Ray Howell : Kicking Bear

My Nine-Point Buck
By Cathryn Helmers

Cathryn and her family have been to three different Kicking Bear events in the last three years. She has brought friends and made new friends at these events. Her parents have helped mentor at several of these events. Here is Cathryn’s story as written by her.

This last winter, 2002, I passed my hunters safety, so I would be able to go gun deer hunting in the fall of 2003. My Dad put in a food plot for me and a nice stand to hunt from. During the bow season Dad got photos and video of a particular 9 pointer. I was hoping to see this buck during gun season.

As the season got closer and closer I was getting more and more excited because Dad had seen this buck go past my stand several times. Dad had photos of several different bucks, but I really wanted to be able to shoot the 9 pointer with a split brow tine. Opening morning Dad and I saw several does and one buck, but it was not the 9 pointer. The second morning we saw 12 does and another small buck.

Just after lunch several does came out to feed on the plot. As I was sitting there I was wondering if I was going to see him or not. At 1:15 I said to Dad, “Dad it’s a buck,” Dad picked up the binoculars and looked. He said, “Oh man, get the video camera.” As he was focusing the camera I raised my 243 rifle onto the rest of the stand. Dad whispered “take your time and concentrate. When he stops take your shot”. When I squeezed the trigger the buck reacted with a jump and ran the length of the plot (100 yards) into the timber.

It all happened so fast from one moment to the next and he was gone. Dad turned to me and said, “That is an awful big buck Catie”. So you think you made a good shot on him”, “Yes I had a good steady aim.” Dad counted the paces as we went; it was 110 yards from the stand. We could not find any blood where we had last seen him.

Dad and I then decided to go back to the cabin and get my 3 uncles and my cousin to help us look for him. Dad had an idea of where to look for him. He had shot several bucks with his bow and they were found in a very thickly covered ravine. As we approached that area my uncle Mitch spotted the buck down in the brush. He had made it 125 yards from where he was shot.

As I was walking up to where he laid everyone was very excited for me. I turned to my Dad and said, “Look Dad it’s the split brow tine 9 pointer.” The inside spread was 18 ¾. We took many photos, I was so proud of myself. I could not tell you how thrilled I was. I started hunting with my Dad for turkeys when I was 6 years old and 9 when I first went deer hunting with him. All the practice shooting before the season in my back yard really prepared me for taking the shot. The most exciting aspect of the hunt was that my Dad and I did it together and he video taped the whole hunt from start to finish. I will now have my own trophy buck to put on the wall next to my Dad’s.

About Ray Advertising Info Appearances Bowhunting Adventures Hunting in Real Time Contact Us Home Page Kicking Bear One-on-One Kicking Bear Staff Kicking Bear Contest Preferred Outfitters Seminars Sponsors Tips Section Trophy Room Kicking Bearr Adventures		My Nine-Point Buck By Cathryn Helmers Cathryn and her family have been to three different Kicking Bear events in the last three years. She has brought friends and made new friends at these events. Her parents have helped mentor at several of these events. Here is Cathryn’s story as written by her. This last winter, 2002, I passed my hunters safety, so I would be able to go gun deer hunting in the fall of 2003. My Dad put in a food plot for me and a nice stand to hunt from. During the bow season Dad got photos and video of a particular 9 pointer. I was hoping to see this buck during gun season. As the season got closer and closer I was getting more and more excited because Dad had seen this buck go past my stand several times. Dad had photos of several different bucks, but I really wanted to be able to shoot the 9 pointer with a split brow tine. Opening morning Dad and I saw several does and one buck, but it was not the 9 pointer. The second morning we saw 12 does and another small buck. Just after lunch several does came out to feed on the plot. As I was sitting there I was wondering if I was going to see him or not. At 1:15 I said to Dad, “Dad it’s a buck,” Dad picked up the binoculars and looked. He said, “Oh man, get the video camera.” As he was focusing the camera I raised my 243 rifle onto the rest of the stand. Dad whispered “take your time and concentrate. When he stops take your shot”. When I squeezed the trigger the buck reacted with a jump and ran the length of the plot (100 yards) into the timber. It all happened so fast from one moment to the next and he was gone. Dad turned to me and said, “That is an awful big buck Catie”. So you think you made a good shot on him”, “Yes I had a good steady aim.” Dad counted the paces as we went; it was 110 yards from the stand. We could not find any blood where we had last seen him. Dad and I then decided to go back to the cabin and get my 3 uncles and my cousin to help us look for him. Dad had an idea of where to look for him. He had shot several bucks with his bow and they were found in a very thickly covered ravine. As we approached that area my uncle Mitch spotted the buck down in the brush. He had made it 125 yards from where he was shot. As I was walking up to where he laid everyone was very excited for me. I turned to my Dad and said, “Look Dad it’s the split brow tine 9 pointer.” The inside spread was 18 ¾. We took many photos, I was so proud of myself. I could not tell you how thrilled I was. I started hunting with my Dad for turkeys when I was 6 years old and 9 when I first went deer hunting with him. All the practice shooting before the season in my back yard really prepared me for taking the shot. The most exciting aspect of the hunt was that my Dad and I did it together and he video taped the whole hunt from start to finish. I will now have my own trophy buck to put on the wall next to my Dad’s.
		Watch for up-coming Kicking Bear One-on-One events. In particular, there is one more in the "works" for this year -- in La Crosse Wisconsin There are still some Kickingbear One-on-One T-shirts available. Anyone wishing to purchase one may contact me via email. Anyone wishing to host a Kickingbear One-on-One event can contact me at ray@rayhowell.com
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