As a Traditional Bowhunter it's easy for me to count my blessings when things go right for me, this is also true for everyday life. As a Christ Follower though I believe that Everyday I get to wake up and live is a blessing from my Creator!!!! Not always so easy to live out when things are not going your way but I know in my heart for it to be true!
This tale is about those times it's easy to count your Blessings.....
As Bowhunters there are things that bring a smiles to our faces, a bloody arrow stuck in the ground
(http://i.imgur.com/XzeY5yn.jpg)
Sunshine making the fall colors explode!
(http://i.imgur.com/tpEblLe.jpg)
A couple of small raccoons that were already occupying the clump of trees you were wanting to put your stand in...
(Imagine my surprise when after I set the stand and sat down, there looking at me from about three feet away where these two guys)
I about jumped out of the stand!!!!
(http://i.imgur.com/26re7nD.jpg)
I decided to pick a different tree!
There are the heart stopping rubs that you find in your hunting spot that will bring a grin to your face!
(http://i.imgur.com/mu5KnEK.jpg)
Deer so close you can spit on them...
(http://i.imgur.com/lbVlHEc.jpg)
A buck coming into your decoy just perfect!
(http://i.imgur.com/JNGES4e.jpg)
A fawn nursing just a few feet from your hide...
(http://i.imgur.com/M9dgERQ.jpg)
There's beautiful sunrises that never got old!!!!
(http://i.imgur.com/9MaKmaB.jpg)
There's family you get to share it with!
(http://i.imgur.com/ptO5SKh.jpg)
Taking advantage of a coyote not paying attention!
(http://i.imgur.com/zy7tFqJ.jpg)
Watching a buck investigate the grunts you made
(http://i.imgur.com/zlEbE8F.jpg)
Nice Pics! it is good being out in nature!
Awesome pics!!
Bloodtrails, does harvested and boys that love to help!
(http://i.imgur.com/3Uq44vv.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ZdvDzPW.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/RxlLl49.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/uxCvVn0.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/6Bd5z6E.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/mkDRFXy.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/xYFLxRu.jpg)
All these things brought a smile to my face and will for years to come, but its the most recent blessing that I will dwell on for the rest of this post, and it has head gear....
(http://i.imgur.com/KkMqWxc.jpg)
Nice pics and very nicely told.
I'm listening ....
,,Sam,,
Nice pictures, I like the sneak preview! :campfire:
awesome , congrats
Go on......
Looks like a good place for a bow hunter to live!
Dang... just when I start thinking I know how to tell a story Tradgang goes and humbles me again. Very nice! Looking forward to the details!
Outstanding post and pics!! You ARE truly blessed!!
Wonderful! I'm all in for the rest!
:campfire: :clapper:
Now I'm a guy that loves Iowa in the fall and October is my month, God created me this way but it seams a shame to condense all that October has to offer into 31 days. Just sayin, it keeps us hungry for more of what God has for us I guess!
So, try as I might I'm always sad to see it go, especially with my buck tag still in my pocket....
I know that probably sounds strange but there is a clock that starts in my head come November.
As long as its October I feel like I can take the bow season as it comes, come November, I know that fall is coming to an end and it's like as each day/hunt that passes by that I'm one day closer to missing out.... Its the blessing of that sacred rut hunt where everything comes together and a buck comes into your setup just like you've planed!
This is my 10th year hunting with Trad gear and one of the main reasons for seaking out Traditional Bowhunting is because I was seeking something more fulfilling! I had grown up fallowing along with the mainstream Bowhunting lifestyle, my favorite pastime became a time that connected happiness with success. I felt the rot of that culture creeping in on me and I knew it wasn't for me, I suppose there is still threads of that remaining in me.....
I also have a Blessing at home that is gracious beyond what I deserve and although she rarely gives me the red light to go hunting, it contributes to the clock in my head come November.....
I've also been paying attention to the moon cycle this year and how it correlates to the timing of deer moving i.e. When the moon is overhead or underfoot and when those times lineup with the morning and or evening hunts.
Tuesday morning the 14th looked like the a.m. hunt should result in high deer activity so I put a plan in place to hunt a funnel stand that I'd been waiting to hunt since last fall!
This is the graph for Tuesday from usprimtime.com
(http://i.imgur.com/XERlKlO.jpg)
A little bit on this property, a mutual friend of Travis Kasner (KAZ) and I bought this last fall and has granted us permission to hunt it. It's fairly small but has some diverse habitat that deer call home and it also connects to some bigger timber that then connects to a river about 3/4 of a mile away!
