Contest! 2008 - NEFGA Buck Bash - Conservation Division - Post Entries Here!

[Catfishsteve]

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Starting on Sep 15, 2008, this is the thread where you may enter Conservation division entries for
the 2008 NEFGA Buck Bash!!

Above is the control item.

Here is a link to the rules.

Good luck!! Hunt Safe!!




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[Ty Stromquist]

I started hunting deer when I was first of legal age and took my first buck that year with a rifle. Small little 4x4. Didnt matter to me back then. The horns were cool and I thought I was too.

Its been almost 18 years since then. Wow im getting old. But I have put in lots of time hunting some absolute prime hunting ground and taken around 50 deer in those years with rifle or muzzleloader. Biggest was a nice 6x7 non typical with palmation.

The past few years Ive kind of just been shooting does as fast as I could so I can back into the layout blind and shoot more ducks and geese. Im beginning to realize that perhaps I should spend more time hunting with my dad and I know how much he loves deer hunting so that time is now.

Last year I traded a shotgun for a bow and went wild hog hunting and shot one in 15 mins. Was sure a rush. So I decided that its about time I try it back home with a bow. I had to take bow hunters saftety and now was set. After many hours in the back yard I gained the confidence.

I put out some trail cams and found that there are lots of big ones roaming our property we hunt this year.
See thread here with pics of trail cam bucks My first archery deer.

Pretty excited about that. Looking for ONLY a wall hanger I can be proud of. Ive been waiting but havent got the chance at one yet. Yesterday I had a nice doe come in and I just couldnt resist any longer. Had to get that first one with the bow out of the way.

Shot at 17 yards

Here is how I found the arrow




She went 30 yards before falling over and not even kicking. Perfect heart shot and one lung. The shot looks far back but she was quartering away. Didnt hit anything but the heart and the lung. Im still pumped! Shes in the freezer already and in fact had some people over last night to have some loins and backstraps.


Heres the control item pic.


Well guys thats my first entry. Hope to do my part and get a bunch of these this year. Got plans on giving away a lot of venison.

Thanks and enjoy!

[Catfishsteve]

Nice job, Ty!!

Way to go man!

Wack them does!

[MeatHunter]

Saw her and a fawn come in at about 6:30 and they both got about 10 yards from me but the doe busted and spooked to about 20 yards but the fawn stayed there. Then i took the quartering away shot at 20 yards and she didnt even go 100. Those spitfires did the trick!!

[Catfishsteve]

Oh yeah!! Now we got it going on!! Nicely done, Meathunter!!

[Matt Watson]

Friday morning i hunted one of my new stands that i had setup a few weeks earlier. I hung this stand near a trail leading to several fresh scrapes and rubs to try to intercept them to and from. Sat it for the first time the morning of the 10th. Left the truck and started walking to my stand extra early, 2 hours before shooting time. About 30 minutes before light a doe walked right on by and that is the only thing that i saw while on stand all morning. Really disappointing.

After the mornings hunt, i got down and went to check my cams. After pulling the memory cards and on the way back to the truck i heard some turkeys just over the hill so i snuck up to take a look. Their ended up being a couple a lot closer than i thought and they spotted my movement when i peaked up. I then stood up and watched as they nervously walked away. As i watched them i noticed some more movement in the distance and off to the right. It was a buck, a nice buck around 100 yards on the other side of the fence. Directly to the left of him stood two does. I waited until their view was obscured and slowly got down, crawling on my hands and knees up to the nearest cover, a small fallen tree, putting it in between the deer and I. (Picture 1)

This took a few minutes and by the time i got my release on and settled behing the tree, the buck had gone out of sight but the does were still browsing around. Figuring this was the buck making all the rubs and scrapes, i tried to see if i could entice him to come this way. I grabbed my call and gave a few grunts and snort wheezed. He never appeared. The does, on the other hand, got very curious and started walking my way. They got to 20 yards just on the other side of the fence perfectly broadside trying to figure out where the other deer was. I thought for sure they would just stay on the other side of the fence so that i wouldn't be able to get a shot. Just as i was thinking that, they continued on and ducked underneath the barbwire.

As soon as the lead doe's head got behind a tree, i came to full draw. She then came to a perfect stop at 25 yards. I settled my pin and slowly squeazed the release trigger. A split second before the arrow released the doe took a rather large step forward but it was too late, i was already committed to the shot. As she lunged forward, i watch as my arrow dissappeared through the deer, far back from its mark. Remarkably, she only went about 20 yards, quickly walking to a downed tree. She then half fell over, half beaded down. Not knowing what to make of this i sat and waited to see if she would get up again and if i could hear her moving. I did not. I then proceeded to slowly walk out, making a large circle around the deer, back to my truck. A little over an hour and a half later, i started my stalk back to where she had bedded. Due to her bedding down so quickly and stumbling, i thought maybe i had hit an artery. I spotted her in the binocs exactly where she had laid down. She had been dead for a while. The cavity ended up being completely full of blood, so i must have hit something pretty vital. Not the best shot i have made, but sometimes it helps to get a little lucky. I have shot deer from the ground before but nothing quite like this.

