Trad Gang

Well our Kentucky season comes to a close tomorrow. I was planning to get out this weekend but when my brother called on Friday asking me to go with him to hopefully get a kill on video I couldn't pass it up. Nothing like some tree time with your brother.

We got to the farm around 1 and I asked him if we could get a quick photo as we have been hunting together since 1984 and we have never had a hunting picture together. He said sure and here was the result that I am glad to have.

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Let me say that I had nothing to do with the success of this hunt. My Brother had found the spot and set up a great two stand set in a fantastic funnel spot with three trails intersecting beside a thick over grown bedding area. We had a light snow Friday morning and the trails were almost mud so I knew the spot was a good choice. As you know this time of year the tree with no foliage was out in the open so he had cut a bunch of magnolia branches and zip tied them all around the stands for cover. Great work Bro!

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Our plan was to get a kill on video and in the back of our minds a double possibly so I brought my bow along. We climbed aboard and I hung the Zipper on a peg and got the video cam out as this was his spot and he had done all the work, so he would be first up. We got settled and I looked at my phone, it was 1:30. The wind was perfect blowing from the trails past us.

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At around 4:30 he pokes me in the back and says "Deer". I whisper "can I stand?" He says yes and I slowly stand and turn to see a deer coming slowly at about 50 yards. I then see another behind her. I peek around at him and he is standing with his bow in hand and ready. She proceeds from the thicket and right for us. Our setup was about 10 yards from the trails and she was on track to come past us. She was picking on stuff the whole way and moving very slow.  I reached down to turn on the camera and the screen had fuzzy lines all down it and wasn't working. I turned it on and off multiple times but no good.

I gave up on the camera and just poked my head around the tree to enjoy the coming event. The doe finally made it in front of us and shortly after I see the orange fletchings hit her what I thought was perfect and she sped off. Her buddy just stood there looking at her wondering what the heck was going on. I quickly grabbed my bow hoping she would continue on but she shortly walked off in the direction of my brothers doe.

We talked over the events and he said that he thought it was too high. I told him although he didnt get a pass through the shot looked good to me. We continued to talk and celebrate for a few minutes then he said "get your bow and lets sit till dark." I gave him the camera and grabbed the zipper and snapped on an arrow.

45 or so minutes later I look around and see 7 coming our way from the opposite direction. I knew it wouldn't be good as the wind was going that way. We quickly noticed two of the deer were limping. They continued our way when at about 40 yards out one of the lead does gets a whiff of something she doesn't like and I was ready for her to spoil the party at any moment. She stopped and started the stomping. One of the limping deer kept coming despite her  associates disagreement. I had told myself I would take a shot if it gave me the opportunity. The deer gets inside my range and I can tell it is a button buck so I didn't shoot.

The doe calmed down after about 5 minutes and circles around us at around 30 yards. A few of the other followed her but three of the others stayed on the trail and were coming. The first one past at the 10 yard trail was a mature doe but trotted past and I didn't feel good about the shot so I waited. The next two I could tell were small yearling but that wasn't going to fear me off. The first one comes down the trail and stops perfect. I made sure it wasn't a button and I quickly drew and realeased the arrow. The shot was perfect and I could see the blood gushing out and she ran off. She circled off the trail and headed for all the others but at about 40 yards started to wobble and tumped over. I could see my Grizzly headed shaft stuck in the snow.

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We get down to survey the area and quickly decide to leave his over night. We grabbed mine and pull her down the hill and got everything loaded in the truck. I was tied up with church and my daughters field hockey today but my brother was going back this morning to see what he could find. I haven't heard anything yet so I am assuming its not good news for his.

Anyway an all in all great evening spent with the bro and a fantastic way to end our season. Going to be a long rest of the winter and summer. Come on September!

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Cool hunt. Nice deer, hope your brother finds his.

great story, congrats!

Awesome! Congrats to both of you on your shots and bonding time. I hope you get news of your brothers deer.

Great story and photos. Congratulations on a nice late season doe.

Congrats Tom!!! I hope you brother found his, keep us posted. Great pics, thanks for posting!!

