GRFox 2013
- GRFox
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- Location: New York
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GRFox 2013
I haven't been able to post much on the forum this year, but I have been popping in every other day or so to check up on whats been going on. A ton of new members on here now and its interesting to see the site evolving.
2013 was a revolutionary season for me. I have learned more in this one year then I have in the previous 3 year combined. Stand placement, clothing, equipment, deer behavior and strategy.
I started hunting in mid September in the suburbs of NYC in Connecticut. I had a few nice bucks on camera and put in quite a few hunts for them only to see doe groups or get completely skunked.
Being frustrated I dove into the next patch of woods down the road where I could hunt. I had never been in this particular wood lot. There was a nice pinch point between a pond and the edge of a mowed lawn on the edge of an estate where I had permission. As I walked parallel with some of the heavy runs, I started coming across a concentration of rubs. I went a little further and found 4 red hot scrapes and about a dozen rubs. About 50 yards past where I could see the scrapes transitioned into a thicket on the high side and a cattail swampy bog on the low side, I knew it was the bedding. I picked a tree right above 2 of the scrapes and got out of there quick.
I had work the next day at 12 noon, and there was no way I was going to pass up a hunt on that hot sign.
I needed my sticks and Assault for the tree I picked. I hung the first stick that morning 1 hour before first light. It was October 15th and in the mid 50s. Deer started working there way by me as I was still climbing. I climbed as quite as I could and got settled in the stand. Deer were all around me and as it got light out I could see a spike and a spindly 6 point out in front of me. I could here a ton of deer walking all around me. Just at grey light I looked over to one of the scrapes and there was a nice buck standing there. I hadn't shot a buck in 3 years now and this buck looked to be over 100" which is where I set my standard for this year.
He worked his way closer, heading towards the 2 scrub bucks below my tree. Being very cautious as it was getting almost totally light now, he would take two or 3 steps and just watch, looking around and listening then feeding and repeating. Finally he gave be a quartering away shot at 16 yards. I watched the arrow go in right behind the shoulder up to the fletching, and as he ran, I could see the other half of the arrow sticking out of his brisket.
I followed blood for about 100 yards before I found him.
He scored 108" and weighed 194lbs field dressed. I believe he was 3.5 with poor potential or maybe older and gone down hill. The cape and head is still in my freezer. I am going to have the jaw bone checked when I go to do the euro mount.
October 25th, I decided to hunt the only lock on I have ever hung. I hung the stand in September with my girlfriend, in a location that I had picked out a few years before. It is a pinch point coming off of the base of a stand of pines that transitions into a hardwood mix of oaks, ash, birch, beech and hickory. there was 1 run that all of the other runs funneled into, there is a wide deep river that pinches down close to the power lines, all along there are blow downs running parallel with the power lines leaving only one small opening for the deer to travel through. At 7:55 I heard a commotion, I looked back and saw deer running behind me at about 100 yards. Maybe a buck chasing a little early, or another hunter I thought. I stood up and got my bow in hand.
5 minutes later the does came trotting back towards my stand. I was in a good spot to take a doe (easy drag) so I decided to take one if given the opportunity. I stood with my back to the tree with the bow ready, waiting for the does to come out on my left hand side. 4 does trotted by, but as they were I heard a single deer casually walking about 20 yards behind. I got ready and when the buck emerged I saw great mass and good tine length and one h*ll of a body. I bleated to stop him, put the pin behind the shoulder and watched the arrow burry its way in right on the mark, and smack the opposing shoulder.
I followed pumping blood for over 300 yards. i started to get nervous after a while because I couldn't understand how this deer was not down with all this blood. I got into a little pine grove along the river and got to a spot where it looked like the buck was walking in circles, blood was everywhere. I am sure we have all been there when we are so laser focused on following blood that we almost step on our deer. I was floored by the size of this deer.
He weighed 210lbs field dressed which puts him at around 270lb live weight. Based on his teeth he is at least 4 years old. He could be older, but I am waiting one someone who is a bit of an expert to take a look. He scored 113". I am very happy with both deer and apparently the king of culling out bad genetics!
2013 was a revolutionary season for me. I have learned more in this one year then I have in the previous 3 year combined. Stand placement, clothing, equipment, deer behavior and strategy.
I started hunting in mid September in the suburbs of NYC in Connecticut. I had a few nice bucks on camera and put in quite a few hunts for them only to see doe groups or get completely skunked.
Being frustrated I dove into the next patch of woods down the road where I could hunt. I had never been in this particular wood lot. There was a nice pinch point between a pond and the edge of a mowed lawn on the edge of an estate where I had permission. As I walked parallel with some of the heavy runs, I started coming across a concentration of rubs. I went a little further and found 4 red hot scrapes and about a dozen rubs. About 50 yards past where I could see the scrapes transitioned into a thicket on the high side and a cattail swampy bog on the low side, I knew it was the bedding. I picked a tree right above 2 of the scrapes and got out of there quick.
I had work the next day at 12 noon, and there was no way I was going to pass up a hunt on that hot sign.
