Post by fishunter on Nov 20, 2012 13:43:00 GMT -4
Six of us (Tony, Dad, Josh, Phil, Greg & I) made the trip to Ontario this year with the task of shelling up an 18x20 camp before we could begin our annual deer hunt. My brother Josh and Dad had already set the shower house in the spring and the bunk house this fall prior to our arrival, among many many other items. We built both the shower house and bunk house here in VT and trailered them up. The rest of us arrived on a Friday evening from a 30+ hour drive. After a good night’s sleep in our new bunkhouse we woke shortly after 4:00 am and began the task of erecting the camp. By mid morning we had already framed and stood up one wall.
With the whitetail carrot dangled in front of us we all worked together like a well-oiled machine. By the end of day one we had all (4) walls, rafters and roof strapping on.
Day 2 we had our first meal in our almost dryed in camp. Quite the crew enjoying burgers and dogs.
By the afternoon of day 2 we were done with a roof, siding, power, gas for oven, lights and a wood stove burning. Dad even brought in a christmas tree for Phil who loves Santa.
Tony even had the meatpole built that afternoon.
Unbelievable what 6 people can do when working together. We were ready to go hunting out of our new camp. Pretty crazy for me to think that we started building the shower house this spring and now 30 hrs away we have deer camp. It's been a blurr
We all spent 2 days scouting out different areas and hanging stands because it was still only October the 29th and figured we would begin actually hunting on Halloween. I've always wanted a halloween buck and this was going to be the year.
My very first day in on stand was a gorgeous frosty morning with the air as still as could be. I would be hunting the same stand I hunted the past 2 years because it's just an awesome spot. Most of the time you will see me trying a new area, but I'm having a hard time leaving this one. As the sun started to peak up over the tree line in front of me, you could hear the ravens off in the distance. The woods were earily quiet. That all changed at 9:00 am. Straight out to my front right somewhere around 250-300 yds a buck began absolutely destroying what I determined to be a large tree that wouldn't move. I could not see the deer and I could not see any smaller brush moving. I then scanned the tops of the mature trees for any movement to determine the exact location, but could see nothing. When he stopped rubbing the tree I grunted a half dozen times to try and get his attention. With my binoculars I scanned the edge back and forth. Looking back to my left to make sure I hadn't called anything else in, I scanned back to the right and caught deer movement about 300 yds out through a narrow 30 yd opening. I quickly glassed and determined that was a shooter buck. Swinging my gun left handed I tried to settle the crosshairs, but he disappeared into the brush. My heart sank. My only chance was the rattling antlers. I grabbed the quickly and smashed them as loud as I could for a 5-10 second burst, set them down and quickly grabbed my binocs to scan the edge. Within seconds I could see him running back at full speed through the brush and stopped at the edge facing my direction. He stood there looking intently on where the sound was coming from. It did not take me long to settle the crosshairs this time as he stood there at almost exactly 350 yds. But, I would not take a facing shot that far. He finally turned broadside and as I squeezed the trigger, he stepped forward. After the recoil I held the shot and came back on target and watched him fall ass end first and then pile up. I thought it was over, but after reloading I could see his head and rack struggling to get up. No way was I going to shoot him in the back of the head. I guessed left and right with my next two shots. Both missed because his body was facing directly away from me. He had crawled a few yds and could see him direcly away from me. I settled my 4th and las shot and put one behind the ribs and exited his neck. You would think that would have done it, but actually had to shoot one more time at 20 yds. He ended up being my second best scoring buck taping out at 164-4/8" with 15 scoreable points.
That afternoon my good friend Philip finally broke his streak of small bucks and shot a true giant. His buck sported 14 points on a 9 pt frame and scored 173-5/8".
These two bucks are true giants, but Philip’s is in a whole other category. It really has to be seen to be appreciated. His buck weighed 220 or 230 lbs (can’t remember), while mine only weighed in at 180lbs.
The very next day, Greg rattled and called in to 30 yds a beautiful 8-pt buck that he just couldn’t pass up. The stickers on its base were that bucks demise. His weighed in at just over 200lbs.
Tony unfortunately soon after heard the news that there was a death in the family and he would have to leave. Next year there is a big one saved up for him I just know it.
Josh was up next with a heavy, and I mean heavy 8-pt buck that taped out in the 140’s but weighed 240 lbs. Philip had the bright idea of carrying this deer out over a mile, and that’s just what we did. 2 in front and 2 in back with the buck tied to a white birch pole. That was a long night. Not only was his stand truly a mile out from the ATV, but he shot the deer just under 400 yds further away. Never have you seen 4 guys happier when we arrived back at camp and climbing into our bunks. Dad can attest as he had to sleep on the cold uninsulated camp floor because we all snored so loud.
