Look what I found in the woods the other night.

kat · October 28, 2011, 09:55:00 AM

Great story, and nice buck. Thanks for the journey.

Jerry Jeffer · October 28, 2011, 10:06:00 AM

Yes!! Great story, great hunt, great buck! Way to go!

Talondale · October 28, 2011, 10:07:00 AM

Nice buck and good story.

vermonster13 · October 28, 2011, 10:10:00 AM

Congratulations!

Gatekeeper · October 28, 2011, 10:14:00 AM

Thanks for sharing, Chuck! He is a handsome buck. Congratulations

uglyjake · October 28, 2011, 10:25:00 AM

Thank you for a wonderful story. Congratulations.

Doc Nock · October 28, 2011, 10:32:00 AM

"feeding obliquely",.."...wenzels distribute..."

This guy's writing got class... almost had to look up a word or two, but you write well my friend!

Really enjoyed the tale and sharing that period of self incrimination! Been there, done that!

Congrats on the pursuit and perseverance that paid off handsomely.

And yea, from 63, a cart is a must! Even getting them ONTO a cart can be a chore by yourself if they stiffed up a bit!

2 years back last day, I shot 2 within an hour of each other: Doe then buck... me trying to gut 2 stiffed up deer alone would have made a great Laural and Hardy film clip!

Congrats again!

JimB · October 28, 2011, 10:32:00 AM

That's a great looking buck.Way to stick with it.Nice looking bow too.

bohuntr · October 28, 2011, 10:49:00 AM

Awesome story and a beautiful buck!!!

Elkchaser · October 28, 2011, 10:51:00 AM

Thanks for sharing your great story. Enjoyed it very much.

Mint · October 28, 2011, 10:51:00 AM

Great story and great buck!

Recurve50 LBS · October 28, 2011, 11:25:00 AM

Great story Thank you for shareing with us!

ChuckC · October 28, 2011, 11:30:00 AM

Dave (Doc Nock) you brought up an excellent point. Dragging it out was a real chore that I made a bit easier by walking back to the truck and returning with a piece of heavy plastic sheeting, they used to call this a "deer sleigh'er", that forms a slicker surface to drag on. But, then I got back to the truck.

By that time, the deer weighed in the neighborhood of 600 pounds (dressed !) and I looked at the pick up , then looked at the deer, looked at the pick up, and looked at the deer and then almost started to cry. Now what ?

I did something I never did before and it worked. Yeah, this buck was heavy, but part of the reason it takes two to get them into the bed of a truck is cause there are no good handles on a deer. Sure, some in front for dragging, but not for picking it up (unless you are REALLY tall).

I took a couple strap-on tree steps that were in the truck, and cinched them around the deer's torso, one just in front of the rear legs, one across the chest and between the front legs. With these straps in place as hand holds, I was able to dead lift the critter up and plop him onto the tailgate.

Hooray ! it worked.
ChuckC

Cyclic-Rivers · October 28, 2011, 11:38:00 AM

Great stuff Chuck! Congrats

straitera · October 28, 2011, 12:00:00 PM

Really nice effort, deer, & story! Pack a few of these to the truck & you'll stop on the way home to buy a deer dolly. Haven't been w/o one since. Excellent! Thanks

Gen273 · October 28, 2011, 12:12:00 PM

Great story, and buck, congrats!!!

South MS Bowhunter · October 28, 2011, 12:37:00 PM

Chuck, sir that was an excellence transfer of the hunt from your minds eye to mind! Really enjoyed it and think I may have even gotten a few "take aways" from it, like the tip from Hunter Ed how deer react when shot and the crow etc... very good information and a very fine deer... now where did I lay my bow got to get in the woods, thanks.

jcar315 · October 28, 2011, 12:54:00 PM

Congratulations!

Geezer · October 28, 2011, 12:55:00 PM

Congrats on a beautiful buck!

Jason R. Wesbrock · October 28, 2011, 12:57:00 PM

Excellent job, Chuck! The property you described sounds a lot like a piece of public land about a mile from where I used to hunt in Columbia County. And yes, I know what you mean about the CWD regulations. The herd got hammered pretty hard.

A trick for getting deer into the bed of a truck, from a guy who looks like he'd need to quarter and pack out a squirrel: get a ratchet strap and a knife. Slit the rear legs where you'd insert a gambrel. Hook one end of the ratchet strap through the legs and the other end onto a tie down in the truck. Lift the legs, pull the strap tight, and then ratchet the back end onto the tailgate. Grab the head, and swing the front end in. Nothing to it.
If you ever need a game cart, and I'm up at my property, I'm only about an hour away. I'd be more than glad to help. If you want me to shoot you my phone number, let me know.