Seems we don't ever have many actual bow hunting posts, even in the early part of the season. Just curious if any of you fellas are still hunting or if you've hung up the bows other than the indoor shoots and waiting for the 3D season to roll around again. Drew and I are still at it. I've killed a couple of buttons, one back during the first weekend of Oct and took one the first Sunday of ML season. Both with my Miami Valley LB. Drew had passed 2 solid bucks back before gun season, but he had his sights set on a bigger deer this year and so far, nothing else has showed up for him. He's using a 1956 Bear Kodiak that is being passed around by several guys from Compton Trad Bowhunters. Good luck to the hunters still out there getting after it.
JR had a banner year in Kentucky! I've strictly bowhunted this year and spent way too much time in the trees. I finally had an in your face encounter with a nice 10 pointer a couple evenings ago, but just out of range of a longbow. Hoping he shows up again. Tone of my original post sounded a little sour, but I just sorta think it's odd that given our club's name, it sure doesn't seem like many of us are actually traditional bowhunters. Lots of trad shooters and archers, but just don't hear much about any of us doing much hunting. I always enjoy hearing/reading about everyone's bowhunting and how it's going. Wonder how Chris, Todd, Milk, Tim, Dave and everyone else that regularly hunts have done this year.
I only bowhunt, and do so until it closes in January. I like the late season hunting because I have public land to myself. I have only killed one deer in January though, and it was but a button buck. (easiest of prey) Plan on a LBL trip next month, and possibly a day trip or two to Veterans Memorial WMA in Scott county. Im up for most anything, if somebody gets bored, hit me up !
I had zero shot opportunities while hunting with trad gear this year. Their travel patterns were different because of the lack of acorns on our property. When I hunted out of the stands I set up for close trad shots I didn't see any deer movement. I resorted to modern equipment to fill my freezer. Next year I'll devote more time to practicing and hunting with a stick and string.
Woody, gun season got cold enough for me.
-- Edited by osage outlaw on Friday 18th of December 2015 02:26:37 PM
I harvested two button bucks but to be honest, I had way more fun squirrel hunting with my bow due to the banner nut crop and bountiful squirrel population. Harvested seventeen thus far. Have not hunted in three weeks, but plan on going today....Craving some fresh John Nail original recipe squirrel stir-fry.
Well...let me tell ya. My first day in the stand was 2 days before gun season. Had all kinds of activity around me, those running everywhere with little bucks chasing. And finally right around dusk as the Sun was setting I saw a movement coming towards me it wasn't until about 30 yards away I saw that it was a massive buck, 9 pointer i believe. I decided that day that I would take my dads bear mag handle recurve out for its first hunt in over 40 years. I twisted up a new Flemish string for the day before and put on some puffs. After tuning the brace height and the nocking point my arrow was flying true. Time to hunt! As the buck closed the distance I noticed that he was coming directly at me and I would have less than a 10 yard shot, I stood up readied my bow, and as he passed through the opening at 8 yards away I started my draw. I tried to bleat at him to get him to stop but he never stopped walking, I felt my finger hit anchor point, and let her fly. I watched as my fletching hit exactly where I was looking and the feathers disappeared into the tuft of fur. The buck jumped straight up in the sky turned and bolted back towards my moms house. My heart was racing because I just shot the biggest buck of my life with my dad's bow. I waited till after dark before getting out of the stand in beginning to trail . The blood trail started slow but as I walked I found my arrow where it is past going through, in the blood trail begin to become heavy. My heart was still racing, I remember thinking to myself my god I wish my dad was here to help me trail this buck. The sad part is the trail went on for a long time and crossed several properties, I waited until morning to continue the trail after I have permission from the land owners. The blood trail eventually went down to a single drip every 20 yards and stopped, it felt like my heart was going to stop as well, The Buck of my lifetime and I'm losing him. After a full day and a half of trailing, I had to call it quits. That night before the sunset I return to my stand and set in the seat and replayed the whole thing in my head. I looked down at the spot where my arrow still laid from passing through the deer when it hit me... I had not aimed for my exit hole...just at the cease behind his shoulder where I usually practice (from the ground). I hit one lung and nothing else. The deer was seen two weeks later running through the field.here are a few pics from the ordeal...first is him running through the field the day before I shot him...
Dang Chris that stinks!!! But as much as that story hurts to tell, those are the kinds of tales I enjoy reading! Real life adventures my fiends have while out in the woods. Thanks for sharing!
The stories all have their special personal details, but the results are the same. It happens to us all and that is why we bow hunters have a special fellowship. Thanks Chris.
