Here is your chance to win one of five Hunter Hills Journals. Just tell Women’s Outdoor News about your favorite or most memorable hunt in 2011.
Hunter Hills Journals are 100 percent handmade top grain leather journals with acid-free, hand-torn pages that are sewn in by hand. The pages are pre-printed and formatted for journaling fishing and hunting trips with harvest records and photos.
The journals are available in six sizes: lodge journal, camp journal, field journal, photo journal, military journal and a large and small writing journal size; several formats available with photo sleeves. The journals are customized specifically for big game hunting, whitetail hunting, African hunting journal, waterfowl/upland bird hunting, fly-fishing, saltwater fishing and other journals of interest to outdoor lovers.
Hunter Hills Journals are unique journals that make perfect keepsakes and memory books that can be handed down for generations.
Deadline is Jan. 1, 2012.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE OR MOST MEMORABLE HUNT IN 2011?
Nancy Jo Adams, aka Guru Huntress, uses her Hunter Hills journals to record her adventures afield. Photo by Life in Camo.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
My most memorable hunt for 2011 would have to be back in September when my daughter killed her first two hogs and I ended up killing one as well. We had just come back from Gator hunting in Florida and we were still on a hunting high, full of go get em kinda attitdude. Amber had to go to school and i had work to get done, but as soon as that school bell rung, we were on our way to kill a hog. I felt really good about if I could get her there before dark, then I felt like she would finally kill one. I was so excited about the hunt that i was speeding all the way to the land we were hunting. As we hit River Road, Amber told me to slow down, because of the speed limit. I told her I felt like them hogs would be in that field, and she said well hurry up, we both laughed. We got there and slipped around the field on hank, the huntve and slipped right up on a small group of hogs. Amber took aim, shot and they ran, and stopped, then she picked out another one and knocked it down. We thought she had missed the first time but when we got over to the hogs, there were two on the ground. I was one happy mama. We went on around the field to go back to the truck and there were three more hogs out in the field. It was mama’s turn. I took aim and knocked me a hog down. we loaded up all three hogs and headed for the lodge. It was an awsome feeling to be able to share such an exciting hunt with my daughter and some friends. It all really happened pretty quick, we had 3 hogs in the truck within 30 minutes of us getting to the land. what lasted only minutes on our hunt will last forever in our memories. it will truely be a story to share for years to come.
This year marks the beginning of my hunting career. That being said, I have but one memory to choose from which will forever be my most memorable and favorite. At almost 30 years of age, I have grown up in south Florida learning to love the water. It wasn’t until this year that I was introduced to the thrill of bow hunting. I purchased my first bow, after what seemed like forever listening to my boyfriend’s hunting stories and reading up on techniques from experts. We headed off to Albany Georgia to test the “bow hunting” waters.
I wasted no time getting up in the tree stand eager, of course, to get my first kill and especially to show my boyfriend that I could do it. I didn’t care what I shot at this point, just as long as I hit my target! I waited and waited and waited, not knowing at all what to expect. I stood there all alone with nothing but a bow and the few arrows I hadn’t lost earlier during target practice. As the sun was just about to call it a day, and so was I, two tiny white hooves peaked out at me about 30 yards from my stand! I couldn’t believe it. My heart stopped for a moment and I thought, oh my gosh this is it! I slowly turned around to face my buck. I wanted him to come about five yards closer where I knew I could make a kill. I began to draw back my bow and BAM! I hit a wall! Every bit of strength had left my arms feeling like spaghetti! I forced myself to keep pulling finally getting my bow drawn. I let that arrow fly so fast I didn’t have time to think to hesitate. Bull’s-eye! The little four point buck dropped to his knees and started flopping around like a fish! Not knowing any better, I let my second and third arrow fly, certain that my first buck wasn’t gonna run! To my boyfriend’s complete surprise, and mine too, I had killed my first buck and the only kill between us so far this season!
