Post by Doc Barranti on Dec 2, 2012 13:58:27 GMT -5
Opening day was a total bust for Frankie and I. The farm we have hunted on the past several years was overrun by hunters, making for an unsafe hunting experience for the new Junior hunter. We checked several spots that we had hunted previously under the state’s Mentoring Program, but they too had bright orange clad hunters every direction we turned. Frankie settled for some Dairy Queen and a promise to try again Saturday.
Enter the Single Action Forum’s own COR, Mr. Curt Raybuck. Curt graciously invited myself, Frankie and my 15 year old son Ethan to hunt with him. Knowing that Frankie had never shot a deer before, Curt did everything he could to encourage Frankie, setting us up in a box stand overlooking a small field bordered with woods on all four sides.
We met up with Curt around 5:00am Saturday morning, and made the drive to the farm. After grabbing all our gear, under the light of the moon we started up the steep, winding trail that rose high above the house and barn. We pushed 4 deer in the first minute of walking; great way to start the day!! This hike made me realize how much I need to work out! Since going fulltime with my leatherwork, I don’t walk anywhere near what I used to. Curt told me when he was preparing for his recent successful elk hunt, he hiked that trail frequently! At the top of the trail, Curt wished us luck, helped us into the stand, and moved off to his spot in the still dark morning.
Once settled in the stand, guns were loaded as we eagerly waited for first light. We began hearing gunshots but no deer showed themselves all morning. Thank goodness for iPhones and apps, because the longest Frankie had ever sat still in the field was about 4 hours. This was to be an all day affair!!
As the time passed, Frankie’s impatience grew but he hung in there. Then, around 1:30, Ethan spotted a deer sneaking through the woods coming straight towards us. Both boys had their rifles out the windows watching the deer as it cautiously stepped into the field. Ethan was a great sport, having agreed that the first deer would be Frankie's. Waiting for the deer to turn, Frankie listened as I talked him through the shot. After what seemed like minutes, the deer cooperated, giving Frankie the chance to send a 140gr Nosler Partition out of his TC carbine. At the shot, the front legs nearly went out from under the deer as it took off at a low run to our right. Our view was obscured by 3 tall pines that were between us and the wood line, so at that point we lost sight of him. After waiting 15 minutes, I climbed down and walked to the spot where Frankie had shot the deer. I saw no blood or fur anywhere. I walked in circles looking for sign but found none. I looked up to see Curt walking towards me with a grin. “Did he get one?”, he asked. I replied that I was sure he hit it from the reaction of the deer but there was no blood. Curt started checking for sign along the woodline, working in the direction we suspected the deer had run. Frankie climbed down from the stand and walked towards us, eagerly waiting for us to tell him what happened to his deer. Curt called Frankie over into the woods asking him to help him look for the deer. Pointing Frankie down a trail, he guided him right to the deer! After the shot, the deer ran barely 30 yards and piled up. There was no blood until the point the deer stumbled and went down. After high fives were exchanged, we carried the deer up to the field, and Curt gave us a demonstration on field dressing.
The shot was perfect; entering at the nearside shoulder, the Nosler bullet did it’s job taking out the right lung and bottom of the heart before exiting through the offside ribs leaving a hole big enough for three fingers. We dragged the deer back down the trail to our trucks, then hiked back up to the stand, where we spent the rest of the day. Though we heard a few shots though out the day, no more deer ventured into view. When it was too dark to hunt, we packed our gear up, climbed down from the stand and hiked down the trail, meeting up with Curt. Loading up the trucks, we said our goodbyes, with many handshakes.
There are many people who in a way, participated in this hunt and deserve thanks. Glenn Swaggart was the source of the TC frame; Tank Hoover ordered the 7-30 Waters barrel, scope and bullets for me. Encouragement and insight from Fermin, Dick Thompson, Glenn and Tank all played a part in making this a successful hunt, but the lion’s share of thanks must go to Curt. Curt, you made Frankie’s year, and mine! Thank you for everything, and I look forward to spending more time afield with you.
Enter the Single Action Forum’s own COR, Mr. Curt Raybuck. Curt graciously invited myself, Frankie and my 15 year old son Ethan to hunt with him. Knowing that Frankie had never shot a deer before, Curt did everything he could to encourage Frankie, setting us up in a box stand overlooking a small field bordered with woods on all four sides.
We met up with Curt around 5:00am Saturday morning, and made the drive to the farm. After grabbing all our gear, under the light of the moon we started up the steep, winding trail that rose high above the house and barn. We pushed 4 deer in the first minute of walking; great way to start the day!! This hike made me realize how much I need to work out! Since going fulltime with my leatherwork, I don’t walk anywhere near what I used to. Curt told me when he was preparing for his recent successful elk hunt, he hiked that trail frequently! At the top of the trail, Curt wished us luck, helped us into the stand, and moved off to his spot in the still dark morning.
Once settled in the stand, guns were loaded as we eagerly waited for first light. We began hearing gunshots but no deer showed themselves all morning. Thank goodness for iPhones and apps, because the longest Frankie had ever sat still in the field was about 4 hours. This was to be an all day affair!!
As the time passed, Frankie’s impatience grew but he hung in there. Then, around 1:30, Ethan spotted a deer sneaking through the woods coming straight towards us. Both boys had their rifles out the windows watching the deer as it cautiously stepped into the field. Ethan was a great sport, having agreed that the first deer would be Frankie's. Waiting for the deer to turn, Frankie listened as I talked him through the shot. After what seemed like minutes, the deer cooperated, giving Frankie the chance to send a 140gr Nosler Partition out of his TC carbine. At the shot, the front legs nearly went out from under the deer as it took off at a low run to our right. Our view was obscured by 3 tall pines that were between us and the wood line, so at that point we lost sight of him. After waiting 15 minutes, I climbed down and walked to the spot where Frankie had shot the deer. I saw no blood or fur anywhere. I walked in circles looking for sign but found none. I looked up to see Curt walking towards me with a grin. “Did he get one?”, he asked. I replied that I was sure he hit it from the reaction of the deer but there was no blood. Curt started checking for sign along the woodline, working in the direction we suspected the deer had run. Frankie climbed down from the stand and walked towards us, eagerly waiting for us to tell him what happened to his deer. Curt called Frankie over into the woods asking him to help him look for the deer. Pointing Frankie down a trail, he guided him right to the deer! After the shot, the deer ran barely 30 yards and piled up. There was no blood until the point the deer stumbled and went down. After high fives were exchanged, we carried the deer up to the field, and Curt gave us a demonstration on field dressing.
The shot was perfect; entering at the nearside shoulder, the Nosler bullet did it’s job taking out the right lung and bottom of the heart before exiting through the offside ribs leaving a hole big enough for three fingers. We dragged the deer back down the trail to our trucks, then hiked back up to the stand, where we spent the rest of the day. Though we heard a few shots though out the day, no more deer ventured into view. When it was too dark to hunt, we packed our gear up, climbed down from the stand and hiked down the trail, meeting up with Curt. Loading up the trucks, we said our goodbyes, with many handshakes.
There are many people who in a way, participated in this hunt and deserve thanks. Glenn Swaggart was the source of the TC frame; Tank Hoover ordered the 7-30 Waters barrel, scope and bullets for me. Encouragement and insight from Fermin, Dick Thompson, Glenn and Tank all played a part in making this a successful hunt, but the lion’s share of thanks must go to Curt. Curt, you made Frankie’s year, and mine! Thank you for everything, and I look forward to spending more time afield with you.
