The end of an Era

Our families dear friend Ivan Engleman passed recently. He was Dads best bud and will be sorely missed. Got a new crossbow and got the break it in on another beautiful southern Ohio whitetail. Number #68. I called him Captain Hook from his hooked brow tines. The huge 13 has eluded me this season I can only hope he survives the winter. Plenty of jerky in the future

Captain Hook

Venison Jerky

Thanksgiving Turkey

The snowmobile years

Captain Hook

Lucky 13

My paradise

Elbow room

I finally had to have my right elbow fixed. Too many years of abuse had taken its toll. But I have had the pleasure of spending an extended time home, abet missing a good arm. Tawny and I  got to the Smokeys, Gatlinburg, Cherokee, and ended with Nashville. The living Indian Museum in  Cherokee was cool and kinda sad at the same time. Almost like zoo animals, I came out with real mixed feelings. The Smoking mountain train ride was cool and of course we found a nice little tavern with good food and a chatty bar keep. Saw 2 bears in the park and had fun pulling over and pointing and looking with binoculars at nothing just to get people to stop and look. Downtown Nashville, Wow what a place to see live music and bar hop. Trump took time to say, Hey.  Even stopped by American Pickers store.

 Enjoying my time off and got my sights on a big buck. We even got a picture of a bobcat in the field behind the house.

Life's a pickle

Pickle season is in full swing. Canned at least 30 quarts in the last few weeks. Got a cool Coleman inflatable hot tub from Amy'z and set it up all redneck right in the front yard. Also believe it or not I traded my truck for a car. Always loved a 70 Cuda, so got

a Challenger. Not disappointed. Having a good time in Louisville KY, good friends at Amy'z, went to Churchhill downs, lost of course. Best of all playing harp every Saturday night at the Gray Wolf Lodge with my friends the Cross Country Outlaws. Dennis and Casey came over one weekend and saw us perform. Sweet is all can say

Amy'Z Patio

A new year and missing blogs

New gate and arch

broken arrow and broad head found in the buck

I haven't been blogging as much as I used to but noticed my blogs from 2016 are gone. Mystery. Anyway a shot a decent 8 point last year which made #65. But having some time off and cold weather got the deer moving. After being overrun with bucks last year this year has been slim. Except this brute that walked under my stand and the old crossbow let the air out of him. And what a buck, 24" spread with a rough score of 167 1/2. Best deer I've ever killed let alone seen. Got my truck replaced with one 2 yrs older , but almost identical. The wildest thing is I found a broke arrow and broad head between the shoulder blades. Somebody was sick when they lost this deer. But he showed no sign. Also redid the front gate with steel wheel and elk antler

2016 Buck

The ying and yang of life

Have been trying to keep busy.  Got a diabetes scare at the first of the year so I've went a low carb diet and lost over 60lbs. So I decided to treat myself for my birthday with something special. Well an  opportunity to do a limited elk hunt in northern Minnesota was presented to me. My buddy Scott and I headed up to a  hunt of a lifetime. First stop Milwaukee and Miller Valley. Scotty and I have been drinking Miller beers for as long as we've known each other so a stop by the brewery was a must. Then off to the hunt. I shot a good bull the first day. The ying. 2 more days watching for wolves turned up 3 better bulls with one strolling by at 40 yards, what a shot that would have been. When it was time we picked up over 300lbs of prime elk meat and headed home. Early morning with a bright sun in our eyes and eager to get home. I let my attention stray and on an unfamiliar road I slid thru a  stop sign onto a divided highway. A poor older couple struck us broadside and flipped us on 2 wheels. That trip of a lifetime turned ugly. We could have been killed very easily. However the couple was fine with a couple bruises, and Scotty and I we unscathed. Although my back is hurting pretty good today. The yang. But yesterday was my birthday and Taunya and I took up elk snack sticks and chili to our new friends at our local outlaw club Gray Wolf Lodge. Had a great time, all the chili was gone as well as the snack sticks. Burnt the harp up with some songs with the band, dancing with my girl. I couldn't have asked for more. Still having a hard time dealing with my lapse of attention, as my Dad drilled into us that model of perfection. The ying and yang of life.