coonhunter

Thanks Bubba. I knew that last year. Getting old and senile I guess.

One single boom from our blind this morning. Pretty good story with it too. I was up driving around after work last night just checking out some fields. I saw lights on at the camp up the road so I stopped to see how he had made out so far. Now this guy has his land posted and he means it, but I have always gotten along with him because I respect his land and right to use it himself. Right off the bat he asks if I have any youth hunters I am taking out in the morning. I tell him I have a young lady who is anxious to try and shoot a deer. He instantly tells me to get her there early for breakfast and shows me where a blind is and how to get to it without emptying the field. This is a guy I have known for years and not once has he invited me to hunt his land. Well, we showed up at 5:00 and we could smell the bacon as soon as we got out of the car. So after a quick breakfast and a lot of encouraging talk, we head to the stand. At first the understanding was she was only allowed to shoot a doe, but after seeing how excited she was, he said she could shoot a buck. At first she was excited about getting a buck, but before it was even light enough to shoot, she told me that Jim was nice enough to let us hunt his land and she just didn't feel right about shooting a buck the first time there. I thought to myself that my buddy and his wife may not hunt, but they sure know how to raise a kid. So it finally gets to shooting time and the field is empty. It is 34 degrees out so I tell her to just wait until the sun starts to hit the far corner of the lot where the apple trees are. A half hour later the sun finally reaches the apples and it wasn't ten minutes before we saw movement. Two young bucks go right to eating apples off the ground. I could tell she wanted to shoot, but she stuck to her guns and waited some more. A little while later I saw movement about half way down the field and two does stepped out looking towards the apple trees. They are only about 70 yards away, so it is a slam dunk shot as long as she stays calm. She slowly sets the .270 on the sticks, takes a couple deep breaths, and pulls the trigger. One doe runs, the other drops in its tracks. She takes the gun, empties the magazine, and stands it in the corner. She tells me that it was the most exciting hour she has had in her life, and then starts shaking and grinning from ear to ear. We hear the four wheeler start up and pretty quick, here comes Jim. We go out and load it up after getting a few pictures, and head back to camp. We walk her through the field dressing, and she gets through it better than some, and haul the gut pile to a pit already dug by Jim for just such things. He asked her why she didn't shoot one of the bucks and she tell him that it was his land and he put the time and money into it, so she wasn't going to take advantage of him. I could tell that this statement took him by surprise coming from a young girl especially. He promptly told her she was welcome to come hunt his land any time she wanted. So, it looks like maybe we have another hunter on our hands. I honestly didn't know what to expect out of her, but man, she passed any sort of test I could have thrown at her. Very enjoyable morning and backstraps coming for lunch.

The funny thing for me reading all these fancy new things, is the one I am happiest about is the simple hand warmer packets. Belo makes a good point about the clothing. It is amazing how nice some of the new cold weather gear is, as well as the boots. I try to keep my hunting as cheap and traditional as I can, but some advances are just too nice to pass on.

I always look like hell when I settle in and start hunting hard. The working hard, not enough sleep, and just plain being physically tired are all parts of how I have fun during deer season. My advice for people is to keep it fun. If that means hunting as much as possible, by all means, do it. But, if it means maybe sleeping in on a Saturday and missing a morning sit just to get rested or spend time with the family, then do it. Hunting is not a competition unless you make it one. I have had a horrible chest cold and didn't get out until yesterday morning. Yes, it sucked to miss the afternoon sits after work last week, but I lived through it. The world didn't stop, and I didn't wither up and die like I was bitching about either. Lo and behold, the deer were still there yesterday, and I finally got a dose of bow hunting.

I think it really comes down to whether you feel you have to kill a buck. I have no problem letting the 2 1/2 eights walk right by at this point in my life. When I first started hunting, I shot the first buck I saw, and for the most part, it was a bunch of 1 1/2s with an occasional 2 1/2 thrown in. These deer taught me proper shot placement, how to hold the hell still when I needed to, and all sorts of woods saavy that all hunters should learn. Most importantly in my eyes, it taught me eventually, to respect my quarry and myself. I don't care what my buddies say when they all have deer down and I am still getting up and hunting for a certain buck, or haven't gotten a shot a mature deer. I am passed all that nonsense. I like to challenge myself, and some years that means taking a couple does and that's it. In this hot weather we are going to have, I will probably be sitting way back with bino's taking an inventory of what bucks are travelling what trails, who is already scent checking, and a few other things I like to keep track of. A few times over the years I have actually scored on bigger bucks when I was trying to stay out of way of my better stand sites so I stay on my toes. You guys and gals have fun this bow and gun season. Shoot what you like and stay legal, and you will never hear a complaint out of me.

