Did I miss it.How did Barry and Gene make out this season?

the last I heard, barry still holding out......

I was wondering this myself!

I killed a really nice buck on Nov. 16th. Big 4x4. Everything fell into place on the last day I was able to hunt this season so I'm a happy camper. He's a keeper.

That’s a heck of a buck congrats!

Nice buck. Good going Barry!

Even better going Gene! Barry always said you were the better looking of you two!

Wow,really nice,thanks for the pic.Happy Holidays to you and your brother Barry.

Nice! Congrats Gene!

Beautiful buck Gene.. Guess Uncle Barry's still at it?

Congratulations Gene, very nice buck and great photo.

Nice buck Gene. Congratulations.

That's a beauty Gene! Thanks for sharing.

Ha Barry we need to know your business, lol.

Congratulations on killing a fine buck!

Another Beauty...Congrats on a Great Buck...4finger

Story? If I was a buck, I would move away from those guys.

Great deer.

Those Wensel boys get it done.

Nice buck, congrats sir!

Nice buck, congrats sir!

Nice deer Gene, glad to see you back at it. Stay well.

Congrats to you Gene! What a buck!

Beautiful buck Gene! Your bow looks like one of Paul's Silvertips, similar to mine, did I guess correctly?

Congrats on a great buck Gene.

You should see the ones he passed on. Gene and Barry are successful due to their year round dedication/addiction to bowhunting Whitetails. Not the kill but the hunt! Being friends with them they graciously share photos of the ones they let go inside fifteen yards. Being twins you expect certain commonalities but I hear the same things year after year. “He needs some time. He will be something special.” “He is not the one of the ones I’m after.” And the one that speaks of their love of the hunt is, “it’s too soon, I don’t want season over this soon.” They love the hunt and being out there. And come late October and November don’t plan on talking , texts, or regular emails. The reply is short on what they pass and “ No time to talk, hunting dark to dark. Hitting the sack.”

For you guys that want to be a successful Mature whitetail hunters here is their secret everybody wants to know. “Loving the hunt and the animal”and “spending every second they can in a tree.” These are the things we need to teach our kids, love the hunt, not the horns. And the luckiest guys are the ones that work the hardest. My little boy asks almost everyday if Uncle Gene and Barry saw anything. He knows how hard they work at it and how much fun they have doing it whether they are shooting or not. We are lucky to have these guys.

I just keep trying to get them to send me their kull bucks!!! AA

Altizer, I wish I could get my wife to accept that philosophy. And then she would say, "I DO"!, and I'd be single. LOL! TK

Good points Alan.

Ya gotta be able to have land to yourself and hunt undisturbed Deer. Yes they shoot awesome Bucks....but they prolly couldn't do it on public land.

Beautiful buck Gene congrats.

That's a nice 4x4 Mr. Wensel! You have some serious MOJO with them whitetails . Thank you for sharing with us that appreciate your doings.

That is a great buck!!!! I appreciate you sharing your successes with me for over 33 years :)

I really meant no disrespect....great Deer...I have met Barry..awesome folks.....

Great buck Gene....!! Congrats..!!

That's a great buck Gene...congrats

Congratulations on a magnificent buck Gene! Altizer's post is one that we all can admire, and walk away being better hunters for the reading of it.

What bow was Gene shooting this year? Thanks TLM

Pretty sure it’s a Tall Tines.

Sapper 1980, I didn't take it as disrespectful but you're wrong. We lived in Montana for almost 30 years and I did a large majority of my bowhunting on U.S. Forest Service, National Forest, and public lands. I took my biggest whitetail ever on public land and Gene took his second biggest also. Anyway, no offense taken. I'll try to answer this thread with some tall tales and recent updates tomorrow. I intended to do it today but got behind. Please stay tuned. Thanks. BW

Awesome! Can’t wait to hear the update!

Gene and Barry living whitetail hunting legends. Have had the pleasure of meeting with and talking to them at various events over the years. Great communicators, examples for our sport and boy do they know whitetails and how to hunt them. Congrats Gene and thanks to both of you for your contributions to our sport.

Congratulations on getting a very nice buck.appreciate all that you and Barry do for all of us.

