Trad Gang
Traditional Bowhunting/Archery Videos => Tarz Antics => Topic started by: Bob Walker on January 01, 2008, 11:02:00 AM
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Well, I just talked to Terry Green and he's on the way to the airport so I guess it's officially begun. There will be 13 Tradgangers converging on the Solana Ranch outside of Austin, Texas over the next 2 days for some Texas Whitetail and Hogs. Here's the lineup for this year's hunt:
Terry Green and his Dad
Rob DiStefano
Joel Smith
Jeff Springer (Tippit)
Don Wilson (DW)
Bill Turner
Jeff Berberick (Bowhunter4life)
Mike Langehans (Sunny Hill Archer)
Toby Rey (BTH)
Curt Cabrera (Guru)
Bob and Bobby Walker
I'd like to send a big THANK YOU to the Solana Ranch for donating a spot on this hunt to the St. Jude's Auction this year and to Toby Rey for his winning bid.
Ya'll stand by for some stories and pics. Hopefully, everyone will get their monies worth!
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You Critters be safe...NO SINNIN (Missin the Mark) :clapper: :clapper:
Keep us posted on how the EATIN IS :goldtooth:
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Best of luck guys :0)
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And......they're off!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Bob, you guy's have fun and be safe. Good luck
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:bigsmyl: Best of Luck to ya.
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:thumbsup: :campfire:
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Ya gotta wonder how many will make it to Austin today.....Flight delays and such TIP-IT..ROB"O"...and the GURU....Where is you :confused:
Spoke with Terry he had a 2hr. delay even before he got boarded :scared: :scared: Said he was suppose to be landin for he'd even gotten ta the plane :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
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I'm still sitting in Boston...my flight leaves first thing in morning...I hope! Today's storm luckily didn't amount to much, mostly rain at airport. With any luck, I'll be in Killeen Texas by noon. tippit
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Pace yer self Bud....Got TWO more hunts Back ta Back commin up REALLLLL SOON. :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
Glad yer movin :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Have a safe trip Doc. You guys get lots of pics. And have a great time.<><
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Went to the New Year's Day shoot at Ye Olde Fartes in Crossville, TN today. We took Skyler with us. DW dropped him off this morning. Sky just spoke to DW and his flight is delayed from Dallas to Austin !@#$%!!!
Best of luck guys, keep us posted with pics !
nocams
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Happy huntin'! :)
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Good luck everyone. I can almost smell the tecate and lime.
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Well, truck is packed and it is 3:38 in the AM and I'm heading south!
Safe travels to everyone, this should be a blast!
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This is gonna be a good 'un!
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dang,I wish I were born rich rather then so good looken.I would be with the mob......bd
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Their a MUSTERIN, gettin ready ta head to WALLY WORLD to get licenses, Treats and TECATE.
The BIG BO-NANNA (T'S Daddy) gets in around Noon as will Tip"O"it. Den the flingin commences.
This has ALL the makeins fer some goodly stories :jumper: :jumper: :eek:
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I just talked to Bill Turner and he's in his truck headed south. Course he don't have too far to go since it's only a couple of hours from Ovilla. Good thing too, 'cause he's driving a Chevy :bigsmyl:
Anyway, he gets to go hunt critters and I get to go over to his house and take care of Buck the Wonder Dog while he's gone.
Good Hunting
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OH Yea Rick "O" well my guys will be there first and get the gooder beds and the best seats at the Table :readit:
They will have shot LOTS and LOTS of practice Arras before he gets there and they'll be READY :goldtooth: :jumper: :jumper:
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Good to see you posting Bob. Good luck and give my best to the rest of the gang. :thumbsup:
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Just talked to Terry....he passed on a "little 10 point" because it was the first day of the hunt...we'll see if he regrets that later on :biglaugh:
Guru drilled a 200lb boar, "black as the ace of spades" they said.
More hunters trickling back into camp...things are already hot and they just started!!!!
Stay tuned....
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Did he happen to mention anything, about YOU KNOW :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
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Sounds like their not wasting any time getting after 'em - this oughta be good! :bigsmyl:
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Yes it will be a keeper thread is my guess.
