Hunting Stories

20BuckHuntClub.com Hunting Stories

It is my opinion that true hunting stories are a great form of entertainment and something we should all share. We share them at camp and at every family get together and with our children. Let’s share them here for all to read.  Please send me your stories with or without photos and I will post them exactly how you write them.  Send them to david.dettorre@gmail.com. Thanks, Dave D

Sunday 11/11/18 

Keith Schnetzer shot a 9 point Buck in  Middletown, Delaware.   Keith was a little late getting to his stand and as he approached the stand he saw a buck about 250 yards out in the field.  Keith knelled down to put the scope on him but he could not see the buck.  Keith moved up closer, took a knee and was able to determine the back was one he wanted to take.  Keith did some grunting and the buck cake within 100 yards.  Keith had his H&R 20awg bull barred shotgun and he put the cross hairs on him, touched one off and hit him perfectly.  The buck died quickly and Keith got him loaded up.  Nice work Keith.  

Joe's Great Buck and Great memories.

 11-17-04

Opening day of Shotgun season was just a day away.  So I did what any true hunter does the Saturday before opening day, I got hammered.  As I lay in bed with intentions of a good night sleep, my phone rings at 5 in the morning.  “Dude, let go hunting” my buddy Steve says.  I replied with a sharp pain shooting through my head with every movement of my jaw “I just got home 3 hours ago and tomorrow is opening day”.  With a little pleading and the fact he had no other place to go he talked me into it.

            After loosing my wallet on the way out to the property in Lancaster and driving all the way back to the gas station to see if I left it there, it showed up under my seat.  Steve kicked it under there while getting dressed.  As I head out into the woods a half-hour late because of our fiasco, I am thinking to myself what am I doing out here.  My mouth dryer than the Grand Canyon and my head pounding faster than a jackhammer.

            After climbing a tree and settling in my stand thinking things couldn’t get any worse it starts to rain. Unbelievable, now I am tired, hung over and wet.  A little button buck comes by and sniffs the string I pull my bow up with and I am looking straight down on him going where is your grandfather at.  About a half hour later my phone rings, it Steve telling me there is a little 4-pointer coming my way,  I figure last day of the season if he comes close enough I will take a shot. 

            Sure enough I catch some movement about 60 yards away.  I grab my bow turn and get ready for the opportunity I am hoping will arise.  Then out pops his head, that isn’t any 4-pointer I said to myself.  He walks on a logging trail 25 yards away broadside.  As quick as the bowstring came back, my Spitfire tipped arrow was through the deer’s chest.  But I knew it was a little bit back.  So I watched him walk away till I couldn’t seem him anymore and climbed down the tree.

            As I stood at the bottom of the tree shaking I looked over and seen the some white about 70 yards away it was him, alive and well bedded down.  I watch him for 5 minutes; he got up took a step and fell over.  5 minutes later he stood up again, this time he disappeared into the thick stuff wagging his tail, I sat there praying that was not the last time I seen that deer.

            Straight out of the woods I went, went home to get my old man, the expert tracker.  The search was on.  As I picked up my arrow, more disappointment, only 2 of the 3 blades opened, not a good sign.  With my Dad ahead of us on the trail of the deer, a loud shout came through the woods “Holy Shit”, it was at that moment I knew he was down.

            As I laid my hands on the 9pt with a 20 ¼ inch inside spread, with my Dad on one side of me and my best friend on the other it was the greatest moment in my life.  A moment all three of us will never forget.   

From Joe Shiner....Send your story in now!!!!!

Tuesday 12-19-06 The Last Day:

We sat for first light Rummy pushed some does to Keith he had a lane in the woods at 70 yards he put the Muzzleloader up and watched the first 2 deer run thru the lane and as soon as the last doe nose entered the lane he fired and put it right in her chest.  She ran up hill spraying blood everywhere and died in the field.  Jimmi's new Rem Muzzleloader is not a virgin anymore. Keith put a nice Leupold scope on it and killed the first deer he shot at with it, KAS is 1 for 1 with Jimmi's gun.

