[David Coulter]

in reply to: Hunting 2016 #59043

After missing the buck two weeks ago I had a few lonely and peaceful times out. Gotta love squirrels and crows, as they are always faithful. Yesterday afternoon my hunting buddy and I decided to hunt different sections of woods together, sort of a recon thing to see if we could see any deer moving and where they might be hiding. Later afternoon an hour or so before dark I spotted a button buck and a doe coming along the bench down below me. Way out of range, they were fun to watch in the binos. They were briefly joined by a six point and then disappeared in the brush. A few minutes later a little bit smaller doe came toward me from down below and gave me nice broadside shot at nine or ten yards. The shot was on the mark this time and she lay down in about 50-60 yards with both lungs cut. I met my buddy back at his truck to hear he also took a nice doe about 10 minutes before I shot. We helped each other load up the deer and headed home for supper. I finished taking the meat and cleaned up by midnight. So grateful to have the venison in the frig.

I’m enjoying this thread to read about the great experiences many of you are having. Keep those stories coming. I love see the photos from places I have yet to hunt. All the best to all of you, dwc

[David Coulter]

in reply to: Big storm, acorns on the ground, bears. #53026

Congratulations on your bear! That’s excellent to get that close. You made a great shot. Post the information you get back from the tooth. Thanks for the story and photos, best, dwc

[David Coulter]

in reply to: Why do you hunt? #36449

Firehawk,

This one is easy to know and maybe not easy to explain. I’ve always hunted. My father taught me to hunt and I just loved it right off the bat. The searching, the looking, the seeing and finding. I love all the skills involved. When I was a kid there were no compound bows. You hunted with a rifle, shotgun or a recurve. I don’t thing I actually knew anyone who hunted with a bow, except my buddy in high school, and we didn’t have a clue. So I put my Browning Wasp recurve in a corner and forgot about it for thirty some years. When I ran into a guy I knew and didn’t know he bowhunted he invited me over to go stumping. Out came the Wasp and I got a couple of arrows and judos and we hooked. I thought briefly about getting a compound. It looked more accurate and maybe would get me ahead of things quicker. That thought faded quickly. A bow is a stick of sorts and a string. I live surrounded by technology and just didn’t want it following me into the woods. Ironically, I use a laminated r/d longbow and ufoc arrows, so I suppose I’m not a purist.

I pull the bow and it pulls me. It’s quiet. I love quiet now more than I love noise. With a trad bow it has to be close. I still hunt with a rifle some, but it’s not the same for me anymore. That stick and sting thing is a passion. It’s something you can learn well enough to enjoy in an afternoon and it’s also something you can spend a lifetime learning more about.

The venison is a wonderful bonus. Living the traditional way has also helped me appreciate the value of the life that gives the meat. I’ll take a fresh road kill now and never would before, because we can use the meat and I feel it’s a disrespect to let it go to waste. Of course, the worms gotta eat, too.

Thanks for this thread. Let’s hear your thoughts, too. best, dwc

[David Coulter]

in reply to: Discouragement, not anymore! #33095

Firehawk, anymore stories for us?

[David Coulter]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #14272

Amen to that!

[David Coulter]

in reply to: Hunting 2016 #13521

If I wasn’t before, and I was, I’m amped for the season now! Dc

[David Coulter]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #13095

Squirrels just need to be bigger and easier to hit and have a season that ain’t deer season too.

Steve I’m glad you are optimistic about that buck. I like the power of positivity! Dc

[David Coulter]

in reply to: Hunting 2016 #60027

Ain’t it the truth!

[David Coulter]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #60019

Keep this thread going! R2, no matter where you put it, I’ll read it. I always follow your posts. Great stalk. I wish I was butchering right now, but I still have a great smile on my face. How did Firehawk put it? Laughing in my heart. Ain’t it the best, thanks, dwc

[David Coulter]

in reply to: Snake skins on glass bows #58799

By the way Cameron, everytime I see your photo on a post I think, man, whatever that thing is he’s standing next to is some trophy.. then I think rock. dwc

[David Coulter]

in reply to: Snake skins on glass bows #58782

Very nice. Glad you avoided the sharp end. This makes the story all the better. best, dwc

[David Coulter]

in reply to: Hunting 2016 #58757

Exactly. On an other note… I missed a very nice buck this morning. Big guy came running up the hill, then down the woods road the other direction. It gave me a big smile and I figured that was that. A little bit later he, or another similar fellow came walking my direction. He crossed the stone row and gave me a series of beautiful broadside views, but a little too far out, maybe 20 yards or so. Again, I smiled and figured this was that. Then he turned and took some steps toward me and swung around to give me a pretty side view and stuck his head behind a tree. I bet that just happens all the time to most of you guys. By this time though, I had to lean out backward away from my little oak to shoot past some nearby brush. The shot was on its way and perhaps a little early in the draw, although it felt pretty good. I heard a thump and saw my new friend skip a step forward. He walked a couple of feet into some brush and just stood there browsing. I looked him over with my binos and for the life of me couldn’t stare a set of holes in him. I wondered why he didn’t just fall asleep like I planned. I scanned the ground and found my arrow in the lenses and saw a nice clean bright set of yellow fletching. The fellow hung around in the brush within 40 yards of me for the next hour before he drifted off. Man, he would’ve had a bunch of burgers. I felt nice and steady when he came in, then after the shot I got to vibrating where I had a hard time holding the glasses on him. Then it all got calm again and I was really excited for the experience. I had a short bout of wish I coulda, woulda, this afternoon, but it’s all good. What a blessing to be put in the presence of such a beautiful animal… and some squirrels and a pileated woodpecker, too.

All the best to you all, dwc

[David Coulter]

in reply to: Hunting 2016 #58203

Steve,

That’s an intense take on the deer population. Our rut is much more defined although there is usually a second, limited rut later. I’ll lookup the current stats but my understanding is that black bears take the most fawn. We have a healthy deer, bear and coyote population. We don’t have much in the way of small game, except squirrels. The rabbits and grouse population diminished before the coyote population came along, mostly due to deer over browsing and habitat loss. Things change. Skunks were top of the list for Great Horned Owls, now it’s house cats.

[David Coulter]

in reply to: Discouragement, not anymore! #52749

Firehawk, that’s a great story and offers me encouragement as I prepare for a morning in the woods. Keep after it and feel that smile and laughter in your heart. All the best, dwc

[David Coulter]

in reply to: What ya got goin? #47695

Amen to that Grumpy. It stinks knowing there’s too much to do at home or work. Gotta make that time. Good luck! dwc

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