Post by: robodad on November 29, 2014, 09:41:05 PM
I was called by Joshua's brother Jamie (my nephew) this past spring and asked if I'd like to return to Wisconsin to accompany him deer hunting this season and what did I say...HEEELLL yeah I'd be there. Jamie joined the Boy Scouts a few years back and while there took his hunters safety class and passed with flying colors so it was set that I'd drive there and go hunting with him and his dad (my brother) well circumstances prevented me from making the trip which kills me now but anyway Pete and Jamie said they would miss me being there but would "Get it Done" so I was good with that.
November 22 was opening day for them and with a little snow on the ground and some bitter temps it was shaping up to be a good season. The sign in the area they built their blind was heavy and fresh, seemed as though deer were crisscrossing the area on a regular basis and they had seen flashes of deer on a few occasions prior to opening day while setting up the blind and each time they went in to improve the stand more tracks were covering their tracks. This hunting area is in a public forest and Pete has a DNR permit to be able to ride a quad on the trail system that runs through this area so getting out a deer wouldn't be a problem or will it ???
They got into the blind on opening day and the temps were hovering around 0* and with the wind chill it felt like -10*-15* which would make anyone uncomfortable but stuck it out for the whole day and only heard a few shots in the surrounding area and didn't spot one single deer. On day 2 the same situation only the temps were a little warmer I think into the low 20's but the same result with the deer and no real fresh sign so they decided to make a change from sitting all day and on Wednesday headed to a little place we hunt quite often in Buffalo County (some of you know where that is) and do a little walking and still hunting along the river bottoms and swampy areas.
That morning the snow fell for several hours sometimes quite heavily. Now this is Jamie's first year as a hunter so he was packing the only gun they own while Dad walked slowly beside quietly coaching him on what to look for and how to pick out the deer in a wooded landscape and trying to read the sign on the ground in the snow at their feet. This area in along an old abandoned railroad with a few swampy areas and a few fields with rows of brush lining the outskirts of them along with some woodlots that are fairly open and the railroad built its tracks on a kind levy of sorts just kind of a burm that ran all the way through this area so they had a bit of an advantage being able to walk along these fields and woodlots on sort of an elevated position allowing them to peer down into the landscape looking for deer. Now this area I am referring to is off limits to quads and is several miles back off the main road and they had a couple railroad bridges to cross in order to get to the fields they wanted to hunt.
As they are approaching the field Pete spots what he described to me as a "Dandy Wide buck" standing broadside at 40yds and motions to Jamie to its location and Jamie just couldn't put eyes on it because he was scanning the opposite edge of the field and looked right through it it would seam. By this time the buck is getting nervous and just as it started to move, of coarse the conditions were deteriorating rapidly from a light to moderate snowfall to a whiteout just at that time when the snow flakes get from that medium size to the size of quarters and anything you look at just becomes mesmerizing and downright dizzying when it comes to looking through your scope.
Post by: robodad on November 30, 2014, 12:09:49 PM
A little time passes and they get their heart rate under control and sit down on a log to make a game plan, swig some Gatorade that by know after being in their backpack had partially froze so was extra refreshing, to now figure out which direction the deer had gone after it made it to the woodlot they gather up their stuff and make their way across the field watching carefully for the smallest bit of blood, there are tracks covering the whole field in every direction so it wasn't an easy task for a couple newbies "getting it done" so they make it to the edge of the trees and see what appears to be the stumble marks the deer made as it flew through the area at mach 4 so they knew they were most likely on the right trail now in this area like I mentioned it was a mix of eastern washington and western washington where there are swamps, oak thickets, nice open woodlots like an old growth patch of timber, and this area was pretty open as it was along a set of high wire powerless so the place this deer went into had the river, the powerless, and the railroad grade and boarders and was kind of pie shaped for the most part and approximately 3/4 of a square mile in size.
As they are following the tracks they decide are the "Masher's" because of their size they stumble upon a bed with just a few drops of blood in it.... SWEET !! the first real sign they are tracking the right set of tracks now the rest of Monday they go by what they can only guess is this deer's tracks because of the amount of sign in the area and without any more physical evidence and with night time quickly approaching and the temp dropping they decide to back out and make another go at him in the morning. I can only imagine what this nights sleep was going to be like, kind of reminds me of when I was a kid and my dad would never tell me the night before we were to go on a fishing trip cause he knew I wouldn't sleep a wink cause of the anticipation it had to be brutal !!
Thursday morning comes and they are greeted by a couple inches of new snow which, and many of you know what I mean by that sinking feeling you get when you know all the sign you once had is now 2" below a new blanket of fresh powdery snow under the canopy of the trees where in the field and any small opening would be more like 3-4 inches but not discouraged they make the 2.5 mile walk back down the railroad tracks and across the field to once again pick up the trail at the bed where they saw first blood, mind you this was maybe 300yds through the woodlot on the edge of the river bank. Arriving to the spot they notice another bed that also had blood in it and was fresher then the first one but still had snow over the sign so it was sometime before the snow stopped this buck had left that bed only to move just a few feet away and make another and then another in just a small area maybe 30square feet had made 4 beds or at least laid down 3-4 times but didn't stay long in any of them, they found more cast off and gravity blood spatter between these beds only after they walked through the area and turned around to see it in their boot tracks.
