The Short Wolf

 Here is a video of the first shot Elijah took with the new gun.   I think I mentioned it in the last post, we shot 50 grains of white hots, with a 200 grain T/C shock wave.  It had more of a kick than  I was expecting, but Elijah said nothing about it.  Until shot #3, I think I might have neglected to pull the stock back tight on his shoulder. 

Here is a pic on the end of my barrel, it still isn't blued. (the kit is in the mail) but you can see the countersink. 

We put 6 shots through the gun. 3 were Elijah's, Shot one was about a 10 inches high, then his next two were acceptable.   Then Andrew and Bryan shot and were only inches apart.    I never had one shooter shoot consecutive shots so I don't have any real good moa data.   All I know for sure is that it could put a hole in the vitals of a deer.

Link to Michigan Out of Doors Episode that got the ball rolling on this project: http://michiganoutofdoorstv.com/shows.cfm?VideoID=211

FIRST

I've been pretty quiet so far this hunting season, and with good reason. Unless of course you wanted me to re-tell the stories of Bryan and Andrews successful hunts from my perspective which was from 90 yards away in another tree stand. I had to watch a nice six walk in front of me during the early doe season, and ever since then it's been almost nothing but bird watching. The good part is that I have my 5 year old in my tree stand with me this year so the time in the woods is well spent even when the deer don't show.

Tonight I decided to give it a try again after Elijah and I almost got to poke a little spike in the rain yesterday. (He is a common visitor to the area, so I think we should give him a name........Larry) This time I was going solo, no Eli and no bro's as 90 yard spectators. (in case you haven't figured out already, our tree stands are very close which provides one of the best HD Hunting Shows possible.) I climbed in the stand at 5:30 and took my hat off to say a little prayer. Within 20 minutes 4 deer were moving in. Spike (Larry) , Momma Doe, Baby girl, and Button Brother.  Larry was chasing the doe hoping for an early score but Momma wasn't having any.  Anyway, they made there way in while I put my hat on and stood to grab my bow. Some how I remained undetected, and was able to come to full draw.

This part of the story will only be understood by bow hunters..... I had a PERFECT broadside 20 yard shot. I took my sweet time finding all my anchor points. I had to hit Momma Doe perfect so we could maintain our 100% recovery rate for the year. Also it was Deer #1 for the new Destroyer Bow and I wanted to make a good first impression with the Ottawa County deer population. Anyway, I had already set in motion the steps leading to the trigger pull. It all happened within that second... Lustful Larry tried at Momma again, Once more she denied the man and quickly wheeled around. At that exact moment my series of “trigger pulling” steps had just completed and I watched my arrow fly into the dirt where Momma was standing only a second before.

The deer scattered, but Momma held up about 30 yards out in some thick cover and waited for her children to reconvene. Then the most amazing thing happened, a dejected, sad, defeated hunter made a last ditch effort. I grabbed for my trusty deer call and gave it a most desperate grunt. I'm pretty sure the doe just felt bad for me, because she turned around and walk right back to me. I already had my number 2 arrow knocked, I was at full draw for the second time in only a few minutes.  She came it to 15 yards, almost facing me I put my pin on her chest right along the shoulder...................... Flashback. I've been here before. The shoulder is hard and won't allow a pass through, the brisket is thick and full of fat, the deer would probably die but it would likely wander too far and would leave almost no blood trail. I could see the look of disappointment on Bryans face after losing the blood trail and having to admit that I stuck a deer in the chest again.

So I waited until she gave me a decent quartering shot. It only took 10 seconds, but for me ten seconds of holding a pin on a deer guarantees that the shaking has already escalated to seriously bad level. I let #2 fly and it it ripped through her upper shoulder through both lungs and didn't slow until it was dripping blood and stuck in the mud. Momma ran about 60 yards, and left a blood trail that I could have followed with my eyes closed.

I am very grateful for this deer! I know some people aren't going to be happy to know that I shot a mother doe. Just understand that I am not out there to kill for a thrill. As George W. Bush would say “I'm putting food on my family”. (pull up a youtube video of George's funny lines and this will make more sense to you). Here are the details

80 Lb. Doe

Taken October 19 2012

Upper “Killer Stand”

Shot with Easton Axis Arrows and Montec Broadhead

15 yards

double lung

recovery 60 yards

This should probably be a separate post. But I just wanted to quickly show you my latest project. It's a CVA Wolf for my kids. Hoping to get Elijah's first deer this year. I cut down the barrel and the stock. It seems to fit him really well. A 200 grain sabot and 50 grains of white hots should do the trick.

If you don't believe me, watch last weeks episode of Michigan Out of Doors.

