My November 20 below trophy!
12-02-2002, 09:02 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 1,665
My November 20 below trophy!
I finally managed to bag something I've been trying to get for 3 years with my bow. It took me about 80 minutes to stalk and get a shot off on this guy. I crept behind him slowly as he kept moving away, and something told me not to give up. He was about 60 yards in front of me, and started digging in the snow, making a bed. I waited for him to settle in, the whole time thinking how much colder my hands felt. The rest of me was warm with exception of my bow hand, which was firm on my grip waiting for a quiet sneak, then I would pull my release hand out of my pocket, nock it, aim and release. As I struggled to pull an arrow from the frozen rubber on my Mathews Quiver, I watched him get nice and cozy. Finally, the arrow popped out, I nocked it and started a slow move towards him since he was facing away. I got to 30 yards and though, okay, here's my chance. He was clueless of me being there, so I thought what the heck, let me see how close I can go undetected. a minute or so later I'm 15 yards from him, he is still bedded down, motionless. I stand up, come to full draw and have a perfect quartering shot. The target was small, and the arrow flew slightly low, but it proved lethal, and within 15 yards he was down, motionless, and dead.
He doesn't have antlers, and won't fare well on any table, but he sure looks pretty! He's a cross fox with a black face and black tail. Not the biggest trophy, but I got a pretty good rush out of the chase, the shot and the kill! I plan to try my first crack at taxidermy with this guy, and I'm going to attempt a pedestal mount.
In the picture I had to open up some layers since I was getting rather warm. Spending nearly an hour and a half in 20 below ambient gets pretty warm after a while. I don't know if I could do that in a tree stand, but if ya keep on moving, it ain't that bad.
ArcticBowMan's Hunting Photo's
He doesn't have antlers, and won't fare well on any table, but he sure looks pretty! He's a cross fox with a black face and black tail. Not the biggest trophy, but I got a pretty good rush out of the chase, the shot and the kill! I plan to try my first crack at taxidermy with this guy, and I'm going to attempt a pedestal mount.
In the picture I had to open up some layers since I was getting rather warm. Spending nearly an hour and a half in 20 below ambient gets pretty warm after a while. I don't know if I could do that in a tree stand, but if ya keep on moving, it ain't that bad.
ArcticBowMan's Hunting Photo's
12-02-2002, 09:23 PM
#3
Super Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Deepwoods Treestand WI
Posts: 902
RE: My November 20 below trophy!
WOW, That is quite an accomplishment! They say that the turkey is THE HARDEST to stalk and the fox is a close second. Not many have done what you have done. GOOD JOB!!!
12-02-2002, 09:26 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Rural Kansas... Where Life is Good
Posts: 4,139
12-02-2002, 09:28 PM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 1,665
RE: My November 20 below trophy!
Mouse, spears are next, then I will join the ranks of the Traditional Farm Implement Hunting Club where hoes, shovels and pic axes are allowed! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
I forgot to mention, when I picked up the arrow, I noticed the nock was gone. I didn't bother searching for it in the snow, but when I put the bow back in its case later on, I found it. It was still nocked on the string! Frozen on? Maybe, who knows, at least I got it back! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> I had two arrows set up for ptarmigan and thought at the last minute to put an old broadhead on the tip of an arrow just in case. There's the case.
Edited by - ArcticBowMan on 12/02/2002 22:34:00
I forgot to mention, when I picked up the arrow, I noticed the nock was gone. I didn't bother searching for it in the snow, but when I put the bow back in its case later on, I found it. It was still nocked on the string! Frozen on? Maybe, who knows, at least I got it back! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> I had two arrows set up for ptarmigan and thought at the last minute to put an old broadhead on the tip of an arrow just in case. There's the case.
Edited by - ArcticBowMan on 12/02/2002 22:34:00
12-02-2002, 09:39 PM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Muskogee Oklahoma USA
Posts: 293
RE: My November 20 below trophy!
Great job! Stalking is art of its own with bow. Well that Mathews is good bow. MQ2xl is good shooting bow for 3d and hunting. You guys must be tough as nails hunting in that weather.
12-02-2002, 11:34 PM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 1,665
RE: My November 20 below trophy!
beej, that 20 below was the first time I saw the mercury drop below zero this year. We were driving back from Prudhoe to Fairbanks when I got on this guy. It was coldest in the hills before the range, and about 15 below in the range, then when we got over atigun pass, it started warming up about 5 degrees every hour or so until we hit near 40's in Fairbanks. The whole state has been having record highs this year, and not much snow, so I have held off setting traps. I go back up north on the 5th, and I plan to start hitting it then. There was a big rabies die off in the arctic fox population this summer, so this seasons trapping will probably suck, unless I score on a bunch of reds down the road, and hopefully a wolverine.
You're right though, this year seems to be getting better and better! <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>
You're right though, this year seems to be getting better and better! <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>
12-03-2002, 02:12 AM
#10
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 15,451
RE: My November 20 below trophy!
WOW another good story and trophy,your accomplishments over the past 2 years since I have been visiting this board is awesome!!!! Maybe you missed your calling and shouild be on TV hunting with your own show??????