Really going out on a limb there aren't I? :biglaugh:
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Well Terry left with all of these for this years hunt :pray: :pray:
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/vance/brightones.jpg)
Hoping to bring em back LOOKIN LIKE THESE :eek: :eek: from last years hunt
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/vance/tx06.jpg)
I'll have ta second the ideas of a GOOD STORY a BREWIN :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
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DW has a hog down, Terry has been covered with deer (couldn't count em all :eek: ), Bob Walker has a doe, Jeff has a doe....the arras are flying like skeeters in a swamp!
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Just talked to Bill Turner. He killed what he calls "a good sized doe" about 10 minutes after he got out this afternoon. There's been a couple of hogs taken this afternoon and Bill tells me that Terry has.........think I better wait and not say anything about that just yet.
Danny
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Great hunt so far. They best have LOTS of pics.<><
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OH Danny Boy.....WHO taught you how this game was played :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
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Iron Bull - You ain't getting nothing but grins and giggles outta me right now.....hehehe
Besides, me thinks my fingerprints might be found somewhere around the original book of rules......
;)
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:campfire:
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Wonder what news this mornings going to bring?
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I'm itchin ta see some pics and hear some stories...got the coffee on and we'll be waitin :campfire: :coffee:
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I reckon "I" know where one will be at first LIGHT :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
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Well was just on the phone with Rob D. Some more venison was made and there is a big....well I better let them tell the story when they get back. Stay tuned this one just keeps getting better.
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3 more does and another hog down....that was BEFORE this evening's hunt..... :campfire:
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man you guys are getting it done for sure :0)
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where are the pics? we need our fix to ya know :biglaugh:
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AND :readit:
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Did I hear "BIG PIG" :saywhat: :saywhat:
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Ohhhhhhh yeah.....big pig down......
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Bigger than a BREAD BOX :scared: :scared:
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Iron Bull,
Nope, made us babysit the boy, haha !!! He went with Mason, ( my son ), to the Olde Fartes Shoot on New Year's Day. Them two critters are gittin to where ya can't fill em up. Got holler legs I think ? With milk at $5 gallon I am gonna get me a milk cow !
If Sky would have went with him they would have had to rent a U haul to get all that pork back home. Sky is a pig killin machine from the pics I have seen !!!
Don, I know we sunk the camera on the duck hunt, but go to Walmart and buy a disposable camera and send us some pics, we are dying here !!! :help:
nocams
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You'd think with all them pc literate guys on the hunt, somebody would have taken a picture and found a notebook to send us SOMETHING TO LOOK AT by now... :banghead:
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Vance,
Are they eating anything down there??????????
Mitch
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I startin to get a WEE bit Concerned :scared: :help: :banghead:
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We followed the blood trail for about 75 yards or so and Terry was first to spot Guru's really REALLY fine boar - I snapped a few pics just minutes after finding that big bad boy ...
(http://www.tradgang.com/solana/2008/curtsboar1.jpg)
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nice lookin hog there!!
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YEEEEHA.....The Lost are FOUND :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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That's a beauty of a boar - I think Curt might be doing a full mount! :D
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'Bout time we started hearing from somebody...
:clapper:
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Nice one Curt! Looking forward to some tales from this hunt. Hurry home boys and get to typing.
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Alright Curt! :clapper: :clapper: That's a beauty, and a heck of a shot by the looks of it. The Kwyk Styk strikes!
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SWEET! Nice hog Curt. Skyler
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Sweeeeet Pork!!!! and about time, I was getting really cranky waiting :D Vance least we know they had pork tenderloins :campfire:
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Curt,
Great looking hog! They sure are fun to hunt and just about as good to eat...unless you have to go and kill one of the big bruisers like you did.
Speaking from experience they sure are tough to hit right as your target isn't near as big as a whitetail.
Great shooting.
Chris
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RIBS with lots of sauce! Congrats GURU.<><
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Looks like "Timex" struck again! Congrats bro! :notworthy: :clapper:
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Congratulations Guru!
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:clapper: :goldtooth:
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Great trophy shot and a fine hog. Well done Curt!
