ND Live Fishing Reports

Fishing reports are updated every Friday and follow the ND Live radio program heard throughout North Dakota

Greg Schoneck

Velvet Buck

Levi, age 13, middle son, small in size, 3X in heart. It’s been 5 years waiting and things are about to change.

It all started with Christmas and a prayer. Levi’s older brother had been running the neighborhood scared with his deadly stick and string. Several thousand shots blasted out and fell harmlessly 20 feet away but excitement and determination never faltered. Julie and I decided maybe he would like a real bow for Christmas.

Things were a bit on the tight side so prayer seemed the logical next step. We were gett’n close to decision time and Grandpa said he might be able to help with a bailout. That’s when it happened. Door bell rings and my neighbor Steve is standing there with a bow in his hands. “I just found this under my son’s bed. You think Jesse might want this?”

That was $60 bucks and several deer ago. When Jesse needed more bow it was sold to Levi who shot his first deer with it. Levi grew to more bow as well and little sister Sarah has it now. Maybe someday the grandkids will use it for first deer, who knows. It doesn’t really matter as its real value is in how it was obtained.

Levi’s one desire has been to shoot a deer in velvet. We live in ND and season opens early Sept. That normally gives us about a week to get’r done. For one reason or another it just never happened. Too many distractions. Fishing always cut scouting short. We have tried and even had deer we were hoping for but it never came together.

This season I got my priorities straight and by mid-August we were setting out cameras. It took some time but by the 1^st of Sept we had narrowed down the search to one area with two bucks. Actually we hit the jackpot, as it seemed every deer we got pictures of was a buck. Most were small but I already had my eye on one. I picked up one of his sheds from last season which made me all the more hopeful.

Looking over pictures, the buck with split brow tines appeared to be the most likely to show. We had some daylight pictures and even what seemed to be a pattern. The boys and I already had the blind up and deer seemed to be ok with the set up as we continued to get them on camera.

Friday Sept 3^rd was just days away but I was unable to hunt. Fishing got in the way, again. Our set up depended on a NW wind. South and South East day after day. With the opener already 3 days into Sept and bad winds, things were looking sour for a velvet buck.

When weather finally changed it did the about face! Rain, like we don’t get here in ND. From early morning to late that night a steady downpour continued without taking a breath.  Street curbs were running full, everything was saturated, turkeys looked like mops left in the bucket. I was not hopeful.

 Levi stepped up to an adult bow this summer so 20 yards was in his kill zone. That was a 5 yard advantage over previous years. The handicap was he developed target panic and with it went years of practice and confidence. I like shooting with him but he needed something more than an impatient Dad to get him through this.

Coach Mom got into the game and 3 times a day in 10 shot sessions Levi was in therapy. A friend told me a few years ago the cure was shooting with your eyes closed. Kind of surprising what you can hit with your eyes closed once you have body position right. For me the “eyes closed” thing lets me focus on form and squeeze, not on timing to hit a bullseye. Takes the pressure off.

By day 15 of remedial training Levi was ready for 20 yards and the results were amazing. He was only allowed two shots a day with his eyes open. Results, deadly. Confidence was back and with it a finely tuned consistency he has never achieved before. I’m beginning to think there is more to the regiment than just a fix for target panic.

We pull out all the stops around here when it comes to deer. Prayer has been a big part of our hunting and little did I know what we started years ago at the supper table was being used subversively against me. I had a nice 4 point in mind, the one I had a shed from last season. No daylight pictures yet but I figured there may be a chance later in the season as we got closer to the rut.

Levi and I had been talking about the split brow tine buck and it was decided that was the deer for him. Pictures showed he had a somewhat regular pattern and most importantly he was moving in the daylight. We were determined not to mess this up so waiting for the right wind was essential.

It never rains in ND in September. It never rains in ND all day long. Does today and Levi and I have to decide what to do. Wind is good and we will be in a blind but that is the only two positives we have going. I have no experience hunting deer in the rain so we are going this one with our “eyes closed”.

Things get cramped in a blind and muscles can get tight. We are in stealth mode with the magic last 30 minutes of daylight just ahead of us. I ask Levi to draw his bow a couple of times and then to carefully stand and stretch out. Textbook, soon as he stands I look up to see Mr. Buck staring down the trail.

I have no idea what he found to chew on but it looked like a reformed 3 pack a day smoker gett’n the most out of his Nicorette gum. Chew and stare, chew and stare. I’m guessing 15 minutes, not a step and daylight burning down to the stub.

We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a special News Bulletin:

Sept, 6^th 2010 Whitetail Still in Velvet.

Buck on the move and Levi is focused, confident and amazingly relaxed, for a kid with the shakes that is. Mr. Buck ends up 12 yards away broadside. I whisper to Levi, “Can you take him?” “No, I don’t think so.” Geez, don’t tell me . . ., buck on the move, 20 yards he stops broadside. Levi draws, takes forever and slowly squeezes. Wack! Up the trail and out of sight.

“How did it feel Levi?” Still confident he replies, “Pretty good.” Rain is still coming down and I decide not to wait very long as it is now apparent that the downside to hunting in the rain is a washed out blood trail. Out of the blind straight to the escape trail. Blood looks good, I can’t get over Levi’s confidence.

Levi , out front, flashlight in hand, “Here it is Dad.” “Already? I can’t believe it. Way to go Levi, your coach is going to be so proud of you.” Pictures, video and soaking wet smiles. We head home with a tagged velvet buck. It’s been 5 years waiting. Levi phones ahead to prepare the welcoming committee for our arrival.

Levi has everyone’s attention during story time. I interrupt and tell coach I was praying for the 4 point Levi shot. That’s when he comes clean and informs me, “That’s the one I was praying for Dad.” Problem around here is no one communicates. No wonder families are breaking up.

Remember fishing is a learned sport. More you practice the better you get, so better get fishing!

Greg Schoneck for ND Live