What I’m about to write is filled with many emotions. Not all good or bad, more an understanding of what I’ve become and where I’m headed as a hunter.
It’s difficult to describe how I feel as a hunter or more importantly a human being. I have been on the highs and lows while sitting in stand the past 12 years as a dedicated bow only hunter. I have hunted on the bluffs of “world renown Buffalo County”. And had the opportunity (which it didn’t work out) to hunt in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Illinois. But yet, I find the most peace when hunting on my home stomping grounds in Central MN.
With the above said, there is just something about hunting the property where I started bow hunting and where I hope my final hunt will be later on in life. The time I have spent the past 12 years has been amazing.
Maybe some of you can relate to what you’re about to read. At times hunting has dominated my life, almost like liquor to an alcoholic. I went from a bow hunter that read every magazine in the store that I could get my hands on. To a hunter that knew it all, even though I hadn’t ever shot a Wallhanger. I can’t count the times that I dreamed about shooting the biggest buck in the woods because I thought I would look cool in front of my friends. Eventually, I became an individual that was obsessed with chasing whitetails and I pushed others away in my life. In turn, hunting interfered with school, work, and even ended several relationships. I know with certainty that the amount of time I spent hunting was hurting other areas of my life.
So, as I sit here and think about the past and think about the future at the same time, a few things stick out at me. As far as hunting goes; I remember buying first bow 98’, my 1st trail cam in 99’ (Cuddeback film camera for $279.99), walking in the College computer lab and seeing a student next to me on the web looking at the Whitetail Institute “Imperial Clover” (2001), then planting my first food plot in 2002 thinking that I was destined to kill a Monster Buck that year because I planted a food plot. How naive was my thinking back then?
Then there was my grandfather passing in 2004 and all the emotion and realization that life will ultimately come to end. Followed by my 1st wall hanger in 2005 and thinking that somehow it was tied to my grandpa looking down on me and watching over me wherever I go in the woods.
As time went on I started becoming more of a student of hunting and doing more research away from the woods. I’m not talking about just picking up a book and reading about how somebody shot a particular buck. I’m talking about taking several hours and days of time to understand bedding and feeding areas, along with transition zones. (All of this was done by aerial photos) Once I had a plan in place I would sit for hours on end before season from the highest trees I could find in the area I was hunting and glass deer movement during the evening from a half-mile or more away. I truly feel the time I’ve spent glassing deer before and during season it the biggest asset to shooting the better bucks in my area. Of course it doesn’t hurt to have a camera or 2 up on the property to confirm a big buck is around.
Then 2007 rolled around and I shoot a buck bigger then I even thought possible…. yep, you guessed it, on my home hunting grounds. At the time, shooting the MONSTER put me over the top and made me realize that life is short and I need to slow things down and make the most of it.
That lasted for about 10 months and then on Sept 4, 2008 a good friend passed away at the age of 36. He had been battling cancer for almost 3 years and it finally got the best of him. His passing changed my life forever and made me realize that life is a celebration and to take a few chances and risks in life. There hasn’t been a day that I don’t think about him and wish I could spend one more day in the woods with him. He actually was the 1st person that I invited to hunt on the property with me.
The 2009 & 2010 deer seasons were phenomenal. I was asked to join a hunting group in Buffalo County, WI with a few other IDO’ers…. but, that’s a whole different story.
Which brings me to this year and the changes that are taking place in my life and how I’m growing as an individual. One of the hardest decisions I ever made was to start working for myself. I gave up a great job and security to head a different direction in my life. With the support of my wife, I went for it and I’m not looking back. Along with this decision, I had to tell the guys in the hunting group I was opting out of BC this fall. Which, turned out to be a very good decision because my wife and I were planning to try and get pregnant this year. Who knew that it was going to happen on the very 1st try, unlucky for me? So, this December my wife and I are expecting our 1st child and pray that he’s (that’s right, he) healthy. Hopefully we will have a little outdoorsmen on our hands.
Which brings me to Crabby.
I know for sure that Crabby showed up last year, maybe the year before but it’s too hard to tell which 1.5 yr old buck he is? I have included pics from 2.5 yrs old to show how much he’s grown in the last year. The funny thing with Crabby is that I didn’t think he would amount to much and thought I may have a Cull buck on my hands. Well, he blew up since last year and most have grown 80” or more.
I didn’t get one daytime pic of Crabby last year but for some reason in the week before opener this year he showed himself during shooting hours. So, I studied all 66 pics from the past 2 years and figured he was bedding on the neighbors property or in the corn and determined that he was basically making a huge figure 8 and if I sat where it crossed that eventually he would walk past. So, I put my stand up on Monday evening and sat there 3 nights in a row. I had already made up my mind that I was going to sit in this spot as much as possible for the 1st 7-10 days of season. I wanted to catch him early and off guard. Well, as you can see, I ended up shooting him at 25 yards on 9/21/11. He weighed in at 189 lbs and Gross Scored 139 3/8” and will Net in the 131-132” area. Crabby must have known that my wife and I are expecting and made it easy on me for when it comes time to get more things done around the house this fall in preparation for the little guy.
Anyway, throughout this whole roller coaster of a ride we call life? One of the main stays I have in my life is my home hunting area. I can’t count the times or hours that I have spent out there. The spot that I hunt has always been there for me. The land doesn’t judge me, it feels me, and understands my moods. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is. I can go out there in the spring time and chase turkeys, I can fish for Smallmouth bass off the river banks, I can till the land and plant seed for food plots, I can plant trees and think about tree lines 10-15 year from now, I can pretty much let my mind free of all worry and get peace of mind by sitting there.
Back when I started hunting all I cared about was shooting a big buck. Now that I’ve accomplished this several times my objectives have clearly changed. It’s time to move on and give back, it’s time to take on added responsibility, and it’s time to appreciate what I do have in life and not worry about what I don’t.
Crabby, I have taken everything from you and I cannot replace it. Your harvest is a celebration and will be talked about for years to come with friends and family.
I also want to give a shout out to Randy & Charles for helping me out with the recovery, taking pics, etc…. I really appreciate the help and was pumped that I was able to share this memory with you.
I have to finish by saying thanks to the most important person in the world to me…. my wife. Amber I love you and have since the day we met. I can’t wait to share our next phase in life together. I know you will be a wonderful mother.
Good Hunting,
Gobbler
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