QuoteOriginally posted by PA Bones:
Great story and photos. Congratulations on a nice late season doe.

A big ditto on that:)

Awesome, Tom. Great way to end the season for ya. Great pictures as usual. Sorry your brother wasn't able to find his doe but at least you made great memories together, that's the main thing.

While I was reading your story, I was at the part where the camera stopped working and I was expecting you to say that you got your smartphone out and would begin to film with it. I was surprised that you didn't do that.

Great story and congrats to you for yours hope your brother has luck with his there's nothing better than sharing time afield with each other it's what it's all about!! NICEWORK

Way to go, TJ! I hope your bro can find his also!

Congrats,

Bisch

Good going buddy! I hope your brothers works out.

Lets do some fishing or bowfishing when the weather breaks.

Rob

Nice hunt! Great pictures! Hope your brother finds his deer.

Great way to end the season! Good picture of you and your brother  
Congrats

I love hunting with my brother.  He spent 24 yrs in the army so we didn't get to to much at all.  A lot of plans we had for moose, sheep, elk, deer, went awry with deployments.  He's retired recently so I will take advantage of all I can.

Congrats to you guys.  Thats awesome!

That's great Tom!  Hopefully your bro is just busy dragging.  I think you two need to hunt together more often!

What a blast hunting with your brother!  Great shooting as always!  Congrats!!

Congrats TJ!!!RC

Great Story!

Congrats TJ. A great way to end the season for you and your Brother to be able to hunt together.

 Tony

Great way to spend the day with your Brother Tom.  congrats on your deer and best of luck to him finding his.

Awesome hunt, way to stick with it during the late season!

Thanks guys! No luck on his. He said it got on a south facing snowless hillside and he lost the way.

Very nice Tom  :thumbsup:

Awesome job! Thanks for the story and pics.

Well done Tom!!

Great story TJ! Wish my brother lived closer so we could hunt togather.

chris <><

great job

Great story! It really made me miss my brother. Was he able to get the camera running for your shot?

Congrats...nice way to cap off the season hunting with your brother.

Congrats TJ! That's a great way to end the season.

Congrats again, TJ! Sorry your bro could not find his.

Bisch

QuoteOriginally posted by fishmerf:
Great story! It really made me miss my brother. Was he able to get the camera running for your shot?

Shane, He didn't get it. I need to find a new camera and camera man I think.

Nice job Tom!  I had one just like your brother a few days before the Missouri season ended. Sucks! I'm glad this deer season is over as it was a tough one.

Glad yours worked out better.  Nothing like making a good shot and you did.  Congrats.

CK

Yeah it stinks Chris. Just glad it wasn't his first trad deer. He called last night and said he walked for four hours in searching. I feel terrible I couldn't be there.

:thumbsup:  Well done as usual!   :clapper:

Thats all you got Bill. No congratulatory comments on our bet?

Just hanging my head in shame...I thought I could slink by like a scolded pup but I see my GOOD BUDDY is not going to let that happen.    :D  

Your preferred beverage is PBR right or is it Maalox? "Oldtimer"

Ouch! I suppose I deserved that. Haha.

By the way, I'll send you a link to the english style brown ale that I prefer.

All in good fun.

LINK?!? If they dont sell it at 7/11 your likely to be disappointed.

:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Yes indeed come September! I like the cut of your Jib mister! Thanks for sharing, those Zippers are deadly.................    :thumbsup:

Great job Tom!

Dang Tom, another perfect opportunity to test drive that new LED flashlight on a blood trail passed you by!  Ky. sure has a nice long season and must not have much of a coyote problem, lol! Congrats, you deserve a citation from your Wildlife Commission for doing your fair share in population control this year!

Great hunt!  congrats!

A family hunt to remember !

Good shooting.

I didn't know they sold ale at the 7/11 ????

Nicely done TJ! Wait till you see my Zipper....bow that is!!

Thanks Guys. Ryan, don't hold out on any in progress pics. If you do I'll get them from Bill.

