I still can't believe it !
- Thread starter Griz
- Start date
Awesome job Griz! That is quite an accomplishment! Very nice deer for public land TOO. Congratulations and I'll be looking forward to reading your story.
When I turned 50 in 05, I had been hunting deer for over 40 years. Always dreamed about hunting away from home, but life as it goes never aloud me the money or the time to go. My 50th made me realize if I don't do it now I never will. So I shot for the stars and went to the golden triangle in Ilinios. Fully guided with big expectations. I spent too much money, thats all I going to say. My next choice was PA fully guided. Less money but same out come. I realized fully guided trips were just not for me. I needed more freedom. In 09 I met a guide from Ohio, Pike Co. that I liked as a person. We talk and came to a deal that for a fee, he would give me a place to sleep and private land to hunt. I did this for two years and was happier than fully guided but it still was not my cup of tea.
After each week of hunting with him on the way home I would stop for a day and scout public land. After buying maps and some computer research I decided on one area. In Mar of 2011 a hunting partner (Mark) and I made a trip for scouting only. Had many waypoints in our GPS's after 4 days and headed back to NH. We rented a cabin and hunted 2nd week Nov 2012. In 6 days of hunting I saw 5 shooters. One wide 10 pt that I missed at 18 yds! (thats bow hunting) I've relived that shot a thousand times. Anyways we both were hooked and made plans to return in Nov 2013.
On Friday the 1st of Nov 2013 we left NH at 5:30 PM and drove all night, getting to the cabin Sat morning. Ate breakfast, unloaded the truck and was headed in the woods by 1:00. We hauled up 4 stands with sticks and 2 back packs on a game cart. We were both in stands by 3:30. I went to my best spot from last year, scouting as I went in. I tried not to stink the place up, but to my surprise the two runs that were smoking last year showed very little sign. I did have scrapes that were on the top of the ridge, but they were not being attended to. I even saw lots of rubs but the sign seamed old. I sat there until dark with that feeling, I was not in the right spot. At 6:30 I met Mark at a desinated spot. We both talk about what we didn't see. He did see a doe at 100 yards. Mark said 1st night, no alarm, we have our 1st full day tommorow.
We have developed a good routine that works for us. The alarm goes off at 3:15 and the day starts. I was at my stand at 5:15, GPS showed the truck at 1.35 miles. I sat until 6:15 that night with no deer sightings. Needless to say, I had to make a change. I met Mark at the meeting spot and told him I was caring my other stand to the area I had missed the 10 Pt last year. He informed me that he already moved for the next morning. 2nd full day, same routine except I had to hang 4 steps and a lock on in the dark. I was done before daylight. The tree I picked was more in the open than last year. It gave me more shot opportunities in all directions. I was about 20 yards from last years tree. Last years stand was named "stupid". I gave this name because of its location. I was three feet off a used path with lots of boot prints in the mud, its right on top of the ridge, I'm in the wide open. The 1st morning I sat it, 3 hunters went by with a game cart making all kinds of noise. They never saw me. Later that morning two of the same guys returned with a small buck in the game cart. I just felt stupid sitting there, but the deer sign kept telling me, this is the right spot. I saw two shooters that day and as I said before, I missed the wide 10 Pt at 18 yds. Can you believe he was walking down the path at 1:00 in the afternoon.
So I'm back in the same area and call this stand the nest. It was surrounded by leafs on a white oak. The only way a deer or hunter would see me was it I moved to much. That was Monday the 4th. I saw a 100" 8 pt, a small 4 pt, and a doe. No rutting activity.
Tues, I sat the nest until 11:30 and saw nothing. I decided to go and scout the area that had all the chasing last year. Hopefully find a better spot for my other stand. I spent two hours scouting and found a good spot with fresh sign. So I pulled my other stand and reset it. Knowing it was going to rain that night I did not hunt the new spot, figuring the rain will wash all that scent away. Makeing the new spot fresh. So I went back to the nest and hunted until dark, with no sightings. My plan for Wed was to hunt the nest until 12:00 and move to the new spot for the afternoon hunt. Little did I know I wouldn't be hunting the new stand Wed.
It was warm that morning (wed) so all I wore in was a t-shirt and a thin bottom base layer. I worked up a pretty good swet so I dryed out in the tree and before daylight got dressed in my smoked outer layer. I knocked an arrow and was ready to go. (so I thought). Note: The day I scouted I had lost and arrow. So when I got back to the truck I took and arrow out of my box and grab my broadhead box to get another broadhead for the arrow. I didn't know all I had was old titanium rages from last year. I thought, it will be OK because its my fifth arrow and odds of using it is very slim. Like I said I got dressed and knocked and arrow. I was ready. It was 8:00 I had no action so I text my wife in NH letting her know I was alright. I than text ajupsman at 8:21. He was hunting in Ohio the same time I was and we were keeping each other company in slow times. This is what the text said: We have to leave the truck at 4:30 to get settled in before daylight. We set all day bringing a bag lunch. We don't get back to the truck until 7:15. A long day, but how much better does it get than that. Oh Yah, killing a big one. Good luck to you. At 8:37 I sent him another text. I just stuck a big one. I'm shaking like a leaf.