[Chad]

Nice job, Matt!

[Matt Watson]

Tuesday evening i called in to work and informed them that i wouldn't be coming in to work Wednesday and i am glad that i did. I am fortunate enough to have a very flexible job.

Yesterday afternoon i got settled into my stand around 4 and awaited the evening action. A few minutes before 5:30 i received a phone call from one of my buddies who apparently forgot that i had told him that i was hunting this afternoon. Fortunately my phone was on vibrate. As soon as i looked up from my phone there was a big doe right in my shooting lane just 30 yards out. She browsed around unaware as i grabbed my bow and started to calm my nerves as she had really surprised me. I drew and settled my pin as she looked back at another doe working her way. As i watched my arrow disappear through the deers chest, i immediately thought it may be a little high but i thought i would still get lung. Shortly after, two does came running straight out in front of me followed by a little grunting buck. Total i saw around 10 deer, including 2 does that stood within 10 yards for at least 20 minutes. Things are started to heat up a little! After getting down, i went back to my truck and got a better light to help track her. She ended up going around 80-100 yards. Like i thought, the shot ended up being a little high but i still got lungs.

My Shooting Lane. Next year i am going to be planting a food plot in this clearing. It is pretty well secluded with trees on all sides, thick timber on two sides.




Some of the biggest backstraps i have gotten off a doe, also some nice tenders

[thedarkarcher]

oct.26-
went out for a morning hunt between a bedding and feeding area. a few eating size does passed out of range shortly after sunrise. moments later, two small bucks emerge and spend nearly an hour tooling around the pasture. finally, a yearling doe picks her way down the trail as i sat filming a redtail hawk silhouette soaring across the sunrise. i slip my camera into my pocket and grab my bow. the doe is small, i debate the shot. i decide it will be easy dragging and field dressing and some good eatin' so i prepare for the shot. my muzzy broadhead glints as it lifts into the morning rays. the deer stops broadside to browse and i stay seated, easing back my bowstring. the 20 yard pins settles low behind the shoulder and in one motion i watch the vanes dissapear into the vitals. i continued hunting another 45 minutes before climbing down to find my arrow. it is coated autumn red and i wander down the hill for my first archery gift. less than 70 yards away i find the doe down for the count, bow season starts again with rushing blood, exhilaration and thankfulness.






no, its not a coyote.

[BPbowhunter]

Nice doe darkarcher! Looks like you made a really good shot.

[racksniper]

Nice kill darkarcher!

[Catfishsteve]

Nice hunt!! Congrats!!

[Ty Stromquist]

Got to the stand EARLY. Got tired of bumping deer on my way in. Sat in the dark for about 45 mins listening to who the heck knows what in front of me.

Day started out great. I bet my heart rate was 190 bpm when I seen that big rack coming down the run way right at my stand. He had a doe in tote behind him and walked to about 10 yards of my stand. I studied his rack, a very nice 6x5, but just not that BIG monster I am looking for. I believe he is one on my trail cam. Very nice deer with lots of potential. Was going to let him walk unspooked but wacked this doe that was right behind him.

[Ty Stromquist]

About 1030 decided to call it quits and get to work on the doe from the post above. Was moving my trail cam up closer to a bedding area when I spotted another doe bedded down behind a tree. With the strong winds I made a great stalk on her and slammed her with the Muzzy at about 40 yards. Long shot but took her down nicely.

3 weeks ago I had never shot a deer with my bow now I got 3 in the freezer. Im pumped!



picture of me and the boys




Had to have my 2 year old hold the control item. He couldnt figure out the camera.

[BPbowhunter]

Nice does Ty!

[thedarkarcher]

good shootin' ty

[Catfishsteve]

You rock, Ty!! Nice job!!

[Ty Stromquist]

Maybe 2 more for tommorow......... who knows. I love bow hunting! Cant wait for that late doe season. Put my name on that list at the G&P to take more does. Ill gladly shoot and field dress them for anyone and deliver short distances.

[Ty Stromquist]

Well I got 2 more does down for the contest. I see so many does it crazy. Supposedly 2 miles south of me they shot 70 does a couple summers back. There is a bad overpopulation problem in my area that I really like.

Got 5 now and really I havent even got started yet. HAHA I really think im going to skip the regular rifle season this year and put the beat down on some ducks.

[Catfishsteve]

You da' man, Ty!!