This started out as an invite by some friends to their company lease in Dilley. (I know another Dilley story! just read Chance's
) When we arrived at the Ranch we were greeted by the Ranch Manager. He introduced himself as Rodney and asked if I was the the guy bow hunting ? I told him yes and that this was my 27th yr to bow hunt. He smiled big and pointed to the TBH sticker on the back of one of the ranch trucks. I said I was "Redarrow" He said he went by "FCTRAPPER", and started telling me about some of his bow hunting set-ups and some of the other fellow TBH Brothers who helped out on the ranch from time to time. I was liking this already!
Rodney and one of his guides named Will, took me out to show me some set-ups. First one we looked at was a pop-up that he said was put up and brushed in by "mitch bcs" and "Concho Man". I'm pretty picky about my ground blind set-ups, but I must say guys, ya'll did a really good job! I was impressed. I actually brought some of my own blinds but never broke them out. Rodney described some of the bucks he had on camera at this spot and I was pretty sure this was were I would spend most of the weekend. We looked at some other set ups but I just had a feeling about the first spot and so did Rodney.
We made it back to headquarters and Rodney invited me over to his house to look at some trail cam pic's of some of the bucks he said I might see. One in particular they called "Lollipop", really caught my eye. He was a main frame 9 point with a 2"kicker on his left and a small one on his right.
It was really hot so we waited to go out around 5. When we got to the blind I asked Rodney to just turn the feeder off, I prefer to hand place my corn where I want my shot and to put the deer in position for the shot. I laid out 3 lines, starting @ about 17yrds out in front of 1 shooting lane and then poured some more along the outside edge of the feed pen for the other lane. I put everything in the blind and crawled in for my daily sauna! Man it was hot till the sun finally fell behind the trees. Sat till well after dark without seeing a hair.
Next morning only 2 spikes still in velvet came in and fed for about an hour, then ran off when a seismograph crew pulled up down the road from me and started talking on the 2way radio!
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Got back to camp and wanted to talk to Rodney. I was starting to second guess myself about my location , so Rodney took me to look at some more spots. nothing looked like it had much more activity than where I was already? Of course I forgot to mention earlier that the week before they had 3 inches of rain, everything was greening up, lot's of new growth on everything, hot temperatures, and last but not least, a full moon!!
So all that being said, Rodney was still saying he thought my best bet was where I had been for the last 2 hunts. Everybody else was suggesting I should move and try another spot, But one thing I've learned over the years is don't guide the guide! And in this case Rodney was more than the guide, he was the manager and it was obvious he was also a very experienced hunter, who knew this ranch and the deer on it! So back there I went that afternoon.
It was a little cooler than the evening before so the sit was pleasant, Greenjays everywhere, Bobwhite quail in the corn, I was really enjoying the sit and kinda in a daze when movement out of my right window, about 60 yards out,catches my eye! I grab my binos and quickly see it's a buck, big bodied buck but couldn't tell much about the rack due to the mesquite between us. He works his way towards the back side of the feed pen then disappears. I figured he was gone when suddenly I catch movement out of my left window and there he is, walks up and starts eating the corn I put out against the feed pen. I grab my bow, I'm thinking this is "Lollipop" But I can't see the kicker on the left. By now it's getting darker by the minute and prolly only about 15 min of shooting light left. I decide to take him and as I start to draw, he spins around 180deg and goes back out of sight!! A few seconds later I see him jump into the feed pen and walk behind the water tank to the trough. All I can see is his head and rack going up and down as he drinks water for what seemed like forever!! I catch more movement out of my right window and see the 2 spikes working there way in. I look back at the big buck just as he throws his head up, looks back towards the spikes, wheels around, jumps out of the pen and runs at the spikes. They dart off and he stops out close to where I first saw him. I figured this was it for the evening, when he turns, walks straight towards me and stops at the line of corn @ 17 yrds. Starts to feed. Just as I had planned it, he slowly starts to turn broadside as he follows the line feeding. Realizing I have only a few minutes of light, I draw, just able to make out my 20yrd pin, settle it behind his shoulder, lower third of his chest and squeeze it off. Instead of dropping, he rolled back and away from me. But my 125 grain Razorback still found the lower shoulder and drove thru to the opposite shoulder. I saw about 12 " of the fletching end of my arrow fly into the air as it snapped when he made the first leap then watched where he went into the brush and mesquite. I was so pumped at this point! Then the shakes set in!! Rodney had asked me to txt him if/when I shot, but it took me about 15 min before my hands were steady enough to hold the phone and type! Finally got it sent and Rodney immediately reply's back, saying he was on his way. I walked out to where the buck was standing, could see where he dug out when he turned and jumped, but no blood. Followed his track, and found the top piece of my arrow. Blood on about a third of it. Followed track to where he went into the brush, could see the brush was broke over and found the first light spot of blood. I decided to stick the piece of arrow into the ground at this spot and back out and walk out to the main road to try and catch Rodney so he wouldn't drive up too close. About that time, Rodney txt'd me again and asked me to walk out to the main road and wanted to talk about it. Again, his experience came into play and we were on the same page! I walked out and replayed the shot to him. He asked how i felt about it? I told him I knew where I had hit the buck was lethal, but also knew from experience that shoulder shots can make for a weak blood trail.
