right. Have a great day!
Thanks Ron, that's cool to read the storie behind the poem. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Great stories and memories. Thanks for sharing!!
Great story and pictures Ron. Thanks for sharing
:campfire:
Love the picture of the dinner line Roger. There's a couple of stories in that picture alone.
First, you can see the crutches leaning up against the counter top on the right. In the Shrewhaven TV show on the other thread, Tim mentioned that he came up and hunted on crutches one year. Well, that was the year and I was one of the happiest dudes in camp to help track and drag a deer that Tim shot out of a tent blind down in the pines off the big hayfield (it was easy access for him-flat and a two track trail). Tim was also very excited as he thought there was no way he could ever come to camp on crutches. One of my first years in camp, I was one week off of crutches myself and my ankle was still super tender so I bought a big pair of insulated pack boots that had extra room to fit my swollen ankle in and I limped around the woods that year.
Second, the dinner being served in the picture is leg of lamb (and twiced baked potatoes with a side of greek dressing marinated cukes and tomatoes). Well, one of the two cooking debates is do you serve mint jelly with lamb and do you flour your venison loin medallions before sautéing them? Greg is of greek decent and a Culinary Institute of America (the good CIA) trained chef. Put those two together and that guy knows lamb. Our lamb is marinated in a mixture of red wine, olive oil, fresh garlic, oregano and rosemary along with fresh squeezed lemon juice. It comes off the grill rare/medium rare and melts in your mouth. Now why anyone would want to mess up those fabulous flavors with mint jelly is beyond my thought process, but alas, you can see a jar of mint jelly in the picture. :eek: :p ;) We're not going to even go down that road about flouring venison loin medallions, otherwise there might be a thread started titled 'new Shrewhaven Lodge member needed' here on Tradgang. :scared:
p.s. I think even the Yoopers (locals of the upper peninsula of Michigan) don't use mint jelly on their lamb, because they don't sell it locally. :laughing:
Thanks so much for sharing the stories and pics of Shrewhaven Lodge! I really enjoy the place through your tales! The spirit of Shrewhaven shines right through!
In deer camp at ShrewHaven my nick name is Lobo. Lobo LaClair kind of flows don't you think?
Anyway a few yeas ago the boys built a small cabin separate from the main cabin. One half is a big storage roon and the other half which is 10X12' is my sleeping quarters. A large comfortable bunk assures a good nights rest, it's heated by a propane gas wall heater. I have gas lights but also it's wired to my outside generator so I can brew coffee in the morning.
I love my little getaway. I can turn in early and be away from the noise of some of the younger gus that want to stay up later.
This is Lil'Haven
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Lil_Haven.JPG)
I had this sign made to go over the door to my Lair
(http://***********.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small67415903.JPG)
Here's the entrance to the Lair
(http://***********.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small45492309.JPG)
You guys REALLY need to put a book together. I'm sure you've heard that before but it would be a shame if those pictures and memories could not be shared with those who would deeply appreciate them.
Ron that's a neat little get away . Betcha that is mighty comfy after hunting all day!
Roger,
It's not the wool, it's the solid color. Plaid makes one look slimmer!!!!
QuoteOriginally posted by SELFBOW19953:
Roger,
It's not the wool, it's the solid color. Plaid makes one look slimmer!!!!
It might be the pie.... :D
Keep them coming fellas..... great thread and memories being shared with us. The great Northern deer camp traditions that we just don't seem to have that much of down South.
Ron...... ya gotta ditch that white door on " Lobo's Lair" Be a nice summer 2104 project for the young bucks..... You need a proper rustic door with some character to it..... :saywhat:
up next on the workbee will be grading a little around the cabin. Updating the shooting range. Taking down a few aspen trees that are leaning towards the cabin. Removing the old outhouse. And finally, we may hand drive a well.
Good Luck hand driving a well in that rock they call the ground up there.
Lets put the well a ways from the old out house hole. :scared:
A pic heavy book is a very good idea, except for the work involved. Would be quite a read, though...
Oh that "fat wool"... I HATE the fat wool.