So now they knew they had definitely hit something vital, the amount of blood sign was picking up but then just as it began picking up it went away. An area with 3-4 beds with they estimate 1-2 cups of blood spread about the area and in the beds then nothing they searched all around the area to see which way this buck had gone and only snow-covered dimples in the snow indication some critter had walked through there they search and search doing ever widning circles and a sort of grid pattern with no meaningful results so discouraged and cold they decide to back out once again as the light was fading and temps were falling they set a coarse for the railroad grade on the gps when Jamie looked down into his dads boot track and seen fresh blood........ WHOO HOO !! found it and another sleepless night ensues.
Post by: boneaddict on November 30, 2014, 12:25:42 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on November 30, 2014, 12:34:05 PM
So what is the back story of Joshua Holm?
Post by: boneaddict on November 30, 2014, 01:05:07 PM
F R O G
Post by: jackelope on November 30, 2014, 02:33:36 PM
:tup:
What a nice kid.
Post by: actionshooter on November 30, 2014, 02:39:36 PM
Post by: boneaddict on November 30, 2014, 04:12:42 PM
Post by: jackelope on November 30, 2014, 05:35:01 PM
He brought a lot of people together. ITs how I met Josh. :tup:
I think it was the 1st time I actually met in person members off of this forum. You and I, Fanatic, Huntnphool and 50calJim. Was a good day for sure. That was 2008 believe it or not.
Post by: jackelope on November 30, 2014, 05:39:51 PM
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=6669
Post by: Birdguy on November 30, 2014, 05:55:38 PM
Post by: boneaddict on November 30, 2014, 06:31:07 PM
Post by: robodad on November 30, 2014, 09:53:12 PM
That story has affected many lives here at Hunt-Wa and those that knew him including myself are very lucky people, He was a true inspiration and there are many many threads about him on this board if any of you want to get to know him you will be doing yourself a favor !! Now its several years later and little old Jamie has become a real guiding light in his community and still goes each month to the NICU where his brother was treated and brings the kids there a bit of cheer by sharing his own experiences he had during that battle and every month they bring toys and books to all the kids there to help them fight their own battle with the sick twisted diabolical monster that is inside of them.
Post by: Special T on November 30, 2014, 09:55:48 PM
Post by: robodad on November 30, 2014, 10:30:48 PM
Joshua Cup correct?
Thats right Special T The "Joshua Cup" is a great fun contest for those that hunt out of state and is named after Joshua Holm !!
[smg id=3785]
Post by: robodad on November 30, 2014, 10:36:00 PM
Some of the images he sent me from the trail:
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-11%2FIMG956813_zps4qtus3nl.jpg&hash=ce4b1dbf7015d1bb60736dbdb4bf7bd68a8b17ad) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/IMG956813_zps4qtus3nl.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-11%2FIMG956810_zpspe86umxr.jpg&hash=047f00ebf844bf09b13f6e1cfb17551897f83b13) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/IMG956810_zpspe86umxr.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-11%2FIMG956815_2_zpssi5jnwct.jpg&hash=75221747d74a05b40e9f9838571b9ab4079aa694) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/IMG956815_2_zpssi5jnwct.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-11%2FIMG956817_zpshhniux52.jpg&hash=17a206d99fa5de433048a2b28fc789f645b59863) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/IMG956817_zpshhniux52.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-11%2FIMG956827_zps7v1osgf4.jpg&hash=a7edbd48c470390e86715c7f72adc7b8531a2d83) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/IMG956827_zps7v1osgf4.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-11%2FIMG956835_zps03lvtbea.jpg&hash=cf8dde1990a81b27ffc059f5153459fc058a66dd) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/IMG956835_zps03lvtbea.jpg.html)
No jokes about their being a buck in some of those pics either, the situation is still kinda raw !! :rolleyes:
Post by: robodad on November 30, 2014, 10:50:20 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-11%2FIMG956830_zps87bxas1c.jpg&hash=43d901b176c89490d28578c01d1034bc6e312eb8) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/IMG956830_zps87bxas1c.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-11%2FIMG956832_zpsjlv7f3lk.jpg&hash=2744b919b2dabae7562883efa773e5c0c60aefb6) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/IMG956832_zpsjlv7f3lk.jpg.html)
Here is the thing, Pete is trying to make this experience the best he can for his now only son who is a first year brand new hunter so its really important that nothing is overlooked when it comes to the situation we find ourselves in and I am in constant communication with them as they study the sign and help interpret what I see to help make the next move so I too am on the edge of my seat and in just as much agony as some of you are reading this adventure, I must sit back and study 200x200 pixel image because the At&T service coverage is so spotty there in the woods and getting a message out to them is like pushing a piece of rope uphill from the wrong end if you know what I mean, I just want to drop everything and hop on a flight to Wisconsin to find this thing already without having to suffer through another day of these ups and downs and highs and lows and rejoice to despair etc... Its KILLING ME !!!
