grampy

Happy Birthday! Hope your day is filled up with all the good stuff!

You have the two best tools for being a great hunter. Patience. Determination. New stand setups look great! Best of luck to ya sir!

You may be thinking the blinds I showed you at the lake property. We were at the farm property. Using hub style blind, with a Primo's trigger stick bipod.

After spending close to nine hours in a blind, he started to get figity about five o'clock. I told him we can go, this is supposed to be fun, not something forced. He said, we'll give it another half hour, if we don't see anymore deer. Told him I'll be fine with whatever he wants to do, this is all about him. We headed out at five thirty. We made plans for our next hunt on the way home. Baseball and football will be over soon. The best hunting is yet to come. Even though he's been tagging along with me for years, he's still only fourteen. The last thing I want to do is make hunting not fun for him. We had an exciting morning hunt though, and we talked about that a lot on the way home too. He came within a second or so, three different times of shooting a mature eight point. The buck was moving in thick cover, along a bedding area. I spotted him with binoculars about a hundred yards out, moving diagonally towards us, left to right. I told him buck coming, get ready buddy! The buck was browsing, and not really easy to see in the cover he was in. Took Zach a bit to find him in the scope, as the deer would be visible one minute, then disappear the next. I found a small opening just ahead of the buck, and said "see that orange bush, aim to the right of it, he will step out there". And he did. Told Zach, when you're ready, take the safety off and squeeze the trigger. Seemed like a long time went by, but was probably only fifteen or twenty seconds, no shot, and the deer moved. Then the whole process started again, and then again, as the buck disappeared, then appeared again through openings. Just as Zach was starting to apply pressure to the trigger, the buck would move again! Zach is a very good shot, and has shot his rifle, many, many times. I've always told him to never rush the shot. And be sure of your shot! He followed those teachings to the letter, perhaps too much. But I could not be more proud of him! I could tell he was having trouble controlling his breath, (heck who wouldn't) and the scopes reticle was jumping all over, he told me afterwards. And just as he would get it to settle, with coaxing from me, the buck would move again. Until finally we lost sight of him. There will be more chances for Zach this year. And for decades to come. And no doubt many bucks will lay before him. He gained experience as a hunter yesterday. And maybe not as much, as if he had killed that buck. But he will probably never forget him. Or that hunt yesterday,.

Got the boy fed. Heading back in. Temps are dropping a bit, that will help!Will come out at last legal light. Just gotta stay awake now!!!

He was working his way to us in heavy brush. At times i could see him clearly but grandson couldn't get on him before he moved again. He headed to our right into the lower swamp. We are now at Maple On The Lake having lunch. We will be heading back in to sit a spot above where we last daw the buck. Hopefully him or one of his buddies comes up out of there before the end of legal shooting time! Send us some luck fellas!

Perfect wind and set up. Saw a dandy 8pt 100 yards away coming in. Just need a little luck!

Going up to wake grandson in a couple minutes, for his first hunt this year. Really hoping we get lucky, and he shoots his first deer/buck. I hunted my two properties yesterday, and saw nothing. Got deer, but not much moving in these warm temps where we are. Good luck to all heading out! Congrats yo all who were successful yesterday!

I did predict 5 - 4, just got the teams wrong......

Heading to lake property this morning. A good early season spot! First sit of the year! So excited! Good luck to all heading out! Congratulations to all who have had successful hunts!

Admittedly, my crossbows are on the lower end of the price scale. Both have upgraded scopes (Nikon Bolt) though. And both seemed to shoot whichever broadhead the same, as far as POI, compared to field points. Spent the better part of a whole day testing and fine tuning both of them, with all the various heads. My conclusions are based on my crossbows. And no doubt different crossbows will have different results. As with anything, if it works for you, that's awesome! Best of luck to you out there! If you PM your address to me, I'll send you the two unused Spitfire Maxx heads, along with the one I used to try sighting in.

I can't get a fixed blade to shoot like FP's out of either of my crossbows. (Barnett Raptor and Centerpoint Sniper 370) I've tried Muzzys, Thunderheads, Wasps, Tro-cars, Allens, and a couple more that I can't remember the brand. Each one would not shoot the same as FP. Some were way off, others close, but not close enough. The most accurate head I've found, is the NAP Slingblade in 100gr. Shoots exactly like FPs, from both crossbows. And don't go with the NAP Spitfire Maxx! The first shot I took with them missed the target completely! Proceeding shots were not much better.

My hunting partner was out this morning and saw nothing. Doesn't seem to be much deer activity on our property lately. Hoping to have some activity for Sunday mornings youth hunt. We'll need a bit of luck I think.

My 14 yo grandson plays travel ball, spring and fall. In a VERY competitive A league. BA is mid 400s, and highest on the team, so he gets plunked a lot! He is good at hitting stuff out of the strike zone too. There is no intentional walks, so he takes one for the the team and takes his base. Better for the other team that he doesn't drive in a run or two. He understands this and takes it in stride. He was even hit by one of his best friends in a game. They just looked at each other and laughed!! He repaid his friend a couple innings later and both teams were holding their gloves over their mouths hiding the smiles. Nothing really hard, or at the head though. Got to the point where he wears a protective pad on his left hip and elbow now. Yanks win tonight in a close one, 5 - 4 ! But you've all seen how my predictions play out........

^^^This^^^

I look forward to our coffee, storytelling, and comparing notes!! Will shoot you a PM later this evening, after I dig around in my plastic totes.

I may still have the one I used for my grandson. It was a regular size strap type harness. But the straps all could be adjusted as small as needed. There were a lot of long tag ends, but it did work. But I'm sure it's not as good as a youth HS vest type would be? Will be downstairs getting stuff ready after work. I'll look for it. I'll be hunting the lake property, right around the corner from you. Will drop it off on my way over to the farm, later on.

Spent more than a little time in phone booths too! Always picked up a funny joke or two that someone scrawled in there. Any of you older guys, ever call the number "for a good time call ***-****"?.......

Pretty thick in the chest, sag belly and short appearing legs, tells me three and a half? But I'm fooled easily by pictures. Seem to do better when I see em live. I can tell you for certain though, he wouldn't get a pass from me!

Since most everyone else at the party was permitted, I'm sure he was too.

Warms my heart to hear stories like this! Get em out there early and often! They are the future of hunting. And the best hunting partners a father will ever have. These are lifelong memories you're making, nice job Dad.

Happy Birthday sir!

That fox must have been HUNGRY, to try to take down a fawn in October!! No doubt in the spring just after birth, a fawn would be an easy meal. Not so easy now though. Really cool that you got to see this!

This may be a bit far out for you, but have heard from others that they do a good job, for about $100. Marlow's, just outside Cobleskill, in Howes Cave. 518-296-8978

I'm happy my prediction was wrong, as most of my predictions usually are! Unlike Biz. Anything can happen from this point. Hoping for a great series with Boston. Go Yankees!