1.) bluecat - 10/11/2016

Climbed in my treestand around 4:30 on Saturday. Temperature around 70.
After sun set with about 15 minutes of light left. I look to my left and see a cornstalk moving back and forth. Intrigued I kept watching as there was no breeze. Soon I saw a small fawn moving through the uncut corn. I watched and about 5 minutes later I see a couple of larger does milling around. They were around 20 yards away with no possible shot directly behind me. I was content to watch the show. I then see some white walking down the corn rows at the does. He grunts. He doesn't appear to be a big deer so I'm happy to continue to watch. Soon one of the adult does walk out in front of me and I realize she is large. It is so difficult to judge a deer's size in uncut corn. I know that she is a shooter and ready for the shot. I begin to draw and just as I'm drawing back. He rushes out of the corn and rushes directly at her. She bolts and runs down the path between the pond and the corn directly away from me. He is right behind her. Thanks buddy. He then drops his head, turns around and puts his nose to the ground. As he is retracing her steps, I can see his antlers are beyond his ears so I know he is much bigger than I gave him credit for. He then comes all the way back and turns to cross in front of me at 15 yards. At this point I realize he is a large deer.

I draw silently, settle and let 'er go. I thought everything felt good. He jumps, and runs 10 yards and stands there looking around trying to figure out what just happened. I watched his side as he ran and thought I saw a small spot on the entry side. As he is standing there bewildered, I realize this might be a good time to get arrow number 2 in him. As I reach for the arrow, I see his knees buckle and hear him gurgling. He collapses and is done.

He was a big deer and all I could do to flip him over and haul out the meat after processing.



Reference Photo: Coincidentally, this is the same route that Jordy Nelson runs with the Packers.


Entry



Exit

2.) bluecat - 10/11/2016

Took out most of the lungs and went through the top of the heart.

3.) Jon - 10/11/2016

Perfect shot, he's a fatty! Congrats, glad he dropped in sight.

4.) bluecat - 10/11/2016

Thanks, wish they were all were like that.

5.) DParker - 10/11/2016

Awesome! You [I]did[/I] keep the liver for pâté...didn't you?

6.) bluecat - 10/11/2016

Of course, and the heart so I can creep out my family.

7.) Swamp Fox - 10/11/2016

Congrats!

I always take the heart when I can, and have a couple of guys who save them for me. One year I asked a processor to save some for me if he thought of it, and ...SCORE! I have to try that again, but I need an excuse to go by and see him--maybe a dead deer :tap:--or it will look like I'm mooching....LOL...


I'd like to like deer liver, but mostly I don't. I do think it depends on the liver, though (apart from the standard warning not to overcook). I've had a few that were quite good, but they're the minority.

There's a recipe I found a few years ago that I thought would be great for a lunch-type meal--Maybe a sandwich? I think that's what I was going for. I don't remember-- but it was only middling and it depended too much on the individual liver and/or how well I cooked it. However, I haven't completely given up on it.

If I come across it, maybe I'll pass it along and let y'all have a go at it and let me know what happens. :-)

8.) DParker - 10/11/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;44659]I'd like to like deer liver, but mostly I don't. I do think it depends on the liver, though (apart from the standard warning not to overcook). I've had a few that were quite good, but they're the minority.[/QUOTE]

That's the thing. I [I]despise[/I] ungulate liver (beef, venison, elk, whatever) in general....except when it's made into pâté, then it's delicious. It's a transformation that borders on magic.

9.) Swamp Fox - 10/11/2016

I guess I'd be open to seeing what's involved in trying a pate...But I have to warn you homey don't eat guacamole or artichoke dip and other stuff of that texture, so if we're headed in that direction, save your ink...LOL

10.) DParker - 10/11/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;44664]But I have to warn you homey don't eat guacamole or artichoke dip and other stuff of that texture...[/QUOTE]

After you chill it a little it has a very firm texture. Nothing like a soft dip. You really need to use a butter knife to scoop some up and put it on a cracker.

As for not eating guacamole..to quote the great Tammy Pescatelli....


"What the hell is wrong with you?"

11.) Swamp Fox - 10/11/2016

[video]https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2015-07/7/2/enhanced/webdr09/anigif_enhanced-16553-1436250431-2.gif?output-format=mp4[/video]





[I][B]Mushy green poop. No thanks. [/B][/I]



[url]https://www.buzzfeed.com/jemimaskelley/mushy-green-poop?utm_term=.yoxYodKdX#.xmEr9LxL4[/url]

12.) bluecat - 10/11/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;44664]I guess I'd be open to seeing what's involved in trying a pate...But I have to warn you homey don't eat guacamole or artichoke dip and other stuff of that texture, so if we're headed in that direction, save your ink...LOL[/QUOTE]

mega dittos :wink

13.) bluecat - 10/11/2016

[QUOTE=DParker;44655]Awesome! You [I]did[/I] keep the liver for pâté...didn't you?[/QUOTE]

Never had it. Is it like liverwurst?

14.) Swamp Fox - 10/11/2016

I like liverwurst. I approach liver in a defensive crouch, prepared to judy-chop...

15.) DParker - 10/11/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;44673]Never had it. Is it like liverwurst?[/QUOTE]

I haven't had liverwurst since I was a little kid, and don't remember what it tastes like...so we appear to be at an impasse. But given the ingredients, some similarity between the two wouldn't surprise me. The most important thing to remember about the pâté recipe I use is moderation. Between the liver itself and the metric ton of butter that goes into it there's enough fat and cholesterol to clog the arteries of 20 healthy men...or 3 Cajuns.

16.) Swamp Fox - 10/11/2016

I think I might have had liver pate one time. I don't remember the circumstances, but I'm guessing it was fancy and it was supposed to be good, socially acceptable, and intended to keep me from asking the waiter if they had any Vienna sausage back in the kitchen, by any chance.

