By Scott Bestul

I’ll date myself by revealing one of my favorite hunting movies. “Bowhunting October Whitetails” was released back in the 1980’s and featured Gene and Barry Wensel, twin brothers who shot recurve bows exceedingly well. I haven’t watched the film in awhile, and I know by today’s standards the production values weren’t superb. But there was some great footage, solid hunting advice, and most memorably for me the charismatic, fun-loving presence of Barry, who wore his hat cocked sideways and mugged for the camera by arching his eyebrows. I’ve watched a lot of TV shows and videos since, and I’ve yet to see a better on-camera persona.

So I was tickled, 20-plus years after seeing that video, to meet Barry at the Wisconsin Deer Expo this spring. And also to get a copy of his newly-released book “Once Upon a Time: The Crooked Hat Chronicles.” My visit with Barry was brief, but I have spent a lot of time with the book and have enjoyed it immensely. “Once Upon a Time” is aptly named; this is a story book; full of memorable hunts from a lifetime of chasing big game with a bow. This is not an instructional, how-to book (though you can learn an awful lot if you’re paying attention, and I was), but a sort of highlight reel that details some of Wensel’s finest adventures.

I’ve always appreciated great hunting tales, but I particularly enjoyed this book because of Wensel’s honesty. He does not tag every buck he sets out to kill, and happily admits it. This, in my eyes, is the sign of not only a veteran hunter, but a classy one. Wensel is known for his outstanding ability as an instinctive shooter, even on running game (another subject he discusses in detail) yet he’s not afraid to admit whiffing a chip-shot at a standing buck. He details hunts where he falls over stuff, gets wet, and bluff-charges bears. In short, Barry Wensel is a man comfortable with himself, happy with life, and simply loves hunting. When he says he passed a shot on a giant buck simply because he didn’t want his season to end too early, you believe him.

If you’re looking for a great summer read, or a gift book that will please any bowhunter, I’d recommend “The Crooked Hat Chronicles” in a heartbeat. To order a copy, visit brothersofthebow.com

Comments (7)

from 007 wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

I've got "Bowhunting Oct. Whitetails" too, great film!! I'll have to have this book as well, Barry's a hoot! Thanks for the heads up.

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from buckhunter wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

Scott,
There is a lot to say about the old hunting videos. Compared to todays over commercialization, canned hunts, cut outs and fake personalities isn’t a guy simply hunting deer refreshing?

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from jfgann66 wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

yea that was before you had to explain that it was a fair chase hunt because everyone knew it was. I can not stand the deer farm video or the personalities of the hunting show host.

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from deerwhacker40 wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

I have enjoy Barry's stories and hunts over the year and is always refreeshing to read or watch a video of what he has to say, much more than the dream season duo of Drury brothers who absolutely disgust me by commercializing deer hunting and the mere fact of making a game to kill such a magnificent animal such as a whitetail deer for the pleasure only to recieve gifts and prizes. I believe the gift and prize is outwitting a wiley old buck on his home ground then basking in your achievments by enjoying his table fare and beautiful mount next to your fireplace. I hate high fences, and have enjoyed your articles scott and the honesty of your stories.

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from 007 wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

Addendum - How those guys shot a bare recurve the way they did in "October Whitetails" has to be seen to be believed. I don't think I could do it with a firearm that well. How Barry does that eyebrow thing and not hurt himself is a hoot for sure, and then toward the end when he says "remember, when you miss, deny it to the end"! That's a great reminder that while we all need to be ethical and moral, we can still have fun with it. I look forward to laying my hands on this book. Thanks again.

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from Kris24 wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

Too weird!! I have been thinking of that video a lot the past few weeks. It is one of the first hunting videos I watched as a young hunter. It is a great video, and it is really fun to watch. Gene and Barry Wensel seem to be real class acts. Two thumbs up!! I enjoy the old classic hunting videos before they became commercialized to the point that the hunts now take place at game farms in high fenced areas most of the time. Got to love the classics!!

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from cosplay wrote 1 year 25 weeks ago

Addendum - How those guys shot a bare recurve the way they did in "October Whitetails" has to be seen to be believed. I don't think I could do it with a firearm that well. How Barry does that eyebrow thing and not hurt himself is a hoot for sure, and then toward the end when he says "remember, when you miss, deny it to the end"!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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from deerwhacker40 wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

I have enjoy Barry's stories and hunts over the year and is always refreeshing to read or watch a video of what he has to say, much more than the dream season duo of Drury brothers who absolutely disgust me by commercializing deer hunting and the mere fact of making a game to kill such a magnificent animal such as a whitetail deer for the pleasure only to recieve gifts and prizes. I believe the gift and prize is outwitting a wiley old buck on his home ground then basking in your achievments by enjoying his table fare and beautiful mount next to your fireplace. I hate high fences, and have enjoyed your articles scott and the honesty of your stories.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 007 wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

I've got "Bowhunting Oct. Whitetails" too, great film!! I'll have to have this book as well, Barry's a hoot! Thanks for the heads up.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

Scott,
There is a lot to say about the old hunting videos. Compared to todays over commercialization, canned hunts, cut outs and fake personalities isn’t a guy simply hunting deer refreshing?

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Kris24 wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

Too weird!! I have been thinking of that video a lot the past few weeks. It is one of the first hunting videos I watched as a young hunter. It is a great video, and it is really fun to watch. Gene and Barry Wensel seem to be real class acts. Two thumbs up!! I enjoy the old classic hunting videos before they became commercialized to the point that the hunts now take place at game farms in high fenced areas most of the time. Got to love the classics!!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jfgann66 wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

yea that was before you had to explain that it was a fair chase hunt because everyone knew it was. I can not stand the deer farm video or the personalities of the hunting show host.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from 007 wrote 1 year 27 weeks ago

Addendum - How those guys shot a bare recurve the way they did in "October Whitetails" has to be seen to be believed. I don't think I could do it with a firearm that well. How Barry does that eyebrow thing and not hurt himself is a hoot for sure, and then toward the end when he says "remember, when you miss, deny it to the end"! That's a great reminder that while we all need to be ethical and moral, we can still have fun with it. I look forward to laying my hands on this book. Thanks again.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from cosplay wrote 1 year 25 weeks ago

Addendum - How those guys shot a bare recurve the way they did in "October Whitetails" has to be seen to be believed. I don't think I could do it with a firearm that well. How Barry does that eyebrow thing and not hurt himself is a hoot for sure, and then toward the end when he says "remember, when you miss, deny it to the end"!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.