Archive for category Unusual Hunting Experiences
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/
Outdoor Eyewitness: Hawks Stalk Pheasants on the Ground
Posted by Boomer in Natural History, Unusual Hunting Experiences, Upland Hunting on January 24th, 2009
I, “Pheasant Finder Supreme”, am intensely interested in the behavior of any animal that can capture pheasants by any means. If any faithful readers have been an “Outdoor Eyewitness” to unusual predator behavior, please share by writing comments about the following story. Better yet, tell your story so we all can learn.
Boomer
Hawks Stalk Pheasants
Dear Outdoor Eyewitness,
A long time ago, my bird dog and I were making our way along a railroad right-of-way in search of “pheasant friendly” tall grass. A group of two rooster pheasants and two hens swooped over my head and landed between the railroad tracks. The group was one hundred yards from my dog and I and the pheasants were unaware of us. They immediately walked into the border of tall grass.
My bird dog and I were frozen in fascination with what we’d witnessed. Before we could take a step, a red tail hawk, flying low, much like the pheasants, appeared suddenly and landed next to the grass. The hawk then deliberately walked into the same cover. My bird dog and I sped our approach so we could see what might happen. We were within 25 yards when the tall grass erupted in commotion and the red tail hawk emerged with a hen pheasant in its talons.
The raptor rose forty feet into the air as the pheasant struggled to free itself. In a shower of feathers, the hen broke free and flew off. The hawk flew in the opposite direction.
During a pheasant hunt earlier this year, I observed what I thought was two hen pheasants fly low across the field I was facing. As they flew closer, I realized that the bird in front was a hen pheasant but the bird in back was a red tail hawk. Both birds landed by tall grass and walked into the grass.
I thought hawks “stooped” that is dive out of the sky, stun their prey with closed talons then seized their prey and pierced it to kill it.
Rapt Observer
It Happened to Me!
Posted by Boomer in Advice for Humans, Dog Behavior Advice, Dog Health, Dog Humor, Unusual Hunting Experiences on January 14th, 2009
Dear Readers,
I took my human hunting today. I found a rooster in the tall grass, and pointed him. Old “Frequently Falls Down” kicked around upwind until Mr. rooster flushed with much cackling and pooping. FFD fired his gun and Mr. rooster dropped dead. I didn’t even have to track him down or retrieve him. FFd has fed and watered me and I am curled up next to his computer dictating this blog.
From my vantage point in the back seat of the pickup truck I listened to old FFD and his hunting buddy, “Three Shooter” swap stories and theories about hunting (more validation of my idea that a dog’s viewpoint is needed to balance human thinking.) That gave me an idea! If humans would comment on this blog and tell what unusual experiences they have had in the out doors, I will comment from my point of view if needed or I will just pass it along by p-mail if the canine community needs to know.
Write me and tell about unusual experiences you’ve had in the field. Happy hunting!
Boomer