Woodsman20

This is an ugly incident looking at it from every perspective. I think everyone has some valid points and issues or fault can always be found looking backwards from the kids, to the monitor, to the bus driver,to the school, the parents, you can even bring the economy into the discussion. The reality is what is done is done so how can the folks directly involved as well as those that are following take away something meaniingful to apply going forward. Even though there is disgust and frustration and that wants to be directed at many of the people involved it would make sense to focus on what would be in our control going forward. I think Rochestergirl's response seemed to make the most sense: "If I was the parent, I would make my kid publicly apologize AFTER I sign them up for the summer to work with elders and learn how to respect them. Maybe after they hear and bond with those elderly folks, they will learn to respect them. They need not say they are sorry, but actually be sorry." I think there is a lot of merit in that form of discipline in this situation. It is always good to try and walk in another's shoes prior to condemning them - a lesson I have had to learn and continue to. I am usually not big on quotes but "Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose" - Lyndon B. Johnson I wish my 401K was growing at the rate of the monitor's donations.

Yep got him back a couple days ago. It should take less than a year but it depends on the taxidermist.

Hi Everyone, I think the story thread for this one is locked for the Buck contest so I figured I would post the pics here of the mount which was picked up earlier this week.

Some interesting perspectives ... Dave specifically what was his specific advice that made a killer stand!! .

That is pretty funny ... and much cleaner than I anticipated.

Congratulations!!!

Interesting thread and topic and there a are a lot of good answers and there is no RIGHT one because I think it depends on the goals of every hunter and the land they have access to. For me the #1 condition is that there is a buck in that area I want to hunt. Preferrably and in order this comes in the form of me physcially seeing him. Then probably trail cam pictures and friend sightings depending on their knowledge. Lastly it would be physcial sign - (First Tracks - Big Buck Tracks especially fresh, Second - Big Rubs - fresh ones, Third Scrapes and during the right time of the year but they are over-rated in my book.) Getting to this point, while it sounds easy is extremely challenging, but if you are fortunate this is half the battle. Next for me is to understand the terrain. Where is the cover and possible bedding areas? What is the food source? What are the transition routes to get from and too? Are there any obvious funnels, pinch points and likely set-up points? I try to perform an analysis of the likely core area of the one I am after and often times set-up a couple stands trying to intercept him. Now comes the stand placement strategy. Focus is on predominant wind direction first if possible. Someitmes there may not be a tree to set-up in so you need to understand when you can hunt the "off-ind" stands and how you will get in and out of the stand. Soemtimes during the season I'll tweak the spot and go in with a portable and set-it up and hunt out of it that night. I minimize the cutting of lanes, scent and distrubance in the area. Trail cams at this point are placed in spots that are easily accessible even if I know they may be at night I can still figure where they come from and where they are headed. Multiply this process by 20-30 because you can not hunt the same spot every day. It's a lot of work but it is part of the fun. Throughout the years some spots are just good and I set my stands up there every year or tweak them slightly. Again good thread and interesting to read through.

392 including broadhead (100grains) - 70lbs - 29" = 318 - 322 fps = 89lbs of KE 1 pin 0-35 yards then micro adjustments out to 50. Rage 2 blade for deer and pretty sure ST standards for Elk this year - going to get some this weekend.

Phade thanks for the insight ... very helpful and base don my research so far I thin the Slick trick Standards are the way to go. I hope they fly well - I shoot an Insanity 392 grains at 318 fps. The set-up produces optimal KE and should provide for a very flat shooting bow. I understand tuning and form but on a hunt like that I want a BH that is forgiving considering Murphey's Law and it seems like the Slick Tricks penetrate excellent and meet my criteria. Thanks again very helpful.

100 grains for both? Do you get similiar penetration and would recommend one over the other for any application?

Thanks but I would want 100 grains as well.

I know this has been addressed many times on many forums ... but ... just wondering if anyone has used the Ramcats? I am headed out west on an elk hunt this year and typically I use the Rage 2 blade for deer. In Idaho they don't allow mechanicals whioch is fine - I probably wouldn't use them on an elk anyways so i am in the market for a fixed blad broadhead that is forgiving and doesn't plane with a 315+fps bow. I would love to test a Slick trick or Ramcat out. Any suggestions or tips?? Thanks.

Paula the corn usually helps holds bucks. The good thing is it automatically adds incremental bedding areas in your area for them. The bad news is they can stay in it for as long as they want - they have cover, food and enough moisture to hang out almost all day. One tip that works well for me when hunting corn fields is hunting the edges during a good rain. The rain actually gets them moving out of the corn - not sure why - if it is the noise, or maybe it is drier but the big boys that are hiding in there seem to come out then. Rattling also seems to be a pretty effective way to pull them out around Halloween and into November. Good luck - and the two bucks have some potential!!

Congrats on the new house - we are actually trying to sell ours and in the market ourselves. you are right it is tough to weed through the storylines. Congrats again.

Maybe I should re-prhase that based on the white bird thread - that one may be my favorite!! Very unique, especially if you were ever going to mount a hen - that would be the one!!.

Nice bird - both beards look thick which is unusual - most have the multi beard birds have 1 nice one and their others are usually thin. Congrats - my favorite is long spurs, then multiple beards and then the long beard. That is a great trophy.

That is an awesome bird!!!! What a cool color phase, and if you have the money I would definitly mount that bird - even if I didn't have the money I would mount it - HA!! Very cool!! Have you ever seen that one before or others like it in your area?

LOL - that is nice!!!!!!

It has been a weird a sping weather wise. My brother, father and I all got birds - 3 of the first 5 days. Then it tanked. I passed on one small Tom earlier this week but the activity really dropped off. The weather shook them up a bit. Driving around I have seen 3-4 Toms in fields and a few hens here and there but I do not think they are moving or gobbling a lot. There may even be an insect hatch that is coccurring earlier keeping them in the very "leafy" forest (at least this early in the season. I would recommend hunting the woods, or the edges of fields with really really light calling right now. Best of luck - it should improve in the upcoming weeks. Also, just because you don't here gobbles don't give up. Look for tracks, droppings and scratches - some late season tactics but it will show you where they are moving in your areas.

Welcome. I live and do most of my hunting in Wayne County. Ontario, Walworth, Williamson, Marion, Macedon, Palmyra, Sodus and once and awhile I travel out to Wolcott. I hunt in Monroe, Ontario and Yates county to once and awhile.

Very cool - congrats

That's funny Larry - I think I know where you are talking about. I live in the same area. Haven't seen any big bucks in a while down in the gorge but haven't agressively looked in a few years either.

That is a good bird for sure. Can you get in there with a bow maybe??

That is early for the new growth ... especially consdiering I saw a 2.5 year old 8 point with both sides of his rack still last week!!! Unreal - bucks growing fall of 2012 racks while 2011 racks are still on others - I imagine there like my young ones teeth - the new racks will push the old ones off this year.

I have an 835 too. Great gun but agree with the advice on here. I shoot the 3.5" shells and Remington use to make a nice turkey cartridge, although expensive. They were the 2 1/4 oz shells as well. Because the Remington's are hard to find I shifted to the winchester 3.5 inch same dimmensions as the Remington and those shoot well - 6 shot for both. The 5's patter terrible with my gun. Good deal on the gun - it is a great turkey gun.