I learned a lot that day and continue to learn a lot as I read up on WON articles. I started a hunting journal to monitor my progress and hope to transfer those entries to a new Hunter Hills journal in the future! Unfortunately season in south Florida ends January 1st. As we speak, my boyfriend is in a stand trying to even out the score. I’m so excited to see what my future hunting experience holds in store for me.
I just gotta! 🙂
I live for Turkey Season! This year, however, was one of the wettest we’ve had. Every morning when I woke up in the wee hours to get ready it seemed like it was raining, and if it wasn’t raining then, it would start just after you arrived to your hunting spot.
Ohio gives you nearly a month to chase the red, white & blue headed birds, and boy did my dad and I chase! We had a couple close encounters, but nothing really heart pounding and we soon found ourselves nearing the end of the 2011 season.
We had hunted the same trio of gobbly birds off and on all season and as it got down to the wire, my dad said he didn’t want to mess with them anymore. It was another rainy morning and I told him that those birds were our best chance so that’s where we went.
We snuck in and when the gobblers sounded off, 2 were to the left of us and 1 was to the right of us – they were split up so this could be really good or bad that we were in the middle of them. Our position also put us in the strut zone.
I laid on the calling, soft at first and the 2 far gobblers started coming closer. THen the single gobbler flew down and went right to his 2 buddies. They weren’t far, but they weren’t coming closer either and soon we thought they were headed away. I cranked the calling up and it was enough to fire them back up and make them curious enough to come looking for a hen.
There was a slight hill where we were sitting, and all of a sudden a trio of red heads crested it! I was ready, but I wasn’t about to take a shot at just the top half of a head and beak. They sunk back down over the hill and started going away.
I thought it was over. My dad whispered over to call as hard and loud as I could, so I did.
They fired up again and edged closer, this time away from the hill and in full view. One crossed a clear lane, but I didn’t get my gun on him fast enough. That same gobbler turned around to walk back through the opening and I was ready. Finally, something went BOOM and it wasn’t thunder!! I was wet, but I was happy!
You just gotta do what you gotta do….and that means just about anything in my book when it comes to hunting turkeys. Great story, Laura….good luck.
Opening day of pheasant in Kansas. My husband and I, our two sons 9 & 13, my brother-in-law and his girlfriend all went together. It was his girlfriend’s first hunt and our families first hunt with all of us together. We were hunting one of our pointer puppies, Tank, in a huge corn field. We hadn’t seen anything all day and the boys were begining to get frustrated. Tank was so excited it took that pup running ten full miles before he could slow down enough to smell the birds (we know this because we hunt with GPS collars on the dogs). Once he ran off a little steam he started pointing. The first point produced 5 birds in one flush. My oldest son got a double on that flush (that nobody else was able to do) and my brother-in-law’s girlfriend brought down her first bird. We took a total of 9 birds off that field. The pup ran 21 miles in that one field, and didn’t want to quit. He’s gong to be an awesome hunting dog when he grows up a little. What a great activity to be able to get the family outside, gone from home for the weekend, no other distractions, just being together. How many other activities can a family do together, outside, with the dogs and bring home delicious wild pheasant!
Congratulations on such an awesome hunt. I love that you share the outdoors with your family…..and pets. Good luck.
I would have to say that my favorite and most memorable hunt for 2011 was the quail shoot in November that my husband and I took to follow through on a promise we made to each other a year ago. We have been hunting/fishing together for many years and when the children left the nest we were going to spend more time outdoors with each other. And the best of this years adventures was a road trip from Texas to Southern Mississippi to a beautiful quail plantation. The elegant lodges were set among Longleaf and Loblolly pines and surrounded three gorgeous ponds with wild, but resident Mallards settling in. Our every comfort was quietly and deliciously taken into account an no detail in rustic decor left out. We had a morning and afternoon shoot over pointers and a setter for bobwhite, tennesee reds and a pheasant or two. Each morning as we rose early to try our fly rods on the ponds-we found our fire place crackling in the living room and the smell of fresh coffee already brewing. Each dusk we again tried to out-fish one another as we had also tried to out-shoot the other in friendly competition with our .410’s. To finish off our evening dinners with a stroll around the acreage & ponds under the moonlight only completed the picture.
