Blanton's Blog: The Archive
He's a hunter, a husband, a father, and a downright normal guy who found out what a blog was on March 16, 2007. Welcome to the foundation of higher learning brought to you by Realtree's David Blanton. (Sarcasm is accepted.)
DAY 2: LOCKED UP AND LOVING IT - Thursday, December 27, 2007.
To say that John Tate and I were geeked after going back to the lodge and watching the awesome footage of the big buck breeding the doe is an understatement!
Quietly, we snuck back into our Lone Wolf stands the following morning. To be honest with you, I fully expected to see the lovebirds once it got light.
No luck. Granted, in some directions I could only see 50-60 yards. Now we did see plenty of deer in the distance. Small bucks chasing does mostly. Around 9:00, I glanced into the same thicket I'd been looking in all morning ... and there he was! The buck simply materialized. And guess who was right there with him?
You got it! They were still engaged!
And better yet, she started to feed toward my stand. About that time, the parade started all over again. Here came the little "wannabe" bucks to catch a whiff, and the big 8-pointer chased them off. It was like a record player blaring out the same song.
I honestly could tell that the doe wanted to be with the big mature buck and no other. It was something. More rubbing action was in order for the camera, too!
Unfortunately, around 10:00, after getting within 60 yards of us, they drifted back off into the thicket.
We got down shortly after that and headed in for a quick bite of lunch. John and I begin to discuss the fact that the buck and doe and not been (to our knowledge) farther than 100 yards from where we'd first seen them the day before. We couldn't wait for the afternoon showing!
As we settled in our stands, a doe came busting out of the thicket in front of our stand followed by a small buck. For a minute I thought there were now TWO hot does in our area. But my mind changed quickly.
As I watched the doe run a big circle around our stand location, I could tell she was trying to get back to the thicket. Suddenly, the big buck (who may have gotten distracted) shows up to run off the intruder and escort his lady friend back into their hangout.
This was too cool!
With about an hour of daylight left, it seems all the distractions of smaller, competing, bothersome bucks had gotten the message and headed toward the big wheat field.
Still, I could not see the buck and doe.
I was straining to catch a glimpse of deer in the opposite direction when I turned to look towards the thicket once again and ... there she was, nervously walking down a trail that would put her only 20 yards from our tree! I whispered to John and he quickly started videoing her.
Then I saw him! Emerging out of the thicket he looked bigger than life! If the wind didn't swirl, the game would be over. It didn't and it was! The G5 Striker went in high on the buck's left side and exited perfectly. He ran less than 80 yards and piled up.
What an unbelievable hunt! The 8-pointer scored around 135 inches and this was a memory that will never get lost in my mind!
PS: I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and that you got to spend a little time in the woods.
MORE ON THE LOCK DOWN - Friday, December 21, 2007.
In my last blog I discussed the concept of "locked down" bucks and how this relatively new phenomenon being recognized by hunters can really throw a monkey wrench into the best laid plans.
Well, here is my story of a "locked down" buck, witnessed from a front row seat for two full days.
Realtree's John Tate and I had hunted on the edge of a big wheat field one day and saw several big bucks chasing does. Feeling an urge to hunt in the thickets surrounding the field, we placed a Lone Wolf ladder stand in a big pecan tree on a creek bottom and we decided that we'd stick it out at this location, several hundred yards off the field.
When we went back into the area to hunt, the wind was howling! About 30-35 miles per hour. As we eased up to the stand, I looked up on the ridge and caught movement of a huge rack in the brush. The buck had no idea we had just walked to within 70 yards of him because he was intently looking into the brush beside him.
Very carefully and quietly, Tate and I eased up into the stand and got set up. Still, the buck had no idea we were anywhere around! After another 10 minutes, the object of the buck's focus stood up. A big ol' doe!
About that time a smaller buck started easing into the thicket and the big boy would have nothing of it. He quickly chased the "young challenger" off and returned to his patiently waiting female companion.
For a half an hour, they stood still. Then the buck started rubbing a tree. All of this was caught on camera by John. Finally, the doe started to slowly feed down the hill into a clearing. At first, I thought she may be coming our direction. That would have been too easy!
After running off another couple of young bucks, including the same one twice, the buck walks over to the doe and, well, things got really interesting.
The doe stood still and the buck mounted her and proceeded to spread his genes. Incredible! And John got great video (High Definition I might add)!
Slowly, they walked over to another thicket ... and bedded down! Where they stayed until dark!
With the wind still blowing hard, John and I were able to ease out of the area while leaving all of our equipment (except for the camera) in the tree. We would be back before daylight the next morning!
Now, don't get mad at me but unfortunately, I was told to make my blogs "quick reads" so it wouldn't take up touch much of your time, so I'll continue the story on the next blog!
Go finish your Christmas shopping or split some firewood! You'll love the way this story ends!
A LOCKED-DOWN BUCK - Tuesday, December 18, 2007
For a few years now, I have heard the term "lock down" from deer hunters throughout the Midwest who know a lot more than I do about what it takes to kill a big buck with a bow and arrow.
This term means that as a doe comes into heat, she is picked up by a dominant buck and "escorted" to an area away from the hustle and bustle of the activities of the deer herd and essentially "contained" for several days before being "freed" to rejoin her normal daily activities.
