Fletch

Dandy buck there! Hope you see him around 7:30 am in a few weeks!!

I always considered a Brush Gun one that you would want with you when your hunting heavy cover. Something light, fast shouldering and short so in the thick stuff you can swing easier. I never have heard that someone would mean to shoot through brush. I hope we are all looking for clear shots. That said my "brush gun" is a Marlin 30-30 lever action with a Nikon scope on shoot through rings. And with that newer Leverevolution ammo it can reach out. I took a doe at 208 yards with it a couple years ago in a clearcut. Dropped in her tracks.

I bought a Bohning a few years back. I was tired of not just the price but the running back and forth to get a few arrows fixed. It is very easy once you do a few. It pays for itself in no time at all. I buy Blazers in 100 packs off Amazon for my arrows and just got some Fusions for my crossbow bolts.

I used my electric smoker on these. I set the temp at 220 and put the cherry chips on once the smoker was up to temp. I wanna say these smoked for a good 6-7 hours to get to temp. I did a couple batches so that is a good average. I like a bit heavier smoke than you it sounds and I put the smoke to them for a good 4 hours. You might want to half that. I checked the temps and pulled at 160 internal. The best thing to do is make a few small batches with different woods and smoke lengths. KEEP a notebook to jot down your temps/times/woods.....that is my mistake I forget to take notes and forget what I did the last time!! Believe me it will save you from repeating mistakes. You may want to try a lighter fruit wood, sometimes woods like hickory and mesquite can be strong to some tastes. A great forum to visit for smoking input is: http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/f/

I'll be shooting 2-blade chisel tip Rage same as on my compound. Big blood trails to all!!

Evidence is right there!! There is a wolf in the picture!!

Almost all the time I gut where they have dropped. I have had deer walk up and smell the guts within hours. I do occasionally drag one or two down to a cam spot so I can get the pics of what hits the gut pile and I see all kinds of deer night and day unalarmed near the pile. My opinion don't sweat it.

Welcome and thank you very much for sharing. I have always wanted to do a trip like this. I just need to get over whatever it is holding me back and do it!! I love the Dacks and hunted up near Paul Smiths in my youth. I have never tent hunted though. I keep trying to talk my cousin or brother into it but I guess I may have to try solo!! Another idea is to get a couple of other interested peeps and do 4 to split camp items/duties pressures and head different directions to hunt.

I could not find where Bogs are from, just says imported

Hmmm y'all must be wearing those China boots?!

kind? height? pic? lol not that I need one, I got one still in box I picked up last year!!

12 gauge out of an old Mossberg pump with iron sights. A button buck at 87 yards. A long long time ago!

So on the quest for new hunting boots. Well I have a challenge for you!!! Find hunting boots not made in China! Even tougher find some made in USA!! I know Whites and Danner make $300 boots which is a bit steep and need to order online. Man I hate trying to size a boot online and neither seems to have much in an insulated boot. Any good leads? Looking for a good boot, not heavy I have a 2000g for the 10 degree and below days. 400-800g probably good for most of the season. I hike and stand watch so I need a good boot for hiking and sitting on stand. Needs to be waterproof.

I have one new one from a new ladder stand. Central located.

I actually used the recipe that was published in the Outdoor News a while back by Hank Shaw. 2.5 pounds venison, boar, bear... I used venison 10 ounces of pork fat 3 tbs kosher salt 1/2 tspn instacure #1 1 tspn sugar 2 tspn black pepper 1 tspn nutmeg 2 tspn caraway seed 1/4 tspn celery seed 1/3 cup ice water I of course multiplied ingredients to make 20 pounds ground with the fine die mixed in ingredients stuffed in sheep casings smoked with cherry until they hit 160 degrees internal temp. let them hang in a 40 degree cooler for a week to dry out

Yea I have replaced the factory spring. I still get a hang every once in a while with everything but CCI. Any other ideas I am all ears. I would prefer it shoot anything like my 22 rifles!!

Only when eating cereal at 3am after a night of drinking when I was a lot younger!!! lol done it.

My SR22 does not like much but CCI and those are harder to find. I have seen a bunch of Federal and Remington around last couple of weeks though.

What time should I be over with my canning jars!!! I sporadically can. I have not done tomatoes or sauce in a couple years due to having bad tomato growing years. I have done pickles as well once in a while. I need to become a better gardener!! I do can venison every year.

Good luck on the scan. I have been free for 10 years now. Not as severe as yours for sure but it sure changes your perspective on enjoying life while you can!

Yes sir!!

I find what the gun in question shoots the best and stick with it. That said I try to stay with reasonable priced ammo as well. I have not got too many guns that do not shoot better on one kind of ammo than others.

Just a dandy buck!! He does not look that old to me either I would say 3.5 or 4.5. He is older than 2.5 but not got the looks of older than 4.5.

I have a 6 foot beer cooler out in the garage from a bar that was upgrading. I can put 2 big or 3 medium deer in that baby if I cut the legs off at the knees. It has saved me more than once when warm out.

Zem I just happen to have a lot of the best hiding spots ever!!! I never remember where they are!! Drives me nuts!! Must be cause I am older than you I have more spots. It isn't going to get any better bud!!