Back to before I sent the second text. I was on the phone trying to get on line with safari and check the rutting activity report from TOO. Didn't get there! I thought I heard a soft grunt behind me. That perked me up and then I defintely heard a second soft grunt not that close to the stand. I decided to stand ever so slow hearing another soft grunt. I finely got turned and looked down into the thicket to see movement. The binoculars hanging on my chest went up and I saw one side of his rack. Believe it or not, it didn't look huge, but I said to myself, its a shooter. I grabed the bow getting in position, then deciding to give a short low grunt. He was facing and quatering away. He turned and started walking right at me. He was grunting in such a soft tone you could barely hear him. At 20 yards he turns broadside. I draw, OH NO !! I have knocked the wrong arrow in the dark. Its the replacement arrow that I wasn't surpose to use. It was the fifth arrow but now its the 1st. In a split second, I decide this is the arrow I'm shooting. I then try to stop him with a mouth grunt, not that loud. He don't stop, I mought grunt again, he don't stop. By now he's is in the thick stuff again, and already moved 20 more yards to my right. I mouth call a little louder, he still will not stop. So I grunt as loud as I ever had, almost screaming. He stops !! A 6 " tree is 3" behind his frontleg, a 2" tree is going up threw his neck and left horn. A small triangle opening about 12"x12"x12" is RIGHT OVER HIS SHOULDER. I decide to shoot, I've made this shot a thousand times on a round target. I can do it. That was what was going threw my mind. I tried not to think about the 6" tree but I did anyway. So I aimed further forward on his shoulder than I like. With no warning the release goes off. Thwack, the sound was perfect (everyone knows the sound) He jumped almost straight up and fell on his chest and neck. The right leg was sticking out sideways, he could move it. I broke his front right shoulder. He than chest plowed across the path and into the beginning of a deep revine. I saw him flip once, but the crashing and breaking of limbs kept getting further away. He was a worrior, fighting to the very end. Then dead silence. At that point a fist pump just came from no where. I started this uncontrolable shaking. I wear a harness but still had to sit down.
All this happened between two text from 8:21 to 8:37. Ajupsman don't know it, but he was the first person I text. An I never have meet him in person. My wife and sons were next. My dad would of been first, but he don't text or talk on the phone that well. I could not text Mark, as his phone gets o service there.
I had the hardest time staying in the tree. I may have lasted 15 minutes. I got out to look for the arrow and blood. I found a half and arrow with and old rage on it soaked in blood. What I did next was not the smarted thing to do. But who thinks straight in a moment like this. I started blood trailing, slowly. It was an easy trail to follow, with blood high on trees, and a wide path. Remember, I don't know how big he is. I just thought shooter, which for me is out side his ears with some mass. At about 125 yards I see him laying with his head against some small trees. The closer I get, the more I realize this deer is not shrinking, he's growing. I said it out loud. OH MY GOD!! Thank you God, Thank you God. A rush of emotion, that words can not describe came over me. A non hunter would not understand. All the people in my life of hunting were flying threw my thoughts. Everything I wanted as a bow hunter was lying in front of me. But I was missing one thing. My dad, he was the man who started me on my journey and I wished he was standing next to me. I did get to bring the horns over to his place and have a long visit. He said he was proud of me. What more could a man want. My dad is almost 91, he can't hunt anymore, but for as long as I can
I will bring the hunt to him.
I went an got Mark ,he was just as excited as me. He help me with a 31/2 hr work out to get the big guy out. He's as hard a hunter as I've ever meet. Its not easy to find someone you can hunt with and get along at camp. Were a good team. I'm glad he was there to share the moment.
After each week of hunting with him on the way home I would stop for a day and scout public land. After buying maps and some computer research I decided on one area. In Mar of 2011 a hunting partner (Mark) and I made a trip for scouting only. Had many waypoints in our GPS's after 4 days and headed back to NH. We rented a cabin and hunted 2nd week Nov 2012. In 6 days of hunting I saw 5 shooters. One wide 10 pt that I missed at 18 yds! (thats bow hunting) I've relived that shot a thousand times. Anyways we both were hooked and made plans to return in Nov 2013.
