My first MBRB hunt

[Grute Man]

Well I just finished my first ever MBRB hunt.  Im already looking forward to next year.  Saturday I got a 5 point buck and it was quite the experience.  Its a long story but a good one.

I get to my hunting spot and hang a bunch of scent wicks and scent wafers right away.  Then I get up in stand, pull my bow up, hang my back pack and think, hmm, I'll sit down to catch my breath. Oh no I wont -- I have company.  Here come's a buck (a fork I thought) whom I had seen yesterday about the same time; no good shot yesterday.  Today he comes right to one of my scents.  He never saw me so I drew back, took careful aim, shot only to hear CRACK and miss him completely.  I thought "what the?"  Looked my bow and string over; it seemed fine.  Now my deer did a 180 and stood there like a statue.  I never thought I'd get a second chance but if he's going to stand broadside at 15 yards, I'm going to go for it.  So I pulled out another arrow, nock it up, took careful aim again and shot a picture perfect shot.  I was soo happy with the shot placement.  He runs off like a runnin deer and I watch as far as I can.  Then I turn to hang my bow so I can sit down.  I was shaking soo hard I couldn't barely stand.  Not even 5 minutes go by and a 6 or 8 pointer walks by on my right.  I never heard him coming until he was right next to me.  I grunted hoping for a photo but he ignored me.

So after waiting a 1/2 hour which seemed like a week, I got down and went to the spot where I shot him.  No blood.  YIKES!! Now my excitement has turned to fear.  I have to find this deer and NOW!  I looked all around and found no blood at all; just a broken arrow hence the CRACK.  Now Im color blind but if blood lands on light colored stuff, its easy to see and I saw none.  I went as far as I saw him run and walked back the way he ran.  Nothing.  So I call my hunt coordinator to tell them.  They said to get back in stand and we'll find him at lunch.  Its not even 8am and its perfect time to get another as this is a deer removal hunt.  So I get back up and pray that he goes down and I get a doe coming by to take my mind off of the buck. 

No deer came by but my hunting partner did about 2 hours later.  He was drenched with sweat and asked if I got a small buck.  I told him I did and he told me it was right back here.  He also said he got one too.  I said I could tell cause his hands were bloody.  Then he says "I got some bad news and I hope you're not mad at me but I gutted him out for you already."     Mad?    I nearly fell out of stand!!!  Why would I be mad?? Oh sure Im boilin mad.  The only way you can make it up is to gut out every deer I ever get for the rest of my life.  He was actually being very polite and showing the utmost in hunter ethics by saying that.  He's awsome.

So anyway, he tells me at 7:20 (20 minutes after I shot mine and that other walked by) he shot an 8 pointer.  He waited 1/2 an hour and got down to look for him.  He finds a blood trail and follows it to a deer.  He sees it and thinks, hmm I thought he had a bigger rack but oh well.  So he took care of business and started dragging it to the truck.  Shortly, he finds another blood trail leading off in a different direction.  Then he thought "Oh Crap!  What if Grute shot one too?"  Yup.     So he drops that one (mine) and goes off on a journey for his buck.  It ran VERY far.  He kicked it up twice and had shots both times.  The 2nd time he took him down but this is after tracking this buck for WAY over a mile through a cat tail swamp, up and down hills...Finally he gets his and field dresses it, gets him near the road and walks all the way back to get me -- showing up drenched in sweat.

We went and got them and took some nice pics, had some lunch then went right back into the woods looking for does.  Came up short handed there but quite a morning already.

Apparently our deer crossed paths and he just happened upon them both.  What luck hey?

Me and my buck -- already nicely field dressed - thanks to my bud


My hunting partner and his buck


My broken arrow


So if that all wasn't wild enough, he told me before the sun came up, he had an owl land on -- ON -- his head.  I had one who I thought wanted to but this is the first time I'd heard of that.  He had quite the day and I give him the MVP for the entire hunt.  I told him I'd get him dinner but we're so tired it will have to wait.

And that's my first ever but not last Metro Bow Hunt.   

[GirlGuide]

Wow, what a story Grute!!!  I'm glad you finally shared the whole thing with us, it was worth the wait!!
Congratulations Again my friend!!     gg

[laker]

That is a great story! Congrats on the successful hunt.

