Ok I might get long winded here but here it goes , a while back I wanted to start shooting HH style bows and bought me a Big Five built by Kramer. Shot it a bit and took some small game than for what ever reason put it on the back burner. Now in the last few weeks my interest in Howard Hill was again in full gear ( the HH thread here helped me along ) then for Xmas my wife bought me all the HH DVDs and some HH broadheads. Dang I love that woman ( oh this will turn into a hunting story before long ) then that wife of mine got me a new bow also a fine old Kramer TD 68" 65@28 not a mark on it looks like it had never been shot. So over the last several weeks I have been getting my HH style shooting down well kinda a mix of my and that style and it seems to be going well. I have been shooting carbons and went over to a good friends a few days ago and he fixed me up with some good cedar arrows and another great friend gave me an Awsome HH back Quiver. So now with all my gear ready and my wool layered thick ( I think with the wind chill it was like 10 this morn ) I was off to try and take a whitetail from the ground with no camo the old school way.......
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac45/samstephens71/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-12/EFB9BFB1-B496-4988-82F7-5F1FE7CBC892_zpsbegzslif.jpg) (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/samstephens71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-12/EFB9BFB1-B496-4988-82F7-5F1FE7CBC892_zpsbegzslif.jpg.html)
:campfire: This may turn out well!!
:bigsmyl:
Out well before sun up this am dressed in many layers with my back quiver full of cedars I had about a mile walk in the bright moon light down to the river. And boy was that moon bright and it was dang cold with the north wind at a steady clip but I quickly warmed up and had to slow down as not to get hot. Right before I got to where I wanted to be I could see several deer out in the field I needed to cross so I cut left and keep hiden in the woods. I dropped down in a heavely wooded dry creek bed and snuck as quietly as I could to a well used crossing I hoped the deer would take if they came my way. Where I set up would give me a good cross wind for any thing that used that trail and would put the sun somewhat at my back...... (http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac45/samstephens71/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/CEF9DD8E-16D5-4F67-9EC4-AAB78DEB8038_zpski7214x0.jpg) (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/samstephens71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/CEF9DD8E-16D5-4F67-9EC4-AAB78DEB8038_zpski7214x0.jpg.html)
This is from my view of the crossing...
This will be good. :coffee:
This is our late season only spike and doe can be taken so I need one of those to give me a shot. I have had a great season this year and have taken two fine bucks so I have 3 tags to fill yet. Back to the task at hand the sun is starting up and it's getting colder but I'm feeling good in all my nice wool clothing and feel good about the spot I chose to plant my rearend. I can see many deer milling around and looks like a few are heading for my location , I did several test draws of my bow and all I need now is a deer. Well in a little while here comes a few does with the biggest one bringing up the back of the train and as luck would have it they read the memo and took the trail I needed. In a single file they made the crossing and when the big girl hit my shooting lane the arrow was loosed in a flash of yellow..... (http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac45/samstephens71/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/AF82189C-2612-4483-8F1F-6301E141B4AC_zpsjqygmvpi.jpg) (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/samstephens71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/AF82189C-2612-4483-8F1F-6301E141B4AC_zpsjqygmvpi.jpg.html)
This would be the deers view up to my location....
:campfire:
sounding like a fine tale!
I think I was more tore up at this point than I have been in a good while , I have taken many an animal off the ground over the years so it wasn't that. I have just been so excited with this Howard Hill stuff and getting back to the roots of bow hunting , wood arrows , back quivers , no camo , on the ground as they say Hunting The Hard Way. Ok the shot looked like it hit the hair I was looking at the bow is so quiet she never moved til the arrow hit her...... (http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac45/samstephens71/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/0FCBA810-8C12-4FC0-AFBE-59A16CFE7097_zpsdyq61v3x.jpg) (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/samstephens71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/0FCBA810-8C12-4FC0-AFBE-59A16CFE7097_zpsdyq61v3x.jpg.html)
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac45/samstephens71/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/BF8C5752-25C4-4E1C-BC67-79ABE8A23EC5_zps2vqssms6.jpg) (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/samstephens71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/BF8C5752-25C4-4E1C-BC67-79ABE8A23EC5_zps2vqssms6.jpg.html)
From my spot....
We need more!!!! :) Great pictures. Looking forward to reading the rest.
She bolted at the hit but the other deer just stood there watching her so I slipped another arrow on the string but never got a shot off at another. My doe made about a 50yd dash and it was all over I saw her go down , I sat for another hour watching the Tx River bottom wake up and enjoying the morning.......
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac45/samstephens71/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/BDB2AD18-21D0-4CA4-ADE8-331776F2FE9D_zps6ueciwee.jpg) (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/samstephens71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/BDB2AD18-21D0-4CA4-ADE8-331776F2FE9D_zps6ueciwee.jpg.html)
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac45/samstephens71/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/B47E027B-D932-4D14-BBD6-879100592928_zpsh0nsobwb.jpg) (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/samstephens71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/B47E027B-D932-4D14-BBD6-879100592928_zpsh0nsobwb.jpg.html)
Turns out I had drawn a Simmons head out of the quiver not one of the HH heads my wife bought me. I will use one of those this afternoon....
