The 2003 bow hunting season was greeted the same as it is every other year...with high expectations and much enthusiasm. All four club members entered the season with a goal to only shoot bucks that have at least 8 points and to harvest as many does as possible. If successful, this effort would set the stage for a more balanced deer herd in Mudbrook Valley and more mature bucks to hunt. As the season progressed, however, things didn't go exactly as planned and the season ended up being one the toughest ever for the Mudbrook Boys. Following is a short summary of the high and low points of the season for each club member...
No Shots Again...Lefty's Typical Season
For the third straight season Lefty did not shoot an arrow...for which he has taken a whole lot of verbal abuse from the other club members. Although his opportunities have been few and far between, Lefty did have one close encounter with a really big buck during the rut. The big boy apparently snuck up on Lefty after a rattling sequence but just wouldn't present the shot Lefty was looking for...so it simply lost interest and walked away. There were some chances to shoot does throughout the year but Lefty passed up on all of those as well. To help relieve the pressure to shoot next season, Lefty received a special gift from Santa Claus this year. Just click on the link entitled Santa Comes To Mudbrook to read Santa's note to Lefty as well as a picture showing Lefty's excitement to receive such a fine gift.
October 18...Barnacle Accidentally Shoots A Buck
The 2003 season started off great for Barnacle as he bagged a huge doe on the second morning. He wasn't quite sure of his shot placement but sure enough, as the rest of the group has gotten used to, Barnacle was lethal with his hit and the doe lay dead only 50 yards away. On the morning of October 18th, however, Barnacle's season was turned upside down. He had taken up residence at the Taint Stand that morning and was sitting quietly as the early morning haze began breaking to daylight. Suddenly he heard the unmistakable sound of a deer trotting down the trail towards his stand. There were two of them and as the first one got close Barnacle could see that it was a six point buck...and since the boys were only going to shoot 8 points or better, he calmly let the buck walk by. He then set his gaze to the second deer with hopes that it would be an even bigger buck. After staring intently between the deer's ears Barnacle was sure it was a doe and put an awesome kill shot in place. After the hunt was over Pedro met Barnacle at the truck to talk about deer sightings. Barnacle had a sheepish look on his face and then told his story about shooting the "doe". Well, what he thought was a doe actually turned out to be a 3 Point buck. It was a very funny story and an experience that left Barnacle without a buck tag for the upcoming rut. The other members laughed and made fun of him for making such a blunder but knew in the back of their minds how easily those small antlers can hide behind a deers big ears. Ironically enough, after the season was over, that "accidental" 3 Point buck was the largest (and only) buck killed by the Highbanks Hunting Club in 2003. Thus earning Barnacle the Big Buck Award Plague at the annual club banquet. It also gave Santa Claus a great idea for Barnacles gift this year. Just click on the link entitled Santa Comes To Mudbrook to read Santa's note to Barnacle and picture of him proudly holding his awards.
The Boys Of November (Left To Right): Lefty, Paco, Rattlesnake, Pablo, Poison, & Pedro
At Seasons End Barnacle Was Very Proud To Have Killed His "Accidental" 3 Point Buck
September 16th...Paco's Season Of Frustration Begins
Paco's 2003 season had the potential of being a dream season few hunters experience in a lifetime but instead it turned into a nightmare season that nobody wants to experience. It all began on Tuesday, September 16th with Paco setting up for an evening hunt not far from the edge of a bean field. He had been glassing this field for most of the summer, had seen a number of dandy bucks, and was now looking to cash in on his scouting efforts. As darkness was setting in Paco caught a glimpse of a large deer making it's way towards his stand on a trail that leads to the bean field. As the deer got closer Paco could see that it was a large racked buck so he readied himself for a shot. The buck walked up the side hill out of range but then turned and headed straight for Paco's tree...offering no chance for a shot! Paco remained patient and finally the big boy walked straight back to the trail and turned broadside at only 10 yards away. Doing his best to take careful aim, after having such a close encounter, Paco came to full draw and released his arrow...only to see the buck jump off towards the bean field snorting back at him. Paco had come up empty on the trophy buck. As luck would have it, or maybe not, Paco would get more chances and have more disappointment during the season.