Post by: jasnt on November 30, 2014, 11:14:56 PM
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on December 01, 2014, 06:53:58 AM
Post by: robodad on December 01, 2014, 11:17:17 AM
Saturday morning finally rolls around and Jamie is unable to accompany Dad to the field because of a prior appointment and slightly discouraged Pete jumps in the rig and motors his way to the parking area which is 1hr 20min away to give a last ditch effort to uncover some sign that there is still hope of finding his deer. Hoping that from the rain coming down the day before it would slightly melt that new layer of snow that came down revealing the blood trail he knew was there just covered in 2 inches of icy crunchy snow and as it turns out the rain from yesterday had stopped shortly after they beat feet out of the area and things appeared to be looking relatively the same so back to the last place blood was located however on the way there he came across a set of new tracks that were not there the day before and followed them for quite a ways thinking that this was his deers tracks but never finding even a speck of blood or piece of hair or anything decided to head back to the RR grade and continue on to the mission at hand, now he is getting close to where he last found blood maybe 200-250yds and There it is, another set of fresh tracks or at least from after the rain yesterday leading right into the area where he lost the blood trail. Now comes a decision weather to follow these tracks and hope its the right one or continue on to the last blood sign and start there.
After mulling it over to all of 2 seconds its off the RR grade and into the woods to see if this new set of tracks leads to something and what did he find !!
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-11%2Fimage1_zpswdcxf7am.jpg&hash=2c46266be249c5e34cd2b1b64379baeba1ca1ec8) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/image1_zpswdcxf7am.jpg.html)
Some tracks that looked like there could be some blood in them perhaps, Ok so this trail looks promising but given the small amount of what looked like it could be some blood he was still thinking he would be better off starting back at the last place he found a significant definite deer blood trail so after the almost 2.5mi hike he sat down on a log to weigh his options then decided he would follow this new set for just a while longer and if nothing is found return to the last known blood trail and it turns out to be the right choice because not more then 50' later another track with definite blood and confirmation that his buck had made these tracks and now once again he is getting excited because this is the first real sign they had found since yesterday morning when the rain started falling so looking ahead he could see another track with blood then another and coming up to a log in the trail he found a fairly large smear of blood on the log and a few pieces of hair like this deer struggled to hop over and basically just dragged himself over so he must be getting really weak at this point having lost so much blood and not more then 30' past that log THERE HE IS !!! Piled up DEAD !!
OH MY GOSH the rush of emotion that passed through Pete was just a bit overwhelming as he slumped to his knees and just stared ahead at the deer from a short distance thanking God for allowing him the opportunity to harvest such a critter and also thanking the deer for giving his life and giving a huge sigh of relief that this deer was no longer walking around wounded and to eventually to become coyote and wolf horderves and after a few minutes just reflecting on what has transpired over the last few days picked himself up and went over to the deer and held its rack in his hands and just gave another silent thank you to the son he had lost so many years ago for looking out after him over the last couple days and guiding his way !!
He then snapped a few pics and gave Jamie a call on the phone and told him to come out and help then he called me and I was able to direct him through the gutting process over the phone which he handled quite nicely and they were able to load it onto a sled and make the long trek back to the truck both completely exhausted and elated at the same time !!
Post by: robodad on December 01, 2014, 11:54:30 AM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-11%2Fimage3_zps6emwoqhi.jpg&hash=b85d329575ad3913ab8af92068bb4156fbf48437) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/image3_zps6emwoqhi.jpg.html)
As he lay subtract the rifle !!
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-11%2FIMG956836_zpsxotwgtax.jpg&hash=df9494f20a151daa9ac2638932ea483ebef3607a) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/IMG956836_zpsxotwgtax.jpg.html)
On the RR Grade headed for the truck !!
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-12%2FIMG959101_zpsvnsp8j3f.jpg&hash=88fa4dad99e1f4f416791dee9ba887fed604d57f) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-12/IMG959101_zpsvnsp8j3f.jpg.html)
At home finally in the tree
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi173.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw55%2Fbb021099%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2014-12%2Fimage3-1_zpssbrcbnk8.jpg&hash=7f88bf2fdf1a0125b4a9aae4ee838f2de06c10c5) (http://s173.photobucket.com/user/bb021099/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-12/image3-1_zpssbrcbnk8.jpg.html)
Thanks guys for enjoying this story, I am very proud of them guys for sticking with it and "Getting it Done" and not giving up when it looked hopeless and circumstances were not ideal. Just a little story into the lives of Josh's family as I am sure some of you may be wondering what ever happened to them !!
Post by: lokidog on December 01, 2014, 11:57:24 AM
Post by: boneaddict on December 01, 2014, 12:01:27 PM
Post by: Widgeondeke on December 01, 2014, 12:11:57 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on December 01, 2014, 01:59:20 PM
Post by: jackelope on December 01, 2014, 02:03:28 PM
Post by: jasnt on December 01, 2014, 02:40:24 PM
Post by: runningboard on December 02, 2014, 04:57:46 AM
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on December 02, 2014, 06:00:00 PM
Post by: Turner89 on December 02, 2014, 06:08:39 PM