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.

Pigs and stuff

Went on a pig hunt with Bruce to Oklahoma. Got 3 hogs with one being a good boar and one sickly not fit to eat. But a good time was had as always. Made a totem pole for Scotty with some cedar beams he had. got enough to make a totem pole for me now. Tawny and I even went to the Bob Evans farm, with the iconic picture on the menu. Although she paid the price with a bad sunburn. Got the Slingshot down in Louisville with me so getting a lot of riding in. When to the Old Talbot Tavern in Bardstown. It the oldest tavern 1795 in Ky, with bullet holes in the wall from Jesse James. Met a bunch of new friends at a little pub called Amy'z in Lyndon. Waiting for the garden to produce as were out of pickles.

Oklahoma Sunset

Amy'z Patio

Ohio River

Old Talbot Tavern, Bardstown,Ky

Jesses James bullet holes

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The Gang

#64

I finally decided to get a crossbow. I had been seeing so many deer by the house the extension of hunting archery season was a no brainer. Had been seeing a nice 9 pt and a maybe bigger 10 pt on trail camera for the entire summer. Caught a glimpse of both of them last time I was home, but really didn't expect to see him during shooting hours. Low and behold here he came strolling by Saturday night about 6:30pm. 25yards quartering away shot was just too tempting. There might be one buck bigger hanging around, probably should wait it is awful early. Next think I know, Whamo! Off he goes 65yards, barreling through the nastiest briar patch known to man. 2hrs later and scratched and poked all to hell having to hack my way in with a machete, I managed to drag him back up the house. Pretty nice buck, healthy and big bodied. I had just camo netted my blind thicker that day and it worked better than I thought and he was clueless. Plenty of fresh venison for jerky and such, going to drop the skull to be cleaned and the hide into buckskin. Can't wait.

Oh Canada

Tawny drove up to Markham Ontario to visit for our birthdays. She got to meet all my new friends I've meet since I've been here. They gave her a fit at the border asking all kind of odd questions, I guess if had a burka or was Chinese it would have been fine, but we couldn't have those damn Americans coming up and spending money. Anyway she got to go up to Kirkfield 2 hrs north to my buddy Biffs trailer and the campground. I went up there before and had a great time playing the harp with the guitar players around the campfire. So I thought she would love it. It's like one big family up there and had another campfire jam session, with Joe on guitar and me on harp and dulcimer, which they had never seen or heard before. Cool cultural integration, who would of thought. Plus Tauwny brought a case of "Not your Fathers Rootbeer" and some venison jerky. The jerky and 6% rootbeer that is beer, but tastes just like rootbeer disappeared fast. What a fun time and a bunch of nice people. She really got a kick out of Enos and has Inuit wife Mary from Newfoundland. Enos talks really fast with thick accent which got harder and harder to understand as the night went on. Rootbeer I'd guess. Learning all the Canadian stuff too Eh, like poteen 50 different kinds of fries with brown gravy on top.Or 50$ cases of Coors light, known as "Toofour"And of course Eh after everything,Eh. Oh yeah now I'm rooting for the Blue Jays and learning hockey. Oh Canada

 

Trail cams and Weddings

Recently my niece got married at Brown County State Park. A beautiful ceremony on a steamy September Day. All the brothers were there which is always good. We laughed, sweated and danced. My trailcam set up under my treestand has been producing some interesting photos. From some nice bucks to our cat nose with our semitame deer "Baby". She is the perfect live decoy. She also had twins this year. Archery season comes in a couple weeks and want to try out my new crossbow. Tawny and I  are still reeling from Bub's passing the house just ain't the same. I keep forgetting I don't a skillet cleaner anymore. Anyway this is last picture of Bub. R.I.P my friend