This will be a long post...I may have to break it in bits and pieces.
We left on our yearly Missouri bow hunt on October 29,2007. Enroute we had a flat on I 75 just outside of Atlanta on our tow vehicle...on the rear tire on the drivers side. We were pulling a 3124 KS Trailmanor camper. The semis speeding by kept blowing the truck off the jack and the Chrevrolet jack broke after the third attempt. Luckily we had a small hydraulic jack...which lasted till we had the tire changed. The hydrauic jack was almost tall enought to reach to do the job we had to put lynx leveler blocks under it for it to reach. The truck was blown off this jack as well...but with the grace of God...we managed to finally change the tire. The hydraulic jack began leaking the fluid out and we replaced it with a bigger one for the return trip home.
Now the fun stuff...
I was covered up in deer almost every day....there was only one afternoon hunt where I saw no deer. All in all I had over 15 shot opportunities where deer were in range. Some shots I did not take because there were not enough points ...it was required that at least 4 must be on one side. Some of the deer were young does and I wanted them to grow..
On the first day... I had a shot at a 12 point....Tom had seen him and said he would score in the 180's. The shot I had was through a
BUNCH of trash....I hit one of the many branches...I did get my arrow back ...I...missed the deer though. He was a magnificient animal.
Two days later I heard the pitter patter of little feet...and a big ole roman nosed does came cruising by. I introduced her to my Zwickey at about 16 yards! She piled up very quickly and we have abou 140 pounds of great venison for sausage.
Tom said it looked like they were ready for prerut...so we moved to another corner of the farm where we had seen deer in the past. At 4:00 P.M. the world turned deer brown in color!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was hunting in a saddle between two ridges...with a picked corn field in front of me and an alfalfa field behind me. We call this spot the Park because it is so pretty. There is a deep/steep ditch between the wooded saddle and the corn field. Tom is hunting to the left
(West) and we could both see the corn field.
I love great stories, and this one already has a good start...... :thumbsup:
David
At 4:00 pm we could see 4 big bucks chasing 3 does...I saw one come into the ditch from the cornfield and waited for him to approach. He was a pretty deer and as I waited for him to come up to me so I could make sure he was not a 6 point or less...he dropped back down and back into the field. Tom saw him come out of the ditch and later told me he was a pretty eight point.
I got my binocs out and could see Tom looking at me from 80 yards away...he is pointing for me to look behind me.
I'll 2nd that......now dont make us wait to long!!!(please)
I'm can't wait to hear the rest. Keep going
I like binocs but last year they cost me a 10 point when they tangled with my
bow string...so I use them sparingly and no longer hang thm around my neck. ;)
I look over hard to my left and I can see a deer's feet and body but not his head. I reposition my bow because I was facing the wrong way...and held my breath as he started to shuffle forward. As he moved forward I saw he was an 8 point....he got into bow range there was a HUGE tangle of branches between us...and he stopped and was intently looking for the doe that had jumped the fence to the alfalfa field about 20 minutes before. I had to take the shot!!! It was meant to be...I made a perfect shot...double lung and heart and he stood for a second and ran for thew ditch about 15 yards...he stopped and then crumpled........ after a few minutes he tried to get back up but he couldn't....and he rolled 8 times down into the ditch.
So now I am tagged out..deer wise...NO tag soup for me! In my excitement to tell the story of me shooting my first real buck I left out some details...which were a TON of fun for TOM!
On this same afternoon...he spotted a 12 point buck on the other side of the bean field. He watched the buck...tending a doe on a ridge between the bean fields and the wooded area we call the big woods.
You could see him laying 400 to 500 yards away...you could see his antlers shining ion the sun light without binocs...they are lying in a ridge of tall weeds between the bean fields.
wooooooo way to go countrygirl did tom get any thing?
Tom decides to stalk him....he grabs his ancient spirits recurve he dropped down through the deep ditch and starts his stalk. He had to veer about 100 yards to the left to be down wind of him. and he starts climbing and crawling up the terraces to him. He kept stopping and looking for him with the binocs beacuse once he got over there everything started looking the same. He got over 3 terraces and through his binocs...he saw what looked to be a tree limb about 150 yards to the North of him. The wind was gusty.