Although bucks weren't living on his place we knew that they were close by and would be using his place as they started cruising for does.
One spot in particular stuck out to me!
All the timber necked down between three differant fields and it all got pinched together at a creek crossing, it screamed Hunt Me!!!! :thumbsup:
I had a hard time keeping my left leg from twitching all day Monday due to the anticipation of the hunt!!!!
:campfire:
:campfire:
QuoteOriginally posted by Trumpkin the Dwarf:
Dang... just when I start thinking I know how to tell a story Tradgang goes and humbles me again. Very nice! Looking forward to the details!
You my Brother are an excalent story teller, I was inspired by yours!
:notworthy:
My two previous sits prior to this hunt were afternoon hunts and the deer action was very slow which lined up with the moon guide.
To say my anticipation was high on this morning would be an understatement!
One half hour before shooting time found me all set in my stand listening to my first deer work through the pinch point, to dark to see but it's motion told me it was a cruising buck.
Ok, good start!
The spot this stand is in is conducive to have deer come from any direction so as it starts getting light my head is on a swivel!
There was a light shower during the night so hearing deer at a distance was unlikely due to damp leaves.
First light I spot a small buck to my west in a hay field about 60 yards away and despite a couple of grunts he wouldn't come closer for a better look.
A few min later I see a doe and fawn at the top of the hay field about 150 yards to the west.
20 min goes by and I see a doe and fawn step into the hay field to my west at about 50 and she's nervous :saywhat:
She feeds for a bit then stares into the timber in my direction kind of but more past me, now my wind is blowing past her but really she should would have to go 40 yards back the way she came to get in my scent stream so I didn't feel like it was me she was nervous about!
A min later another doe steps out of the timber where the first doe was looking just as a small buck steps out further up the hill, things are looking good!!!!
Well I think that these are the deer that she was looking at but she continues her pacing and foot stomping so I keep my binos on the brush, I'm reworded with movement and then there's antlers :goldtooth:
Wow TradGang stories now with their own Metrics!
So he steps into the field and I get a brief unabsructed view of his left side and my brain says Shooter!
The does scatter at his presance and he dosnt seam to be interested in anyone impaticilar so I take advantage of the situation and grab the doe bleat can out of my pocket and tip it over.....
He snaps his head in my direction and I tip it over again, he turns and starts heading my way :help:
He hit the bottom of the hill and turned the corner following the path I cut with the Bobcat!
Now I know he's going to be in my setup in a matter of moments and upwind!
One slight problem now is that he's trotting at a pretty good clip, he's in a hurry to cross the creek to find that doe he heard.
I know I'm guna need to stop him and with his speed and a smallish window to get him to stop ill have one shot at it!
He trots out behind the cover and I give him a pretty good Murp!!!
He stops on command, I pick my spot, draw, hit anchor and the arrow is on its way :archer:
This is a view of the setup right after the shot!
(http://i.imgur.com/ceva3WL.jpg)
After some texts with KAZ I get down and find my bloddy arrow....
(http://i.imgur.com/UN5NFAx.jpg)
Then look down the creek and see white!
(http://i.imgur.com/WGhck6s.jpg)
I started down into the creek bed looking for blood as I went, not much at fist but I got to where he stoped and started picking up some red :goldtooth:
(http://i.imgur.com/iWqZssq.jpg)
A little further....
(http://i.imgur.com/JyA4ugr.jpg)
Not a gusher but enough to fallow,
(http://i.imgur.com/e3Wxf3p.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/LKw7aTa.jpg)
No!!!! Must see more pictures before work!
QuoteOriginally posted by Trumpkin the Dwarf:
No!!!! Must see more pictures before work!
Ok, one more before work :goldtooth:
(http://i.imgur.com/SOFLxb9.jpg)
What a year Ben - congratulations! :bigsmyl:
I finally got my first good look at him....
So I'll continue to be transparent here and say he had some ground shrinkage.....
It took me a few moments to process this as I looked him over and I am fighting the urge to be disappointed :knothead:
I correct my thought process and start soaking in My Blessing that God had for Me :pray:
His final resting place!
(http://i.imgur.com/jwhoSeZ.jpg)
A view from where he came
(http://i.imgur.com/FGZqyy7.jpg)
He's 5 on the right with a broken Brow
And 4 on the left.
