Post by missionary on Nov 21, 2018 8:35:28 GMT -7
Good morning
We are back in Peru and all the moving from the borrowed house is finally over. This is our first day in our house here. I have decided to do very little as my 68 years is telling me changing from ILLinois to 8000 feet altitude is not to be played with too much first day back. Got up fast from a chair and things were not right for stepping off fast. So I guess I now have time to sit and type.
ILLinois bow season begins 1 October. The river bottoms I hunt normally have little traffic until the 20th or whenever at least near all the corn is cut. This year was about the same.
Saw the first activity about mid month with a few tracks moving down well established trails. On the 22nd an hour before dawn spooked a corn cruncher as I moved towards my tree stand about half way there. Did not see anything that morning.
On the 25th about 4pm (90 minutes before sundown) saw movement to my front along where the woods meets a cow pasture. That is the same area I ease through on the way to my stand. At 65 yards in the pasture edge it crossed my trail. Nose down it was sniffing and looking in both directions. I rub myself down (especially the boots) with wind fall apples. I have had numerous corn crunchers over the years trail me and actually lick my screw in tree pegs. This one was a nice bodied buck but with the ugliest small rack you can imagine. He stood for awhile sniffing both directions of my path and decided to come my way. At about 35 yards he stopped and started looking back over his shoulder. Have seen this many times as young bucks are the forward scouts for the older ones. Basket (as I call him) took more steps my way down to about 28 yards. Stopped again sniffing intently at my trail and again looked back.
So again Basket steps along my way down to about 25 yards. Now he is in what I call decision time. My heart is picking up and the brain is thinking through the questions. God is this the deer I should zip an arrow through ? Plenty of time to track and gut and drag before dark. At 50 degrees not to warm. He has no idea what he is walking into. But again he looks back in the same direction. I am now near sure there is another bean eater coming up behind. So basket steps along my way down to 20 yards. This is my kill zone. Basket stops at the log that must be stepped over to continue on that trail and licks the spot I stepped on after once more grinding apple into my boot tread. Again he looks back in the same direction. I now am sure basket lives today. He then turned to his left offing ne a perfect lung /heart shot but I have already decided to wait on the next visitor. Basket takes a few more steps now 22 yards and browses awhile. Then finally moves off through the creek bed in the basic away from me direction.
So now I get ready for the following white tail.... The one that never came along. Nothing. No sounds. No squirrels chattering. No little birds flittering along ahead... Nothing.
Next evening saw two does come pout of the woods and cross the pasture and mill around at 35 yards. They then moseyed off and never came back.
Got back out on the afternoon of the 29th (Monday) at about 4 pm in my tree. Nice afternoon... sunny, about 50 and slow breeze crossing the river to my left (35 yards away) and across to my right. At 5:05 heard a slight noise to my left front. Heard another a minute latter more distinct but nothing visible. At 5:09 saw slight movement maybe 60 yards out walking parallel with the river coming in my direction. 5:12 can now see it is Basket at 35 yards. If he stays on course should pass about 25 yards to my left through a OK shot area offering a good left side heart / both lung arrow shot. I was sitting so decided to stay sitting while deciding what to do again. All is OK except the sun will set at 5:35 so I will be working into the dark but have two head lamps with me so OK. He is not looking back ever so for sure he is alone. Nice bodied deer but that ugly rack...
He again moves along browsing very calm so I asked "God.. is this the deer I should stick"? Basket gets to "the spot" and stops. Standing there completely broadside. So I ask again.. This one ? Then Basket put his head down to browse something and I knew the answer.
Off went the arrow. Zip, smack and saw the "death hunch". Basket jumped and spun and off he went from where he came crashing and busting through those bottoms. I decided it would take me 5 minutes to get down and another couple to investigate the impact area. I hoped to have him in hand before all light was lost. So down I went carefully lowering my gear on the rope and getting it all on before moving out. Orange taped the impact spot. My arrow was on the off side completely blood covered. Tinted trail started 5 yards away. Orange taped every 5 yards just in case but the tinted trail was growing. 50 yards on Basket took a sharp turn towards the river at a well used crossing. I thought "please no" as I have lost at least 6 deer over the years to the river. But Basket turned again upriver before going over the bank. Found him another 45 yards down the trail. He had stopped about 5 yards sooner to lean against a high leaning downed tree that was well painted red. Then Basket moved those last 5 yards where he went down on his right side. Gutted in the dark but headlamps make that work simple. Dragged him as far as I could through the bottoms brush towards the pasture. Left him a few yards in the brush on a high spot to go get the owner and his 4 wheel drive pickup.
One of the best tasting corn crunchers we have eating. Got a hundred pounds off him. The other families that received 20 pound bags all said the same. Basket was not a trophy but sure satisfied our table for many a fine evening meal.
