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Old May 5, 2020, 04:57 PM   #1
stagpanther
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I finally tagged out!

Many of you probably already know I'm not an especially good hunter--possibly the world's worst. However today my luck finally changed for the better after years of preparation finally paid off.

I spotted this fence post not far from my house several years ago while searching the woods for my compass which I dropped someplace. It was a beauty, and I decided to scout for it in the off-season and pattern it's behavior. I eventually discovered that fence posts are creatures of habit--remarkably I found this one in almost exactly the same spot year after year. Recently my state lifted it's ban on crossbow hunting during archery season--so I felt even though I was rusty I might stand a good chance of putting this bruiser down.

I got up early this morning so I could be out in the woods early--it's spring clean up time and many people are burning blow-down and leaves left over from the winter, I didn't want my chances spoiled. It seemed like forever to crawl my downwind approach to the area where I last saw this fence post--but luck was with me--there he was in almost the same spot.

I very slowly raised my bow and the fence post didn't show any signs of knowing anything else was there, even when I accidentally sneezed and farted at the same time.

But just as I was about to pull the trigger a red squirrel sounded the alarm and the fence post took off on a dead run. I knew it was a risky shot, quartering from the rear, but after calculating the hold-over and lead I let the bolt fly. I struck him just above his rear leg and he went down after maybe another 100 yds or so--he left a good sap trail that was easy to follow.

He measures 4 x 4 and weighs about 20 lbs. I still haven't made up my mind how to process or cook him.



PS: BTW--I have no idea how to get that bolt out.
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Old May 5, 2020, 05:01 PM   #2
2wheelwander
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Post of the week. Right here!
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Old May 5, 2020, 05:36 PM   #3
stagpanther
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Once again my luck held out--I was able to retrieve the bolt after preparing to gut him.

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Old May 5, 2020, 07:09 PM   #4
sako2
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Congrats. Are you going to have him mounted?
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Old May 5, 2020, 07:11 PM   #5
std7mag
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I read the title, and was imagining you, face down, with your g/f on your back with you face pressed to the floor and your arm twisted behind your back.
All the whilst, your frantically smacking the floor.

Well, after the autopsy, how was the terminal ballistics of your bolt?
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Old May 5, 2020, 08:36 PM   #6
stagpanther
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Quote:
Well, after the autopsy, how was the terminal ballistics of your bolt?
The lightweight carbons don't shoot nearly as well as the heavier aluminum shaft ones--but my crossbow is about the equivalent of a Hawkins blackpowder rifle compared to today's modern crossbows that look like Klingon warbirds.
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Old May 5, 2020, 08:40 PM   #7
stagpanther
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Quote:
Congrats. Are you going to have him mounted?
Thank you. I might just have to mount him--my trophy wall is still bare.
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Old May 5, 2020, 08:56 PM   #8
kenny53
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That has to be one of the finest fence post I have ever seen taken. Would you score that Pope and Young? Anyways congrats.
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Old May 5, 2020, 09:28 PM   #9
Scorch
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Quote:
even when I accidentally sneezed and farted at the same time
I thought that was called a buck grunt.
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Old May 6, 2020, 12:47 AM   #10
stagpanther
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Thanks guys, I didn't mean to brag or make you feel jealous, but you know it's been a long time coming.
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Old May 6, 2020, 09:22 AM   #11
bamaranger
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fence post facts

Congrats on a fine trophy. Your post is a male, typically called a "one point" or a single horned spike.

Funny post.....well done.
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Old May 11, 2020, 11:24 AM   #12
stagpanther
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Yes--a one poster--but it meets the 3" minimum, so it's legal.
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Old May 11, 2020, 11:50 AM   #13
CarJunkieLS1
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Thanks for the laugh! I needed that. And in my neck of the woods we call a sneeze and fart at the same time a Snart.
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Old May 11, 2020, 03:42 PM   #14
Prof Young
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Good shooting . . . .

Good shooting. Reminds me a lot of my own. Are the permits for those things hard to acquire?

Life is good.
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