I passed on a doe at 30 yards at 10am I was in the top of Scribner stand.  They all gave me crap for not shooting Rummy said we might as well be at the bar if your going to pass on deer.   Well we looked all day for the Bucks, We did about 8 drives, no Bucks. 

Well it looks like Tommy's the winner I'll confirm with the Dick B. he may have been out today.   

12-15-06:

Well, I'm having a great late season.  Today is my sister Linda and my Niece Paige's birthday.   Thanks to my understanding boss I was able to get our a few hours early and head to the woods.  I met Angelo at the spot in Middlebury about 3pm, about 2 hours left of daylight.  This spot is private land we have permission to hunt right Carlton Hill Multiple Use Area, NYS land.  Angelo was hunting with his bow, he plans on buying a muzeloader soon.  I was hunting with my muzeloader, I got a scope for my birthday from my wife.  It was my first time hunting with a scope.  I did practice with it and was hitting the target nicely at 100 yards.  I dropped onto the hillside with a nice view and a look across a ravine.  The wind was in my face, perfect. With no snow on the ground it was difficult to detect movement on the other side of the ravine.  At 4:10 something caught my eye, it was deer moving on the other side of the ravine.  3 small deer were slowly moving straight across the ravine right in my direction.  When the first one appeared on my side of the ravine he was 50 yards away, I had my scope on him and I could tell he was the largest of the 3, they were all flat-tops.  I watched him for a little while he kept looking at me then back at the other 2 deer.  I think he was nervous,  I thought he was ready to run.  I had a clear shot and beautiful site picture, I squeezed the trigger.  with the stiff wind in my face the smoke cleared quickly and I saw the deer made a 1/2 circle and crash, I pounded him.  The other 2 took of the way they came.  Luckily he fell quickly on my side of the ravine, a couple more feet he would of tumbled down into the ravine and it would of been a tough drag out.  I was a little disappointed to feel nubs on his head he was a button buck.  I field dressed him and had a pretty level drag out.  I brought him to my Dads house and we hung him up.  I said well he's not that big and my Mom said that's great the smaller ones taste better.  My Dad did the autopsy and found very little damaged meat.  The bullet entered in front of the left shoulder at the and exited behind the right shoulder. Well,  I have one more chance for a good buck, Tuesday 12-19 is the last day and I am hoping KAS joins me, he just put a nice scope on Jimmi's muzeloader.  I am really looking forward to Tuesday.  Dave D. 

12-7-06:

I joined Angelo for an afternoon hunt. We started on State Land and pushed a long finger of pines, no deer came out.  We sat the last couple of hours on the private land near the state lane and as usual Angelo put me on deer. He told me to sit in the perfect spot but I moved to the other side of the ravine.  The deer came out at 4:30 PM like he said they would.  There were very few shooting lanes and the deer were 80 yards away thru a wicker basket.  I passed on the first 2. I shot at the 3rd and missed, I shot at the 4th and missed then I connected on the 5th deer.  I walked to the other side and found her in her bed and finished her off, it was a small Doe.  My Dad was grateful for the meat.  DD

 12-3-06:

Keith, Hoppy and Rummy put a drive on a huge set of pines on the farm near the pines stand. They parked the truck and Keith was moving into position, a couple of Does that were bedded near the truck got up and Rummy dropped one.  They drove the pines and pushed allot of deer out and let allot of lead fly.  They ended up with the one doe and realized they needed more people to effectively push that set of pines.

11-30-06:

Angelo took a nice doe from the private land near the state land, near his house in Pavilion.  While he was there he was able to pattern the does that were coming out in the evenings

11-25-06:

I shot a big Doe today from the new stand on Angelo's property in Pavilion.  I heard shots on the hill across the road and about 10 minutes later 4 deer walked right to my stand.  I took aim on the first one, the biggest one, when she stopped at 30 yards I fired and she dropped.  The other 3 jumped back about 20 yards I took aim at a second doe when she moved from behind some trees and I fired.  she ran away like she was hurt.  I could not find any blood or hair where she stood.  I looked the way she went and I did find a little blood about 100 yards away.  My brother Dan joined me on the search, unfortunately we could not find the doe.  My mistake was I should have waited until she totally cleared from the trees and was broad side.  I took a quartering in shot thru some branches.  Live and Learn! Dave D.