Yes, that is my beloved Tall Tines. What a bow! I spent many years hunting public lands. Its tougher for sure. When we first moved to Iowa, we leased land but got frustrated with gang hunters and gave that up years ago. Right now, I have permission to hunt five different local farms in Iowa. I have no exclusive rights. All five are hunted by the landowners themselves, their families and friends. These landlords are all smart enough to manage their property with limited access and wise QDMA deer management plans. I have no problem whatsoever with others hunting the farms I hunt as long as they are not overhunted and all those hunting do it for the right reasons.

Well, I taught Barry a lot of what he knows!! I went out to his place to give him a rundown on what he was doing wrong. Here he is talking over me as I try to show him over looked signs.

Here's Barry finally listening as I show him where to put a stand

And here's the proof, I can't say enough about how much I taught Barry.

Seriously though, I was fortunate enough to befriend Barry through a mutual friend and the PBS. I attended his Whitetail boot camp and let me tell you both Barry and Gene are the real deal. It's amazing to see how much preparation, scouting and time that these guys spend in the deer woods. The knowledge that I gained at Barry's Boot Camp set me up on not only a lot of bucks, but the bigger bucks. As I walked the woods of Iowa with Barry, I couldn't help but think of how these guys are doing it at their age and STILL just as passionate about it.

Thanks Sean. I'll try to save up for a Christmas bonus check for you. I won't be able to get into details here but in a nutshell I still haven't shot an arrow this season. I'm only allowed one buck tag anymore other than the late season. And I tend not to hunt the late seasons very much for personal reasons. Alan got it right above when he said I love the hunt more so than the actual kill. I'm ashamed to admit last year I killed a Booner in October and was complaining about the fact I didn't get to hunt the rut. How can a guy kill a beautiful B&C class buck and still complain? Because I didn't get to hunt much. This year I had a couple outstanding bucks to play with. I tend to target specific deer. There were also several great ones I had on the "free-pass list" for one reason or another, mostly because they displayed great future potential. And there is at least one that I couldn't decide on. He is a huge non-typical. His antlers are hard to explain but they grow upwards like an uprooted tree. We named him High Five because he has FIVE brow tines that all appear over eight inches each. I'm sure he's got over a yard just in brow tine measurements. His one antler base is I'm sure over nine inches and the other almost nine inches in circumference. I think he might be over 200" now but I also think he's only 4.5 yrs. old. I think if he lives for two more years he'll be one of those world class unbelievable nontypicals. I said I'd be willing to let him walk another year if the neighbors would. But they keep blasting them in their late-season food plots. But the deer kind of made my decision easy because I never layed eyes on him yet. The buck that I want the most is one I passed up last year at 18 yds. as a 5x4. And I'm REALLY glad I did. He blossomed into something special this year. We named him Wide Open because of his width. He's a 6x5 but really wide, and I love width. I would guess he's somewhere around 25" wide. Another big fully mature buck that he often runs with came by me one afternoon. I seriously though about taking him but decided to let him go too just in case Wide Open was following. That buck is interesting in that he had split G2s last year but not split this year, thus we named him No-Splits. He also has what looks like a third antler growing between his regulars. It's not that big but is unique.

Then there was this other one. I was sitting one afternoon and a single young doe came by. She was 12 yds. frontal. Here he comes "tending" her. As he walked towards me he was behind some trees so I didn't get a good look. When he stepped out I was heartbroken. He looked like Wide Open but he'd broken off most of his left antler right in front of the G2. I instantly decided not to shoot him. I honestly tried not to keep looking at him so I wouldn't lose control. Then he stepped out from behind the trees and was now broadside looking the other way at 14 yds. I remember thinking "there's your shot". His body was absolutely enormous. Hurley field dressed 248 lbs. and this one was considerably bigger. Then he turns and starts walking back the way he came out. As he walked away it hit me right between the eyes like a ton of bricks.. I really messed up. I suddenly realized that was not Wide Open with a broken rack but a different deer with a typical right antler and a non-typical left. I'm an idiot at times. He's still only 25 yds but only a butt shot. He melts away into the brush. I didn't want to try calling him in because the little doe was only 30 feet from me and would have blown up. So I gambled he'd swing back and continue following her after she left. I gambled and lost.

