Archive for category Human Interest
It’s the Principle! Largest Deer of 2008
Posted by Boomer in Human Interest, Uncategorized, Unusual Hunting Experiences, Upland Hunting on February 5th, 2009
This story is so good I’ve directed my human, Glenn Savage, to share it with all my readers.
Boomer
Kyle Hacke and Deer He Discovered
It’s the Principle!
Kyle Hacke, Principal at Hillsboro High School and his brother, Scott Hacke of Springfield, found what may prove to be the biggest Illinois deer head of 2008 on January 2, 2008. Here is the riveting account of Kyle and Scott’s discovery in the words (lightly edited) of Kyle Hacke. The Hacke brothers experienced the equivalent of discovering a shoe box full of thousands of dollars on a deserted street. Kyle and Scott did not hesitate. Kyle wrote, “Scott and I both knew we had a special deer, but the right thing to do was to give it to John(the landowner).”
Kyle wrote further, “Scott and I know that we aren’t supposed to remove a deer or antlers from the field without a salvage tag and John called a CPO as soon as he got there. No one could show up immediately, so he took it home and told them to come to his house, which they did. Scott and I both knew we had a special deer, but the right thing to do was give him to John….It was found by me on John Grosboll’s property in Menard County on January 2, 2008. My brother Scott got permission from John to bird hunt his property. I walked up on the carcass in a border strip along a creek and called Scott over. Coyotes had slicked it up, but there was still a lot of hide, the hoofs, and all of the bones and vertebrae intact. Couldn’t tell how he was killed, no holes in the hide, or broken ribs. I would bet someone took an illegal crack at him. No way someone legally takes a shot at him and doesn’t shout from the mountain top that they may have hit him. He could’ve also been injured from fighting. They say there was a real aggressive 9 pointer out there, that this guy wasn’t really the boss. I spoke with John Saturday at the Quail Forever Banquet and he said he hasn’t had it officially scored yet, but should be somewhere around 246-250. 24-25 points, 4 drop tines, one palmated (you can see that in the pictures we took). The large drop tine on the other side is really long (can see that one in the picture too). When we found it, we called a hunting buddy of ours to explain it to him, then we called John who was extremely happy. He’s taking it to the Deer and Turkey Classic and getting it scored. I don’t deer hunt, but I knew we had found something special. I’ve seen a lot of big deer and I am a pretty good judge after spending so much time outdoors. I don’t know John’s plans for the deer or story, other than he promises to keep it in Menard County.”
For more pictures and story on the Largest Deer go to:
http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/index.php?/pso/article/grosboll_buck/
Donnie Burton Memorial Hunt
Posted by Boomer in Human Interest, Uncategorized on January 9th, 2009
Donnie Burton
Sally Burton and Don Burton with UFC Champion, Matt Hughes
I received some p-mail (drop me a line and I’ll share the origin and operation of p-mail with you) from some professional hunting dogs earlier today informing me about a special event that took place recently. My human was in attendance and wrote an account of the event.
Boomer
Hunter Cured of Winter Funk
By Glenn Savage
The event that held curative powers was the Sixth Annual Donnie Burton Memorial Quail Hunt held Saturday and Sunday, January 3 and 4, 2009 at Don Cranfill’s Shooting Preserve in Hillsboro. One hundred and thirty-one hunters participated.
The days have been short and sunshine in short supply. The writer was tired, sore, and a little discouraged from pursuing pheasants for miles and then muffing what were good opportunities to bag a wily rooster. Worse yet was the fact that the writer’s hunting buddy was bagging roosters “left and left”. Hunting buddy, Glenn Bishop, who couldn’t seem to miss, “heaped coals” on the writer by not even mentioning the missed shots. He even acted supportive and seemed to let a little sympathy seep out around his eyes.
The writer’s dog was injured by a locust thorn and was out of the game for fifteen days! The writer had to depend on tagging along with hunting buddy to get a shot. Things just weren’t going well.
Sunshine burst through on Saturday afternoon on a hunt guided by Dennis McCammack and Don Cranfill. The writer and three other hunters were treated to a spectacular display of dog handling, bird finding, and bird retrieving by Dennis, Don, and the dogs. This writer was lucky enough to bag more than his share of birds in a safe and efficient manner.
After the hunt, the writer asked Don Burton about the hunt. According to Don Burton, “Donnie Burton loved the outdoors and the friends he made during his outdoor adventures.”
Donnie, son of Don and Sally Burton of rural Hillsboro, passed away unexpectedly in June of 2003 during a church sponsored outing. Donnie was swimming in the motel swimming pool prior to a float trip when his heart stopped. Sally Burton said Donnie was sixteen on January 28 and passed away on June 30, 2003. Sally went on to say, “Every year is bittersweet before the Memorial Hunt because I remember Donnie and think how he would have enjoyed it. I don’t want him to be forgotten but it is hard to think about it.”
Sally Burton said, “The only advice I can think of is that you force yourself to keep going. It is good if you have only one good friend who realizes that years later it still hurts. Every year I get stressed thinking about all there is to prepare for the hunt. We have house guests and there are pies to be baked. Every year, eventually, I stop worrying about it and I have a peaceful feeling. Every year Joyce Connor comes over and helps bake pies. She is a huge help. During the hunt, I met a man who had read about the Memorial Hunt who had recently lost two brothers. He just wanted to come out and show support.”
Sally Burton, her sister, Susan Gisler, and Joyce Conner baked twenty-five pies and four chocolate cakes for the two day event. Lunch, including chili, hotdogs and dessert was provided. Early hunters were provided with coffee, milk, doughnuts, or pie.
Don Burton said, “This year was emotional for me because of the numbers of volunteers who help make the hunt happen. More help was needed because of the large number of hunters. If anyone is available next January 2 and 3, 2010, call me to volunteer. I need persons to take hunters to the fields, serve food and assist with car parking.
The 2009 hunt raised about $6,000 for scholarships to be distributed through the Hillsboro Education Scholarship Fund. About $31,000 will have been distributed to high school seniors over six years as a result of the Donnie Burton Memorial Hunt.
The hunt is $100 per person. To book for Saturday or Sunday, January 2 and 3, 2010, call Don Burton at 217-532-2507.