Let's just say if I really did have some and am not just dreaming this up, I've never sought it out again.

But again, I'm open to mashing something up that I would ordinarily ruin in a frying pan or leave on the ground for the possums, depending on my mood that day.

So bring on the recipe...:grin:

17.) DParker - 10/11/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;44679]So bring on the recipe...:grin:[/QUOTE]

It's in a book at home, so I'll have to transcribe it when I get a chance.

18.) Bob Peck - 10/11/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;44648]He was a big deer and all I could do to flip him over and haul out the meat after processing.


Reference Photo: Coincidentally, this is the same route that Jordy Nelson runs with the Packers.

[/QUOTE]

Nice story Bluecat. Really hefty looking deer. Thanks for posting. The Jordy Nelson line cracked me up!

19.) bluecat - 10/11/2016

[QUOTE=DParker;44663]That's the thing. I [I]despise[/I] ungulate liver (beef, venison, elk, whatever) in general....except when it's made into pâté, then it's delicious. It's a transformation that borders on magic.[/QUOTE]

When was the last time you typed ungulate? Where is Luv2 when we need him? Don't answer that.

20.) luv2bowhunt - 10/11/2016

Congrats on a very nice buck bluecat!!

Looks like a perfect shot, Aaron Rodgers couldn't have put it in there any better.

21.) Hunter - 10/11/2016

Way to go, BC!!!

22.) BULLZ-i - 10/11/2016

at·ta·boy
ˈatəˌboi/
exclamation
exclamation: atta-boy

1.
an informal expression of encouragement or admiration, typically to a man or boy.

noun
noun: atta-boy

1.
a piece of encouragement or congratulations, especially a letter.
"our boss will write you guys an attaboy"

23.) Triton Rich - 10/12/2016

[B]Congrats Bluecat! What a shot![/B]

24.) bluecat - 10/12/2016

Thanks guys.



btw,

This is not a grapevine. Put my stand up 3 weeks ago and noticed a vine wrapping around the tree. Didn't give it much thought until I noticed that it interfered with the chain on my stand. So as I'm hugging it and cutting into it, I noticed the familiar "leaves of three".

Been fighting the effects for 3 weeks now. Almost made it through the night last night without having to put on more Benadryl and Calamine.

Most people think that our state tree is the cottonwood but actually it is the poison ivy tree.

25.) Jon - 10/12/2016

LOL, I've done that a few times, have scars on my arms to show for it too. I never had poison anything before getting it from that exact vine.

26.) DParker - 10/12/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;44717]So as I'm hugging it and cutting into it...[/QUOTE]

Vine hugger.

27.) bluecat - 10/12/2016

agave drinker

28.) Swamp Fox - 10/12/2016

I don't know if there are many other hairy vines out there, but poison ivy is one of them and I avoid all of them. That way you don't need to actually see the leaves. :-) Hair on a vine is just not right. :wink

They say that the icky stuff is dormant in the winter, and/or that it's the leaves not the vine that has the toxin, and I've never gotten a case of poison ivy in the winter that I can think of, though it's on a few of the trees I've hung stands in. I'm not gonna vouch for the science, but now I've said it...You fellas are on your own...LOL

The good news is now there's a possibility that you've built up some resistance for the next time. :p

29.) bluecat - 10/12/2016

LOL! gotcha. Never thought about it but it's in the memory banks now. Hair on vine, not good.

30.) Triton Rich - 10/13/2016

[B]I had no idea that crap existed until I ran into some hanging a stand. I hope you do better than I did. If it's been 3 weeks and it isn't getting much better, go see the doc and get some steroids. I can't get rid of the stuff without them. [/B]

31.) luv2bowhunt - 10/13/2016

I learned a long time ago to avoid the fuzzy vines. If I cut through one like bc did I would look like the elephant man. I get covered up in the stuff. I've even gotten it in the winter time. I was around a bonfire one time where someone was throwing wood with poison ivy vines into the fire and I didn't know it.

That was the worst I ever got it, my face was completely covered for days just from the smoke.

32.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2016

I just looked around on the webnet and the toxin is apparently a hazard in all parts of the plant, including the vine, and everyone says that there's no relief in winter. Poison ivy does go dormant or semi-dormant, depending on where you're reading, but that doesn't mean you're not going to get a rash, apparently.

I think you dodged a bullet with the bonfire, Luv2. I've always heard burning bad stuff like poison ivy can get toxins and irritants into your lungs.

[I]
"That can't be good." [/I]

33.) luv2bowhunt - 10/13/2016

When I was a kid we lived on toxins and irritants.......and we were thankful for it.

Not like these ungrateful, spoiled rotten, everybody is a hero, where's my new IPhone, kids of today.

34.) bluecat - 10/13/2016

[QUOTE=luv2bowhunt;44792]When I was a kid we lived on toxins and irritants.......and we were thankful for it.

Not like these ungrateful, spoiled rotten, everybody is a hero, where's my new IPhone, kids of today.[/QUOTE]

Luv2, that was funny. Now get back to work.

35.) Swamp Fox - 10/13/2016

LOL, Luv2...

+3

36.) bluecat - 10/13/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;44791]I just looked around on the webnet and the toxin is apparently a hazard in all parts of the plant, including the vine, and everyone says that there's no relief in winter. Poison ivy does go dormant or semi-dormant, depending on where you're reading, but that doesn't mean you're not going to get a rash, apparently.

I think you dodged a bullet with the bonfire, Luv2. I've always heard burning bad stuff like poison ivy can get toxins and irritants into your lungs.

[I]
"That can't be good." [/I][/QUOTE]

37.) bluecat - 10/13/2016

LOL!