Has anyone heard of the term “Shanks”? It is not a virus or disease; it is just a mental state that we are in that has to do with concentration and focus. Do you remember the movie “Tin Cup”, and the mental brick wall that Kevin Costner had to break down to get back in his golf game? Well, I would have to say that I had a case of the “Shanks” this year and I will share that with you.
It all starts out on the 2009 opener of Archery season in Oregon. My good buddy Marcus and I had made plans to go and spot and stalk Mule Deer. We did the scouting and preparation for the up coming season. We had made plans on were to go and pre-planned our video strategies. The opener had arrived and we were looking for bucks at daylight. We found some bucks and I am sure that you all have read the story on Marc’s deer hunt but I will fill you in on some details that really are not seen in the back ground. I was the camera man. I take a lot of pride in videoing someone and try to do the best that anyone can do. Well to make a long story short, I accidentally hit the record button to off in the heat of the moment, and missed the kill shot. After that I knew that I was coming down with a case of the Shanks.
Now the Shanks just did not hit hard until I missed about a 180 class mule buck and then a very cool non-typical bull at 6 feet (which we did get on video) and then one of the largest 3 points that I have ever seen in my life at 40 yards down hill. After missing the big 3 point, I checked my forehead and yup—it was full blown Shanks.
I am sure that most of you have read my deer hunting story on the Blacks Creek website. When I got in on that buck, I thought that maybe I was cured and I had gotten all of my confidence back. I was back in the game. Nope, I still had them.
I then hunted with some buddies that came to Oregon to hunt elk. We hunted hard for 5 days and my buddy Allan was able to kill a great 5x5 bull that I called in. This bull came in screaming like crazy and it was the perfect call in that we all dream of for elk. The next couple of days proved that I still had the shanks. I called in a bull to about 10 feet and muffed that one all up and then called in about 310 to 315 bull and muffed that one too.
We are now down to the last couple of days that I could hunt. This is the rest of the story.
I had heard of some elk not to far from my home in the desert country that were living in an area that I had hunted before for several years with buddies that had late elk tags. I went to a very tall butte that I could glass from and see lots of country. I was there for some time but I was able to locate a herd of elk bedded on a long ridge that ran down into a deep canyon. I watched the elk for some time and tried to figure out my best plan of attack to get a shot. There was a nice 6x6 bull in the herd and I really wanted to try for him. I called Marcus from my cell phone and told him to wish me luck by rubbing his Buddha belly, patting the top of his head and jumping up and down on one leg. He had to do this all at the same time or it would not work. I bet he looked goofy getting up from his couch at home and doing this in front of the wife and kids.
I began my stalk toward the bedded herd of elk. I moved with caution do to the fact that the tallest piece of sage was about 16 inches tall. At some points I think that a rattler would be taller than I was. I kept on moving and watching. I was able to close the distance to around 60 yards and I could see the tops of his antlers and I could see the cows surrounding him. As I was stalking, the bull would bugle now and then. I got into position and began to call. I like to use really soft cow or calf sounds. The cows heard the calling and began to get up. I could see the bull’s antlers moving back and for and he began to bugle more and more. I could see the antlers begin to rock back and forth as he stood up to see what was going on. This is were it was going to work or they were going to spook and change zip codes. After about 5 or 10 minutes, the cows became curious and the bull still hung back from the herd. Now my heart was going to beet out of my chest because I am thinking that the cows are going to bust me. I give credit to my Max 1 Real tree camo. Those cows seemed to see passed me and never focused in on me. As the cows came closer, so did the bull. I finally had him at 44 yards and he was broadside. I drew my bow so perfectly with out being noticed and settled the pin of my Red Zone sight on the bull’s chest. I touched my release and the Easton arrow tipped with a Muzzy flew true and so perfectly---- right underneath the bull. The elk then spooked of course and ran to my right. I thought to my self, how can you miss a dinner table like that. The good lord put one in my lap and I choked once more. I knocked another arrow and cow called once. I stopped the bull before going over the ridge at 51 yards and shoved an Easton arrow right into the pump station of the bull and he took off like no tomorrow. Now I had taken my shoes off and I was in my stalking socks, so it was a little hard move quickly through the rocks. I took about 20 steps, which was like walking on shards broken glass and looked to see what direction the bull was going. All of a sudden, this dude comes running back towards me and piles up about 20 feet away. My arms went into the air, I thanked the lord for my success, checked my forehead and the Shanks were gone.
Thanks to all that support me and most important, my family and friends.
Oregon 2009 Archery Mule Deer
As the sun came up over the rock and juniper covered ridges of eastern Oregon, life in the desert began to awake for the day. A burn from a fire 2 years prior had taken all of the sage and juniper pockets and transformed them into deep waist high grassy draws and new growth brought the true life out in this country. I could feel the crisp crack of fall in the air. It was a beautiful morning and I immediately started to see game getting that last little bit of nourishment before bedding down for the day. As I glassed an area that I hunted the day before and missed a smoker 3 point that would make anybody’s jaw drop, I saw a small herd of elk moving out threw the old burn.
I had glassed for about an hour and had to get up for a moment and stretch my legs. I walked over to my left and to look down another small drainage and saw a really good buck below me feeding. I moved slowly forward to get a better look and it was the 5x6 that I had seen the day before with the 3 point. I looked for other deer and all that was with him was a small noodle neck 2 point. I looked for the big 3 point and he was not there. I am sure that from the day before, that buck surely lives in another town with a different zip code or he could be orbiting the moon as we speak. I did see a pretty blue flame coming out of his butt as he took off.
I watched the buck for a few more minutes and began picking out areas to stalk this buck. Wondering if I could cut some distance and get in front of him while he was still up feeding, I grabbed my bow and Blacks Creek All American day pack and away I went.
I was able to cut the distance to more than half and began to move with the buck. I finally got into a position that I could see were he wanted to lay his head for the day. Sure enough and as luck would have it, the buck came up the same little cut drainage that I was in and bedded below an old burnt juniper tree about 75 yards below me.
I quietly slipped off my Zamberlans and put my heavy wool stalking socks on. I knocked an Easton arrow tipped with a MX3 Muzzy 100 grain and was in route to make a Muzzy moment. I was so locked, cocked and ready to rock that my legs began to move like Elvis Pressley singing Jail House Rock.
The yards began to minus in distance and I was getting closer, and closer as I crab walked down a wide open slope to this awesome deer. I was able to get into shooting position and made my self ready to let the air out of his wind bags. I drew my bow and settled the 20 yard pin just a little high of my spot and gave a small kissing sound to get the buck to stand. The buck stood and presented a perfect broadside shot. As I touched the trigger to my release, I could see the arrow go and was flying in slow motion and true as an eagle in flight. The Easton hit its true mark and took out the fuel lines to his engine. Now we all know that motors do not run with out fuel and his engine immediately began to sputter.
The buck went about 150 yards at a dead run down the canyon and died and then proceeded to roll all the way to the bottom of the canyon. I was on my knees praying that he would stop and not go all the way down to the bottom and our good lord told me that when he gets to the bottom he will stop.
I walked down the canyon and walked up to my buck and I was jacked. He was everything that I set my goal for this year plus having some extras.
I want to thank my wife and kids for being so supportive of my madness for the outdoors and to thank all of our sponsors at Blacks Creek for helping me out with the equipment that is needed to be successful. God Bless, my hats off to all of you.
