The Double G2s at the Double Deuce Ranch

 

 

A beautiful double rainbow over Double Deuce Ranch.

My favorite hunt of the year has come and gone…but not without a rollercoaster of highs and lows. It started off with my gear bag ending up in Chicago, Illinois. As I was the last passenger at the luggage carousel in the Kansas City Airport watching one lone burgundy suitcase circle around for its eleventh time, I got a sinking feeling. I was fortunate of grabbing my Americase off of the carousel on its first pass; it safely held my Ten Point Crossbow. Raquel and Kim were going to be landing in the next few minutes in another terminal and I needed to let them know that I would be a little late getting to the rental car counters since I had to go to the Baggage Claim Office.

I took my iPhone out and it was off, definitely fully charged, but had no power. I could not get it to come on so I plugged it into my SnowLizard charger…NOTHING! I sat at a bench for a few minutes just to see if the iPhone would miraculously turn on. As I sat there, I thought to myself, “What a way to start a hunting trip.” As I sat there trying not to panic, I thought to myself, “I have my crossbow, my backpack that I have with me held my boots, my rangefinder, my binoculars, and my Ozonics. All I would need is pants and a shirt if it came to that.” I finally decided that my iPhone was not going to come on.

That is when I thought about my iPad, but without a iPhone hotspot, I had no internet service. I NEVER use public WiFi in places like airports and hotels; I just DON’T do it for good reason. I had to do the dreadful and sign on to free airport Wifi so I figured I would do it as quickly as possible. I sent a brief message to both ladies letting them know what I was dealing with, that I would be a few minutes longer, and for them to go ahead and meet me at the rental car area. I was successful in getting that message to them and I quickly disconnected from the dreadful, unsecured free Wifi. To make a long story short, the claim office was able to locate my bag, get it re-routed and it was promised to be delivered to me in Powersville later that evening. It was delivered as promised and what a relief when I finally had it in my hands.

After a delicious dinner and visiting with everyone back at the lodge I retreated to my room to prepare my backpack and gear for the next morning; our first morning of hunting. I was going to my favorite piece of ground and I was hunting a stand in the hardwoods. Last year I had a raccoon visit me in my stand with her baby in tow. She nearly came to the top step of the ladder before I got her attention and she slowly backed down; scolding me for taking her seat. This year, she left me TWO big piles of raccoon scat on the tree stand seat.

After getting settled in, I had such a peaceful morning as the sun started to rise. The first deer that came by were two spotted fawns. Nearly an hour passed before two mature does, two fawns, and two yearlings came to my stand, seeking acorns and eating tender browse. The fawns frolicked as the other deer fed. Finally, one of the does notice something didn’t look the same in the tree and she came closer to investigate. I was wearing my HECs suit and had my Ozonics on so I made sure not to make eye contact or move. She finally went back to feeding after circling the entire tree base. After of those deer moved out I had two other deer come through at varying times, one that actually bedded downwind of my stand in the high weeds. At 10:30 a.m. I decided to come down and I did so without disturbing the deer bedded just 30 yards away. Eleven deer my first morning, maybe my luck was changing.

After spending time at the lodge with everyone and eating a hearty brunch. I decided I would head back to my stand at 4:00 p.m., so I had plenty of time for a quick nap beforehand. When I woke up, I could hear a few people downstairs getting ready to head back out. I grabbed a bottle of water for my backpack and I was off to my stand. This afternoon I was going to sit in a stand on a newly placed greenfield. It had been several years since I sat in this stand, but I was anxious to see how well the deer used the new green field next to a huge Ag field planted in corn. I was not in the stand an hour when the first deer visited the field; a young 4-point. About thirty minutes later, a doe and fawn came to the field, followed by another doe ten minutes behind.  About 45 minutes before sunset, I had a young 4-point and a small 8-point come to the field. These two bucks were feeling their youth and started tussling in the field, sparring. I took a few minutes to video them. I put my camera up and decided I needed to sit still and really pay attention to the last bit of daylight.

It was a good thing that I did, as I was staring at the wall of corn in front of me when I spotted movement on the trail to the right of me. A nice 8-point with good mass was walking up the trail and he stopped to eat clover just 15-yards from me. He was a nice buck, but this buck just didn’t give me that “OH SHIT FACTOR” so I decided to slip my iPhone out of the top pocket of my backpack at my knee and get a picture and video of him. As soon as I had a little clip of him and a few photos, I sent one of the still photos to Mister. I was holding my iPhone above my backpack pocket until I confirmed that the text was sent and Mister had received it.