:scared:
Great story Congrats ;0)
Every time the wind gusted he moved forward one or two steps...he moved very slowly. At about 35 yards he got on his hands and knees and crawled to 21 yards away from the doe and buck. He sat for 30 minutes waiting for the buck to stand up and stretch. All of a sudden he was busted by the doe ...she jumped up and of course...........he followed...Tom took a shotbut the buck spun to his left and the arrow spun harmlessly by. Tom said it was the biggest live deer he ever had seen...with main beams as big around as his wrist. He watched him run off...but had a smile on his face and says it was a hunt of a life time.
QuoteOriginally posted by drewsbow:
Great story Congrats ;0)
It Ain't a story without pictures! :readit: :D
You need to read the tradgang users agreement over again! :campfire:
He estimated the buck weighed over 300 pounds. Mean while he had let me got to the park and set up for my hunt alone. About 20 minutes after he missed....I had a doe and HUGE buck which I believe were the same deer they ran right below my stand at warp 90!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then the fun began...the world turned brown with crazy deer every where.
good job and a great story but you could make it perfect with pics.
:banghead: COOL!
The pics are coming....but not tonight.
We left Missouri on Saturday...stopped in Paducah, Ky. for the nightand decided to hotel it.
We got our bathes and planned to retire for the night when Tom complained of severe chest pains.
He said it was real bad...and fell over sideways in bed. His eyes were open and he was snoring....I started slapping his face and he was not responding. I grabbed the phone and dialed the operator of the Drury Hotel and asked for rescue....they arrived in less then 5 minutes...ran a strip on him....and loaded him up......he had to have the paddles twice once in the rescue and once in the er! He had a heart cath done yesterday...and his arteries are good but he has to have his aortic valve replaced as soon as we get home. We are in the Drury Hotel again. He was release from the hospital today and his brother Paul flew up to drive us home.
The hotel has been great ....the comped the bill for the original night and then drove me to the hospital....and offered to send a paid cab to pick me up when I was ready to come back.
We had realatives camping in Sikeston Missouri 65 miles away and they arrived Sunday morning ...so I spent Saturday night in the hospital....and the last 2 nights in their motor home.
This has been a wild trip but thank God ...one with a happy ending......
I hope he is fine? :pray:
My prayers are with you and Tom. :pray:
Holy Cow sounds like a novel. You folks are lucky a semi didn't take you out in the beginning.I'm glad all is well.Tom will recover fully I hope.The angels are watching over you for sure.Oh and congrats on your hunt!
Hang Tuff TOM!!!!!!!
If there is ANYTHING I can do...let me know!!!!!
Prayers for Tom and congratulations on the hunt.
Wow! Sounds like a magical dream and then a nightmare all rolled into one. I'm praying that everything turns out fine for Tom and this can all be a happy memory for you both! :pray: :pray:
Congratulations on the deer!
Got you guys covered Dina. Tell Tom to do whatever they tell him. Congratulations on your hunt.
God bless,Mudd
My gosh, Dina...those are high highs and low lows! I know Paducah well...close to my home town. I don't know if Tom is in Baptist or Lourdes, but both have excellent cardiologists on staff and competent employees, so I am confident that his care has been very good. My parayers are with you both and I'll keep good thoughts for Tom's speedy recovery.
Blessings,
Claudia
WOW!! What a scare! Praying for you and Tom!! So glad you decided to Hotel it that evening!!
Thanks everyone for the well wishes and prayers.. Claudia...even though we are both Catholic we opted for Western Baptist Hospital...because the EMT's said they are the best bar none when it comes to heart problems and that that hospital had THE finest Cardiac Care Center!
The folks in this town are wonderful!!! While I waited during the heart cath...I was all alone...and an elderly couple came over to see if I was okay and who I was waiting to hear about. The reason I was alone is because my brother in law who came to be with us had been admitted to the hospital...he was on the hunt with us...but was not able to hunt much due to ill health. He had gone to the er in Maryville, Mo. and was diagonosed with diverticulitus and colitus....once they arrived in Paducah his condition worsened and he is still in the hospital. He was suppose to be released tomorrow but now they want to run more tests and it looks like Thur. or Fri. Anyway...I told the couple about Tom and they asked if I had any family here...I explained I did but what the new problem was....and that I had a 165 quart igloo cooler full of venison and I felt my dry ice must be about gone and did not know where to buy some. They told me that I needed to go to the Possum Trot Ice Sales and Service and how to get there. Then they smiled and said...they would go get it and be back within 45 minutes. They returned with the ice and helped me get it in the cooler.
They were truly a blessing to me!!!!!!!!!
Everyone in town has been super to us!!! Tom says all the nurses talk like Dolly Parton! ;)
Wow! You folks have it goin on! Just want you both to know that our prayers are with you.
Dina, sorry to hear about Tom, give him my best, and prayers are on the way. Sounds like your in good hands there.
bbassi
I am confused...I did not intend to break a tradgang user agreement rule. Since I have been a member here since the beginning...and since I do not remember everything as well as I used to...I did just go back and re-read the rules and for the life of me can't figure out what you did not like about my post. Please let me know what I did....maybe because I named a broadhead and Tom's recurve...we used to always do that...people wanted to know...all the details. The last few years I have posted less and less because someone always does not like the way I post or what I have to say.
For those who care to know this year I hunted with aluminum arrows and my black widow ptf. Tom hunted carbons out of his recurve and wood ...hee hee that's right ...I said WOOD...with his shaffer silver tip longbow. Tom did not get a deer this trip.
I think he was just teasing you over not having pictures is all. Not a serious comment countrygirl.
Oh okay...thank you....reckon...I am over tired.
Understandable. Get some rest and know we are all praying for you guys and thanks for sharing that great hunt with us.
Prayers going up for both of you and your brother-in-law as well. Thank you for the story it was great.
Wow, what a story....I hope Tom is Okay, and our prayers are with you folks.
Dang Dina sounds like a heck of a trip. Mountain Peaks and valley lows kinda deal. Sorry to hear about Tom, hope everything turns out alright for him. I could come down and excercise his motorcycles for him while he's laid up. :thumbsup:
Take care of the little fellow and tell him we are all pulling for him. :pray:
I'll echo what everyone else is saying!
Prayers sent for Tom Dina, it sounds like if something this had to happen on this trip you were in a good place for it to happen, take care of him and take your time finishing this one up.
David
Loved the good part of your story Dina, congratulations on your buck and doe, the rest scared me bad---anything that can make Tom need a hospital is SERIOUS. For those of you who haven't met Tom, he is one of those fellas who'd come back from a trip through Hell with the Devil's hide and horns in his pack.
My prayer is that you'll have good news on Tom to post with your pictures
Congrats on the hunt and prayers for Tom and you.
Thank God Toms going to be alright. Thanks Dina for keeping us posted on your adventure.
QuoteTom says all the nurses talk like Dolly Parton!
If they also look like Dolly that can't be a bad thing. :goldtooth:
QuoteOriginally posted by Ron LaClair:
Thank God Toms going to be alright. Thanks Dina for keeping us posted on your adventure.
QuoteTom says all the nurses talk like Dolly Parton!
If they also look like Dolly that can't be a bad thing. :goldtooth: [/b]
It would be for someone with a heart condition :biglaugh:
Dina, Prayers for Tom and you always
God Bless
Congratulations on the hunt.
Wow, talk about your ups and downs. Best wishes for Tom and your family.
QuoteOriginally posted by countrygirl:
bbassi
I am confused...I did not intend to break a tradgang user agreement rule.
That was pure joking around and was done before you mentioned the problems you were having. Sorry if I upset you. Good luck with your hubbie and brother-in-law.
Tom, prayers for a full and speedy recovery...and for you too Dina as I'm sure the situation weighs on his good wife as well.
Congrats on the deer and thank you for the story...looking forward to seeing the pics.
Get well Tom!
Good story and hunt except for the problem Tom had. Tell him to get rested and get that Aortic Valve replaced. Had a Medtronic Hall mechanical valve installed a year ago last June. It was not as bad of a operation as I expected it to be and the healing part was quite fast. Tell Tom I wish him a speedy recovery and he won't believe how much better he will feel after!!!
Chort
where are the pics???
Wow, what a rollercoaster. Praying for Tom and you and your BIL. Sounds like you were in the right place at the right time. Hope all goes well and you are home soon and resting.
Country Girl:
I am 45 minutes away from Paducah...
My cell # is 618-499-0871 Call me if I can be of assistance. Its 3:02 PM local time right now.
Sorry, I did not read your post sooner.
Love it!
Tom, listen to the Docs and get well soon. Dina if you need anything just holler.
Danny
Hi Brent... I wanted to say I am sorry for over reacting and misunderstanding your post. Sometimes I take things too literally.
We are currently looking for my camera so I can post pics! It may be in my brother in laws 40 ft diesel pusher...which is still in Paducah.
Once again...sorry for my post.......Dina
Thanks everyone for the prayers and good wishes...we made it home...only 756 miles today and glad I did not have to do the driving. I do plan to learn how to tow the camper though.
We are not completely unpacked...but can not locate the camera. I remember moving the most valuable items from our pick up to Tom's sister's motor home for safety. I think my digital camera is in my back pack and that it is in her camper.
Feret...Tom says thanks but ...he has a local designated rider. ;)
We can wait for pics. Get that boy healthy (the in-law too!) and take care of yourself too!
got back from my Indiana hunt late Saturday, visited Tom in the hospital Sunday here in Jax. he is doing pretty good after having his valve replaced. he is sitting up and the tubes have been removed. when the nurse popped in to say she was going to leave the floor for a few minutes, I knew he hadn't lost his touch when he replied "so you're going to levitate?"
Atta boy Tom! Get better!
God bless you and yours. Thanks for sharing. Sorry about the hardships. Tom is lucky to have a partner in life like you. :pray:
Dina,
Tell Tom that our thoughts are with him, and Bobbi and I hope he gets better soon. I have been away for three hunting trips and have only been home two days in the last month. Got to get it while I can.
Congratulations on a successful hunting trip. Wow, MO seems lucky for you and unlucky for Tom. First the encounter with the broadhead and now the heart valve. It is probably time for Tom's luck to change for the better though.
Best wishes.........Ronnie
Dina how about an update on the big guy now and again? How's he doing? Playing soccer yet? Chasing the PT around the room?
I stopped by the hospital again yesterday, Dina does not have a computer in the room so she might not be monitoring this. anyway, Tom looked really good and was in good spirits, and expected to get released today
That's great news!!! Thanks for the update Mudfish.
Awesome news! Thanks for the update.
Wow what a trip, sorry to hear of all the problems Dina but congrats on the deer :thumbsup: :thumbsup: and tell Tom to get well soon. Both of you take care and prayers sent from MT.
Tom and Dina Best Wishes and prayers for your recovery. Congrats on the good hunt and story.
About those trucks, as I am one of "those guys"; Sorry for their rudeness. And please folks ,let us move left if we have a signal on, and you can. We won't stay out there long and someone may need the space we are trying to move away from.
Country Girl,
Isn't it amazing how people can come through for us when we need them the most! Perfect strangers or the ones we love the most, it doesn't matter. It was a wonderful story with a fantasticly wonderful ending. I am so happy for you all, it could have been so different. Don't feel bad for misunderstanding the joke. It was funny! And don't you ever stop posting! I am always looking for other ladies posts. I enjoy hearing how they are doing on their hunts. I often feel self conscious about my posts also. But we do need to see some pics as soon as you are able.
:jumper:
Update on Tom:
Tom got to finally come home on Saturday...and he was really glad to sit in his camoflage Catnapper recliner. He wants me to let everyone know that both of the Hospital's that he was in as well as their staff were wonderful!
He is not confined to bed gets up and dressed every day. He takes short walks around our property...and keeps the deer count at the feeder when I work at night.
The surgery for his aortic valve went well...the delay on his release was due to his coumadin level being too low. They finally got it up to 2.5 and released him. Then it dropped to 2.2 and so they have had to increase his medication. He can no longer eat green leafy veggies....and at this point he.... won't eat anything green.
Now the docs put him back together with superglue...no stiches or staples in his 14 inch incesion. The glue is actually Durabond...and we figure...well... if it is that good....we want to get some to try on arrows. The good news is that all of his arteries are clear...he needed no stints and no bypasses. He has the mechanical valve and they say in a year he will feel about 30 years younger........so it sounds like I will be living with a younger guy! ;)
Tom and Mike Hutchison had planned to work on building a hickory backed osage bow as soon as deer season was over...but I think that is gonna have to wait for a lil bit. Speaking of Mike...aka Tradbow Mike...what a super friend...the day before Thanksgiving he came by the house and dropped off...2 light weight bows for Tom to start playing with when the doctors give the okay. He also left a huge stack of books including all three Bowyers Bibles.
Tom keeps bugging me to post a pic of my eight point........and maybe I will later. The rack was small compared to the usual ones we see there. The deer was older...did not have many teeth....but hey he is still an eight point and my first one.
Glad to hear things turned out well for Tom. Now post the pics any first deer is a trophy of high standing and deserves it's time up on the forum. Hard to tell you how awesome you are without photographic proof! :biglaugh:
LOL!!! Okay...I will post it......
First I forgot to tell you...
Tom is tall and I am short........usually I have to work hard at keeping up with him...but it was different this year...he had to keep stopping to rest...I got very worried. Usually he would just stop and stand there...a couple of times he was on his hands and knees...and a couple of times he had to lie down...I tried to get him to skip hunts but he wouldn't do it ...I tried to get him to go to a doctor...and he refusedto until he could get back home after the trip. One day I looked at him and asked him if I was going to have to take him home in a pine box....he said...NO...make it Osage!
Oh Vermonster13...this is my first big buck. I have taken 7 does and 2 button bucks with recurves. Last year I did not get a deer because I kept waiting for a real buck. At the 11th hour on the last day and as the last of the light was quickly fading away a 10 point came in view....he stood for a long time looking for the bleating doe...I refused to shoot him straight into his chest (yes he was facing me about 8 yards away) when he finally started moving there was too much brush and my arrow deflected. That year Tom got the only deer during the 2 week hunt.
Praise the LORD!Dina you made my night.<><
This is the soy bean field we cross to the big woods aka the meat locker. One year it is corn and the next soy beans.
Still working on the photo! (http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/33248/2620076710042104245S600x600Q85.jpg) (http://url=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2620076710042104245gjFiYh) ]web page[/URL]
This pic really does not do justice to the ditch we cross after going through the crops.
(http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/31280/2437829680042104245S600x600Q85.jpg) (//%5Burl=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2437829680042104245lClAEh) ]web page[/URL]
This is a pic of Tom standing by the tall ladder stand I hunted from. He has just taken down my Millineum lock on stand on the last day. (http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/32795/2062233260042104245S600x600Q85.jpg) (//%5Burl=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2062233260042104245wyXIjI) ]web page[/URL]
This is just one view from that stand. (http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/31611/2752481140042104245S600x600Q85.jpg) (//%5Burl=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2752481140042104245PbUKnX) ]web page[/URL]
Well...I reckon...I should show you some pics of the park...where I got my eight point.
Here are a few views from my stand in the Park (http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/29426/2343072400042104245S600x600Q85.jpg) (//%5Burl=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2343072400042104245lIPRNf) ]web page[/URL] :
(http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/31718/2188320320042104245S600x600Q85.jpg) (//%5Burl=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2188320320042104245ClaDLO) ]web page[/URL]
(http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/30423/2745042690042104245S600x600Q85.jpg) (http://url=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2745042690042104245foWAAW) ]web page[/URL] (http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/29909/2558539700042104245S600x600Q85.jpg) (//%5Burl=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2558539700042104245dnwjki) ]web page[/URL] (//%5Burl=http://%5BURL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2410610750042104245SEepec%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/30570/2410610750042104245S600x600Q85.jpg) (//%5Burl=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2343072400042104245lIPRNf) ]web page[/url]
One antler broke off while dragging him out of a huge ditch...so I had to hold it in place...it did not really make for a great photo. It was 14 degees at sun rise that morning.
I'm glad to hear your husband is doing well and has made it home, and btw, congrats on the fine animal, each animal taken with a bow is a trophy in my book. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Very nicely done!
That's our "Dilla Killar" Way to go "Lady"
Congratulations! Tell Tom Hey for me.
God bless,Mudd
Thank you for your prayers,Mr Mudd.
Thanks for sharing the photos Dina, I'm glad to see Tom is doing better.....
David