:thumbsup:       :thumbsup:    two thumbs up for another fine season in the books, good to see your two smiling faces together ... time with your brother when adults is special.

Please get them from Bill...as I don't have any yet. I'm basing my opinion on how nice it "sounds" it will look.

Great story btw...you really know how to put meat away!

Ryan, my daughter is 14 now and has her first "Boyfriend". He is coming to the house tonight and I have the doe hanging on the back porch. When he arrives I plan to be knee deep in chopping it up with a psycho look on my face. Haha.

Great idea! Blood on your face would help!

Beauty Tom! Sorry about your brothers.

Remember "I love my daughter and I don't mind going back to prison." That and some Old school Metalica blasting and blood on your hands!

Hey Mike now we're talkin'. I think we should start a "dating a trad gangers daughter" thread. Seem trad related to me!

Nice pics and story TJ.  Hopefully your brother will connect next season!

Thanks Ray, this was his second shot attempt. He killed his first. He may be green to a trad bow, but the man can shoot.

Here is his first attempt earlier in the month.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=134673;p=1#000000

Congratulations! Too bad your brother could not find his. Ya'll have some big does over there in Kentucky!

TJ, I must have missed that thread. That's a dandy first deer with a recurve.  I hope you both continue to enjoy each others company for many years.  Congratulations to both of you.     :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Tom,
You could have invited her boyfriend on the "bloodtrail flashlight test". Played "Dueling Banjos" on the CD player and toss out alot of quotes from Deliverance. Maybe turned it into a bit of a "snipe hunt", too! If he comes back after that he might have potential!

QuoteOriginally posted by Pat B.:
A family hunt to remember !

Good shooting.

I didn't know they sold ale at the 7/11 ????

Root Beer, Pat. Only Root Beer. Thats all Tom is getting!! Only warm Root Beer    :p    :biglaugh:

Ryan, I found some Madagascar Ebony it is DARK and should look real sexy with the B&W Ebony. We are headed to Kalamazoo on thursday. As soon as we get back I'll be able to get back to your bow. I'm still thinking on the limb belly lam.  I may have a new trick up my sleeve.

Nice shooting TJ!

QuoteOriginally posted by olddogrib:
Dang Tom, another perfect opportunity to test drive that new LED flashlight on a blood trail passed you by!  Ky. sure has a nice long season and must not have much of a coyote problem, lol! Congrats, you deserve a citation from your Wildlife Commission for doing your fair share in population control this year!

Richard, I did use the new light on this hunt for his deer. It is amazing the difference of that LED from the other bluer LED's. A side by side comparison was very telling.

10 lbs of jerky in the marinade!

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Man I want  some of that tom ...looks mighty fine! By the way how did the daughters boyfriend make out they still dating?...  :biglaugh:

Haha Jarrod. The young man changed his plans! Go figure!

Congrats TJ!!!!!

hahahaha i kinda figured that tom ...kids these days!!!

Awesome story Tom!  Congrats on a fantastic year for you and your buddies!     :clapper:

You can send some of that west :)I'm Congrats again!

Thanks guys! I'll send you some Ryan if it makes it out of the dehydrator.

Great stuff as usual TJ !!!    :clapper:    Congrats


Bill

Great hunt with some great memories Tom.  That's the kind of hunt dreams are made of sharing with your brother.

Great thread and ending to a season!

I mostly chased ducks for our close.

Congrats to you and your bro, TJ!   :clapper:

Way to go TJ. Makes me "homesick". I retired and moved out here to Wyoming from Kentucky about 3 years and I dearly miss the smell of oaks and cedars in some of my old "haunts". Made me feel like I was right there in the tree next to you.

Robert, you are in Wyoming and you miss KY???? I suppose the grass is always greener.

Special bonding traditional event...Fabulous!

Thank you for sharing.

Great story, thanks for posting it. I would not pass up tree time with my brothers for anything! Well done!

.......Congratulations on some late season jerky  ;)
 
Life has its ways ...
Have shared the woods with my brothers on a few hunts over the years . Great times that I truly miss .


Good to see someone having some of those special times  .