I needed my sticks and Assault for the tree I picked. I hung the first stick that morning 1 hour before first light. It was October 15th and in the mid 50s. Deer started working there way by me as I was still climbing. I climbed as quite as I could and got settled in the stand. Deer were all around me and as it got light out I could see a spike and a spindly 6 point out in front of me. I could here a ton of deer walking all around me. Just at grey light I looked over to one of the scrapes and there was a nice buck standing there. I hadn't shot a buck in 3 years now and this buck looked to be over 100" which is where I set my standard for this year.
He worked his way closer, heading towards the 2 scrub bucks below my tree. Being very cautious as it was getting almost totally light now, he would take two or 3 steps and just watch, looking around and listening then feeding and repeating. Finally he gave be a quartering away shot at 16 yards. I watched the arrow go in right behind the shoulder up to the fletching, and as he ran, I could see the other half of the arrow sticking out of his brisket.
I followed blood for about 100 yards before I found him.
He scored 108" and weighed 194lbs field dressed. I believe he was 3.5 with poor potential or maybe older and gone down hill. The cape and head is still in my freezer. I am going to have the jaw bone checked when I go to do the euro mount.
October 25th, I decided to hunt the only lock on I have ever hung. I hung the stand in September with my girlfriend, in a location that I had picked out a few years before. It is a pinch point coming off of the base of a stand of pines that transitions into a hardwood mix of oaks, ash, birch, beech and hickory. there was 1 run that all of the other runs funneled into, there is a wide deep river that pinches down close to the power lines, all along there are blow downs running parallel with the power lines leaving only one small opening for the deer to travel through. At 7:55 I heard a commotion, I looked back and saw deer running behind me at about 100 yards. Maybe a buck chasing a little early, or another hunter I thought. I stood up and got my bow in hand.
5 minutes later the does came trotting back towards my stand. I was in a good spot to take a doe (easy drag) so I decided to take one if given the opportunity. I stood with my back to the tree with the bow ready, waiting for the does to come out on my left hand side. 4 does trotted by, but as they were I heard a single deer casually walking about 20 yards behind. I got ready and when the buck emerged I saw great mass and good tine length and one h*ll of a body. I bleated to stop him, put the pin behind the shoulder and watched the arrow burry its way in right on the mark, and smack the opposing shoulder.
I followed pumping blood for over 300 yards. i started to get nervous after a while because I couldn't understand how this deer was not down with all this blood. I got into a little pine grove along the river and got to a spot where it looked like the buck was walking in circles, blood was everywhere. I am sure we have all been there when we are so laser focused on following blood that we almost step on our deer. I was floored by the size of this deer.
He weighed 210lbs field dressed which puts him at around 270lb live weight. Based on his teeth he is at least 4 years old. He could be older, but I am waiting one someone who is a bit of an expert to take a look. He scored 113". I am very happy with both deer and apparently the king of culling out bad genetics!
- bigwoodsmn
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Re: GRFox 2013
Congratulations! Was the second one close to home too?
Awesome bucks!
Awesome bucks!
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Re: GRFox 2013
Way to go, couple of toads!!
- Edcyclopedia
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Re: GRFox 2013
NICE JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm overly glad for you and you accomplishment, I know work has taken the front seat and sometimes can taste like a sour pill, but you prevailed w/ patience and perseverance!
Spectacular to the tenth power my friend!
Woo-hoo.......
Those are some great bucks in my book!
I'm overly glad for you and you accomplishment, I know work has taken the front seat and sometimes can taste like a sour pill, but you prevailed w/ patience and perseverance!
Spectacular to the tenth power my friend!
Woo-hoo.......
Those are some great bucks in my book!
Expect the Unexpected when you least Expect it...
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Re: GRFox 2013
Nice work!
"When a hunter is in a tree stand with high moral values, with the proper hunting ethics and richer for the experience, that hunter is 20 feet closer to God." Fred Bear
- PLB
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Re: GRFox 2013
Wow great burb bucks man!!
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Obsession Bows
Lone Wolf Alpha and sticks
Lone Wolf Alpha and sticks
- Zap
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Re: GRFox 2013
SweeT!!!!!!!!!
Congrats Mr. Fox.....
Congrats Mr. Fox.....
"Forged in fire lit long ago. Stand next to me and you will never stand alone".
- PK_
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Re: GRFox 2013
Both those bucks are awesome, especially with the bow.
Congrats.
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Congrats.
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No Shortcuts. No Excuses. No Regrets.
Everybody's selling dreams. I'm too cheap to buy one.
Everybody's selling dreams. I'm too cheap to buy one.
Rich M wrote:Typically, hunting FL has been like getting a root canal
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- headgear
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Re: GRFox 2013
Congrats GRFox! Great season for sure.
- Milk Weed Seed
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Re: GRFox 2013
Congrats dude! Was wondering where you had gone?
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[glow=red]Happiness is only a gut pile away[/glow]
- GRFox
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Re: GRFox 2013
Thanks everyone. The second buck is from my home town here in New York.
I have another buck that I spend all season chasing. I am going to post that story in the-500 club.
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I have another buck that I spend all season chasing. I am going to post that story in the-500 club.
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- BigHunt
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Re: GRFox 2013
Nice job on a successful season!
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- Jackson Marsh
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Re: GRFox 2013
Great job GRFox!
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