We agreed to go back to camp and give him some time, just to be safe, get some help and come back in about an hour. He finally asked me if it was "Lollipop", I told him I was pretty sure, but wasn't 100% sure because I never made out the 2" kicker on the left G2. He said it could be another buck that runs with "Lollipop" but didn't have the kicker and wasn't quite as old. This got me to second guessing and worried me a little. One thing I was certain of was, that this buck had a huge body and was definitely mature but I was also pretty sure he was dead! I have a lot of faith in my setup and was only uncertain of how long it would take to find him with a light blood trail.
Rodney get's Will to take me back and also get's 2 of his Interns to go with us to help drag him out if/when we find him. I show Will where I marked the last or should I say first blood. He takes the lead and starts looking for more blood. I see where he jumped thru the first bush and landed past it, breaking more brush, I take off that direction and call Will over who finds the second drop of blood. I go another 10 yrds still focusing on track and find where he must have stopped for a minute. There's a puddle about 4" in diam, but still not heavy. We follow him across a road for another 20yrds then find where he broke more brush but now was smearing blood on the brush as he went thru it instead of over it. I find his track again and was about to tell Will that it looked like he had turned back to the left when Will shines his light to the left, ahead of us and says something to me. I was so focused on the ground that I thought he said " There ain't no buck!" I jerk up asking "WHAT?" When Will spins around, sticks out his hand and says "Congrats Buddy! There's your Buck and he's a Pig!!"
This I heard clearly and the emotions went wild! Everybody was shaking my hand and high fiving me, but all I wanted, was to get my hands on this buck! I grab his horns, pull his head out of the bush he was buried in and was relieved that it was indeed "Lollipop"!!! I just thought he looked big when he walked in, kneeling there beside him he looked huge! His back looked 2ft wide and his neck was really big for this early in the season!
We get him back to camp and the celebration and picture taking began!
I asked that we just field dress him and put him in the cooler, because I really wanted some daytime pictures with this brute.
We hung him up and he wieghed in @ 205#'s live wieght!!
Next day after some daytime photos, they scored him at 141".
I'm really proud of this buck but have to share my success with all the TBH brothers that helped make this happen! "FCTrapper", Rodney, I can't even put into words how much I enjoyed meeting you and how much you, your wife, your staff and your wife's GREAT cooking, made this trip!!
Also a special thanks to "Mitch BCS" and "Concho Man", Thanks for the great set up and hope to be able to shake ya'lls hand some day!!
) When we arrived at the Ranch we were greeted by the Ranch Manager. He introduced himself as Rodney and asked if I was the the guy bow hunting ? I told him yes and that this was my 27th yr to bow hunt. He smiled big and pointed to the TBH sticker on the back of one of the ranch trucks. I said I was "Redarrow" He said he went by "FCTRAPPER", and started telling me about some of his bow hunting set-ups and some of the other fellow TBH Brothers who helped out on the ranch from time to time. I was liking this already!Rodney and one of his guides named Will, took me out to show me some set-ups. First one we looked at was a pop-up that he said was put up and brushed in by "mitch bcs" and "Concho Man". I'm pretty picky about my ground blind set-ups, but I must say guys, ya'll did a really good job! I was impressed. I actually brought some of my own blinds but never broke them out. Rodney described some of the bucks he had on camera at this spot and I was pretty sure this was were I would spend most of the weekend. We looked at some other set ups but I just had a feeling about the first spot and so did Rodney.
We made it back to headquarters and Rodney invited me over to his house to look at some trail cam pic's of some of the bucks he said I might see. One in particular they called "Lollipop", really caught my eye. He was a main frame 9 point with a 2"kicker on his left and a small one on his right.
It was really hot so we waited to go out around 5. When we got to the blind I asked Rodney to just turn the feeder off, I prefer to hand place my corn where I want my shot and to put the deer in position for the shot. I laid out 3 lines, starting @ about 17yrds out in front of 1 shooting lane and then poured some more along the outside edge of the feed pen for the other lane. I put everything in the blind and crawled in for my daily sauna! Man it was hot till the sun finally fell behind the trees. Sat till well after dark without seeing a hair.
Next morning only 2 spikes still in velvet came in and fed for about an hour, then ran off when a seismograph crew pulled up down the road from me and started talking on the 2way radio!
. Got back to camp and wanted to talk to Rodney. I was starting to second guess myself about my location , so Rodney took me to look at some more spots. nothing looked like it had much more activity than where I was already? Of course I forgot to mention earlier that the week before they had 3 inches of rain, everything was greening up, lot's of new growth on everything, hot temperatures, and last but not least, a full moon!!
So all that being said, Rodney was still saying he thought my best bet was where I had been for the last 2 hunts. Everybody else was suggesting I should move and try another spot, But one thing I've learned over the years is don't guide the guide! And in this case Rodney was more than the guide, he was the manager and it was obvious he was also a very experienced hunter, who knew this ranch and the deer on it! So back there I went that afternoon.
