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DUKE !!!!! Just free of his 14 day quarantine and still not 100%, Duke put the hammer down on another beauty. Thanks to our guide, who may as well just shot the deer for him too ! Duke got put in the right spot at the right place at the right time. Nothing can compare to great fellowship in the woods, mixed with a BBD !! Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk

Well,i did find tracks very quickly. I followed them for a while and may have caught up with the deer since they turned into running tracks. So i veered off and worked my way to my favorite north south ridge. I forgot who mentioned it,maybe @G-Man. Zig zag across the ridge. I have seen does bedded on the windy side before,so i gave it a go. No deer on the windy side,so i zagged over to the other side and peeked over. I caught movement and froze. A doe about 45 yds from me,behind some blowdowns. Then i see another,and a third. It is really thick with fallen trees so i kept scanning and trying to figure out how big they are. Well one starts circling to get downwind of me,and another watches her and follows slowly. Another is watching me from further down the hill. I decided no.2 is big enough and shoot her at about 60 yds before i get busted,and a whole bunch of does run off. This one made it 80 yds or so,the shot was a little further forward than intended,i think i was afraid of a tree and some brush that hid the back half of the doe. I am very happy i got her,what a season i have had. It has been years since i got three deer,and this was my first two buck season as well.

Gus the deer tracking Beagle was finally happy the other night ! Each night upon my return he runs out to smell the truck and myself , then walks off in pity .

I wasn't really sure if I wanted to make a post about this or not but I figured it wouldn't hurt to share it here. I've been very fortunate to take several bears over the years and when I cut a bear track last Saturday I couldn't help but shift my focus from deer hunting. It wasn't real fresh but several times in the past I've been able to follow older tracks a short distance to an area where the bear has hung around for a while and the sign got much fresher. I figured I had nothing to lose and I knew of some thick beech brush and left over tree tops from logging that I'd seen bear sign in just a few weeks ago. Since the tracks headed back toward that general direction I circled back and around the whole area and found no tracks coming out. I met up with my dad and I put him on the downwind side of the brush lot where if the bear went back out the way it came in that my dad may be able to get shot. I circled back around and still hunted my way through the brush and after about an hour and a half I was getting to within 75 or so yards of my dad but still hadn't cut a bear track. A few minutes later I could see his orange hat through the brush and thought the bear must have angled further than I thought since still no tracks. As I came up to a tree top I'd stopped for a minute and just looked around while deciding which way to go around it and saw a fresh track just 20 or so feet in front of me. I followed it with my eyes and could see it went through the tree top I was standing next to and was quite shocked to see a bear staring at me through the brush at only 15 or so feet. I've heard of bears holding tight to cover but never expected it would let me walk that close without busting out of there. Everything happened real fast at that point as I immediately took aim under the chin while also taking a step backward to try to get something between me and the bear. It felt like a now or never moment and in a split second from seeing the bear one shot to the neck put it down instantly.

After wanting a 444 marlin for a long time I finally found the right one. A marlin 444p outfitter. 18.5 inch ported barrel. Will most likely join me on next years main bear hunt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lots of names that have half ass meaning where I hunt but there is one pretty special stand........"The Coyote" stand. It got it's name 10-12 years ago when I had an "epic" (as you young guys call it) morning. It was the first week of December I believe and my buck tag was already filled. I was just trying for a doe, or two if I got really lucky. I ended up shooting a beauty of a doe around 9am. She ran from the ridge down to the creek bottom below my stand and expired. I was hunting out of my Summit climber that morning so I lowered my gun, climbed down and proceeded to gut her then drag her up onto my side of the gully. I had about 90 minutes before I was to meet my buddies and go for breakfast so I climbed back up the tree and reloaded the gun. Not 20 minutes later I saw a lone coyote slinking along the ridge, glancing down at the gut pile. I quickly got her in my scope and made the shot. She ran down to were the doe died and piled up! Wow, how cool was that?? I climbed back down the tree, hiked down to the creek and dragged the 'yote up to lay next to the doe. I climbed back UP the tree and figured I'd wait out the remaining time up there, why not? Not ten minutes later another coyote came sneaking along the ridge.........BANG. I climbed back down, hiked down and up the other side and had to put in a finishing shot on that one. Two coyote and a doe in 90 minutes with the T/C 50 cal Encore......needless to say before the next fall we had put a ladder stand up against the same tree I shimmied up and down that unreal morning like a crazy red squirrel. Lots of bucks and doe have been taken from that ladder stand since that day. As a matter of fact, I killed a doe from that stand two Saturday's ago........

Wolc special ! Haven’t seen such tiny backstraps in sometime ! But they’ll taste great . When we drive any safe shot is taken , we don’t walk an hour through mud to let small ones walk. Well that’s not correct , THIS YEAR that apples .lol With 30# from Joes buck and some of his Elk , we’re ok meat wise now . Ill be out again late season . No slick heads this time .

