grampy

Happy Birthday!!! Hope this day brings you all the joys of family, friends, and good food!!!

OK.....went back out tonight and placed a sheet of paper on the back of the target. And the blades obviously opened! These shoot very accurate too! I am no longer disappointed. And my confidence is restored! If I do hunt with my crossbow this year. I'm certain these heads will work fine, if I put it where it needs to go. Thanks again for the help guys!!

Will see what I come up with. I'd be happy to send you something to work on!

Score is.......that buck one..........you....zip...... Hope you make the final point! Good luck!

Shoot what you like. Like what you shoot. If he should happen to live another year? He'll pack on many more pounds, and inches of antler, by this time next fall. Now? A two year old, that will dress out at 125 pounds.

Quiver never comes off. Practice, hunting, walking. I don't even think about it being there, cause it always is. And being a ground hunter, it's almost like added 'cover' attached to the bow arm?

I can still hunt the exact spot, that I hunted for the first time 46 years ago. We still call it 'Dug Hill' as did the old timers before us. A primitive logging road was carved, "dug" out of the side of the hill, to bring up the oaks from below, through the hemlocks, and around a small swamp above. This was done long before I was born. At the bottom of Dug Hill, is a stonewall fence line that came to a corner, or 90 degree angle. With some of the stones piled in the corner, in the shape of a seat that someone made probably decades before I ever sat there. The classic transition, between hardwoods and hemlocks on a bench of the side hill. And if I were to guess, dozens and dozens of deer had been shot from that spot, by some old guys that were my mentors. And a few by me alone over the years, including my very first. It was an honor, and right of passage when the old guys let you sit that spot! That property was bought by the state 20 or so years ago, to expand Thatcher Park, and borders our property. But I still make my way down there each year to sit on that pile of stones that are still stacked there. To hear the whispered voices through the trees. And to pay homage to the ones who sat there before me. And wonder who may sit there after me.

He ain't ugly, he's a shooter around these parts!

I'd really like a hat and T-shirt ! But think I'll wait to order, until after you guys have been taken care of......

The author of that book John, is my tracking mentor. Yes the dog needs to be certified. And so do you!! From the DEC. There really is a lot more to it than just training a dog to follow a blood trail. The human partner is just as important to the dog, as the dog is to us. And has to have the experience to help his four legged partner. It is a team effort. Each must do their part to be successful. And it works best when both partners contribute equally. Yes, the dog has the nose. We have the brain. Perfect example, from a current thread on this forum..........Outdoorstom with Luna and Kunox, they depend on Tom to know when to backtrack, restart, push, slowdown, run ahead, search escape trails, circle around, and any number of other things, to help them if they lose the scent trail. Read through that thread and you will get an idea of what I'm saying. That is an all star team!!! He looks like a good pup. Nothing says you can't have fun together! Try an old deer hide at the end of your mock blood trail.

I think you're a pretty sporty woman Paula!

If not for football, pretty sure It would be 3 for 3 now! But we aren't done yet.....................giving it our best shot!

A hearty congratulations Jay! So happy to have you as a 'blood brother' ! You have come so far with bowhunting in a short time my friend. Not surprising at all though. You are one heck of a hunter! Way to go man!!! All those guys who helped along the way, are typical of the kind of people who frequent this forum. Group hug!!!..................................................

What a great conclusion to a great story of your Dad's old bow. I'm sure he was with you all day Bob, with a big smile on his face. Congratulations on getting it done with a trad bow! Never an easy task! Great job, and a super accomplishment my friend! Brian is one of the most unselfish people I know. Always willing to help with bows, and set ups, trad or compound. Also, to share the bounty of his spectacular hunting properties with friends. Not many would do this to the extent that moog does. You two made a great team on that tough recovery! I've heard some of the details. Not many would have, pulled that off successfully like you guys did. My hat is off to you both.

Due to varsity football commitments, my grandson only has Sunday the 13th to hunt this youth weekend. I'll bring him to the spot where I was surrounded by 25 to 30 deer, over the course of last Saturday morning. Mostly doe's and fawns, but did see three bucks too. One of them was a mature ten point with stickers, a true giant!!! This spot is a travel pinch point. So no guarantee that any, or all of them will show up? This is a notorious all or nothing spot. But I think for early season, it's the best spot I have to kill "a deer". We talked yesterday, and I asked if he is still set on taking only a buck? He told me that maybe he will shoot a doe, just to get the first one under his belt. But he will decide for sure while we are out there. I told him, you shoot whatever makes you happy, and to be happy with what you shoot. I refuse to put any pressure on him whatsoever. He puts enough on himself with everything he does. I want our time together in the deer woods to be a fun and relaxed time for us both. So who knows what this Sunday will bring??? Stay tuned. I'll post whatever happens here.

Thanks so much for the comments guys! I was just concerned when I saw the blades in the closed position, sticking out of the back of the target. But perhaps the "sudden stop" pushes them back to closed??? A sheet of paper on the back of the target will let me know for sure. I hope my disappointment will turn to confidence. I really do want them to work. Like the many reviews I read said they would.

That I don't know. But what you are saying does make sense. Think I'll tape a sheet of paper on the "back" of the target and see? Thanks again!

I saw that too in some of the google posts I looked at. After the second shot I taped a piece of paper on there to be sure, and saw no cut marks from any of the three blades. Just slight indentation from the "tabs". Thanks for commenting thought Rob.

NAP Spitfire Maxx 100gr 3 blade mechanical. I bought these awhile back. Had some time to dial in the crossbow today and decided to try them out. Well.... I'm disappointed. They fly accurate enough, actually very accurate. But the problem is, they are not opening! I shot one into a multi layered stack of cardboard, that I use for a broadhead target. First thing I noticed was that the three blades were not deployed, when I saw the head sticking out the back of the target! Shot it four more times, same thing not opening! Seems to take a good amount of pressure to even get them to open with my fingers. All the heads in the package feel the same way. Looks like I wasted $40+ as I can't trust them to open on contact with a deer! I may try them on a softer foam target, to see if it makes a difference. But if hitting hard cardboard doesn't get them to open, I don't thing anything will? Reviews were and are very good for the most part. Anyone else use these or have experience with them?

Deer need only three things. Security/bedding cover, food, and water. They will move with the preferred source of each one, for any given period of time. The key to all that, is to figure what source they are keying on at the time you are hunting them. Easier said than done sometimes. When you hit it right, you'll see plenty of deer. As apposed to just hoping one ambles by. Find the deer sign, and piece together the puzzle. Nothing beats boots on the ground for finding the sign. When the rut heats up later in the season. That is much different than the early and late, food, bedding tactics.

Real nice buck and write up! Congratulations to ya!

Congratulations! Glad your surgery went well.

You definitely got a good one. Good boy Nash!!!

Compound or recurve? Either way, congratulations my friend! She's a chunky doe!

It will be cool enough tonight. No problem. Give it plenty of time to bed and die. That's where you'll find it. Best of luck with recovery!