As I was sliding the iPhone down into my backpack, I heard breathing under me. At first, it took me a second to realize what it was because I have never heard a deer breathing like that while in the stand 15-feet in the air. Then movement caught my eye, focused on the object, and immediately I thought to myself, “OH SHIT!” I instinctively placed my hand on my crossbow and moved it over in front of me as quiet as I could. That buck walked directly under and straight out in front of me. There was one limb hanging down and he was standing behind it. That gave me plenty of time to put my crossbow where I needed it, and switch the safety off. I shouldered my crossbow and got the scope situated properly. The buck stepped out from behind the branch as he turned to the left. When he cleared the branch and was standing textbook broadside, he saw the blob in the tree, the same blob that all of the deer had stopped at momentarily before going right back to doing what they were doing. When he glanced up, I could instantly tell he had a wide rack and he was definitely several inches outside of his ears. I focused back on the spot I needed to place the shot at, and I slowly pulled the trigger.

The sound of the impact seemed perfect, the buck and kick-out only provided visual proof that the shot hit the mark. I felt I did everything right and didn’t rush the shot. I watched the buck as he ran across the green field and went into the woods, I mentally marked the spot. There was a sound similar to a buck crashing into a heap just inside the leafy, briar thick woods. The 8-point I took a picture of and had text to Mister was standing just off the green field, looking into the woods where the buck I shot had entered. I quickly picked up my iPhone and called Mister:

Mister: “Hello.”

Me (whispering): “Did you get my text?”

Mister: “The one of the buck that you said didn’t give you the Oh Shit Factor?”

Me: “Yeah. BUT…..THE ONE I JUST SHOT DID!!”

Mister: “No way!”

Me: “Yep! He is a nice one with a split G2 and I believe a little junk. It happened pretty quick.”

Mister: “Did you get a good shot on him?”

Me: “I did everything right, heard the impact, he bucked up and ran off. I marked the spot where he went in the woods and I am pretty sure I heard him crash. I have a buck and doe on the green field that are still staring in that direction.”

Mister: “Good! I am excited for you.”

Me: “I have to text Ben.”

Mister: “Keep me updated.”

Me: “Hopefully I will be sending you a photo shortly.”

The 8-point was still standing there looking into the woods and remained there until I had all my gear gathered up and I was coming down the ladder. He finally ran off in the opposite direction with the doe following him. I felt pretty confident the buck was just inside the woods based on the actions of that 8-point buck and what I heard from the stand. When I had spoken to Ben, one of the guides, I told him to take his time because he was busy going around picking up the ladies to take them back to the lodge. About 30 minutes later, I saw headlights from the side-by-side. Ben, Jacob, and Caleb all jumped out of the cart as it rolled to a stop. I showed them the photo of the buck that I ha text to Mister and Jacob asked, “The buck you shot was bigger than this one?” I said, “Yes, and he had at least one split G2 and the other G2 is odd as well but I didn’t get a good look at it. I did, however, get a good look at him when he looked up at me before placing the shot and he is well outside his ears, but he does not have as much mass as this 8-point.” Ben and Jacob looked at each other and I think it was Ben that said, “We don’t have one like that on camera.” I showed them where the buck went into the woods. We started walking the green field and Caleb found the first blood. Within seconds we were on the trail.

We walked along the edge of the creek with me stopping and standing at the last blood to mark it for the guys. We found everything from droplets, to puddles, to piles of gooey thick blood with a matter in it. It wasn’t but 15-minutes when we came to the area where the buck crossed the creek; ironically in the steepest area he could, passing up several really easy spots to cross. Ben marked the crossing by hanging his ball cap on a tree limb. As we were standing there, they were shining their flashlights across the creek when one of them stopped on something that looked like weeds moving. I quickly realized it was the tips of the buck’s antlers. The buck was laying down and you could tell by the movement of the tips of his antlers that it was struggling to breathe with short breaths. At one point, it turned its head back as if licking its side.

“This is where we all realized
I had made one huge mistake!” 

This is where we all realized I had made one huge mistake! We were standing 20-yards across the creek from a buck that seemed to be on its last air, bedded down, broadside to us, and my crossbow was sitting on the ground back at the side-by-side. With my mind thinking that the buck had crashed and would be expired just inside the woods, I didn’t even think about recocking my crossbow and carrying it in just in case we found the buck still alive, which was now the case. Ben told Jacob that we needed to go retrieve the crossbow quickly. We were about 150-yards from where my crossbow was at. As we got to it, Jacob got a text from Ben telling us to hurry because the buck was moving. When we returned, Jacob and Ben were on the move after the buck and they told Caleb and me to stay put.

They trailed the buck along the creek and tree line until the blood splatter ran thin and they reached the property line. They marked the spot and returned to us. We had one big issue working against us. This adjoining property was leased by out of state hunters and we could not search for the buck on that property until all the hunters were off the property. Being opening weekend, this would be Monday morning. In all fairness, this was bad for me but understandable. It was not fair to tromp all over the property that out of state hunters spent good money to hunt and especially on opening weekend. So now all there was to do was wait, and a long wait it was.