November 11-15 and my other days will be a mix of Mondays or Fridays earlier in the bow season.

I hunt 4f on an open farm that doesn't allow four wheelers and it is a long, uphill walk to get to the woods. The other place is a horse farm that doesn't allow guns, but I managed to do a bunch of work and got access. When I say several, I am talking usually 4-8 between these two farms. I have good hunting, but you have to work and really watch the wind direction. I have taken several people over the years to the one farm late in the season and had them get a buck.

I disagree strongly. In my opinion antlers and greedy hunters are the number one cause of dwindling hunter numbers. Land gets leased up and people that hunted there for years are suddenly looking for a new spot. Not everyone is a die hard hunter. They get turned down at a few places and just say the heck with it. They remember the old days when it was a war zone in the state lands and won't go there. Now, not only did you lose that hunter, but you lost his children probably too. I know more and more of the posters on this site are leasing land. I hope you can keep the fun in your deer hunting. For me personally, if I had to spend a grand just to hunt, I would be one of the guys that just give it up. I like my deer hunting to be enjoyable and open to anyone that has the common courtesy to ask just the same as me. The bad part about my opinion is that we have lost so many of the small farms that if leasing the hunting rights is all that can keep them afloat, then how can i blame them? I am just a middle aged man tasting sour grapes over the way TV has ruined the comraderie and hunting camp life of the gun season. I don't even take vacation in gun season anymore. I use it during bow season and only hunt the weekends and holiday during the regular season because the excitement just is not there anymore because the hunters just aren't out there after the first weekend.

The last two years of my dad'slife I had to help him in and out if it was below 30 degrees. It was still better than what I have now. He taught me 90% of what I know about deer hunting, and probably knew the other 10%, but never got around to telling me. I carried and spread his ashes at his favorite sitting spot in the middle of winter. I stop and soak up the memories several times every year. I have never had a reliable hunting partner since he died. Several have made good for a season or two, but can't seem to stick it out.

I let several like that walk every year. This is my personal choice only. I have no problem with this buck walking into someone else's set-up and being harvested. All hunters have their own goals, and I sure don't begrudge a fellow hunter a chance to fulfil his or her goals.

If you shoot to your satisfaction and harvest your deer humanely evry time, I would buy the exact same release. Why change something that you like and are used to. I have used the exact same tru fire release every since I went to a compound bow many many moons ago. I wouldn't even dream of using something else because it works well for me.

I'm just plain, ol, cheap. And, I don't like to monkey with changes. My whisker biscuit is the second one I have ever owned. I sold my other one with the bow, or I would probably still be using that one, with the home made notch in it. Some people like fancier stuff, or they like to try out all the newer stuff. I am happy with what I have, although I think about getting a new bow every year, but rarely do. I am more of a practice makes perfect type of guy. I literally shoot a few thousand arrows every year, and if I have my way, I hardly ever change anything. What I have seen of the new style drop-aways, it appears that they work nice and smooth. Nothing the matter with them other than cost, and I honestly can't see a benefit in me changing anything at this point.

I have used a biscuit long enough that I had to cut a notch in the first one I bought. I know others are very happy with the newer drop aways, but other than taking a few shots with their bows, I can't give much of an opinion on them. I am happy with my whisker biscuit because it is simple and I have never had it let me down in the woods.

It is large, but is full of truck trails that are drivable until snow gets too deep. Bow season would be your best bet at not seeing a lot of people. You better check up on the regulations because I am not sure if there are any rules on camping. I can tell you there are lots of deer, but there are also a lot of people on the opener of gun season. After that first weekend, it is mostly people driving the roads and doing drives.

You hit the nail on the head there Doc. The republican party just can't get with the times. No matter how mad the working man gets at the liberals, the republicans only seem to come up with candidates that want to talk about no abortions and no gay rights. I will be voting republican no matter who it is, almost guaranteed. But can anyone name me a viable candidate? Hell, the democrats already have two names coming up to take more of my money and give it to the welfare rats. Pretty sad state for the republican party when the voters want a change, and they don't even have names in the hat yet

I am the same as Phade in that I shot plenty of young bucks. It was simply the first horns I saw was going down whether I had a bow or shotgun in my hands. Eventually, i just decided i wanted to see if i could shoot some nicer bucks because there were always a few hunters that got a nice one in the same areas I hunted. I had to shoot a few 2 1/2 eights before I finally got the will power to let them walk. It is simple for me now because I just don't care if I eat a tag once in awhile. I don't always get a nice rack, but the bucks do have the age and size to go with them. And, I take a couple does for the freezer every year. You just can't worry whether someone on the next property, or even on the property you are hunting, will shoot these bucks.