First deer with the Hawken Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

DUUUUKE!!!!!!!! Nothing better than targeting a specific buck and it coming together on that first hunt for him.

My mom passed back in May and with covid backing everything up, we finally got the family together to go through my parents house. We came across my grand dads honing steel. I remember my grand dad using it so many times when he, my dad and my uncles would cut up deer to address the knife blades . It was passed to my dad and he / we used often ourselves . I hadn’t seen it in many years, so glad my mom kept it. I don’t know if you can see but it’s pretty much smooth now from being used so much. It’s hanging in my garage/ work shop now.

Ok.... I was gonna hold off on this post until the post season But things have slowed down greatly on the site so I thought I would throw this out after Otto just started the awesome thread about stand names. Let's see and talk homemade/store bought box blinds. Let us know if they are elevated......how high.....window size.....things you would do different next time. From what I can tell alot people on here hunt out of some sort of enclosed blind. Let's see some pics and here stories about the building process. Pictured below is my first build. It's a 4x8 deer shack mounted on a harbor freight trailer. Flip up tinted plexiglass windows all the way around.......fits myself and two young's boys real nice.....or two adults. Enough room to standup and move around and when needed we can run a propane heater safely. Probably one of the best investments I have ever made. Let's you be out in any weather.....and we all know being out hunting is way better than sitting on the couch thinking about it. Next season we are already planning an elevated blind build for one property and at least an elevated platform for another that we may just put a hub blind on. Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Forgot to post it here. Last gun weekend doe with the 06 thanks to an invite to the Lomax buckform.

Busted out the boot blankets today! Very cozy sit for 25, feels like 18

Those tiny backstraps are perfect size to wrap in bacon, the one pictured is from a larger deer where I cut the backstraps in half and wrapped in bacon, smoked over applewood. Amazing!!! Those little gems you have there are just the right size.

Another one down. Letting my dogs in last night, i always scan my field with my thermal monocular. Saw her running around the field and new instantly it was a yote. Grabbed my rifle and went out back. It was like walking on potato chips getting back there. Made it to the edge of the field and watched her move into some tall grass, couldnt shoot do to houses in the background. So i moved to my shooting shack, covering up the sounds of my steps with a rabbit distress mouth call. As soon as i got in i scanned again and she came back into the open. And thats a wrap, thankful for the thermal again on the recovery. She ran maybe 40 yards into some tall grass, definitely wouldve found her this morning but just had to walk and scan till i found the the heat.

How slow is that gun? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Built this late summer with my dad. 4’x6’ box which is I VERY happy with, deer encounters are typically close, so any larger, than I create blind spots, that I would need to move around for. 12’ treated legs, elevator brackets secured with timber bolts, deck torx screws, everything minus board/bats are treated. 3/4” plywood treated floor, 3/4” x 12” boards covered with tin roof(full boards not normal pearlings, thin carpet for sound deadening, front/rear plexiglass slider windows, and one you see is hinged on the door, and the 4th is a flip up with a magnet(magnet has a strip of electrical tape for sound reduction). Buddy heater with a 12’ hose, filter, and 20 lb tank. Treated ladder, with the rungs the same distances apart, as a standard ladder. I would only change the rear window, it is a pinch low, I would add height, rather than moving it up. I shot my deer from that window though. I plan to add a little piece of plywood to hold the propane tank though, rather than resting it on the ladder brace. I will add a few hooks as well, and I am thinking about a little flip up shelf for the bi-pod. I love it, oh and I need a better seat! I was in it solo all season, but for a once in a while 2 person sit, it will be perfect.

John After being tossed from your FIL's property following your big buck kill, I would think you would have learned your lesson. You never post what you kill, ever. It only leads to poachers and others trying to steal your spot, or so I hear.

Venison kebabs home, salad with home made red wine vinaigrette, and chefs mushroom soup Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Chunk of venison loin seared off with some lemon butter white wine asparagus. Picture of what counts.....

No one can dull a knife faster than me with one of those bad boys Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Venison chili - that dollop of sour cream is not as big as it appears! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Two years into Trumps administration I knew that I got duped . He had majorities in the house and senate, and the only thing that got a accomplished was corporate tax cuts for the donor class, with some scraps tossed on the floor the rest of America. Instead of Trump tossing gas on the two party duopoly he went all in as partisan hack. I was duped I admit it. However that was no excuse to double down on the dumpster fire Trump has turned this presidency into.

Not all of us are blessed with a physique like the Jerkman. I know if I work hard at it, maybe I could someday be half the man you are.... If you really want to know, I donated the size to my sister. She's very thankful ish Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk

That isn’t a prairie dog gun.......