“A beautiful wide 12-point with split G2s and a kicker off of its right brow tine.”

Jacob checked the game camera that was on the green field since the buck ran right out in front of it after the shot. The camera did not get a photo of the buck crossing the green field but there was a photo from two nights earlier of the buck, up close and personal. It was definitely the buck because Ben had noticed it had a kicker off of its right brow tine. A beautiful wide 12 point with split G2s and a kicker off of its right brow tine. All I could do for two solid days was pray we found him on Monday morning and wait patiently. Whew, that was the LONGEST two days ever!

I went out one afternoon to turkey hunt and I stayed at the lodge the rest of the hunt, one afternoon I got to help make grizzly bear poppers for the group made from the grizzly bear Mike Helbing had shot in Alaska the week prior. These grizzly poppers were delicious!

 

Mike Helbing’s beautiful Grizzly Bear harvested in Alaska.

 

As Murphy’s Law would have it, it rained twice during the weekend. Mid-morning we went out and walked the property, sticking close to the woods and creek line; we found NOTHING. Monday afternoon, it rained, but Mike got an inkling that maybe the buck made it through the adjacent property and could easily be on another small 80-acre parcel so we headed out again. We walked, and walked but found no sight of the buck or even a buzzard for that matter.

“I was heartbroken, defeated,
all of the air was knocked out of me.”

I was heartbroken, defeated, all of the air was knocked out of me. Not only was I feeling this way because it was a shame that we could not retrieve a buck of that caliber, but I was sad that I had inflicted pain on an animal that if it did not perish, it would suffer until it either perished or healed. That is a horrible feeling and leaves you numb. I really felt I did everything right. I felt the shot was good and the buck responded how so many before had that are now hanging on my wall at home. I was confused and numb, emotionally exhausted but I couldn’t wallow in my low point. I just couldn’t, I had other hunters at this hunt and I needed to suck it up, put on a good face and enjoy what was left of the 6th Annual Ladies Hunt at Double Deuce Ranch.

We had an amazing time, as usual, and there were several deer shot and processed and packed up for their trip home, including a really nice buck. I am so proud and happy for these ladies that harvested and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing camp with them. Most are returning next year for the 7th annual hunt–it’s a tradition now for many of us ladies.

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I can only learn from this experience, lay it down, and look forward to the next hunt which is already nearly booked. This was my first buck shot that I didn’t retrieve, as if that isn’t hard enough; it had to be a beautiful wide rack 12-point with split G2s and some other character–that is a hard pill to swallow. Maybe if he didn’t perish, they will see him again on game camera and put my mind at ease.

My double G2s at Double Deuce Ranch….a full hand of deuces, I guess that is only a winning hand in poker. Sigh!

Ladies Rut Whitetail Archery Deer Hunt in Marion County, Illinois with Rack Nine Outdoors

YOU WILL NOT FIND A BETTER-PRICED, ALL-INCLUSIVE RUT HUNT IN ILLINOIS. Four day hunt with Rack Nine Outdoors, in Marion County, Illinois. This is a RUT hunt. This hunt is for one buck, a 125-inch minimum, no trophy fee. This hunt is limited to 10 women hunters and will fill quickly. Please see IMPORTANT information below on how to secure your spot.

Date:
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 through Sunday, November 6, 2011.
You will hunt Wednesday p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday a.m. and p.m. and Sunday a.m.; 8 hunts total.

Lodging:
Hunters will stay in lodging provided by Rack Nine Outdoors. Meals will be provided: continental breakfast, light lunch, a hearty dinner and snacks and drinks provided throughout the hunt.

The hunt:
Hunting will be from ladder stands, box stands and ground blinds; hunters can bring their own personal climber if they would like to. The 4,000 acres +/- of property is heavily managed and monitored with game cameras, and by owner and/or guides. This is a bow hunt only.
Hunters will arrive at their leisure on Wednesday. We will hunt Wednesday afternoon, Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning and afternoon and Sunday morning; eight hunts total. Hunters will depart Sunday around noon

Guide:
The guides will not actually be guiding hunters in the field; however, the guides will insure that the hunters get to and from stands safely.

Cost:
The cost for this hunt is $1,300 per hunter; discounted from the regular 4-day price is $2,050. There are no hidden costs; transportation to stands, meals, lodging, skinning and quartering of game are included in the cost. NO TROPHY FEES. This fee does not include your non-resident license, habitat stamp and Archery Whitetail Permit/Tag; see License below.
IMPORTANT: A $650 non-refundable deposit must be received no later than September 15, 2011; deposit must be received to secure your spot–first come, first serve. Please email me for mailing instructions at guruhuntress@centurytel.net.

