Sunday October 29, 2006

 

 

Archery Hunting

October 21-28 – Mount Vernon, IL

 

Cerwin, our son Jeff, and son-in-law Ivan arrived at Wishing Well Bowhunting late afternoon on October 21.

 

They agreed that they had been to fancier hunting lodges, but the outfitters, area, and food was super. 

(They knew their living quarters weren’t going to be fancy, but liked the price better than those with high class lodges.)

 

After arriving they got acquainted with the area.

 

Rod, one of the outfitters, gave them an interesting ride around some of the 3,000 acres of soybeans, corn, and woodland on which they have hunting rights.

 

Cerwin took this self portrait while in a stand.

  They have lots of tree stands (Cerwin thought about 100) and provide comfortable cushion seats.

He said a highlight of the week was having a four point buck walk right under his stand the first night.  He didn’t shoot, because he knew there were larger racks in the area.

Later he wished he had shot at it, because it turned out to be his best opportunity.  He missed a doe and a buck on Thursday evening.  He said the buck was not a great shot, but he was surprised that his arrow missed the doe.

 

Jeff was the only one who connected with a deer, when he got a doe on Wednesday night.

 

This one scored 188 at Pope and Young.

Bob, the other outfitter, took the guys to his house.  Each one was a local deer – and all are listed with Pope and Young.

 

 

 

They also went to a local archery shop and checked out more local mounts.

 

Two sisters – friends of the outfitters – took excellent care of their food needs.

 

They even brought a cake for Jeff’s 42nd birthday.

 

  

Thursday morning was rainy, so Ivan demonstrates how they spent the morning and early afternoon – watching TV and playing Golf (a card game).

 

The wind storm yesterday provided some interesting cloud formations on the way home.

Though they only brought one deer home, they were pleased with the outfitters and area, and plan to go back in two or three years.  Each one had opportunity to see a large buck, but none were close enough for bow and arrow.

 

Jeff donated his meat to us, and came over this afternoon to cut the backstrap into filets for grilling.  The rest will go into sweet bologna. 

(He shot a local doe with bow and arrow, and expects that he, his wife, and two sons will have more venison in a few weeks when they can hunt with guns.)