The TG St Jude auction has always been a really cool thing to me. Back in 2011, I was lucky enough to get drawn to have the Hope bow for a month during deer season. It was a Stalker Custom Tracker longbow (I'm pretty sure South does not make that one anymore). In the month I had that bow, I was lucky enough to take 5 critters with the bow during my time with her, and it was a sad day when I had to send her on to the next person on the list.
The auction came and went in 2012, and I was not the lucky winner of the bow. I was sad about that, but life goes on!!!
A couple years later there was a thread where that bow was mentioned. I posted a lament about how I wished I had bought that bow.
Soon after,there was a PM in my inbox, and the next thing I knew, a deal was done and Hope was headed my way!
It had been quite a while since I had shot the bow, and when I got it, it did not have the "feel" I remembered from the passaround time I spent with her!
Well, after a lot of consideration, I took a sander to the riser and reshaped it a bit, and had a little weight reduced.
She then felt really good again, but I was so in love with my Sarrels Blueridge longbow, that I just never put a lot of effort into shooting her.
Then, in 2016, I severely pinched a nerve in my neck. It really messed up my left arm. It has been a 2yr struggle to try to get back to the level of shooting that I was at before the injury. I'm not there yet, but things continue to slooooooooooowly improve in baby steps.
Anyway, for the last 2yrs, I have been very frustrated with my shooting. Last deer season was the worst I have ever experienced as a hunter. So bad, that I went out and bought a c, c, c , aw, you know what I was trying to say!!! I shot one deer with that mechanical arrow launching device last year. It was not the same, and made me determined to figure things out again.
While still making small improvements this year, I am still not at a level of accuracy where I was prior to the injury.
When Critergetter posted he was going to have a passaround bow for folks to try, I jumped on board. I had shot one of Randy's bows a bit earlier in the year and was impressed. I wanted to be able to really test one out. Anyway, I got that bow on 10/1/18, and from the very first time stringing her up, noticed I was really shooting well with it.
I was lucky enough to get a nice fat doe with it, and then my time was up, and on its way it went!
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181030/ed9e211860ffdd4498ccdea34b965c30.jpg)
So, what's a guy to do[emoji47] I broke out my goto Sarrels Blueridge, and noticed again that my accuracy was lacking. I banged my head against the wall trying to figure things out, when it hit my like a train! The grip!!!!!
There was something about the grip on that Primal Tech that was working for me. It was a very different grip than I was used to with my Sarrels.
That's when I remembered I had Hope in the closet!!!! It had a similar grip to what was on the Primal Tech, so I decided to give it a try.
Wow!! The accuracy was back, not pre-injury, but way better. My hunch was right. There was something in that style grip that was treating me right!
So, I decided to hit the woods. Last Monday, I got a real nice 8pt at a friends ranch.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181030/576b5565bc2deb4dfcfbf65afd69a2e7.jpg)
Fast forward to yesterday morning! I got in my ground blind on my property real early. As daylight approached, I could see a few deer moving around in front of the blind. One of them was very dark, and bigger than the rest. I figured he was probably a buck, but assumed him to be one of the smaller ones that hangs around this area.
It kept getting lighter, and he kept moving in closer. When there was just enough light to make out horns, I almost fell out of my chair. This deer had big horns. I knew he was a shooter before I could make out exactly what he was.
As it continued to get lighter, I realized this was the Wide 6, a deer I had missed twice last season while I was in my funk!
Last year, I had many trail cam pics of this buck, almost all at night. His brow tines laid straight back and could not be seen in the pics, thus the name, Wide 6. Once I saw him in person (and completely missed him twice in two consecutive days) I realized he did indeed have brow tines, but the name stuck!
I have only had 2 or 3 nighttime pics of this buck all year this year, and never expected to see him on this day, but there he was right in front of me!!!!
It got lighter, light enough to shoot, and he worked into a good position at about 11yds. I went on autopilot, and the arrow was away! I instantly knew it was a good hit. It wasn't very cold, but I began to shiver as I realized that I had just shot this majestic buck!!!
He made it about 80yds in a straight line to his resting place. I was in awe as I walked up to him and got to see up close just how cool of a deer he really is!
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181030/ef009e88f99c4a1d79b38f95a9662c19.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181030/7c9f6275d0deae27a9f38c10aa02feb8.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181030/e1f5e780e3a0d10b6ae211c9feb4d845.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181030/f5ed720dfd4813a3d82e0da381835a31.jpg)
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(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181030/c6a6533706513ad28c1146376d61ffdc.jpg)
So, it's nice to know that when things are down, there is always "Hope"!!!
Sorry this got so long winded! I'm not much for story telling, but thought this buck was sure worthy of a story!!!!
Bisch
What a great buck Bisch -- Congrats. You don't see many that wide or cool looking.
Great shot too!!
Congrats Bisch! :clapper:
Love the character of those horns.
I took him to the taxidermist today, and we put a tape to him. I came up with 129 5/8" gross. I don't much care about net, as nets are for fishing!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Bisch
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Beautiful and unique buck. Congrats. Hope your recovery stays on track.
Murray
Great looking buck, story and pictures, congratulations.
Awesome! Great job!
Cool buck...
,,Sam,,
Nice buck ! Good for you Mr. Bisch. Sorry for your troubles too.
Very nice buck, Bisch.
Congratulations.
:thumbsup:
Unique buck to say the least! Great job and hope the shooting continues to progress as health is something not to be taken lightly.
That was a great read Bisch. Thank you for sharing and what an amazing buck!
Very cool buck!! Congratulations!
Such a unique rack! Congratulations. :thumbsup:
Nice shooting Bisch! That's a cool deer.