There you go Joe. Hop on that offer of help before it is time to get corn in. Good luck and happy hunting.

I apologize because I didn't realize you weren't even driving yet. I wish i was out that way because I would get you going. I feel like an ass now for riding you so much. My best advice for you now is to get a twenty yard pin set. Shoot 20 arrows a night for a week, and at the end of that week if you cannot hit a 4-6 inch circle pretty much every time, you have something wrong with your equipment or form. Then, you are going to have to get some help. There shouldn't be enough difference in where your arrow is hitting from 10-20 yards to make you miss this circle. Don't fret. You honestly have time to be set up and confident in your shooting. Repitition is the key. That helps eliminate sources of your problems. You will surprise yourself when you get all set. These bows are usually way better than we are. Get your basics down before you start trying to add more stuff to your bow. If you practice diligently for a few weeks, you will find that a 4-6 inch circle is huge at 20 yards. Then you will know all is well. But, when you are starting out, it is much easier to have one pin and a nice big target.

I'm gonna be honest with you and say there is no way you should need a 10 yard and a 15 yard pin. You are young so I am going to assume you are pulling 50-70 pounds. Your top pin should easily get you to 20 yards. You really need to get some serious shooting in and figure this bow out. Lots of men and probably a few women have given you good advice about getting your butt to a pro shop and getting this stuff sorted out, but you chose to try and take the short cut route. You are young and full of piss and vinegar and think you can do it on your own. It will hurt you in the long run. One trip to a good pro shop and spending an hour there listening to his or her advice will put you way ahead for hunting this season. I really wish you luck, but it sounds like you are struggling bad to me. Sometimes in life you really need an expert no matter how much you can learn on the internet. You are talking about hoping it only takes you a few years to get a deer with your bow in another post. There is absolutely no reason for you not to expect to get one this year with your first shot. All it takes is the proper equipment and the knowledge to know how to tweak what you do have. That's where the pro shop can help a lot. And don't be offended if it is a woman giving you advice because I know a couple women that will shoot with best of the men.

I am with you Truth2. Although I do use a compound bow and carbon arrows now. Last week i put three arrows through the chrono and I know it will be hard for some to believe, but they registered at a whopping 249,250,and 249. This set-up is tried and true for me and I am confident out to 45 yards even though I have only shot one buck over 40 yards my whole life. Most of my stand set-ups have me in tight quarters with average shots being in the 15-20 yard range. Just my preference not to hunt fields. At this speed, I have clean pass throughs almost every time. This is with plain old beman arrows and 75gr muzzys. Once in awhile, if I have a sharper angle, the broadhead hits the offside shoulder blade and sticks or comes back out. I just enjoy the game of matching wits with the nicer bucks and my fellow hunters. I love looking at trail cam pictures, but don't put any out. Hell, the arrows in my quiver have all been thru several deer. I just check them and resharpen if needed. Everybody enjoys their own way of hunting, and this is just what works for me.

The "moderator" is a bow hunter if you follow along a little. I don't know him or always agree with what he believes, but all are entitled to opinions. I agree with him on this and antler restrictions. Just let people hunt and take what buck and or doe that they can legally harvest. Deer hunters need to quit being so darn selfish. I have never even fired a cross bow, nor do I have any desire to hunt with one. On that note, if you want to use one during archery season, I have no objections because I am not better than you just because I can harvest deer with a bow. If you happen to shoot one of the nice bucks I have scouted out, I will gladly get out of my stand and help you get it to the road and congratulate you. I worry more about the lack of hunters than adding a new weapon to archery. Sure, opening weekend of gun season shows a lot of hunters, but then the woods go quiet again. I bet that I didn't hear 50 shots all season, and the majority of them are right at dawn and dusk, not from guys actually in the woods hunting.

That is the hardest step to take. Several times last year I passed on a couple 8's that were 16-17 inches wide. One got taken. The other made it through. He will be nice this year, but will probably be a lot smarter.

My garden consists of tubs and big pots because I live in a town where the deer come down and eat everything. I have to shut them in my garage every night and get them out before work every morning. What a pain in the butt, but it has to be. My squash and cucumbers are well on their way. Peppers and tomatoes are looking well, but like Grow mentioned, are needing some warmer weather to really take off.

The only wild rattlesnake I have ever seen was at Pepacton Reservoir about 20 years ago. It was on a rock pile in the spring. It rattled when we were about 10 feet from it. It scared me bad enough to make me stutter. I will never forget the sound of that rattle.

I killed a lot of deer with mini blasters. To this day I still only use 75 gr. muzzys. The 75 gr. worked in a mechanical, so when i switched to fixed blade, I just stayed with 75.