Awhile back I wrote about the Shinkle brothers (Brad and Ted.) They are approaching 90 years old, but that didn’t stop them from trying to put a tag on a U.P. monster! They have alot they could teach us younger woodsmen thats for sure.
Eighty seven year old Ted called me Christmas day to thank me for the article I wrote, for the Monroe Evening News, about him and his slightly older brother. Of course we talked about the deer season and how the “brothers” had done this year. Ted said he had been seeing a real nice 8-pointer during bow season, but couldn’t get him close enough for a shot. He figured come opening day of gun that 8-pointer was his! Wouldn’t you know it, but Ted never saw that buck again. What he did see was several 6-pointers that he could of taken easily, but he opted to wait for the “big-boy!” Ted came home empty handed, but he didn’t have to-he chose to! Good for you Ted! Next year you should have 3 or 4 nice 8-pointers to try and outsmart.
Not only did Ted pass on several bucks, but Brad passed on a 6-pointer as well. Brad is 89 years old, and figured he would let this buck get a little bigger for next year! Now thats positive thinking. Ted’s son Gary did get a nice buck, so the buck pole was represented by one of the Shinkles again. Like Ted says “If you want to shoot big deer you have to let em go, and let em grow!” These guys are priceless.