stubborn1VT

Snazzy looking shootgun. Not a bad looking countertop either.

Thanks guys. It gets almost full sun, and I'm leaning toward a clover/chicory mix. I was just wondering about other forages that might stand up to grazing. It's already a good spot. A few does raise their fawns there. I realized that I don't really need fall food to hunt over, just food to keep the does around. Thanks for the input.

The plot will only be 1/3 to 1/2 acre. I'm wondering what people's thoughts are on the best planting for a summer plot. I'm looking for maximum tonnage for feeding deer over the longest period of time. I don't care if I can hunt over it I asked this same question of a couple people at Whitetail Institute, but I'd like to hear some real-world experience. Thanks.

You got it. Marlin lever. Full length tube. Holds 7? Curved butt plate. Was my great uncle's, then my grandfather's. It needed a firing pin. My best friend got it fixed by a gunsmith he knew just before rifle season. I shot a nice 5pt with it at 18 yds. Those hard, flat-nose bullets don't mushroom. So there I was in 14" of fresh snow, with no blood, no hair, just long bounding tracks. I was trying to figure out how I missed! I didn't. He was double lunged and went 80 or 90yds. I didn't like the way the bullets performed, and I never carried it again. Now I use a 7 Rem Mag.

Thanks for the info, Split. I hear there wasn't much EW seed around for 2017. Could just be a rumor. We have grown forage sorghum before, so I know what you're saying. I'll have to check out your product. A 12 foot screen would be great!

I shoot a "new" compound with fingers. It's a 2 year old Expedition Perfexion and it's only 36" axle to axle. I shoot a glove, and draw 3 under, but drop a finger once I'm drawn. I was worried that I couldn't shoot a short, fast bow with fingers, but my buddy runs a bow shop and he helped me make a couple adjustments. I'm shooting better than I have in years. Someday I will get a recurve and try the no sights thing. I think that it takes tons of practice, and that's part of the point for me. Keep it up Grow!

Of course they can learn to stay off a property. They are at least as smart as deer. History has proven they can't be eradicated. Do a little research. I think you give yourself too much credit. Whatever. We won't agree. Done with this thread.

We have guys that bait and hunt coyotes on a 600 acre dairy farm. Every year they run dogs and kill 20-30 coyotes. They've done that for decades. It helps keep the population in check. They do reproduce like science says. It's science. I've seen it. I'm glad you have pushed the coyotes off your 900 acres, but they are still on the neighbors and they are still in your town. They're smart, and they know they aren't welcome on your ground. That doesn't mean you did much to the overall population in the 5 square miles around you. I'm glad you have had success combating them, but I don't think you see the big picture. VT has no closed season. We know a lot about killing coyotes. We still have too many.

I'm just saying that historically, humans have tried to eradicate coyotes. It has never been done on any kind of scale. That's why we have almost no wolves in NY and VT, but all kinds of other predators. Yes, you can impact the coyotes on your property. But what about on the neighbors, or on state land? You said you can "wipe out" a coyote population, but that's just not true. You can wipe out a pack, but you can't eliminate coyotes in a single rural town. Ranchers tried to make coyotes extinct in the last century, by any means available, and they were unsuccessful.

There is no way you can exterminate coyotes on any kind of scale. It's been tried with bounties and with poison. We have no closed season in Vermont. We trap them, call them, and hunt them with dogs. All we do is put a dent in the population. The harder you hunt them, the smarter they get. How would you exterminate coyotes on thousands of acres of private/posted land? You can make an impact on their population though, and I have seen that help the deer and turkeys. I shoot every one I see.

I'd be interested in trying grain sorghum. I have experience with sorghum sudan. How tall will it get? How thick a strip do you plant? I am planting crab apples at home for a screen too. Thanks Grow. I'll look into it. I'm getting excited just thinking about twice the plot!

Much respect. Those are some real bucks. I've never been in the ADK, but spent some time in the Green Mountain National Forest. After 3 days without seeing anything, I always end up back at the farm! It's gotta feel good to go out and find one in the big woods. Thanks for sharing your story.

I have wanted to expand a food plot in an overgrown pasture for years, but when the leaves are down you can see it from the neighbors. Does anyone have experience with planting annuals for a plot screen? I know Frigid Forage makes one. Anyone try Egyptian wheat? I can nearly double my plot from 1/4 to a 1/2 acre, so I'm going to find a way to do it Any suggestions would be great. As a side note, it's family land. I don't actually own it, so I'm not looking to plant cedars or something substantial. I'm just looking for something to conceal that area for the fall. Thanks!

I don't know what you're shooting for powder, but to push a 240 grain bullet and get that kind of a mushroom is good in my book. I wouldn't have expected a pass-thru due to low muzzle velocity. Soft tissue (guts) soak up alot of energy. The main thing is she didn't go far and she's in your freezer!

Thanks guys! We only get 3 in VT. Two can be bucks. No spikehorns. I know NY has tons more deer, but I had no idea...

You can get 7 tags, shoot multiple bucks, hunt for months with multiple weapons, and still complain about vertical bow hunters who want some time and space of their own? Huh. To each his own, I guess.

Zem, I would be pretty happy with that bullet. I get that you want an exit hole, but you definitely got mushrooming/ energy transfer/ shock! Did she go far? It's hard to get great transfer like that out of a muzzleloader due to lower velocity. You need to shoot what you want, but I'm impressed with that bullet.

Not real sure what provoked that kind of response to a fellow hunter's observation and complaint. It would seem to be something to do with $25K worth of sales. Can't we all just just get along? Merry Frickin' Christmas!

I saw that episode. It must have taken alot of guts to put that on TV. Yikes.

Well, because that's the way we all did it 25 years ago. There were no releases! So, tradition. It takes more practice, and that's part of it for me. I enjoy all the shooting it takes to be ready for the season. I use one leather glove made of tanned deer hide, so there is no variation that way. I feel like anyone can pick up a bow and shoot it with a release, but it takes time and effort to shoot fingers. Even more for a stick bow! I guess it's kind of like the guys that still use their grandfather's open sight 30-30.

I'm no expert, but I would use the Fenwick for steelies.

Just wondering if anyone still shoots and hunts without a release. If so, what bow do you shoot? What is your anchor point? Kisser button? Sights? Broadheads? Do you have to shoot a lot? Are you successful? I have shot fingers for 25+ years. For years my anchor point point was my index finger in the corner of my mouth. I tried a kisser button for 1 year (was ok). This year I switched to a Expedition Perfexion bow and now I use a knot on string that hits my nose as an anchor. I had to do this to line up my new Prime sights. I shoot nearly every day from August on. I swear by Wasp Jak-hammer broadheads. I don't kill a deer every year, but I feel like I'm successful because my shoots are usually 25 yards or less. Shot my biggest buck, an 8 point, this year on the 2nd to last day of our bow season. What about you?

By the way, DanT, that's a swell looking track!

I find it helpful. I think bucks act in similar ways. For instance, if you shoot a nice buck in a certain spot, I believe another buck move in to that situation. There was a reason the first buck was there: security, does, feed, escape routes etc. I know a few father/son groups that shot their deer within 100 yards of each other this year. Some on the same day! A good spot is a good spot, and the sign will help you identify it. I have found some new spots late season that showed me where bucks went once the pressure was on. No sign before Thanksgiving, but consistent sign after. I realize that this doesn't apply in the big woods, but in my experience, any info you gain will help you down the road.

Got my bow buck in a tiny pasture/food plot in the hardwoods. Shot my rifle buck on opening day when he came out into a hay field on the family farm. He was looking for does, even though the deer activity is almost 100% at night.