Two days later in another stand a 1/4 mile away he came by me again at 18 yds.. Bad news... he had broken off five points on his N/T side in a fight. Then a few more days later he walked by again at 15yd. This time he'd broken off his entire right antler at the main beam near the brow tine. So he'd broken a total of at least nine major points since out first encounter. I've seen him five times now. I think he thinks we've become friends. Next year my friend... next year. I'd really like to shoot him just to see how much he weighs.

So here it is December and I haven't shot an arrow yet... and probably won't. You guys still like me don't you? BW

Thanks for the update!

I get more enjoyment listing about the ones you pass then the ones you get. Lol Yep still like you Barry.

Barry, we still like you. LOL. Now keep hunting and see if you can "Lay Eyes" on Wide Open. Good Luck.

You know we still like you! We can't quit on certain uncles. How's the scouting DVD coming along? I know many are anxious to get their hands on it. As always great recap on the fall season.

The new technique/ strategies DVD is getting there. It's being edited as we speak. I got into it pretty deep. So much so that I'm going with a Vol. 1 & 2. Probably 2 hours in each volume. Some good secrets I've never told before. There's a possibility I'll be doing K-Zoo in January too and the editor promised it done by then. But you know how that goes. I'm also going to give nine one-hour seminars at the NRA's Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA Feb 2 thru 10, 2019 Maybe I'll see you there. I'll be the guy with the crooked hat. BW

Nice buck Gene. Congratulations. I am glad that your season went well for.

And of course the most unusual story comes from Barry. Sometimes I wonder if it is safe to stand next to you. Great story and I hope the weather is favorable for the late season.

I have put most of the books on your website on my Santa list, so I hope you all can skip a few days in the woods and make sure you get my books shipped. Haha. Except Come November which I already have and have read 2x this year. Wish I would have had that book 30 years ago.

I just watched October Whitetail I & II with my grandson last night. He loves to watch Primal Dreams and Essential Encounters when become over here.

Wow some impressive horn porn! Hope you get one off your hit list.Weather in Iowa has been brutal.

Yes, this is the coldest November I remember since moving here in '99. I also witnessed some very "different" stuff going on in the deer woods that I really can't explain. bw

Wow, if I saw one like that in my entire life while hunting, and get a shot, I'd be happy. How DO you do it? Congrats on a lifetime of achievements, both of you guys.

Hey Gene. Good job on another beautiful buck. Barry and yourself are the last of the guys I grew up with doing what we love. Keep it up

Congrats on a fine Buck!

Good luck with rest of Dec Barry - to me it sounds like you already had a very successful season. For the first time in my life I took off the entire month of Nov. Wound up shooting 2 decent public land bucks and had a blast with some "big un" encounters. Still applying all I learned at your bootcamp - looking forward to the tactics DVDs

Dave (aka TX USAF)

Those Wensel twins really have it together. They set the bar as high as possible as far as quality whitetails are concerned.

On a side note, I couldn’t be prouder of Sean (Hookedspur). He’s taught the twins well and should be commended for that accomplishment.

A pic of me teaching Sean what he’s taught Barry and Gene......you’ve done well Grasshopper .........

Ha!! Hey Mike!! Hope all is well my friend!!

Sean my friend, I just couldn’t resist. Someday we’ll sit around the campfire together again.

You bet Mike!! I hope to get back up to Latuque with Tom soon. He's coming out to hunt with me in two weeks

Hope you make it to Kzoo Barry. I would like to buy that New CD.

Ment to say DVD lol.

Nice buck, Gene...glad you were able to make your hunts.

Today is Dec. 7th. The Iowa second gun season opens in the morning. Bad news.. we found the first shed antler of the year today. And we got a picture on one of the trail cameras of another buck that already shed both sides. So that means a lot of the gunners who intend to be shooting "big" does will be taking a few shed bucks. bw

I’ve slept on that couch a few times! Why’s there cash in your hands? What’s going on there!? Always great to hear stories from these boys! Nice buck Gene. And no Worries Uncle B well always love ya. Deer or no deer.... Matty

Thanks for the update!

3 of my hero’s here, Gene, Barry and Alan. I have every book and DVD the Wensels have done as well as all of Alan’s videos.. it’s amazing the deer that Gene and Barry take or even pass on a regular basis.. I live and breathe bowhunting and all these guys have really helped keep that fire going. Thanks guys.

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