This filled the meatpole pretty well. Tony did a good job making it rugged. Left to right on the meatpole is Josh, Greg, Jer & Phil
Dad followed up the rear by taking a 9-pt that he passed the day before, but was the best buck he had seen in a week of hunting. That’s why they call it hunting and not shooting. All in all a great year.
With the whitetail carrot dangled in front of us we all worked together like a well-oiled machine. By the end of day one we had all (4) walls, rafters and roof strapping on.
Day 2 we had our first meal in our almost dryed in camp. Quite the crew enjoying burgers and dogs.
By the afternoon of day 2 we were done with a roof, siding, power, gas for oven, lights and a wood stove burning. Dad even brought in a christmas tree for Phil who loves Santa.
Tony even had the meatpole built that afternoon.
Unbelievable what 6 people can do when working together. We were ready to go hunting out of our new camp. Pretty crazy for me to think that we started building the shower house this spring and now 30 hrs away we have deer camp. It's been a blurr
We all spent 2 days scouting out different areas and hanging stands because it was still only October the 29th and figured we would begin actually hunting on Halloween. I've always wanted a halloween buck and this was going to be the year.
My very first day in on stand was a gorgeous frosty morning with the air as still as could be. I would be hunting the same stand I hunted the past 2 years because it's just an awesome spot. Most of the time you will see me trying a new area, but I'm having a hard time leaving this one. As the sun started to peak up over the tree line in front of me, you could hear the ravens off in the distance. The woods were earily quiet. That all changed at 9:00 am. Straight out to my front right somewhere around 250-300 yds a buck began absolutely destroying what I determined to be a large tree that wouldn't move. I could not see the deer and I could not see any smaller brush moving. I then scanned the tops of the mature trees for any movement to determine the exact location, but could see nothing. When he stopped rubbing the tree I grunted a half dozen times to try and get his attention. With my binoculars I scanned the edge back and forth. Looking back to my left to make sure I hadn't called anything else in, I scanned back to the right and caught deer movement about 300 yds out through a narrow 30 yd opening. I quickly glassed and determined that was a shooter buck. Swinging my gun left handed I tried to settle the crosshairs, but he disappeared into the brush. My heart sank. My only chance was the rattling antlers. I grabbed the quickly and smashed them as loud as I could for a 5-10 second burst, set them down and quickly grabbed my binocs to scan the edge. Within seconds I could see him running back at full speed through the brush and stopped at the edge facing my direction. He stood there looking intently on where the sound was coming from. It did not take me long to settle the crosshairs this time as he stood there at almost exactly 350 yds. But, I would not take a facing shot that far. He finally turned broadside and as I squeezed the trigger, he stepped forward. After the recoil I held the shot and came back on target and watched him fall ass end first and then pile up. I thought it was over, but after reloading I could see his head and rack struggling to get up. No way was I going to shoot him in the back of the head. I guessed left and right with my next two shots. Both missed because his body was facing directly away from me. He had crawled a few yds and could see him direcly away from me. I settled my 4th and las shot and put one behind the ribs and exited his neck. You would think that would have done it, but actually had to shoot one more time at 20 yds. He ended up being my second best scoring buck taping out at 164-4/8" with 15 scoreable points.
That afternoon my good friend Philip finally broke his streak of small bucks and shot a true giant. His buck sported 14 points on a 9 pt frame and scored 173-5/8".
These two bucks are true giants, but Philip’s is in a whole other category. It really has to be seen to be appreciated. His buck weighed 220 or 230 lbs (can’t remember), while mine only weighed in at 180lbs.
The very next day, Greg rattled and called in to 30 yds a beautiful 8-pt buck that he just couldn’t pass up. The stickers on its base were that bucks demise. His weighed in at just over 200lbs.
Tony unfortunately soon after heard the news that there was a death in the family and he would have to leave. Next year there is a big one saved up for him I just know it.
Josh was up next with a heavy, and I mean heavy 8-pt buck that taped out in the 140’s but weighed 240 lbs. Philip had the bright idea of carrying this deer out over a mile, and that’s just what we did. 2 in front and 2 in back with the buck tied to a white birch pole. That was a long night. Not only was his stand truly a mile out from the ATV, but he shot the deer just under 400 yds further away. Never have you seen 4 guys happier when we arrived back at camp and climbing into our bunks. Dad can attest as he had to sleep on the cold uninsulated camp floor because we all snored so loud.
This filled the meatpole pretty well. Tony did a good job making it rugged. Left to right on the meatpole is Josh, Greg, Jer & Phil
Dad followed up the rear by taking a 9-pt that he passed the day before, but was the best buck he had seen in a week of hunting. That’s why they call it hunting and not shooting. All in all a great year.