Yes sir Bisch!!!
Congrats in many ways through that story
Tim B
kool!..wild looking rack..congratts! :thumbsup:
What a unique buck, congrats Bisch on sticking with it and being rewarded.
Congrats again Bisch, and great write up! :clapper:
Great buck Bisch!! Way to stick with it and get it done!
Congrats! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
That's a crazy looking buck! Congrats!
Very special deer, without a doubt! Congratulations on the 6, and the other fine deer as well. Great looking puppy too! Glad to see the dog getting to participate. Should make a wonderful little tracker if he isn't already.
Take care, Chase
Glad you're getting your groove back Bisch. Helluva buck!
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:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Great job Bisch!!
Congrats on 2 great bucks, and more importantly glad you got your Mo Jo back! :saywhat:
Cool buck. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Awesome! Congrats!
Great story sir, and what a fabulous buck. Congrats congrats, and thanks for sharing.
Great write up Bisch, glad to see my buddy Zeke in on the celebration !
Nice Buck, Bisch! Congrats!
Great story Bisch, congrats on a fine buck.
I had that Hope bow for the pass around and shot a turkey with her, really great shooting bow.
I love weird (ie unique) looking bucks! Way to go Bisch! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats Bisch, perseverance pays off!
:clapper: :clapper: :thumbsup:
Great job man!! Thanks for sharing that! :thumbsup:
Way to go Bisch! Didn't know you were going through a slump,glad your back at it.
What a tank my friend! I am so glad she made it home to you and after all the trouble, here you are. Congrats :campfire:
Cool story bisch, congrats on on heckova buck
Great to hear the full story, buddy!
What a funky looking rack. He will make a cool mount. Congrats.
gotta love an odd ball...congrates!
Well done Bisch....but from what I hear, I'm not sure your shooting has ever been off.
congrats :thumbsup:
Quote from: Cedar&Flint on October 30, 2018, 10:59:24 AM
Great write up Bisch, glad to see my buddy Zeke in on the celebration !
Thanks Chuck! The was the first critter I have put Zeke on. The deer went about 80yds in a relatively straight line. There was no identifiable blood on the ground from point of impact to within about 10' of the dead deer. I had found the deer first, but went back with Zeke. I let him smell the arrow, and told him to find the deer. He took off pulling hard in the generally correct direction and went right to the spot where all the blood was 10' from the deer. He hung up there, I assume because of all the blood he was smelling.
Idk if he was actually on it, or if he got lucky, but have to assume he was on it because of where he ended up. I am hoping to get him on a clear identifiable trail soon to verify.
Side note: neither of us really know what we are doing yet!!!!
Thanks for all the kind words, guys!!!!
Bisch
Congrats on an awesome buck Bisch!!!
Congrats again ole dude. Sill cant believe that rack!
Sent from my LG-M150 using Tapatalk
Great Stuff ! Congrats :thumbsup:
Quote from: wapiti792 on October 30, 2018, 01:58:17 PM
What a tank my friend! I am so glad she made it home to you and after all the trouble, here you are. Congrats :campfire:
And thanks a bunch for giving up this bow!!!!! It holds a sentimental place in my heart, which is even stronger now!!!!
Bisch
Splendid harvest...congrats Bisch!
That's a real cracker of a buck Bisch, congratulations.
What a beauty!
Great story and well told.
Well done on finding away to work WITH the challenges life sometimes deals :clapper:
Best
Lex
Very nice, congrats.
Great buck! Congrats to you! Really a unique animal!
Very nice. Exceptional character on the buck. Glad to see little Zeke was part of it all. :clapper:
Good place, good time, right bow. Congrats on a very unique Texas whitetail. Enjoyed the read. Thanks for sharing. :campfire:
Awesome buck!! Congrats.
Thats awesome bud! congrats! what a buck!
Bisch you payed your dues and deserved a little luck. When you got it you took full advantage.
Great shot. I love horns with character. Nice pup. Is that a rough coated Jack Russel?
>>>----> Ken
Quote from: kenneth butler on October 31, 2018, 03:58:00 PM
Bisch you payed your dues and deserved a little luck. When you got it you took full advantage.
Great shot. I love horns with character. Nice pup. Is that a rough coated Jack Russel?
>>>----> Ken
Yessir! Zeke is a broken coat JRT. He is not a year old yet, but already the smartest dog I have ever owned!!!!
Bisch
Awesome Bisch! The Cheshire Cat Grin of yours shines thru again, :bigsmyl: you are a killing machine. Great Texas Buck! Ground blind, I assume?
Very unique congrats Bisch!
Quote from: Carcajou on October 31, 2018, 05:58:13 PM
Awesome Bisch! The Cheshire Cat Grin of yours shines thru again, :bigsmyl: you are a killing machine. Great Texas Buck! Ground blind, I assume?
Yes, I shot this buck from an enclosed ground blind with shoot thru netting in the windows.
Bisch
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Congrats, and cool story!
What a trophy. Thanks for sharing and congratulations.
Congrats!!!!! I have a story similar (no injury) but went through quite the rut and bought one of those mechanical devices you spoke of. Same experience with it, shot a deer and sold it. Not the same. I would rather shoot forkies and does with trad. Congrats again on a great buck!
Added another chapter to Hope's story yesterday! Got this nice doe at a friends place close to my home:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181104/cc7d4c59161366bc89b1520811a70978.jpg)
Not only was this another critter for Hope, but it was also the first real tracking job for my almost one year old Jack Russell Terrier, Zeke! We both have a lot to learn, but he did a great job following the blood trail to the deer!!
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181104/1f7334e94bda4c04f20782284e86bf58.jpg)
Bisch
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Sweet. Great shooting