It was extravagant and a splurge, but as we dine on our quail & pheasant at home by our own fireplace we tell ourselves that promises are worth keeping and I look forward to our hunts together in 2012 just as I have every year for 36 years.
Outstanding that you hunt as a family. Thank you for sharing your story. Good luck.
Most memorable hunt of 2011 is hard since I LOVE them all. However my Bear taken with my bow in Idaho withTable Mountain Outfitters tops the list! A great hunt, a trophy bear and new friend Angie Denny was gained. What fun beholds us for 2012 – I’m not sure but I can’t wait to find out!!!
Congratulations on the successful bear harvest, Teri. Thanks for sharing your story. Good luck.
We arrived in Florida to temperatures in the low 40’s, not a great time to start a hunt for alligators with Deep South Outdoors. The first night was to cold to even consider going out, but Capt. Billy was able to help fill our time with bow fishing for mullet. The next evening was my chance to hunt. After a short boat ride and instruction on the crossbow and what was to come, Capt. Billy started calling and spot lighting, and immediately we were rewarded with big splashing not far from our location. This alligator was rushing to the boat very aggressively. When the gator was only a few feet from the boat Capt. Billy told me to shoot. I pulled the trigger and thought I had missed! There was no splashing, just quiet. Then Kenny started yelling “she spined it!”. There laid my alligator right where I had shot it. I finished it off with a bang stick and helped tape the mouth and rear legs. This portion of my hunt from the start of calling to pulling it into the boat was about 3 minutes, a very intense adrenaline packed 3 minutes!
Congratulations on your successful gator hunt, Diane. I have hunted in the past with Deep South Outdoors and have always had great success. Outstanding outfitter. Thank you for sharing your story and good luck to you.
Getting my first rack-buck in Texas with my husband! 14-pt non-typical!
Mine was when I shot my biggest buck during archery season 20011…I was hunting a new stand and it was opening day….never hunted this area before..It was a beautiful day on Sept 15, 2011..the wind was perfect,with just a chill in the air..it was plenty light out still, so I was not even thinking the deer would be moving so early , it was around 5:30 when I heard something jump the fence…WOW! It was a 10 point buck in full velvet…I couldn’t believe my eyes,I have never seen a buck in velvet hunting, never,he was right in front of my stand,I grab my bow and now he was already about to jump the second fence and start feeding in the beans…he was walking out of my sight and range, so I quickly made a noise something like a fawn bleep.He stopped and tried to find the doe…I froze with bow in hand, then he did the unthinkable… he walked right back to me about 25 yards and started eating the beans..A perfect broadside shot, and I let my arrow fly…I was so excited. it was a complete pass thru…I called my husband that was hunting on the next hill over by a pond, and to,d him I just shot the biggest buck of my life and he was in velvet….He told me to stay put he would come over and help me track…We started tracking about 40 min after I shot him…He went along way…then we jumped him..My husband said, He is HUGE!!!! We need to back out, and give him time…and thats what we did.. But I was worried the yotees would get him, So.the next morning, we went to the spot we jumped him and found blood and began to trail him once again…he wasn’t far, less than 50 yards away from where we last saw him.. and no yotees got him…I would have to say, I did the HAPPY dance in the woods…we had to be so careful, that we didn’t mess up his velvet…so the drag was long and hard…but we did it, and he is being mounted as we speak….I shot it with my Hoyt , Vicxen…a Birthday present from my husband that summer…This had to be one of my better all time hunting outings…
Teresa McCullough
Missouri.
Congratulations Christine and Theresa….good luck to both of you with this give-away. Thank you for sharing your story.
