Last weekend I was very fortunate to be able to hunt with a brand new, old friend. Buszone invited me up to his little piece of heaven in Whisky to do a little deer hunting. We met on here and struck up a friendship and it turns out that we have very much in common. So after a short 14 hour drive to Chicago to drop my wife off at her HS Reunion, I headed out the next day for my 3 hour drive up to Wisconsin. Don and I met officially and he gave me a quick tour and we got right down to it. Action had been good that morning so we were definitely feeling it when we headed out to the woods around 3:30 for the afternoon hunt. Trying to "man up" and not wear every layer of clothing I brought since it was only in the high 40's, I quickly realized my mistake. I guess living down here in this heat changed me a bit. It was about 4:15pm and I had at least 2 more hours on stand and I was already shivering. Thankfully a few does popped out on a hill I started calling "the grassy knoll" which was at least 400 yds away. Since they were slightly out of range for my Micro, I took out my bino's and just watched glad to have something to occupy my mind as I shivered away. Several does fed on and off the grassy knoll and then a small buck=k chased a doe across it. All good stuff but far away. I was siting in a dog house blind facing a marsh and the end of the nice little pond on the property. The marsh was about 24yds so it was a great setup. Around 5:00 I saw something to my left. Just and ear. Deer! I pull off the muff I had on trying to keep my fingers warm and picked up the bow. Wait. What happened. It was right there. Hmmmm. Did I spook it? Nah, I saw nothing run anywhere. But I also saw nothing now. Odd. Then he stepped out from something and was right there. Perfectly in the shooting lane and looking dead at me. He was just feeding and kind of turning but never really did. Finally he trned to his right and started moving and feeding broadside. But he was now out of the shooting lane and in small trees. I kept looking for a spot to shoot. I found a nice spot and grunted at him to stop him. He ignored me and just kept walking. I found another spot and did the same thing. He didn't stop that time either but the opening was a little larger so I was able to let 'er fly. TWACK!! OIh yeah hit looked good. Maybe a little back. But definitely fatal. He hopped directly away from me 2 hops then stood there for a few seconds. Then he put his ears back and slowly walked back the way he came from in the marsh. I was just waiting for him to drop over but he didn't. Crap. Maybe it was way to far back. SO I wait 10 minutes (ok it was probably about 3) and go out into the marsh to see what's up. Lot's of bright red blood! Woo Hoo! SO I follow the track and it's crazy. The RamCat certainly did it's job...then it kind of stopped. It was like blood every few feet then like a 15 foot gap from a big spot to a single drop. Hmmm. Then he's up! Oh no.....but he can barely move and I hear him crash and thrash. I duck down and wait til it's quiet and then I back out. This time I do wait 30 min and go back. He's pretty much right where I left him. Total distance even with me stupidly bumping him was maybe 60 - 7- yards. Yep. my third 7 pointer of the season. He didn't have big horns but he was a very nice Wisconsin buck. And man did he have a big ol' layer of fat on him.
Thanks again Don, for a great time and a great weekend. Maybe I should go to the casino and bet on 7 Red.
Keith
Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the ancient paths; where the good way is,
and walk in it and find rest for your souls. - Jer 6:16
The friendships made on this forum can be truly rewarding and I can very much attest to that fact, you are very fortunate to have meet Don and I wish you two many more hunts in the future.
Congrats!
EXCALFFLICTION 1991 ->>----------> 2024
Matrix 355
Huskemaw and Leupold crossbow optics.
Boo Strings
SWAT BH's and TOTA heads.
Teach Your Family How To Hunt So You Don't Have To Hunt For Your Family
14 hour drive to Chicago to drop my wife off at her HS Reunion, I headed out the next day for my 3 hour drive up to Wisconsin. Don and I met officially and he gave me a quick tour and we got right down to it. Action had been good that morning so we were definitely feeling it when we headed out to the woods around 3:30 for the afternoon hunt. Trying to "man up" and not wear every layer of clothing I brought since it was only in the high 40's, I quickly realized my mistake. I guess living down here in this heat changed me a bit. It was about 4:15pm and I had at least 2 more hours on stand and I was already shivering. Thankfully a few does popped out on a hill I started calling "the grassy knoll" which was at least 400 yds away. Since they were slightly out of range for my Micro, I took out my bino's and just watched glad to have something to occupy my mind as I shivered away. Several does fed on and off the grassy knoll and then a small buck=k chased a doe across it. All good stuff but far away. I was siting in a dog house blind facing a marsh and the end of the nice little pond on the property. The marsh was about 24yds so it was a great setup. Around 5:00 I saw something to my left. Just and ear. Deer! I pull off the muff I had on trying to keep my fingers warm and picked up the bow. Wait. What happened. It was right there. Hmmmm. Did I spook it? Nah, I saw nothing run anywhere. But I also saw nothing now. Odd. Then he stepped out from something and was right there. Perfectly in the shooting lane and looking dead at me. He was just feeding and kind of turning but never really did. Finally he trned to his right and started moving and feeding broadside. But he was now out of the shooting lane and in small trees. I kept looking for a spot to shoot. I found a nice spot and grunted at him to stop him. He ignored me and just kept walking. I found another spot and did the same thing. He didn't stop that time either but the opening was a little larger so I was able to let 'er fly. TWACK!! OIh yeah hit looked good. Maybe a little back. But definitely fatal. He hopped directly away from me 2 hops then stood there for a few seconds. Then he put his ears back and slowly walked back the way he came from in the marsh. I was just waiting for him to drop over but he didn't. Crap. Maybe it was way to far back. SO I wait 10 minutes (ok it was probably about 3) and go out into the marsh to see what's up. Lot's of bright red blood! Woo Hoo! SO I follow the track and it's crazy. The RamCat certainly did it's job...then it kind of stopped. It was like blood every few feet then like a 15 foot gap from a big spot to a single drop. Hmmm. Then he's up! Oh no.....but he can barely move and I hear him crash and thrash. I duck down and wait til it's quiet and then I back out. This time I do wait 30 min and go back. He's pretty much right where I left him. Total distance even with me stupidly bumping him was maybe 60 - 7- yards. Yep. my third 7 pointer of the season. He didn't have big horns but he was a very nice Wisconsin buck. And man did he have a big ol' layer of fat on him. 
I think we deserve pictures! 