On Friday the 1st of Nov 2013 we left NH at 5:30 PM and drove all night, getting to the cabin Sat morning. Ate breakfast, unloaded the truck and was headed in the woods by 1:00. We hauled up 4 stands with sticks and 2 back packs on a game cart. We were both in stands by 3:30. I went to my best spot from last year, scouting as I went in. I tried not to stink the place up, but to my surprise the two runs that were smoking last year showed very little sign. I did have scrapes that were on the top of the ridge, but they were not being attended to. I even saw lots of rubs but the sign seamed old. I sat there until dark with that feeling, I was not in the right spot. At 6:30 I met Mark at a desinated spot. We both talk about what we didn't see. He did see a doe at 100 yards. Mark said 1st night, no alarm, we have our 1st full day tommorow.
We have developed a good routine that works for us. The alarm goes off at 3:15 and the day starts. I was at my stand at 5:15, GPS showed the truck at 1.35 miles. I sat until 6:15 that night with no deer sightings. Needless to say, I had to make a change. I met Mark at the meeting spot and told him I was caring my other stand to the area I had missed the 10 Pt last year. He informed me that he already moved for the next morning. 2nd full day, same routine except I had to hang 4 steps and a lock on in the dark. I was done before daylight. The tree I picked was more in the open than last year. It gave me more shot opportunities in all directions. I was about 20 yards from last years tree. Last years stand was named "stupid". I gave this name because of its location. I was three feet off a used path with lots of boot prints in the mud, its right on top of the ridge, I'm in the wide open. The 1st morning I sat it, 3 hunters went by with a game cart making all kinds of noise. They never saw me. Later that morning two of the same guys returned with a small buck in the game cart. I just felt stupid sitting there, but the deer sign kept telling me, this is the right spot. I saw two shooters that day and as I said before, I missed the wide 10 Pt at 18 yds. Can you believe he was walking down the path at 1:00 in the afternoon.
So I'm back in the same area and call this stand the nest. It was surrounded by leafs on a white oak. The only way a deer or hunter would see me was it I moved to much. That was Monday the 4th. I saw a 100" 8 pt, a small 4 pt, and a doe. No rutting activity.
Tues, I sat the nest until 11:30 and saw nothing. I decided to go and scout the area that had all the chasing last year. Hopefully find a better spot for my other stand. I spent two hours scouting and found a good spot with fresh sign. So I pulled my other stand and reset it. Knowing it was going to rain that night I did not hunt the new spot, figuring the rain will wash all that scent away. Makeing the new spot fresh. So I went back to the nest and hunted until dark, with no sightings. My plan for Wed was to hunt the nest until 12:00 and move to the new spot for the afternoon hunt. Little did I know I wouldn't be hunting the new stand Wed.
It was warm that morning (wed) so all I wore in was a t-shirt and a thin bottom base layer. I worked up a pretty good swet so I dryed out in the tree and before daylight got dressed in my smoked outer layer. I knocked an arrow and was ready to go. (so I thought). Note: The day I scouted I had lost and arrow. So when I got back to the truck I took and arrow out of my box and grab my broadhead box to get another broadhead for the arrow. I didn't know all I had was old titanium rages from last year. I thought, it will be OK because its my fifth arrow and odds of using it is very slim. Like I said I got dressed and knocked and arrow. I was ready. It was 8:00 I had no action so I text my wife in NH letting her know I was alright. I than text ajupsman at 8:21. He was hunting in Ohio the same time I was and we were keeping each other company in slow times. This is what the text said: We have to leave the truck at 4:30 to get settled in before daylight. We set all day bringing a bag lunch. We don't get back to the truck until 7:15. A long day, but how much better does it get than that. Oh Yah, killing a big one. Good luck to you. At 8:37 I sent him another text. I just stuck a big one. I'm shaking like a leaf.