There were a couple of missed doe's over the two weeks following and then on the evening of October 2nd Paco was able to connect on a doe and also shoot at a buck. He heard the arrow hit the buck with a loud crack but there was only one very small drop of blood found so it was quite evident he had bounced the arrow off the buck's shoulder bone. Heartbreak set in again! All was quiet for a few weeks but then on October 28th Paco struck again by killing a doe. In most cases this would have been a good confidence builder but poor Paco's "kill" shot had hit the thing square in the butt! So...the rut went by and gun season went by until it was time for some late season bow hunting. Paco was a little hesitant to go because of his earlier misses...but whoever see's shooter bucks during late season anyway? Well, Paco does that's who! Sure enough, on the evening of December 23rd, Paco was in his climber stand on the edge of a cedar swamp when two 8 point bucks came along. He gave a fake grunt to stop the bigger of the two bucks perfectly in his tracks, took careful aim, and sent an arrow on it's way. Pedro was sitting not far away and thought it sounded like a solid hit but when the two guys met up afterwards Paco pointed at the thick alder brush he was trying to shoot through and confirmed the miss. He was crushed! Getting a shot at one nice buck during any given season is a big deal much less three. Paco certainly had his chances and can feel good about putting himself into position to see shooter bucks. His misfortunes also gave Santa a great gift idea. Just click on the link entitled Santa Comes To Mudbrook to read Santa's note to Paco and picture of him proudly displaying his gift.
Here Is Paco Just Before The December 23rd Hunt That Ended His Season
November 19th...Pedro Pushes One Away
On Wednesday, November 19th, Pedro made a last minute decision to sneak out for a quick morning hunt before work. He sat in the Skycraper Stand hoping for a chance to "steal a buck" on this unexptected outing. It was a beautiful calm morning and it wasn't long before deer could be heard walking through the swamp towards the stand. It was still hazy dark when the three deer arrived and Pedro's location. Two of them skirted the edge of the cedar tree's but the third one seemed to be coming right under the stand. It was'nt long until Pedro was staring straight down at a shooter buck only five yards away from the base of his tree...with no possibility for a shot! The cedar branches were just too thick and in low light conditions it was impossible to pick a spot between them. So Pedro waited as the buck walked through the cedar trees and onto a trail that would bring him either directly broadside at only 8 yards or quartering away at 22 yards. Well, as bad luck would have it, the buck took trail# 2 and started walking straight away from Pedro.
At around the 22 yard mark it stopped and turned broadside. Although it was hazy Pedro drew a pretty good bead on the buck and let fly with an arrow. The buck bolted and then all was quiet. Pedro really didn't know if it was a hit or not so he waited and hour before getting down to look for blood. There was blood on the ground where the buck was hit and after following the trail for only 15 yards Pedro found his arrow and big puddles of blood. He continued tracking the easy blood trail towards the Birch Point...which is a peninsula bordered by the Mudbrook on 3 sides. As Pedro approached the buck suddenly jumped up from it's bed, crashed across the brushy point, and splashed across the Mudbrook to the other side. He had pushed the wounded buck too soon! Pedro left the woods to get help. He and Paco returned four hours later to take up the blood trail. After trudging around in crotch deep water looking for blood on the tall swamp grass, Pedro finally found where the buck had crossed the creek. Once on high ground the blood was pouring out and the trail was once again easy to follow. Sadly, though, after 300 yards, the blood trail completely dried up and disappeared in a pine thicket. Afer hours of circling the area looking for any sign of the wounded buck the search was called off and Pedro was very disappointed in himself for not waiting longer before taking up the trail. It was a hard lesson learned. For the season Pedro had only one antlerless deer to show for all of his time in the woods.
Pedro Logged Many Hours In The Woods In 2003 With Only This Antlerless Deer To Show For It
2003 Deer Kills Per Club Member
Lefty And Barnacle Take Time To Pose Before A Late Season Bowhunt
