Story of My Life

Last weekend found us at the Iowa Deer Classic once again. This was our third year of being there. I really enjoy it because not only are there some of the biggest bucks from the past year there, but also a huge antler collection from North American Shed Hunters Club. There are also those friendships that we've been starting to build along the way.

Our first year was a big step and maybe more about chasing a dream than using common sense. As a bow hunter I have been a fan of the Wensel brothers for years. They are twin brothers that hunted with recurve bows and killed monster bucks. They wrote a lot of books and articles and then started making hunting videos in the late eighties and nineties and up until five or ten years ago. They moved to Iowa where they killed even bigger bucks. They often mentioned going to the Iowa Deer Classic in their writings, and so it became a place that I hoped to someday go.

 I believe that Gene still holds the honor of taking the biggest non-typical buck ever with a traditional bow. Barry, the other twin, kind of became my hero. He had more of a clean humor about him and was always goofing off. He always wore his hat sideways so that the deer wouldn't know which way he was looking. He would shoot bucks that were running through the woods and make these perfect shots. While everyone around him would be totally amazed about his buck and great shot, he would raise his eyebrows up and down, shake his head and say, “story of my life, two inches off.”

Anyways, I probably learned more about hunting deer from reading their stories and watching their videos than any other source. I met Barry on several different occasions and he would talk to me like we were old friends, even though he didn't have a clue about who I was. Once at a show in PA, he told me that he had one, last minute opening at his “pig gig camp” in Texas. It was for traditional bowhunters if I wanted the spot. I often kick myself for not jumping on the offer, but I've always been slow at making decisions, and not having Jenelle there to give her blessing, I said no.

The one thing that I never learned very well from those guys was how to pay attention and to be ready, so that you're on top of the game when the buck actually appears. It's cost me more than a few bucks over the years. The one time that I remember best was when I was after this big and wide eight point. We had been up too late the night before, but I got up at my usual “too early” time and got up in my tree stand anyway. Now I'm not advocating getting into a stand when you are sleepy, but when I was younger I did just that, probably more times than I should have. I do wear a safety harness and my climbing stand was one that you can't really fall out of, and I dozed off for just a minute. It was probably more than a minute. When I opened my eyes and looked to my right, there was the big buck, walking by at eighteen yards. I slowly tried to turn but the buck was cruising by and I didn't even get my bow drawn. Sad to say it, but that's pretty much become, “story of my life, not ready and paying attention.”

I've kinda followed those guys over the years, and I've watched their videos dozens and dozens of times. Aiyana wasn't the best sleeper as a kid, but I rocked her to sleep many a night while watching Primal Dreams. Just saying all of this to say that Jenelle and the kids have watched more than their fair share of the Brothers of The Bow and so they all know who Gene and Barry are.

When we started our little business and since I was making antlers, the dream of going to the Iowa Deer Classic became one of getting a booth at the Iowa Deer Classic. Since Jenelle’s family lives only a couple of hours from Des Moines, we could visit her parents on the same trip. Suddenly the Classic became a possibility. The only problem was that a booth at the Classic cost an arm and a leg, plus another arm. We decided to go for it and that first year we made just enough to pay for our booth and hotel and gas. When we did the math, we weren't sure if we'd come back. But we were able to see Jenelle’s family and it was a fun experience and we had made some new acquaintances at the show. But it's hard to make a living when you are just breaking even. There were other downsides too.I didn't see Gene or Barry anywhere around and apparently the show had shifted more to appeal to the high dollar type of hunting with giant blinds and food plot planting equipment. The archery competition didn't have a traditional class, and I saw very few traditional hunters, and no traditional bow shops were represented there at all.

The next year we put a lot of thought into it and made the choice to come back. Why not? With the world just starting to get past COVID, things would probably be better. And to start any new venture, you've got to start at the bottom and work your way up. And so we went for it. We made a little more money. The kids got to stay with Grandma and Grandpa the whole time. We got to meet some old friends and make some new ones. I still didn't see Barry or Gene. Not a big deal but I always thought it would be neat to get to talk to Barry one more time before he left the planet. I scanned the aisles for them occasionally. Having a booth is a little bit like being in a tree stand, just watching for the occasional buyer to come by. If Barry or Gene would come by it would be a little bit like that dream buck coming by your stand. I'd shake their hand, chit chat a bit and hope to get a story out of them. 

Well it didn't happen. I assumed that in their older years, these shows probably weren't that enjoyable anymore. Most of their contemporaries were gone along with the traditional bowhunters that used to come to the classic, and if I was them I'd probably stay home too.

This year was our third year. Jenelle and I came back with hopes of making some money, getting to hang out with each other for three days, seeing some friends, and spending some time with her parents. We were feeling confident as  our antlers and fish are really starting to look like we are wanting them too. It was a good weekend and for the most part we stayed in the booth during the show. I did take in an elk hunting seminar with Kenneth Lancaster, and Sunday morning I got to sit in on the chapel meditation.

There were other popular personalities there as well, such as Whitetail Adrenaline, Working Class Bow Hunter, Swamp People, and others. But I didn't even give much thought about the possibility of seeing the Wensel brothers there. I had heard that Barry had some health issues and Gene had moved back to Montana to be close to the nursing home where his wife was.

It was a good weekend and show just the same. On Sunday as things were dying down we saw an older, small, slim and trim gentleman come cruising by. He was bald and even though he looked feeble, he still seemed to have a spring to his step. He had a younger man with him as an escort and they weren't stopping or looking at any booths. I assumed they were on a mission, heading to the bathroom at the end of our aisle. Before they got to the end of the aisle, they stopped by a booth that books bowhunts for African Safaris. Everyone in the booth came out and gathered around like they were old buddies. I figured it was probably some retired doctor that had gone on an African Safari at an earlier stage in life, but something about him looked familiar.

“Man, something about that guy reminded me of Barry Wensel” I said to Jenelle. She didn't think it was him. I kind of agreed. He would have had to lose lots of weight. And to come into a place like the Deer Classic, he surely would have worn his trademark hat. I wasn't totally convinced that it wasn't him. “If he comes back, I'm going to ask. Can't hurt,” I said. 

A little later I looked up to see the gentleman and his helper heading right towards us. He didn't look to the right or left but shuffled quickly past. “I don't think that's him”, Jenelle said. She was probably right and so I didn't budge. He was already half way past our booth anyhow. And it would be awkward to ask someone if they are somebody that they are not. So I didn't budge or move. But in the back of mind I was pretty certain. That had to be Barry Wensel.

A while later I stopped by the African Safari booth for a minute and asked, “Did that happen to be Barry Wensel that stopped by a little while ago?”

“Yes sir” answered the guide with his South African accent. “Barry came to our camp with Jack Nicklaus.” Apparently Barry had guided Jack on a whitetail bow hunt and they became friends. So then Jack invited Barry to Africa to hunt. Barry befriended the outfitter and invited him to the Iowa Deer Classic to book hunts. For those that don't know, Jack was the world's best golfer for years. The Safari guys have been making trips to the Classic ever since. 

I thanked him and moved on.

I kicked myself. I should have jumped out and said something.

I almost got to talk to my hero one last time. I just wasn't on top of my game.

Oh well, guess that's just the story of my life.