Back to before I sent the second text. I was on the phone trying to get on line with safari and check the rutting activity report from TOO. Didn't get there! I thought I heard a soft grunt behind me. That perked me up and then I defintely heard a second soft grunt not that close to the stand. I decided to stand ever so slow hearing another soft grunt. I finely got turned and looked down into the thicket to see movement. The binoculars hanging on my chest went up and I saw one side of his rack. Believe it or not, it didn't look huge, but I said to myself, its a shooter. I grabed the bow getting in position, then deciding to give a short low grunt. He was facing and quatering away. He turned and started walking right at me. He was grunting in such a soft tone you could barely hear him. At 20 yards he turns broadside. I draw, OH NO !! I have knocked the wrong arrow in the dark. Its the replacement arrow that I wasn't surpose to use. It was the fifth arrow but now its the 1st. In a split second, I decide this is the arrow I'm shooting. I then try to stop him with a mouth grunt, not that loud. He don't stop, I mought grunt again, he don't stop. By now he's is in the thick stuff again, and already moved 20 more yards to my right. I mouth call a little louder, he still will not stop. So I grunt as loud as I ever had, almost screaming. He stops !! A 6 " tree is 3" behind his frontleg, a 2" tree is going up threw his neck and left horn. A small triangle opening about 12"x12"x12" is RIGHT OVER HIS SHOULDER. I decide to shoot, I've made this shot a thousand times on a round target. I can do it. That was what was going threw my mind. I tried not to think about the 6" tree but I did anyway. So I aimed further forward on his shoulder than I like. With no warning the release goes off. Thwack, the sound was perfect (everyone knows the sound) He jumped almost straight up and fell on his chest and neck. The right leg was sticking out sideways, he could move it. I broke his front right shoulder. He than chest plowed across the path and into the beginning of a deep revine. I saw him flip once, but the crashing and breaking of limbs kept getting further away. He was a worrior, fighting to the very end. Then dead silence. At that point a fist pump just came from no where. I started this uncontrolable shaking. I wear a harness but still had to sit down.
All this happened between two text from 8:21 to 8:37. Ajupsman don't know it, but he was the first person I text. An I never have meet him in person. My wife and sons were next. My dad would of been first, but he don't text or talk on the phone that well. I could not text Mark, as his phone gets o service there.
I had the hardest time staying in the tree. I may have lasted 15 minutes. I got out to look for the arrow and blood. I found a half and arrow with and old rage on it soaked in blood. What I did next was not the smarted thing to do. But who thinks straight in a moment like this. I started blood trailing, slowly. It was an easy trail to follow, with blood high on trees, and a wide path. Remember, I don't know how big he is. I just thought shooter, which for me is out side his ears with some mass. At about 125 yards I see him laying with his head against some small trees. The closer I get, the more I realize this deer is not shrinking, he's growing. I said it out loud. OH MY GOD!! Thank you God, Thank you God. A rush of emotion, that words can not describe came over me. A non hunter would not understand. All the people in my life of hunting were flying threw my thoughts. Everything I wanted as a bow hunter was lying in front of me. But I was missing one thing. My dad, he was the man who started me on my journey and I wished he was standing next to me. I did get to bring the horns over to his place and have a long visit. He said he was proud of me. What more could a man want. My dad is almost 91, he can't hunt anymore, but for as long as I can
I will bring the hunt to him.
I went an got Mark ,he was just as excited as me. He help me with a 31/2 hr work out to get the big guy out. He's as hard a hunter as I've ever meet. Its not easy to find someone you can hunt with and get along at camp. Were a good team. I'm glad he was there to share the moment.
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Great write up and Congratulations on a great buck and experience.Very nice you relive the hunt with your dad as i am sure it brings back great past hunts to him.
ajupsman
*Supporting Member*
I did not realize I was the first guy to know about his deer. I'm new to this site this year so I'm still learning but I guess I should have started one those " I know something" threads. Of course it probably wouldn't have been TOO hard to guess who it was since Griz and I are the only 2 guys from NH on this site. It was cool getting the texts from him especially the one he sent less than 20 minutes before sticking that stud. As he said, we have never met in person but I can tell he's a quality guy and hardworking hunter. Griz deserves that deer. Congrats again. You earned it.
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Griz, that was an awesome write up and hunt! Huge props TOO you! Felt as though I was with you guys the whole hunt! Congrats on taking a great warrior! So cool how you share your adventures with your father! He must be so proud! Thank you for sharing your hunt! Awesome job!:smiley_clap:
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Hortontoter
Senior Member
A great write up. You must have been in a two man ladder stand, I was beside you with every word. My favorite line was "A non hunter would not understand". So, so true, but as a hunter I fully understand. Congrats on fulfilling your life long goal. I'm sure your father is more proud than you will ever know.
Im sitting here reliving my hunt over and over, mainly because of this site. I remember dial phones, black and white tv, transister radios, mailing letters. Boy has technology come a long ways. Before computers, this story would only have been told in your inner circle. A hand full of people would of heard it. Now I site here with a key board and spill my guts to people I don't know, but some how have a conection with . I want to thank all of you for your kind words. I've enjoyed every minute of it. I may be from another state, but being a member of TOO makes me feel right at home.
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Big_Holla
Senior Member
I'm glad you came over here and you have found a new home Griz!! Some great people on here to make us all feel welcome every day and that's all you can ask for!!
One of the best stories I've heard! I enjoyed every minute of it, congrats on a tough but worthwhile hunt!
When I walked up on the big guy, what a feeling, how could it get any better. Well it is getting better, by being recognized by my piers. It makes a special hunt even more special. Thanks again to everyone!