QuoteOriginally posted by Roger Norris:
Lets put the well a ways from the old out house hole. :scared:
Heck Roger, that's right where it's going. I figure it's half way started already. ;) Ron dug that outhouse hole while us younger bucks were putting the metal roof on the cabin and it darn near did him in back in 2000. I think he'd find some dynamite if he had to do it all over again. My hunch is we'll cover that site up and put a hazardous waste marker over it. :scared:
I hear ya Jimmy about that white door, I don't like it either, but it's a good solid air tight door. I'm thinkin about painting it. If I could find a good artist I'd have them paint it like the entrance to a wolf's den.. :)
(http://www.allpublishingcompany.com/bv/images/Yellowstone/slides/Wolf%20den%201.jpg)
It was the early 1990's and my first year at camp before it was 'Shrewhaven'. I was hunting with a JD Berry longbow and up on Banana ridge. Greg and I had scouted the ridge and there were acorns and deer pellets everywhere. I wasn't even sure where to put a stand, so I selected an oak tree that gave me good cover and just at the top of the ridge. That first night I had at least 30 deer filter through, nothing in range and most towards the middle of the ridge. The next morning, I had the same thing, sooo, I moved my stand to opposite side of where I saw most of the deer moving through. The next night was one of those quiet nights in the woods where you could hear a pin drop. From back over my left shoulder I heard footsteps. It wasn't a squirrel or a ruffed grouse. Too steady and large. I just knew there was a buck coming and with each step, my heart was pounding more. I kept turning my neck hard against my body trying to see the approaching animal. Well, it finally popped into sight and it was no animal at all, but a big ole tom turkey. I was dumbfounded because I didn't think there were any turkeys in the area (and now they're running all over the place). Well, I was remaining very still until that bird was literally right under my stand. I wanted to get a better look at him and barely moved my head down to look at him and away he went pronto. Wow, that's some eyesight I thought. That bird sure had me going though until I finally saw it.
The next morning it happened and a group of does came through and I made a beautiful shot on one. She tumbled over right about where I started out a few days earlier in plain sight. The next avian experience was again a first. I was enjoying relaxing in the stand knowing my deer was down in plain sight and within 15 minutes the ravens were circling. They absolutely cannot miss seeing that white belly from the air. The local DNR officer told us in a later year if you're ever tracking a deer and can't find the trail, listen for the ravens.
How did I miss this post...... :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
This is Tim Cosgrove, owner of Kustom King. Tim is one of those guys who keeps us laughing all night. This picture doesn't show his foot....Ray and I took turns dropping him off and picking him up because his leg was in a cast. We told Tim if he hit one, to just wait until we got there to help him out.....NOPE....he trailed it and gutted it on his own, one legged. He still talks about falling into the gut pile more than once...Timmy has a lot of heart and loves the woods. Camp would not be the same without him.
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/miscpix/Various1182.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/miscpix/Various1182.jpg.html)
My first Shrew Haven deer.....
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/hunting/Hunting137.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/hunting/Hunting137.jpg.html)
I remember that trailing job Roger. I couldn't believe that deer went that far leaving that much blood on the ground.
Tim not only had his leg in a cast, he was on crutches. In the picture to the left of Tim, do you see a face peaking out from behind that big pine tree?....Is that the Ghost of Armstrong Creek?... :bigsmyl:
Remember that Ron? Tom Jenkins was there. We were almost trotting on the blood trail....it was so heavy we joked that it looked like someone sprayed it with a spray bottle. It went about 150 yards in a perfect circle, ended up very near my treestand, facing the trail. A good morning!!
in the Shrewhaven tv show thread you'll see on the show next to Ron a group of miscellaneous arrows that looks like a quiver of arrows. Tbis is actually the graveyard of broken arrows from deer harvests. I know that I've mentioned before how much fun it is to swap equipment and try equipment jn camp. Of course it doesn't hurt that two of the big traditional archery businesses are in camp. One product that gets tried a lot is arrows/broadhead combinations. Of late there is a 50/50 split in wood and carbon shafts. Easton axis seams to be the carbon of choice tipped with kustom king trailmaker heads while the wood arrows were mostly paul jalon/elite arrows creations. That graveyard of broken shafts reminds me of some of the 'fads' that have come and gone over the years.