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Out with it fellers....it's story time! :campfire: :coffee:
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Joe... I think Curt shot that hog in the mouth. That's the only blood I see. Yuck! ;)
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Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Joe... I think Curt shot that hog in the mouth. That's the only blood I see. Yuck! ;)
Hi Charlie :wavey:
The below pic is a bit more bloody graphic but you can see that Curt's shot was perfectly on the money ...
(http://www.tradgang.com/solana/2008/curtsboar2.jpg)
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Great Job Guys :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
I got my Brand Muffin and Prune Juice...Let the tails BEGAN :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
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Great hearing of everyone's success. Sounds like a good time was had by all.
Congratulations Curt!!
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Got home about 2PM yesterday. Had a great time. Killed a big doe but had several opportunities at bucks eight points and less. No hogs ventured my way. On Saturday morning I had 6 bucks and five does and yearlings within 35 yards, That's when the the big boy showed up. Very wide(18" plus) and 10 to 12 inch tines. Presented a quartering away shot at 35 to 40 yards which I would not take. Instead of coming in to play he turned and walked straight away from me. I'll always remember that sight.
This hunt was great fun. Got to meet and hunt with some super TradGangers. Everyone had plenty of opportunities to take game. The bunkhouse and food were great. The guides and staff members went out of there way to make sure that your needs and expectations were met. I would recommend this hunt to anyone who is looking for an opportunity to hunt a good Texas ranch with avid traditional bowhunters. There was truly plenty of game, plenty of food and plenty of fun to go around. Adios!!!
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way to go guys keep it comming
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HELLO Everyone, just got back and I've got to pick up Skyler at school, but here's something to hold you over.....lots more to come....
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(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0146.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0131.jpg)
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OH NO :saywhat:
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well thats a pretty 2 piece Arrow :bigsmyl:
great hog Curt! :thumbsup: :clapper:
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Wow...what a great hunt with a bunch of fine gents!!!...new friendships were forged, and old ones reunited.
And, we were a bit conservative on bucks let me tell ya. Its tuff when you can get only one buck, and you have to make a choice on what to pass on, and we passed on a bunch, and a couple of big bucks were foiled at 3 quarter draw by unlucky happenstances no fault of the hunter, and one giant bucked evidently wheeled just enough....but the memories are etched in the minds of the hunters for ever.
I passed on a smallish ten pointer the 1st afternoon, and passed on EIGHT 8 pointers in bow range on the 1st whole day of the hunt!!!.....
My 'guide' then took my camera away from me. :knothead: :knothead: :knothead:
I'll be back with a few buck pics in a moment...sorry for the poor quality...I WAS trying to be still. :D
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(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana081.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana082.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana084.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana086.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana085.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana087.jpg)
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First here is some pics of the Solana Ranch....Terry nailed it on the blurry pics, notice how clear the pics are that don't have deer in them and how blurry the deer pics are.....
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(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana089.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana0810.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana088.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana0812.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana0813.jpg)
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(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0172.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0168.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0153.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0152.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0145.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0144.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0143.jpg)
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I can only echo what Terry and others have already said about the Solana Ranch - the experience for me was exceptional in every way ... well, 'cept for that big buck, but I'll be back next year!
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(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0141.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0138.jpg)
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(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana0814.jpg)
This guy was WIDE....and its hard to make out his tines in the pics due to the grass.....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana0815.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana0816.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana0817.jpg)
Check this dude out.....told ya we were conservative.....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana083.jpg)
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Come on Bill, tell us how you realy feel.
Glad you had a great time.
What kind of bow did you take your nanny with?