So built this in summer 2012 from pallet racking from work. 2016 I enclosed it with plywood. 2019 it got windows, piped in gas from a 20 lb cylinder below and AstroTurf inside and some new shelves. While I am very happy with this blind, on my next I would lean towards the design shape of that Amish one NYtracker picked up. I also would put in or design better windows that slide open. Mine are a hodgepodge of sorts. It is a blessing in crap weather lol.

Out for last hr. Just havent felt like it but ,been making jerky and going thru it so i guess i better get one more to make more...

My Dads brit, named duke. Many times he has flushed pheasants after other dogs have passed the same area. Super happy family dog too.

Hit some DEP land near me and came across some tracks. Followed to a brushy area and bolted two does. They ran for 30 yards or so and stopped. I dropped down and crept in but the lead doe took off. The second hung and I shouldered my gun against a sapling. She was behind some trees so I could only see her head and a bit of neck. Wasn't feeling that shot so I waited but as I resettled, I snapped a twig and she ran. That little 30 minute track and moment felt great.

as you should man. been a tough season for most of us, besides that guy Duke I guess hahahaaha

Its a good rifle. it killt the bear that killt me.

Yes, you are correct, i was duped by my larger paycheck, and less taxes on the business i run which in turn created lower costs for my customers and a larger bonus for my family. Can't wait to have to give that back....! I'll be feeling much better after that....Thank you

Free gun! And maybe a hat

26 and windy Good morning to sit in the heated tower! Cmon doe Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Holy mother of...... What do you guys DO out there, put steroids in acorns?

First guess is he wants to know about Naked Stand, but there is an outside chance he is more interested in the JAn Brady stand.

Sorry for your loss.My father is being taken care by hospice.Its a very hard thing to go through.The outdoors gives me piece of mind as I hope it does you.

I love little mementos like that to remember people who have passed. Every time you look at them or use them it is like they are still there with you. Something nice to hang onto. I hope your kids will feel the way you do many many years from now.

Weather changed quick

Hunt #41 12/12 A gracious offer from Lomax to come out and hunt in the buckform for the afternoon. Went out and it took us less than 12 steps I believe to see the first deer. Lol. Sitting there for a little bit and saw more deer than all of gun season x3. A few deer came out a ways away, a couple ran right by us quick . Then just before dark a small buck came out and then a bunch of does. Picked a good size one in the group and sent it. Deer go running , even towards us. Didn't see one hurt or go down and was thinking OMG I missed. Can't be ...we go out to look for blood and there she is piled up, fell in her tracks . Lol. Guess I got her. Amazing place to hunt and a good time whether we saw deer or not. Good to meet another fellow forum member. Hell we were BSing so much almost missed seeing some of the deer. Lol. Fun day.

Team 4 8point, and 1 doe

Ruger American Compact 7mm-08 shooting Federal 140 Trophy Copper filled my buck tag tonight. Shot was 40 quartering to. DRT.

I shot this buck last Saturday with my 444 and hand loaded 265 grain flat nose bullet, he dropped in his tracks!

Out for the last hour and now I have tag I can use just have to remember a lot less range in my field with the knight 50 cal Mz. Love these late season sets.

My Gramps after he retired for a few years worked during hunting season as a line patrol along I think it was Rockefeller property up near Paul Smiths. One side was state the other the private estate. One morning while hiking the line he came upon and old guy on watch sitting on a stump dead as a door nail. I think it ended up just heart failure/old age. Prolly saw a monster buck lol!! From then on we always called it Dead Mans Watch. This would have been jeeze 40 plus years ago. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Had a pretty busy day yesterday. Shot a good adult doe around 8am, she ran the wrong way on her death run. About 60-70 yards into the nastiest of thorn apple/redbrush tangled crap and it was downhill the wrong way. You see, she was on a ridge and of course its a 50-50 shot whether they go north or south. South is bad....... Oh well, I guess I can still drag uphill in the nasty stuff. In the afternoon I had a cold, wet sit for a couple hours before 5 doe & fawn came out on the edge of a field. I looked them over good to assure I didn't shoot a fawn and shot this nice doe. The first one in the morning dressed out at 120lbs and this one 131lbs, both with heart and lungs removed. (inside joke just to stem off the cackles from the Peanut Gallery, lol) I used my 300WSM rifle with 165gr bullets. The first doe was about 100 yards, the second one was about 160. Both were one shot kills....

First day 4o buck. Not a great pic but it had an 18 inch spread. Huge buck. Shot him 2 1/2 miles from the car. Dragged him 300 yrds and said screw this and cut him up right there and walked it back to car. Bringing a back pack nxt yr.

I've posted this picture before and it hasn't a thing to do with favorite or "best" dogs but it's my personal favorite hunting dog action picture........