Well I tried to get the photo posted but it is too big so will try to get it sized soon.
We are back in Peru and all the moving from the borrowed house is finally over. This is our first day in our house here. I have decided to do very little as my 68 years is telling me changing from ILLinois to 8000 feet altitude is not to be played with too much first day back. Got up fast from a chair and things were not right for stepping off fast. So I guess I now have time to sit and type.
ILLinois bow season begins 1 October. The river bottoms I hunt normally have little traffic until the 20th or whenever at least near all the corn is cut. This year was about the same.
Saw the first activity about mid month with a few tracks moving down well established trails. On the 22nd an hour before dawn spooked a corn cruncher as I moved towards my tree stand about half way there. Did not see anything that morning.
On the 25th about 4pm (90 minutes before sundown) saw movement to my front along where the woods meets a cow pasture. That is the same area I ease through on the way to my stand. At 65 yards in the pasture edge it crossed my trail. Nose down it was sniffing and looking in both directions. I rub myself down (especially the boots) with wind fall apples. I have had numerous corn crunchers over the years trail me and actually lick my screw in tree pegs. This one was a nice bodied buck but with the ugliest small rack you can imagine. He stood for awhile sniffing both directions of my path and decided to come my way. At about 35 yards he stopped and started looking back over his shoulder. Have seen this many times as young bucks are the forward scouts for the older ones. Basket (as I call him) took more steps my way down to about 28 yards. Stopped again sniffing intently at my trail and again looked back.
So again Basket steps along my way down to about 25 yards. Now he is in what I call decision time. My heart is picking up and the brain is thinking through the questions. God is this the deer I should zip an arrow through ? Plenty of time to track and gut and drag before dark. At 50 degrees not to warm. He has no idea what he is walking into. But again he looks back in the same direction. I am now near sure there is another bean eater coming up behind. So basket steps along my way down to 20 yards. This is my kill zone. Basket stops at the log that must be stepped over to continue on that trail and licks the spot I stepped on after once more grinding apple into my boot tread. Again he looks back in the same direction. I now am sure basket lives today. He then turned to his left offing ne a perfect lung /heart shot but I have already decided to wait on the next visitor. Basket takes a few more steps now 22 yards and browses awhile. Then finally moves off through the creek bed in the basic away from me direction.
So now I get ready for the following white tail.... The one that never came along. Nothing. No sounds. No squirrels chattering. No little birds flittering along ahead... Nothing.
Next evening saw two does come pout of the woods and cross the pasture and mill around at 35 yards. They then moseyed off and never came back.
Got back out on the afternoon of the 29th (Monday) at about 4 pm in my tree. Nice afternoon... sunny, about 50 and slow breeze crossing the river to my left (35 yards away) and across to my right. At 5:05 heard a slight noise to my left front. Heard another a minute latter more distinct but nothing visible. At 5:09 saw slight movement maybe 60 yards out walking parallel with the river coming in my direction. 5:12 can now see it is Basket at 35 yards. If he stays on course should pass about 25 yards to my left through a OK shot area offering a good left side heart / both lung arrow shot. I was sitting so decided to stay sitting while deciding what to do again. All is OK except the sun will set at 5:35 so I will be working into the dark but have two head lamps with me so OK. He is not looking back ever so for sure he is alone. Nice bodied deer but that ugly rack...
He again moves along browsing very calm so I asked "God.. is this the deer I should stick"? Basket gets to "the spot" and stops. Standing there completely broadside. So I ask again.. This one ? Then Basket put his head down to browse something and I knew the answer.
Off went the arrow. Zip, smack and saw the "death hunch". Basket jumped and spun and off he went from where he came crashing and busting through those bottoms. I decided it would take me 5 minutes to get down and another couple to investigate the impact area. I hoped to have him in hand before all light was lost. So down I went carefully lowering my gear on the rope and getting it all on before moving out. Orange taped the impact spot. My arrow was on the off side completely blood covered. Tinted trail started 5 yards away. Orange taped every 5 yards just in case but the tinted trail was growing. 50 yards on Basket took a sharp turn towards the river at a well used crossing. I thought "please no" as I have lost at least 6 deer over the years to the river. But Basket turned again upriver before going over the bank. Found him another 45 yards down the trail. He had stopped about 5 yards sooner to lean against a high leaning downed tree that was well painted red. Then Basket moved those last 5 yards where he went down on his right side. Gutted in the dark but headlamps make that work simple. Dragged him as far as I could through the bottoms brush towards the pasture. Left him a few yards in the brush on a high spot to go get the owner and his 4 wheel drive pickup.
One of the best tasting corn crunchers we have eating. Got a hundred pounds off him. The other families that received 20 pound bags all said the same. Basket was not a trophy but sure satisfied our table for many a fine evening meal.
Well I tried to get the photo posted but it is too big so will try to get it sized soon.