It was a little cooler than the evening before so the sit was pleasant, Greenjays everywhere, Bobwhite quail in the corn, I was really enjoying the sit and kinda in a daze when movement out of my right window, about 60 yards out,catches my eye! I grab my binos and quickly see it's a buck, big bodied buck but couldn't tell much about the rack due to the mesquite between us. He works his way towards the back side of the feed pen then disappears. I figured he was gone when suddenly I catch movement out of my left window and there he is, walks up and starts eating the corn I put out against the feed pen. I grab my bow, I'm thinking this is "Lollipop" But I can't see the kicker on the left. By now it's getting darker by the minute and prolly only about 15 min of shooting light left. I decide to take him and as I start to draw, he spins around 180deg and goes back out of sight!! A few seconds later I see him jump into the feed pen and walk behind the water tank to the trough. All I can see is his head and rack going up and down as he drinks water for what seemed like forever!! I catch more movement out of my right window and see the 2 spikes working there way in. I look back at the big buck just as he throws his head up, looks back towards the spikes, wheels around, jumps out of the pen and runs at the spikes. They dart off and he stops out close to where I first saw him. I figured this was it for the evening, when he turns, walks straight towards me and stops at the line of corn @ 17 yrds. Starts to feed. Just as I had planned it, he slowly starts to turn broadside as he follows the line feeding. Realizing I have only a few minutes of light, I draw, just able to make out my 20yrd pin, settle it behind his shoulder, lower third of his chest and squeeze it off. Instead of dropping, he rolled back and away from me. But my 125 grain Razorback still found the lower shoulder and drove thru to the opposite shoulder. I saw about 12 " of the fletching end of my arrow fly into the air as it snapped when he made the first leap then watched where he went into the brush and mesquite. I was so pumped at this point! Then the shakes set in!! Rodney had asked me to txt him if/when I shot, but it took me about 15 min before my hands were steady enough to hold the phone and type! Finally got it sent and Rodney immediately reply's back, saying he was on his way. I walked out to where the buck was standing, could see where he dug out when he turned and jumped, but no blood. Followed his track, and found the top piece of my arrow. Blood on about a third of it. Followed track to where he went into the brush, could see the brush was broke over and found the first light spot of blood. I decided to stick the piece of arrow into the ground at this spot and back out and walk out to the main road to try and catch Rodney so he wouldn't drive up too close. About that time, Rodney txt'd me again and asked me to walk out to the main road and wanted to talk about it. Again, his experience came into play and we were on the same page! I walked out and replayed the shot to him. He asked how i felt about it? I told him I knew where I had hit the buck was lethal, but also knew from experience that shoulder shots can make for a weak blood trail.
We agreed to go back to camp and give him some time, just to be safe, get some help and come back in about an hour. He finally asked me if it was "Lollipop", I told him I was pretty sure, but wasn't 100% sure because I never made out the 2" kicker on the left G2. He said it could be another buck that runs with "Lollipop" but didn't have the kicker and wasn't quite as old. This got me to second guessing and worried me a little. One thing I was certain of was, that this buck had a huge body and was definitely mature but I was also pretty sure he was dead! I have a lot of faith in my setup and was only uncertain of how long it would take to find him with a light blood trail.
Rodney get's Will to take me back and also get's 2 of his Interns to go with us to help drag him out if/when we find him. I show Will where I marked the last or should I say first blood. He takes the lead and starts looking for more blood. I see where he jumped thru the first bush and landed past it, breaking more brush, I take off that direction and call Will over who finds the second drop of blood. I go another 10 yrds still focusing on track and find where he must have stopped for a minute. There's a puddle about 4" in diam, but still not heavy. We follow him across a road for another 20yrds then find where he broke more brush but now was smearing blood on the brush as he went thru it instead of over it. I find his track again and was about to tell Will that it looked like he had turned back to the left when Will shines his light to the left, ahead of us and says something to me. I was so focused on the ground that I thought he said " There ain't no buck!" I jerk up asking "WHAT?" When Will spins around, sticks out his hand and says "Congrats Buddy! There's your Buck and he's a Pig!!"
This I heard clearly and the emotions went wild! Everybody was shaking my hand and high fiving me, but all I wanted, was to get my hands on this buck! I grab his horns, pull his head out of the bush he was buried in and was relieved that it was indeed "Lollipop"!!! I just thought he looked big when he walked in, kneeling there beside him he looked huge! His back looked 2ft wide and his neck was really big for this early in the season!
We get him back to camp and the celebration and picture taking began!
I asked that we just field dress him and put him in the cooler, because I really wanted some daytime pictures with this brute.
We hung him up and he wieghed in @ 205#'s live wieght!!
Next day after some daytime photos, they scored him at 141".
I'm really proud of this buck but have to share my success with all the TBH brothers that helped make this happen! "FCTrapper", Rodney, I can't even put into words how much I enjoyed meeting you and how much you, your wife, your staff and your wife's GREAT cooking, made this trip!!
Also a special thanks to "Mitch BCS" and "Concho Man", Thanks for the great set up and hope to be able to shake ya'lls hand some day!!
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