St. Jude/Pike Co. Hunt - All pics up now!

[Fletcher]

Way to go, my friend!!  I had a feeling it would come together for you.  Look at all the hunting you would have missed if you'd tagged that 9 pt so early.

Give me a call when you get a break.

Rick

[Chris Surtees]

Congrats to both of you      

[Huntrdfk]

             for both of you, can't
wait to see the pics and read the story......


David

[swp]

COOL! Congrats to both of you

[JC]

Way to go Fred! Looking forward to hearing the tale...

[gregg dudley]

Congratulations, Darren and Fred!

Get those pictures up!

[whitebuffalo]

   

[Westy]

Congrats...sounds like everyone had a great time! I hunt Pike Co. as well and can't wait to get out there.

[4runr]

Congrats on the doe Darren!

Looking forward to Fred's buck and story.

[Guru]

Congrats to both        

Now com'on, we're waiting...   :cool:    

[kennym]

Congrats Guys!! Now lets see the other one!!  

[laxbowman]

Guys, Just talked to my dad via txt. I told him to get on his horse with posting pics b/c ppl are gettin ancy.  His reply was that BUTCHERING COMES BEORE POSTING PICS.  they're getting all that done and Fred is packing up to leave in the morning.  they'll get the pics up asap!

[Hackbow]

Alrighty, we just got done getting the deer cut up and in coolers after Fred made a last ditch effort to kill a doe tonight. He had a couple just out of range so no more kills for this hunt. Also spent some time visiting with my folks before Fred and I meet for an early breakfast then he is off to the airport in St. Louis.

Fred hunted extremely hard these last 5 days. He saw somewhere between 20 & 25 different bucks himself. I saw an additional couple that he never saw. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know him and look forward to hunting with him again.

When I got the call this morning, I knew before answering he had something on the ground. His face was lit up when I got to the farm and we promptly headed out to get some pictures and drag the buck UP the hill.

I can't do his story justice, but I'll give you the short version. He got into his stand well before light. We had moved this stand a couple days ago to this hackberry tree. Good cover and multiple shooting lanes on multiple trails in what appeared to be the hottest concentration of activity on the property. This picture is Fred in the stand and our recreated version of his shot angle. BTW, Fred hunted with a safety harness but it came unraveled and is useless. He is taking it back to where he bought it.

   

After sitting for a while with no action, Fred hung his bow on the limb to the left in the picture and thought he would try his rattling bag and/or grunt tube. As luck would have it, he got an immediate response to the rattling - from 40 yds away! The 6 pt lifted its head from its bed and started looking around. Fred had heard some noise before shooting light from the little group of torn-up saplings but had no idea that there was a buck bedded in there from the time he climbed into his tree.

Fred had a small predicament now. He had gotten the buck's attention but his bow was hanging on a limb and his arrows were in the quiver. The buck is looking around for the source of the rattling and Fred has to move to get ready.

He took his time getting the bow up and the arrow nocked. Fortunately the deer was looking all around and gave him the opportunity to get ready. The buck started to make his way toward some really thick brush off to Fred's right. When it crossed a predetermined spot on the trail where Fred could get an arrow throught an opening for a low chest shot, he dropped the string. Not 100% positive about the shot, he gave the deer an hour before climbing down. In that time a small 10 pt. sauntered by close, but out of range. Fred said their bodies were similar sized, but the 6 pt's rack may have been larger than the 10's.

Ater the hour wait was up Fred got down and began his search. This next pic shows what he found. Do you know what it is?
     

 


And the last pic is that of one happy hunter accompanied by the target of his efforts.

 

We had some technical difficulty with the camera earlier, but we managed these few pics.

I'll add more later and maybe Fred can add some too before he heads up to Joe's place in WI. Besides, I've got to get some sleep, this guy wore me out!

Congrats again Fred!

           

[Chris Surtees]

Way to go Fred      

[String Cutter]

Great story. Glad to hear you are having a great season.

[Whip]

Now that's a 6 point!  Nice deer - nothing sweeter than last minute success.
Congratulations!  

And a great big THANK YOU as well Darren for everything you did to host the hunt for St. Jude.
Outstanding!!              

[SKYLER W]

Congratulations FRED!!! GREAT JOB!!!  

[Shaun]

Good hunting Fox. Fine donation and effort for St Judes. Have fun at Joe's place next week.

[hogdancer]

That is Great !!!!!   good job Fred !!

[Hackbow]

Okay folks, as promised a few more pictures.

Fred and Dad (the real provider of this hunt for St. Jude every year) with 3 of Dad's bucks off the farm we hunt. They are gun kills, but show the reason why Illinois and Pike County in particular is a destination for trophy seekers.

 

Fred with both of our deer hanging in the barn. I was standing immediately to the right of where the doe is hanging when I shot her. She was a little to the right from where I was standing to take the pic.

 

A few shots of where Fred found his buck laying.

 
 
 

And finally, the last field photo before loading him up. You can see the closest arrow is the one that did the job. It was tipped with a Simmons Interceptor and given flight by Fred's Schafer Silvertip (made by Paul). Beautiful shot placement as well.    

 

I hope Fred gets a chance to check in here before heading to Whip's place, but the man is juggling a schedule that would make your head spin. Thanks for going along on the hunt with us and remember to bid high next year!