Rage in the Cage

Friday October 12, Chrixus and I decided to head down to Hastings and try our luck at getting a deer.  Turns out it would be the night that I get my first deer on the Hastings land that my buddy Chrixus is allowing me and Chad to hunt with him this year. 

I had only been in the stand for a half hour when I recieved a text from Chrixus letting me know that there was a doe heading my way.  It came into some thick brush, but after 15 minutes of walking around it stepped into a shooting hole through the brush about the size of a basketball.  I took advantage of the opportunity and let the arrow fly.  The lumenok worked this time and I instantly knew I had a good shot.  I sat the rest of the night in the stand hoping for a chance at another deer.

Once it was dark and Chrixus and I were done hunting for the night, we got on the blood trail.  I was a fairly easy trail to follow.  After about 80 yards we came up on my deer.  To both of our surprise, it was a yearling.  I did it again.  It bothered me at first that I still can't tell the difference from a yearling and a mature doe, but after thinking about it for awhile, I must say I am still happy to have had the rush of the hunt and some nice tender meat for the family. 

My first deer in Hastings and my first deer with a Rage Broadhead.  I reported back on my last deer that I took with the Bloodrunner Broadheads which I was pretty pleased with, and I must say I am equally pleased with the Rage Broadheads.  The entry hole on the Rage broadheads was much larger, but the exit hole was smaller.  The blood trails were about the same for similar shot placements and both were pass through shots.  As for right now, I have to lean toward the Bloodrunner just because it is $29.00 for a three pack versus $40.00 for a three pack of Rage.

Entry hole at 1 1/2" to 1 3/4"

Exit hole at 1 1/2" Max

Stats:

Weapon - Hoyt CRX 35

Broadhead - Rage

Shot Distance - 13 yards through a small hole in the brush

Arrow - Carbon Express Maxima Hunter

Sex - Female

Weight - 60 lbs :(

Shot Placement - Perfect double lung

Nock - NockTurnal lighted nock that actually worked this time



Eleven Point Buck!?!



October 1, opening day of bow, I shot an eleven point….    Yeah, that’s right, it is an eleven point.  This will teach you to never assume that just because a buck has a lot of points that it is a monster.  I like to call this little guy the sticker monster. 

 

He is really a five point buck, but thanks to those stickers, I get to boast that I shot an eleven point.  Of course, the bragging rights end once people ask to see pictures.  None the less, he felt good to take considering I had an antler dry spell last year.  Yes, the curse has been broken. 

 

 

I camped out in Hastings, Michigan for the early doe weekend and hunted the land I mentioned in "The Season is Upon Us" post with my buddy Chris Korreck.  The first morning I didn't see anything, but the remainder of the weekend had plenty of deer (mostly bucks) but no shots.  So once opening day arrived, I was excited to try sitting out by the bank.  Chad and I headed out there after work at around 5:00 pm.  We flipped the Doberman head key chain, as is tradition now, and it was determined that I was going to be in the lower stand. 

 

 

As I headed down there, I spooked a spike from under the stand.  It wasn’t a big deal since I had planned on refraining from shooting spikes this year anyway.  After getting in the lower stand, I took some ranges and got familiar with the new lay of the land since the power lines were mowed and clear cut this summer making everything look very different.  The night went on and just as I was starting to think that the spike I scarred out was going to be the only deer that night, a buck stepped out into a clearing at the very last minute of shooting light.   I knew it was not a monster, but I also knew it was not a spike so it was game on.  This buck was on a mission and was not slowing down so by the time I stood up and grabbed my bow the buck was in the last possible clearing for me to shoot.  I drew my bow, made a grunt noise with my mount to stop him, and looked through my peep site to see nearly complete darkness.  I finally made out the front leg, placed my pin right behind it and let the arrow fly.  I heard the thump of what I thought was a gut shot followed by the deer crashing through the woods and finally what sounded like a crash in its final resting place. 

Chad and I got down from our stands only minutes later and found the arrow full of bright red blood.  Jackpot!!  The well-defined blood trail easily lead us to the deer only 40 to 50 yards away.  It was the first time ever shooting Bloodrunner Broadheads and I must say I am pretty pleased.  See the video below.  

 

Stats:

Sex - Male

Points - Eleven

Weight (dressed) - 125 lbs

Shot Distance -17 yards

Weapon - Hoyt CRX 35 Bow (first whitetail deer taken with this bow)

Broad Head - Blood Runner (first time ever shooting this type of broad head)

Lighted nock by Nocturnal (failed to work) Note to self - Go back to Burt Coyote Nocks.

Location - Lower stand at the Bank