(http://i.imgur.com/LnZnH2e.jpg)
I happy on so many accounts, nice buck, quick clean kill, a hunt that played out just like I had invisioned it!!!
Father I accept this gift with Thanksgiving as the perfect blessing from you :pray:
(http://i.imgur.com/2y7JrKh.jpg)
Well done sir , Great buck....
,,,Sam,,,
Nice write-up, great pics :thumbsup:
Well done & congratulations on an action packed blessing of a season. Praise God for it all! :archer: :goldtooth:
56" Black Widow PTF
47# at 28"
Gold Tip Blems with 175 gr 3 blade
VPA up front with 535 total
Arrow weight.
17 yard shot, pass through.
Entrance
(http://i.imgur.com/R3BfK5y.jpg)
After the autopsy it was apparent that he died from perforated Lungs :goldtooth:
(http://i.imgur.com/FVgfWST.jpg)
Slightly quartering to me, one rib difference towards the back on the exit.
(http://i.imgur.com/Rr0i8nY.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by KAZ:
Nice write-up, great pics :thumbsup:
Well done & congratulations on an action packed blessing of a season. Praise God for it all! :archer: :goldtooth:
I was just writing up a kudos thank you for the stand set up!!!
That stand is sweet!!!! :goldtooth:
I think we have a spot that will produce some Awsome rut hunts for years to come!!!!
QuoteOriginally posted by 23feetupandhappy:
QuoteOriginally posted by KAZ:
Nice write-up, great pics :thumbsup:
Well done & congratulations on an action packed blessing of a season. Praise God for it all! :archer: :goldtooth:
I was just writing up a kudos thank you for the stand set up!!!
That stand is sweet!!!! :goldtooth:
I think we have a spot that will produce some Awsome rut hunts for years to come!!!! [/b]
:archer2:
I had time to enjoy some Black Cherry in the pipe and a Big Sky Trout Slayer after I got him hung up in the garage....
(http://i.imgur.com/L6dSREZ.jpg)
The family got home and the boys went to work on him!!!!
I think next year they'll be able to handel one on there own :campfire:
Blessings to all in this Thanksgiving Season :archer:
nicely done on all accounts!
Congratulations on the deer and life in general.
gary
Great story and pic's, love the family involvement!
Awesome story.
Very fine ... thanks for sharing the story and all you great pictures. Looks like an awesome family too !!
That's awesome! Doesn't get any better than that! Thanks for telling your story
Nice summary of 2017.
:thumbsup:
Great writing and a beautiful buck congratulations
Ben, great story and pix, my friend.
You are livin' the dream.
Congrats on a great season. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
What a great year you are having, especially the boys helping you.
Congrats to you! Great buck!
Very nice on all accounts!
Great job great story well done!
Bill
Right buck, right time!
:thumbsup:
R
You have had a great season, Ben. There's still time to add to this tale! Thanks for sharing.
QuoteOriginally posted by Altiman94:
You have had a great season, Ben. There's still time to add to this tale! Thanks for sharing.
:saywhat:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats! Great Season!
You always tell a great story and I look forward to your posts. Congratulations on a fine Iowa buck, and also for the does! Good luck with your final tag! I always enjoy seeing the kids involved with outdoor activities - great looking family!
Bernie
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Attaboy Ben!!
I like the way you think!!
Tim B
Beautiful job of showing us what it's all about. God is good!
Great post !! Thank you to share those hunts
QuoteOriginally posted by Bernie B.:
You always tell a great story and I look forward to your posts. Congratulations on a fine Iowa buck, and also for the does! Good luck with your final tag! I always enjoy seeing the kids involved with outdoor activities - great looking family!
Bernie
Thanks Bernie, telling the tale is a big part of the hunting experience for me, always great to have the Trad Gang crew around the fire :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by wapiti792:
Beautiful job of showing us what it's all about. God is good!
Indeed he is Mike!!!!
Great stuff!! Really enjoyed the photos and praise!
TTT... it is nice to read a warm story on a cold night like tonight.
Thanks John, nice to have a fire to sit around!!!
:campfire:
Creekwood, Thanx for bringing this one up....goodreading!
23feet....great season bud!
:bigsmyl:
Wow very nice job on your part great deer, great shot and family to help. I don't think it can get any better. Plus it warmed my body to see grass minus 8 this AM in central NY. Ouch!
X2 creekwood, this is a great post. Really enjoyed the pictures and story to go with it. :thumbsup: