Living
Al Brown | Tracking the Seasons
Bucks come a running
As the headlights from Frank Slayton's pickup swept across me as I left the house, I lowered my head and closed my eyes. In the predawn darkness, the dilated eyes can be temporarily blinded by a direct hit from a bright light.
No matter. By the time I reached Frank's truck I could see well enough to read the hands on my watch. 6:20 a.m. It was already shooting time and the deer woods were calling.
A Lake Country native who presently resides in Oconomowoc with his wife, Beth, Frank and I have been hunting and fishing buddies for nearly 20 years.
On this day we were after deer.
Conditions were anything but ideal as we headed toward the woods. The overcast sky would make the deer harder to see, and the 20-mph winds blowing out of the southeast would make the deer edgy.
But this was the "chase phase," or start of the rut. ,
As we were about to enter the woods, I pointed to the "meat pole" where we hang harvested deer and said, "I put up the block and tackle yesterday. You never know when we might need it."
"What did you do that for?" Frank snapped. "It could be bad luck."
"It'll be bad luck if one of us gets a deer and we don't have a cool place to hang it in this warm weather," was my retort.
Arriving at my stand, we wished each other luck and parted company, Frank, with his dependable compound bow, and me with my yet-to-be-christened crossbow that I've carried for three years without shooting anything but paper targets.
Once up in the stand, I went through the ritual of cocking the 150-pull crossbow, checking the clearance for the horizontal limbs, setting the sight for 20 yards and loading the bolt (arrow).
That done, I took out a trio of deer calls, including a new model called the Super Hot "Ma-Maw" by Woods Wise Game Calls.
Having practiced with the new call while watching the company's DVD, I decided to try it first. The company's slogan reads "When Hot Does Cry 'Ma-Maw,' Big Bucks Come Running."
We'll see, I mused to myself as I inhaled coyly on the call according to the instructions. No buck came running in, so I called again, but a little more urgently.
Expectantly, I looked around, then down at my watch. It read 6:58. I had been in the stand barely 20 minutes when, as if by magic, it happened.
There, less than 25 yards away and with the wind in my face, was a big-bodied buck standing broadside. It was a bow hunter's dream.
Though it was only seconds, it seemed like an eternity as I picked up the bow, released the safety, lined up the sight and pulled the trigger.
The next few moments were a blur, then it was over. An eight-point buck had answered my call. The block and tackle on the meat pole wasn't bad luck after all.
- A taste of hunting
- Observing the characteristics of a snowless winter
- Absent snowfall meant thin harvest in 2011
- Wolves getting expanded role in wildlife picture
- New rules allow opportunity to appreciate wild game
- How new concealed carry law affects hunters
- Now's the time to hone weapon of choice
- Overlapping seasons create color conundrum
- Hunting calendar is upon us
- Weary anglers getting their chance
- Passing down knowledge of the hunt
- Appreciating the gifts of Mother Nature
- Ticks replace mosquitoes as concern
- Tag, you're it: hunting seasons approaching
- Fundraiser gives bird hunters a taste of what's ahead
- Rock River's banks a hotbed for local fishermen
- Fishing a great Father's Day opportunity
- With the stroke of a pen
- Grape jelly fills the belly
- Getting out on the water pays off
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Posted Wednesday, Feb. 10 |
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- Relay For Life of Lake Country Kickoff-Monday, February 13th
- Oconomowoc Newcomers & Neighbors Monthly Mingle Tues Feb. 14
- UW-Waukesha Continuing Education Classes Offered the week of February 12-18, 2012
- The Rock River Patriots Welcome G. Edward Griffin To Wisconsin
- Master Composter Training Workshop Offiered
- Sussex-Menomonee Falls-Pewaukee Relay For Life Kickoff Event Sunday, February 19th 3:00 PM
- Open House at St. John's Lutheran Mukwonago
- Anti-Bullying assembly
- Summerstage "Break-A-Leg Gala"
- Pancakes at the House
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