Welcome Fish Lake Winni Angler's
Log On Today - Fish On Tomorrow! ™
(603) 731-1804 / (603) 344-8698
The pursuit of 200lb ridge running, north country, whitetailed big woods bucks. This sentence, sums up one of the most passionate loves of my life. Since as long as I can remember I have disappeared into the fall woods in search of not just any buck but a 200lb buck. When the weather starts to cool in late fall my heart races with anticipation for the moments that create memories that can and will last a lifetime.
What is it about the 200lb mark that drives us northeast hunters? Is it the fact that you know you've shot a big healthy mature whitetail? Or is it simply where the bar has been set? Whether it is 200lb or 200 inches, a mature trophy whitetail is just that, a truly unique trophy.
In a moment for me, my 2009 season engraved memories in my mind with friends and family that will undoubtedly last a lifetime, as I was lucky enough to harvest my heaviest deer to date, a 225lb ridge running north country, mature buck. He carried 7 points and a nice 18 inch wide rack but its that 200lb mark that really makes him a buck of a lifetime. I shot him in Pittsburg while at hunting camp with some of my closest friends and family. We all got to enjoy the adventure of the hunt, of the harvest and of course the haulin' him out.
We love hunting the north country (by we I mean my Father and I) for the big woods and potentially the big bucks, and for as long as I have hunted we have always gone to the Big North Woods to pursue our Trophies. We love to track on snow and travel miles over ridges. This November we would have to deal with what Mother Nature gave us warm temps and bare ground. With a couple of tough winters and an already low deer heard the hunting and sign was not so good but as my Dad likes to say” it only takes a second!” The Temperatures were in the mid 40's on Friday November 20th and we were blessed with a driving rain, which was actually was kind of welcomed so at least you did not sound like you were stomping on seventy two boxes of Captain Crunch while you were walking through the woods. We were hunting an area I had tracked a buck through, over and around a bunch last season, well last season he won but this season well… I was sneaking across the top of a big clear cut when I jumped up my Buck bedded with a doe. I took two quick shots looking through my fogged scope as he bolted across the cut with my 30-06 pump. I was lucky enough to get one into him before he got out of the cut. After some running, some more shooting, some falling down of both me and the deer and some more shooting the pursuit came to its climatic end. And I got the biggest buck I've shot to date, this 225lb ridge runner. I shot five times and hit him at least three these Big Boys are some tough and I have the utmost respect for them and feel lucky and honored any time I even see such a specimen.
I have been very lucky in that I have had a great teacher and mentor, my father who has shot his fair share of wall hangers. Sharing these moments with him is a gift that I will cherish forever!
Travis
Cool Water