The shnozz
I lock up in mid step. Just that third of a leg movement changed the view in front of me. It wasn’t like I didn’t stare holes through the balsam stand in front of me before moving either. I checked individual tree trunks one at a time. I knelt down slow. I peaked around, nothing. I stood back up so slow it felt like I was a shadow moving across the landscape at exactly noon. I scoured the pine needle floor for any hair out of place. Nothing, nowhere, so I thought I’d sneak back out. Then in mid stride, hair walked into part of the picture, stopped, and a deer nose was pointed at the ground.
All that tawny brown hair was underneath eight shards of antler I was lusting over the past eleven days. His nose went down to within eight inches of the ground, and then he froze. I saw antler tips and one deer nose pose I wont soon forget. My foot, that I had raised in anticipation of one soft fruitless booted step, and as we all know everything that goes up, must come down, wanted down, and it was being told so by a tight crabby calf muscle.
These new super light weight 220 gram insulted sound proof super pieces of foot gear suddenly felt like moon boots completely under every inch of gravities earthly forces. So I set my tread in the needles as if it was yet another pine needle falling, and the buck’s nose still didn’t move. He new something had been nosing around in his bedroom, he just didn’t know it was little ol’ me.
The faintest breeze wasn’t and didn’t send him my scent but his two other senses wanted reassurance before he lay down in the finger nail shaped glade. A breeze gently wafts, No nose movement. Then I looked at his antlers again. Right there, both my legs starting vibrating for a different reason.
First his antlers, then his nose goes slowly up. I can still see a lot of three of his four legs the way he is positioned. I can’t see through the branches but I’d bet a month’s worth of minnow money his ears are radiating and that super sniffer is working over time. He has to be blinking at least one of those big eyes in this day’s sunshine.
With his head up, I kneel down. In the same drop the body motion I raise the bow. It takes just a second to find his boiler room squared off and edged by a balsam trunk. The buck’s darker brisket hair starts to twist as I click the release.
Yellow fletching becomes barely a dot searing underneath the darkness of the pine tree branches and is consumed by the richest of color in the hue of brown. I exhale so hard I wiggle a small dried bent frond in front of me on the ground.
I sat for half hour knowing that buck was mine. It took me another fifteen minutes of very easy tracking to find him. He was laid long, maybe two thirds of the way down the slope. Antler tips polished, pointing up, he looked perfect. He wasn’t crumpled, hunched or piled up against a tree. He died, and died with His nose still pointed down. The trout whisperer
my attempt at winning a journal…
Congratulations on a successful hunt. Thank you for sharing your story and good luck.
Squirrell hunting with my younger son on our farm
Any passionate outdoor woman would agree that any time spent in the woods is memorable. Every waking moment in the woods and on the water is a blessing. However, this year marked a very special hunt for me. A new chapter is starting in my life, marriage.
As my husband (an avid hunter himself which was my criteria for dating in the first place) and I embarked into a journey together, we took the honeymoon of a lifetime. Some prefer warm weather and the beach; others prefer cruising on the water. Neither sparked our interest. We wanted the thrill of a dream hunt. That thrill? A hunting-moon in Texas!
We started by taking a road trip from Kentucky to Sweetwater Creek Bow Hunting ranch in Decatur, Texas. Four days of bow hunting in 3,000+ acres for a species I never knew existed, yet alone was in the United States, YES PLEASE… PICK ME PICK ME! Sleeping in bunk beds and sharing a cabin with others isn’t quite the imaginable way to initiate a marriage, but what didn’t happen was made up for what did. I was able to hold up my own while being considered on the same playing field with the “boys” was every bit of gratifying and exhilarating. I shot my first ever (and certainly will not be last) exotic animals, a West Indies native Corsican Ram and fallow deer! Chalk me up boys and girls!
I’ve never felt the sense of belonging to an actual “group.” I was always considered the tomboy so I never had many girlfriends, nor girls that hunt in my life. But for once, I was actually not looked at as a female hunter, but as an equal individual. Being able to share that experience, along with a new chapter in my life, well that is what I call a memorable hunt!