11-23-06, Happy Thanksgiving:

Angelo shot a nice doe on his property in Pavilion.

11-22-06:

Kyle "Slayer" Schnetzer shot two does this afternoon from the Top of Scribner stand.  The Schnetzer's' have been working hard whacking, packing and stacking.  8 deer total in the freezers.

11-19, 11-20 and 11-21-06 Opening weekend of shotgun:

Well, Where do I start?  Friday night we played some cards and had a few beers,  Jimmi brought his son Jimmi down to camp for the week end and we harassed him non stop and gave him a nick name, Euwing.  Jimmi is a good sport and took it all in stride. By the end of the weekend he was giving it right back to us, we had a ball.  Tommy Cleaned up in cards on Saturday night.   We has some great chow and non stop laughs.  The meat pole was a fork lift it sure is great to have stuff to do things.  We had 6 hanging by Sunday and a 7th in Joe's Truck on Monday.   

Kirsti and her Dad Keith, Kirsti Hunted with her Grandpa Roger Opening day

The Meat Pole 2006

Lounging at the Barn opening weekend 2006

On Saturday 11-18-06, Opening day

Keith killed 2 big does, Kyle killed a doe, Jimmi killed a button buck through a "wicker Basket" at 150' yards with Euwing by his side.  Bird Dog got a small Buck

Kas and Bird Dog workin'

On Sunday 11-19-06

 Roger killed a small buck in naples.  All 3 generations of the Shnetzer's were successful this opening weekend witch it seems is typical for most opening weekends.

On Monday 11-20-06

Joe Starks shot a decent 8 pointer at 100 yards from "Joe's Corner" in Naples it was about 75" so Tommy's Buck is still in the lead.

Joe’s story of the 2006 season.< xml="true" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" prefix="o" namespace="">

3rd day of the season on an afternoon hunt, I was set up for well over an hour in my favorite spot in < xml="true" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" prefix="st1" namespace="">Naples.  I noticed two hunters approaching and set up in a Taj Mahal some 50 yards away.  After exchanging whistles and waves it was evident they had no plans of leaving.  I confronted the two gentlemen and after a spirited conversation realized that not only would they not concede to me being there first and move on, they also intended to shoot in my direction if given the opportunity.  Frustrated, I decided to move on to safer ground but not before relieving myself behind their stand.   I packed up and moved a couple of hundred yards down the hill and setup again.  Within 20 minutes I spotted this nice buck heading across the top of the hill towards the two fine sportsmen.  I watched the buck stop in his tracks scenting the air then turn around and walk back the way he came.  He walked a wide arc to the bottom of the hill were I was waiting for him.  Clean harvest.  The moral of the story is “when you gotta go, you gotta go” 

10-25-06: 

Unfortunately,  We were unable to recover 2 Bucks that were hit one was a potential winner, a real beast. 

Keith put a nice Doe in the freezer on opening day.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Kyle's First Buck Opening day, shotgun 2005

Dan D. with his 2004 Bow Kill Money Winner

Jimmi and Keith with 2 does opening weekend 2004

Joe S. with a 7 pointer in 2004

Angelo with his 2003 Money winner. 

KAS nailed this 8 pointer on the run with his bow in 2003

Sean Smith with his first bow kill 2003, right thru the head! needless to say the little thing dropped in it's tracks.

  One fine day on the hill in Naples, 2003 

One fine COLD day on the hill in Naples, 2003 

Al C. with his 2002 money winner "Ice Buck" this bucks antlers were covered with ice.

Hey, When ya gotta go, ya gotta go! 2002

Dan D. and Dave D. with double does in 2002

2002, Dave D. with a 10 pointer, drop tine, Bow Kill. I was on the ground  with Sean Smith behind my house in Clarkson.  There were deer all around us, this buck was walking right towards us.  I told Sean and he said where, I can't see him.  I cam to full draw and let the arrow fly.  I missed him @ 25 yards.  He ran back the way he cam, I grunted at him aggressively and he started circling us to get down wind.  He stepped into a lane on my right ant I let another arrow fly.  Since he was walking I hit him a little far back.  After a 5 hour track with almost no blood my brother made some miracle blood finds and we hung a rag at last blood.  I want back in the morning and did a grid search for the body and found him.  I hit him in the liver he went about 130 yards total.  Keith came over that morning to see him. 