During this time it has been said that the buck will breed the doe several times while constantly running off subordinate bucks who get a whiff of her and try to invade their privacy!
It is during this time that the sightings of big bucks cruising is diminished significantly ... right during the middle of the rut! And this is the reason for it.
How many times have you "perfectly" planned your hunt during what you thought would be the best time to be in the woods and end up seeing hardly any big bucks? Even during perfect weather?
Well, on my next blog I will share with you an incredible two and a half days when I witnessed a locked-down buck with a hot doe (complete with running off other bucks, breeding the doe, rubbing trees, etc.) before he finally came into within bow range when he followed past my tree.
THE DEVIL'S TOWER — HULETT, WYOMING - December 6, 2007
The Devil's Tower was our nation's first National Monument established in 1906. This huge rock formation rises 1267 feet above the Belle Fourche River and comes with plenty of tales and folklore. In many ways, it is more impressive than Mount Rushmore (more about that in another blog) that is located only a couple hours away near Rapid City, SD.
While I had driven up to the park entrance many times while hunting with Seven J, this was the first time that we had actually ventured right up to it. Then and only then can you get the real effect of just how massive this monument is. It is definitely worth the visit if you ever get a chance.
The boys were in awe and we had an opportunity to take the Blanton's Christmas card picture while we were there.
So, Merry Christmas from The Blantons'. Consider this our Christmas card to you! Our Lord and Savior Jesus truly is THE Reason for the Season.
HARMAN'S TAG SANDWICH - December 3, 2007
If you read my blog consistently, then you know that my oldest son, Harman, drew an unbelievable elk tag in Wyoming this year. He spent the entire summer shooting and shooting, and shooting his bow some more in preparation for this incredible adventure. Our original plan was to hit the rut so could call in a big ol' bull to within 20 yards and let him hold a G5 broadhead right behind the shoulder.
Well, it didn't go that way.
For the last two days of the hunt Harman had the thrill of his hunting life. Numerous screamin' bulls came into the call. The smaller bulls would come right in. The bigger bulls would invariably always either give us the slip or incredibly, the wind would shift at the worst time, blowing our opportunity. But one of my goals for Harman had been accomplished. He had been in the middle of buglin' elk. What a rush! He was hooked for life.
As we were packing to come home, I got to thinking. If Ginger would give us her blessing, we could go back to WY during Harman's Thanksgiving break and try to kill an elk with a rifle.
No problem! Ginger and I agreed that we would go as an entire family! That's right! On Thanksgiving Day, Ginger, Harman, Alex, Lucas and myself flew back out to try to fill Harman's tag.
No luck. We hunted hard, enjoyed hiking in the beautiful snow-covered Black Hills, enjoyed our family time together and created even more awesome memories that none of these Blanton's would ever forget. (More on this in upcoming blogs) But no elk.
I had a chance to discuss this with Harman and told him that as bad as we want to kill something every time we go, it simply is not a part of God's will. And God's will is perfect. At the age of 17 that concept is probably a little harder to grasp than someone like myself who, at times, has struggled with putting TOO much focus on the kill.
Hopefully, it's a life lesson Harman will never forget.
A TOUGH, BUT BLESSED YEAR - November 29, 2007
What a tough year! But don't get me wrong, I have been blessed in so many ways this fall outside of filling tags, which sometimes becomes too important. I have made many new friends, spent time with my boys out in the field, laughed and broken bread with lifelong friends that I haven't seen in several months, but the biggest gift I have received is knowing that I am truly BLESSED by God to have a wonderful job! And, my taxidermy bill will be significantly lower this year! Ha!
I could not have taken my first (hopefully not my only) buck this year at a more special place with truly special people — The Begert Ranch. Hiram and Darenda Begert have become like family to my family over the years. Their son Brett, his wife Hayley and their beautiful children, McKenley and Boone, also have a special place in my heart.
After chasing Rio Grande turkeys on their ranch, this was the first time I had deer hunted with the Begerts. It was awesome!
I shot this buck at 15 yards from a ground blind. Dan Johnson was running camera and sitting in a Lone Wolf only 5 feet off the ground, getting the entire hunt on video. I know it was a very weird setup, but it was the only way to get it done. Very unusual deal.
Of course, I was hunting with my BowTech Guardian set at 67 pounds, an Easton Super Slim arrow tipped with the G5 Striker broadhead. The buck only ran 70 before piling up! He rough scored right at 145."
Now let's just hope this starts the ball rolling!
I am Blessed!
GOTTA BE THANKFUL - November 21, 2007
Well, heading off to Wyoming today. Going to take my family with me, after all, I can't spend Thanksgiving without them. I just wanted to take a minute to write a short blog before leaving.
I love this time of year for so many reasons. From college football to spending time with people in camp that I love being around, it's just an awesome time of year. Take some time over the next few days, be it in a tree stand or your recliner, and just think about what all we do have to be thankful for.
Have a great Thanksgiving. More blogs coming next week.
MONSTER DOWN! - November 9, 2007
Al killed this monster while we were hunting together in Iowa on October, 30. The buck grosses green at 203" and has only 3" abnormal points making it basically a 200" gross typical whitetail. Unreal!
It is the largest buck every killed with a Realtree camera.
And not only is the deer mind boggling but video is incredible! What a hunt for Monster Bucks XVI!
