Tagged Out!!

 

You want to talk about one exciting night of hunting?  It was October 7, a Monday evening after work.  I decided to skip our usual pizza night at Bunker Hill with the Velderman's and hit up the Bank for some hunting instead.  I had been there the night before and seen a few deer on my way in to my stand.  So Monday night I was determined to beat them to the spot.  I got in the upper stand around 4:30pm.  Plenty early considering I didn't see a single deer until about 7:00pm.  That's when this nice six point came in from the south of me.  He walked in about five yards from my stand and I gave him a Swhacker.  He ran to the north and disappeared for about five minutes before I seen him step into the shooting lane to the north of me following a doe.  He laid down in plain sight and died.  

 

 

I figured that since the six point was down and no tracking was going to be necessary that I would sit out the rest of the night in hopes of a doe or a larger buck.  And it was no more than 20 minutes and I heard some commotion coming from the same direction the six point came from.  It was a bachelor group of three bucks with the largest of the three in the front.  He walked out fifteen to twenty yard behind me and I got him to stop.  Everything happened so fast and before I knew it an arrow was released.  I can't even remember looking at my pins, but it seemed to look like a good hit. 

 

I got down once it was nearly dark and checked my arrow.  It was the best looking bloody arrow you could ask for.  The Toxic broadhead (that I have never shot before) had done a good job.  At least that's what I thought.  Chad came and we tracked the deer for about 200 yards.  It was great blood until we got to the road.  We were stumped.  After an hour of looking, we went and took care of the six point and I decided I would come back the next day after work.  My buddy, Chris Korreck, and I looked for another two hours the next day with not much luck.

 

It wasn't until that Sunday (six days later) that Chad and Andrew went hunting and the bank and came back to a note on there truck.  It read, "if you would like to know more information about a buck that was recently shot here, call this number".  Chad called me and told me what he found and I instantly gave the guy a call.  After a little persuasion and a labor trade, I got the rack from the deer.  It was a nine point with some nice girth a neat kicker tine off the side.  I didn't get the meat, but at least I got a keep sake that will let me remember October 7, 2013; the night I took two nice bucks in one sit. 

 

In conclusion,  I want to say I love the Swhacker broadhead, I love the Carbon Express lighted nocks, and I will never shoot a Toxic broadhead again.

 

Thanks to everyone that helped with the post hunt work of tracking, dragging, gutting, and cleaning the deer.  Special thanks to neighbor Lou Wagenveld for taking the time to get in touch with me about the deer.  I can't wait to have this guy hanging on my wall.  

 

 

Swhacker Broadhead Review

First deer of the year was taken on a new piece of land that we got permission to hunt.  It is a 12 acre piece that is just down the road from our usual spot, the bank.

I took this deer with a Swhacker Broadhead at about 15 yards on September 21 (early doe) around 7:00pm, and I promised a review of this broadhead  after I had a chance to use it.  I think the video below says it all.


The blood trail was so defined that we decided to let my six year old nephew, Elijah, do all the tracking.  He was successful after about 60 yards of following blood. 

Thanks to Elijah and the Swhacker, I have meat in the freezer.

Back In The Saddle Again

I've been slacking just like I do every summer.  There has actually been plenty to post; I just haven't taken the time to do it.  I have pictures of some events and others I do not. 

I was honored to be able to fish the big lake with Pier Addiction out of Holland, Michigan.  Once with my wife and two girls.  We went five four seven catching Two King Salmon, One Coho, One Steelhead, and one lake trout.  The other time was in a tournament put on by the chairman of the Holland Steelheaders, Brian Eade (pictured below with the 30lb King Salmon he caught this summer).  We actually ended up winning the tournament by going seven for ten.  I took in a nice 16lb king and our biggest fish of the day was a 21 lb King. 

Like Pier Addiction on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PierAddictionFishingTeam

 

I finished my first shoulder mount this past February.  I think it actually turned out pretty darn good.  There are a few things that I will do differently next time, but for the most part I am pretty happy with how it turned out.  It is the hide of the last buck I shot in 2012 mixed with a set of antlers we found on a dead deer in 2010.  I went with the semi sneak look and the ears pinned back. 

 

Rogue and I actually went ice fishing quite a bit this past winter.  For some reason she loves it.  She actually sat there for hours.  I pretty much had to tell her it was time to leave.  We caught a lot of nice gills on the pond by Chads house and my in-laws pond.  Good Times!!

 

The Braxe broadhead (pictured above) along with the Swhacker are a couple of broadheads I will be trying in the field this year.  I may also give Toxic broadheads a try depending on how successful of a year I have.  Come back to visit the Blog to see how they perform.

I picked up some new arrows from a gentlemen named Tom Eastman that my mom knows from Royal Park.  He made a bunch of arrows for my brothers and I free of charge.  He just enjoys making arrows.  So I am excited to try those out as well. 

 

 

Stepping Into Taxidermy

I’ve been toying around with the idea of doing taxidermy for a few years now, and that is why when Chad decided to mount his eight point that he shot opening day of gun in 2011, I took advantage of the opportunity and asked Ken Krueze, a family friend that does all of our taxidermy, if I could shadow him during the process of mounting Chad’s deer.  Lucky for me, Ken was more than willing to educate me on the fine art of taxidermy, so after watching several Youtube videos and tagging along with Ken, I feel I have a pretty good idea of how to do a shoulder mount deer head, and I am currently in the process of mounting a buck that I shot this year.  I am excited to see how it turns out. 

Stoney Grass Taxidermy will be the name of my business, and of course, all Krack Boy Outdoor members get the finest service and a great discount.  Also, my first few customers can get a shoulder mount for $250 because I am new to the trade and looking for some practice.  So if you or someone you know shot a nice deer this year but are not sure if they want to spend $350 to $400 for a mount, here is the chance to get a great deal.  Just send an email to bkraker@hotmail.com or call me at 616-836-0655.

Below are pictures of Chad’s buck that I worked on with Ken. 

Special thanks to Ken Krueze for taking the time to teach me the tricks of the trade.