[tripnchip]

Great story Grute and couldn't of happen to batter person. Thaks for sharing.  By the what is you buds phone # so I can call him next time I'm going hunting? lol

[Grute Man]

Pretty funny series of events.  I'm thinking of buying him a sharpening stone for Christmas so he can keep his knife sharp for me.   

[Outdoors Junkie]

Great story Grute!  I'm glad you had a fun, exciting, successful hunt!

[Randy Kaar]

sounds like fun, great story.

randy aka bh

[TMT]

Great story Grute, and congrats to you and your buddy!
 

[deadeye]

Great story Grute.  Tell me more about the broken arrow.  I had a simular incident a few weeks ago.  I was trying to pull back on a doe when I believe I hit the release and heard a loud crack along with my bow being unstrung.  I believe the arrow hit a close tree limb.  The two arrow parts landed about 5 feet from the deer.  She seemed amused by the whole thing but I couldn't do much about it.
What caused your arrow to break where it did?  It looks like behind the fletching.

[MnArch]

MMMMMMMM..........Backstraps.........Awesome job guys! Our congratulations and we'll file that one under the really cool stories of '07 Minnesota bowhunts!

[jigglestick]

nice job Grute!

help me out here. what is MBRB?

[Mayfly]

nice job Grute!

help me out here. what is MBRB?

Metro Bowhunters Resource Base

They do a lot of the metro deer removal hunts and hunts to thin metro populations were you normally cannot hunt. 

http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/mbrb/mbrb-p03.htm

[jigglestick]

thanks

[Cody Gruchow]

how do you get on one of these hunts?

[Grute Man]

1) Get your archer safety certificate from the DNR.  Just like the Fire Arms Safety except its archery specific.  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/bowhunter/index.html

2)  Do your qualifying shots at one of the following locatoins:

Gander Mountain  Lakeville, MN 952-435-3805
Bwana Archery St. Paul, MN 651-482-9866
Cabin Fever Victoria, MN 55386 952-443-2022
Capra's Sporting Goods  Blaine, MN 763-780-4557
Gander Mountain Blaine,Woodbury,Forrest Lake and Lakeville Locations
Schaffer Performance Archery Burnsville, MN 952-894-4139
JT Archery Rush City, MN 55069 612-961-1334
Whitcomb’s Pro Shop Princeton, MN 763-389-3706
Sportsman's Warehouse Coon Rapids, MN 55448
Sportsman's Warehouse Woodbury 763-560-2000
A1 Archery Hudson, WI 54016 715-386-1217
St Croix Outdoors St Croix Falls, WI 55024 715-483-9515

Call first to be sure they have their proficiency test targets and/or still do this.

3) After you qualify, send in an application with the wopping $12 annual membership fee.  Here's the 2007 app.  http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/mbrb/mbrb-p05.htm
Remember, some rules/regulations may change for 2008.  You can't do this until its up on their website at http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/mbrb/index.htm -- That's their home page.

4) Apply for as many hunts as you want.  You will only be drawn for 1 hunt as a "primary" hunter.  Any others that you MIGHT get drawn for will only let you be a back up.  I applied for 6 last year and only got drawn for 1.

5) Check hunts on their website as they draw numbers.  When you see your number come up, then you're in.

6) Go to the orientation meeting and bring proof of your qualifying shots.  If you miss this meeting, you don't get to hunt.  That's when you pick the location and days in that park where you'll hunt.  If you're not there, they start picking back ups who are sitting there hoping you wont be there.

6) You'll now pay another $10 to be on that hunt and get all paperwork you need to hunt that park on those days.

It may sound like a lot of hoops but its really not.  Again, here's their home page http://www.strictlybowhunting.com/mbrb/index.htm

In a few months, you'll see the 2008 applications available.  Print one off and send it in with as much other info as you can.  I sent in my proff of qualifying shots and they didn't have it at the meeting so bring EVERYTHING to the meeting.

7) Lastly, if you do get drawn and pick a spot, scout it out ONCE!  DO NOT continue to go back again and again.  Actually, get together with the other guys in your section and scout it with them on ONE day.  Stress to the other guys that continued traffic prior to your hunt will ruin your hunt.  Scout it once and be ready on your first day to get in and get set up fast.  Leave your stand there all weekend but chain it up.  Remove it at the end of the weekend.

I hope I didn't forget anything.   

Good luck and have fun.  Maybe I'll see you there.

Grute