 KAS with a bow kill 1/2 rack that should of been a real nice 10 pointer. 2000

Opening day, bag 2000.

Opening day 1998. Hoppy's 6 point he shot it in the skull witch allowed him to give the deer a real wide spread for the photo. KAS and Dave D. 8 pointers. 

Keith and I were hunting on a hillside in Naples.  Early in the morning I killed my 8 pointer as it walked down a deer trail, it dropped in its tracks. Around 11 am KAS joined me while I field dressed the deer.  we were talking and KAS said don't move! I heard foot steps behind me, he raised his gun, the footsteps stopped and POW.  He put  a slug into the chest of another 8 pointer walking down the same trail as mine @ 24 yards.  The deer ran into the pines tumbled and got hung pu on the hill side, here he is in this photo; 

This is my favorite hunting story and a great day afield. 

1998, Jimmi's boy holding Jimmi's 6 pointer with a Jackalope style tiny rack :).  not that there's anything wrong with it.

1998,  I shot this huge doe on the hillside in Naples.  Al Caruso and I were sitting on a log watching this big doe with her two fawns browsing up the hillside.  Al raised his gun and when the doe stepped into a Lane Al fired, a limb between us and the deer broke in half and fell to the ground.  All 3 deer turned around and ran straight down the hill.  I told Al to lay down I leaned over him raised my gun and found a lane, I watched the first fawn go thru it, then the second, I put the bead on the far side of the lane and as soon as I saw the big doe's nose enter the lane I fired.  I nailed the doe behind the shoulder and the slug lodged in her neck at the base of her skull.  We heard her crash straight down that steep hillside.  Al still gives me crap about shooting over him, If he did it right in the first place I wouldn't have to.

My best buck. 8 pointer 1995, Naples Dave D.  This was a tough Buck to kill; well maybe if I hit it better it would have died quicker.  I was in my tree stand by "the couch" on the hill side in Naples on opening day morning there was about 8"of snow on the ground.  I saw this Buck walking straight up the hill towards me, he stopped at the base of my tree I aimed straight down, I fired and hit the buck between the shoulder and the chest cavity.  The buck ran down the hill to the top of the pines and stopped I fired again and grazed the bucks shoulder.   At that point I should have waited for my hunting partner KAS before going after him.  I didn’t, it was my first good buck and I got right out of my tree and followed the blood.  The deer was bedded in the pines and I jumped it up and it ran down the hill.  I heard a shot; a hunter at the bottom of the hill shot at him as he ran by and missed.  When I heard that shot I thought it was over and someone else got him luckily I was wrong.  I followed the blood trail up the hillside on a logging road.  He turned off the road and continued uphill.  I looked up the hill and I saw him, I raised my gun and fired, he ran.  I climbed the hill to the spot I saw him last and found a small pool of blood where he was standing.  I followed the trail over the top of the hill and he started down the other side.  I knew where he was heading into was a bedding area. I looked carefully and saw him bedded under a pine tree.  He was exhausted and near the end.  I finished him off with a shot in the neck.  About that time Keith found me, he followed my footsteps and the blood in the snow.  He yelled at me for not waiting for him before following the Buck, and then he hugged me and congratulated me.  He may have been more happy then me, well maybe not.  We pulled the buck out of his bed; field dressed him and dragged him straight down the hill.  We loaded him into Keith's Dads truck.  Keith went back to his spot and I rode out with Roger.  When we got to Uncle Les's house Roger saw an injured Buck running on the hillside.  He raised his gun put the cross hairs on him and fired the Buck dropped.  He hit it in the neck.  Two hunters were hot on the Bucks trail and Roger told them to take their Buck and they thanked him.   Another great hunt shared with great people.  DD<

Send your stories to david.dettorre@gmail.com Thanks, Dave D