License:
Licenses and archery whitetail permit/tag can be purchased after August 2, 2011 online at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov or by calling 217-782-7305. These are left-over tags from the lottery draw and are limited so make sure to purchase your archery whitetail permit/tag as soon as possible. Please make sure to insert the correct dates of 11/2/11 thru 11/6/11 when applying for the 5-day license.
The license is $37.75 for a 5-day or $57.75 for an annual license. Whitetail, Archery either sex AND antlerless combo tag is $410.00.

Suggested items to bring:
A safety harness. Required to be worn at all times in elevated stands.
Bring a cooler to carry home quartered game.
Rain gear

Contact Info:
Please contact me for information on where to mail your deposit check for this hunt or for any other questions you may have at guruhuntress@centurytel.net.

You may bring and consume alcoholic beverages if you wish to do so; however please reserve the consumption of alcohol for the evenings or after the days hunt. For safety and liability reasons, anyone drinking alcohol during the day prior to the hunt will not be allowed to hunt that evening. Drink responsibly.

This hunt is not affiliated with any group, magazine, or sponsor and is a HUNT, not an EVENT with silent auction, games and raffles—no frou-frou here—just an actual hunt. I am not a booking agent, guide or outfitter nor am I getting compensated for this hunt; I am simply organizing this hunt for women who would like to participate in a hunt with other women with like interests.

Ladies Deer, Hog, Bobcat & Coyote Hunt at Rack Nine Outdoors, Alabama

Rack Nine Outdoors, Barbour County, Alabama. http://www.racknineoutdoors.com Photo Credit: Life in Camo

Three and half day hunt with Rack Nine Outdoors, in Barbour County, Alabama. Buck, Doe, Coyote and/or Bobcat can be harvested on this hunt. Mature bucks only; no button bucks, spikes or small-racked deer with less than a 15″ spread. This hunt is limited to 12 women hunters. Please see IMPORTANT information below on how to secure your spot.

Date:
Thursday, December 8, 2011 through Sunday, December 11, 2011.
You will hunt Thursday p.m., Friday and Saturday a.m. and p.m. and Sunday a.m.; 6 hunts total.

Lodging:
Hunters will stay in the spacious Rack Nine Outdoors lodge. Meals will be provided: continental breakfast, light lunch, a hearty dinner and snacks and drinks provided throughout the hunt. For photos, see the YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6LL48-7ZK4

The hunt:
Hunting will be from ladder stands, box stands and ground blinds; hunters can bring their own personal climber if they would like to. The property is heavily managed and monitored with game cameras, by owner and/or guides. This is a rifle hunt; however compound bows or crossbows that meet the Alabama regulations can be used. Your best success rate will be with a rifle.

Hunters will arrive at their leisure on Thursday. We will hunt Thursday afternoon, Friday and Saturday morning and afternoon and Sunday morning; six hunts total. Hunters will depart Sunday around noon.

Guide:
The guides will not actually be guiding hunters in the field; however, the guides will insure that the hunters get to and from stands safely.

Cost:
The cost for this hunt is $700 per hunter; discounted from the regular price is $1,050. There are no hidden costs; transportation to stands, meals, lodging, skinning and quartering of game are included in the cost. NO TROPHY FEES. This fee does not include your non-resident license; see License below.
IMPORTANT: A $350 non-refundable deposit must be received no later than October 15, 2011; deposit must be received to secure your spot–first come, first serve. Please email me for mailing instructions at guruhuntress@centurytel.net.

License:
Licenses can be purchased online at Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website. Please make sure to insert the correct dates of 12/8/11 thru 12/11/11 when applying for the 3-day license.

Suggested items to bring:
A safety harness. Required to be worn at all times in elevated stand.
Safety orange hat or vest is required while on the ground. These can be taken off while in elevated stands.
Hunting Clothes suggestions: Alabama’s temperatures in December can be somewhat unpredictable, however it is normally mild, if not warm compared to most states during the month of December. It is recommended to bring lightweight hunting clothes and some layers; just in case.
Bring a cooler to carry home quartered game.
Rain gear

Contact Info:
Please contact me for information on where to mail your deposit check for this hunt or for any other questions you may have at guruhuntress@centurytel.net.

You may bring and consume alcoholic beverages if you wish to do so; however please reserve the consumption of alcohol for the evening or after the days hunt. For safety and liability reasons, anyone drinking alcohol during the day prior to the hunt will not be allowed to hunt that evening. Drink responsibly.

This hunt is not affiliated with any group, magazine, or sponsor and is a HUNT, not an EVENT with silent auction, games and raffles—no frou-frou here—just an actual hunt. I am not a booking agent, guide or outfitter nor am I getting compensated for this hunt; I am simply organizing this hunt for women who would like to participate in a hunt with other women with like interests.