What water that pooled up from the last rain in the dry creek bed was froze solid. It was a great morning in the deer woods and I hope this afternoon finds me in a similar situation , this Howard Hill stuff is pretty fun....
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac45/samstephens71/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/AA9F8227-FCCB-45C6-8E96-13755F5544E5_zpsmtovag04.jpg) (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/samstephens71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/AA9F8227-FCCB-45C6-8E96-13755F5544E5_zpsmtovag04.jpg.html)
Great stuff Sam. Congratulations on a great hunt.
Chris
Congrats on the doe on the ground, getting it done the hard way.
Nice looking bow..!
Like I said no track job needed as I saw her go down , back at camp now deer hung drinking coffee and working on a plan for this afternoon....
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac45/samstephens71/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/CD67296B-EE15-4594-9B3C-5A1CF87CFC4F_zpshf8vstg7.jpg) (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/samstephens71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/CD67296B-EE15-4594-9B3C-5A1CF87CFC4F_zpshf8vstg7.jpg.html)
(http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac45/samstephens71/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/8B882483-483F-4B17-99C5-D354F5128AE8_zps9dfyp5xe.jpg) (http://s884.photobucket.com/user/samstephens71/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-01/8B882483-483F-4B17-99C5-D354F5128AE8_zps9dfyp5xe.jpg.html)
Awesome job sam glad to see your filling your journey with the Howard hill stuff man looks like a fun journey!! Nice pics thxs for sharing
congrats... that really makes me wanna pull the longbow and woodies out
All I can say is, WELL DONE!!
An outstanding story! Congrats on your success, and the way you did it.
QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
All I can say is, WELL DONE!!
yup X2
Great job and I really like the pics.
Yeah man!!! Way to go :clapper: :clapper:
good way to get the new year started, congratts! :thumbsup:
Awesome job brother!!
Well done...
Coooool!
Way to go sir! :campfire:
Great hunt! Thanks for sharing!!!! :thumbsup:
Simple is fun! :thumbsup:
Good shootin, too!
Perfect Shot!
Really cool stuff here! Sam, congrats to you. That is a trophy hunt right there!
Great job!!!
Good job Sam... Great story and pictures like always. :thumbsup:
Great story!
Awesome. Love the tools and the story telling. Excellent shot!!!
Excellent story, pics and a fine doe! Way to get it done! :thumbsup:
Congrats Sam! Great story and pics. Guess you're after them again as I send this.....another story?
Congrats Sam! Great story and pics. Guess you're after them again as I send this.....another story?
Thanks for taking us along. Well done!
Sam and bow + Hunting = Dead Critter. It seems like it always adds up.
Well Done Sir, Good luck this afternoon.
Awesome! That's about as good as it gets! Very nice pictures and story to go along with them. Good luck with the next one! :clapper:
Bernie
Congrats Sam. Man you sure know how to get it done. Thanks for sharing.
Tony
Excellent.
Love that "old school" camo Sam. Beautiful shot, glad you did not let the cold snap keep you out of the woods.
Good Hunting,
Craig
Well done Mr Stephens,nicely done. Beautiful bow
Loved it. My next arrows are going to be yellow fletched thanks to you! Nice shot and even better story!
Outstanding story and hunt. Great job sir. My hats off to you!
:thumbsup: :archer2:
Good one Sam! :thumbsup:
Congrats again Sam!!!
Howard would be proud of you!! I know that I am!!
Well thanks guys , I have another story to tell , won't be as long as this one though.....
,,,,,Sam,,,,,
:campfire: Here we go again........lol!
Very well done! Looking forward to more.
-Jay
Awesome!! Congrats
Awesome Sam! Congrats on a fine shot and great story. I'm all tuned into for the second story!
congrats!
To the trad hunting community Sam Stephens ='s "The real deal!"
Great stuff - that last pic with her propped up next to your gear is a great shot!!!!
Great shot and a beautiful doe, congrats!!
Thanks for the pics and taking us on your hunt. :thumbsup:
Well, it sounds like you have this Hill thing under control. Good job.
Great job buddy! Love the story!
jon
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats Sam! Well done and a very nice read. :clapper:
Well done Sam, always enjoy your stories and thanks for taking the time and posting such great pictures. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Now waiting for the second one.
Thanks Sam, I have to say that with all these great longbow story's I am beginning to get catch the HH bug! Ha, my wife is not going to be thrilled I assure you! :archer:
Awesome Sam!! Congrats. I love all the old school gear!!
Congrats, Sam! Pretty special morning.
Always enjoy your posts Sam. Well done again, congratulations!
Travis
Sam, great hunt with great pictures! :thumbsup:
Well done Sam. Nice stories, great shot.
congrats
:thumbsup:
Perfect shot on a beautiful doe! :archer2:Congrats!
Great job Sam. Waiting on that second story now. One of these days I gotta put my big boy pants on and take the my HH for a walk.