Brant
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Looking forward to this one. :thumbsup: :campfire:
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I think a lot of people visit Trad Gang to hang out and learn from others who THINK like they do themselves. Can you imagine spending 5 days in Texas, at a place as un-believable as Solana Ranch, with 14 fellow TG'ers.....It was a pleasure to met everyone and I really enjoyed the short time we had after dinner each night, we had some great conversations and didn't get a lot of sleep........Skyler is going next year and we can't wait..... :)
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The best part of the hunt was spending time with All my fellow Trad Gangers! Meeting and making new friends plus seeing old friends was what the hunt was for me...But the Solana Ranch ain't a bad place to hand out :thumbsup:
For this Northern boy (notice I didn't say Yankee...not a good term around Boston :D it was a real learning experience in hunting Texas deer. It took me a while to figure out why there were so many fawns with the big does...then I saw the real fawns. They are are much smaller bodied deer than up here. The numbers of deer were amazing. Just a lot of fun to watch their interactions around a feeder (another new experience). Speaking of the feeders, I was warned about how spooky they can be around them...that was an understatement. More on that later, I got in last night at 1:30 am and still trying to clear the cob webs...Doc
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Solana%20Ranch%20Hunt%2008/SolanaRanchHunt08004.jpg)
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:thumbsup:
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I'll second tippit's comment about the spooky deer - man, they weren't just spooky, they were WIRED SILLY! More than a few times I'd seen does grazing around a feeder with their tails raised - never seen that before. I saw does and bucks grazing very sparse corn around the perimeter of the feeder and wouldn't come near the larger corn piles right under the feeder - and sometimes it was the reverse. These deer were wicked alert.
The general rule of thumb was to aim low, really LOW - like at the belly white or even below that (Terry will comment on that doe he shot). Most of the time the deer would drop low at the string release and maybe a bit forward - just in time to connect with yer arra.
I made a good shot on a fat doe as she chomped corn to the far right of a feeder and about 25-30 yards out ... after a picture perfect release the 575gr AD carbon and WW head sped true to the mark ... WELL, she sprung UP off her hind legs, front legs high in the air, the arra whistled right under her belly white, and while in the air she twisted 90 degrees to her right, and in two huge bounds disappeared into the brush. ACK!!! I just sat there, stunned, 15 feet up in my tree stand, shaking my head, looking at, well, NOTHING ...
(http://www.tradgang.com/solana/2008/feeder.jpg)
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(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0158.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0157.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0155.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0142.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0137.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0134.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0133.jpg)
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Looking forward to the stories and pics on this one guys..... :thumbsup:
David
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Well...I won this hunt on the St Jude's auction. I'm glad I did. The kids got the money and I got to meet other trad gangers and hunt whitetail deer for the first time.
This was very much a great experience for me. As a matter of fact I enjoyed it so much that I talked it over with the wife and got permission (yeah, I know :rolleyes: ) to make this an annual trip for me. So I'll be sending in my deposit for next year!
As I said I've never hunted whitetails. I've never hunted from elevated stands or over feeders. I was excited to try something new and was pleased with the experience.
I didn't come away with any kills. Well, that's hunting. Sometimes things just don't happen as planned. I had opportunites; missed a doe when she did her version of the Solana Shuffle on me when I dropped the string on her. I also started lots of shots but had to stop for one reason or another. Me, Jeff, and Bill all hunted out of a barn over a feeder and experienced the little five pointer from hell who just wouldn't leave and would goose all the does that came in, usually just about when I was about to shoot the doe! :banghead: :banghead:
My group hunted with a new guide who was filling in for an injured veteran hand...Don Wilson, "Bootstrap" Bill Turner, Micheal Langehans, and Jeff Berberick. We had a good time and saw a lot of animals. Ask Don about the "day the pigs died".
The first day we all strung our bows, went into the front yard of the bunk house, set some prickly pear ears on the grass and let fly for a while. (Sorry about your AD trad lite Rob; really, I wasn't aiming for it...really) :p
Me and the Ranch Manager, Peanut, hit it off well. We're both firemen and have interests, and some people, in common. He gave me some info on my current chief, who used to work in Texas, that I can use against him sometime :cool: He also gave me a flyer on a public safety pig hunt he puts together in May. If I can get a few other of my fireman friends to pull it off I may go back for that, or at least send my friends!
I've never gotten so little sleep in a hunting camp. We were up late jaw jacking and up early hunting. Of course my bunk was in the "living room" of the bunk house where the jaw jacking was taking place, and I don't care how good your earplugs are, you can't block out Terry when he's on a roll :D :banghead: :campfire:
Seriously, a good time had by all. I told Peanut I'd be back to get that Texas whitetail and thanked him for donating the hunt. Sounds like we're gonna try and buy out the hunt for trad gang next year and I'm glad I won't miss that.
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I'll bet the FOOD was good TOO HU :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
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great stories guys! :)
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Yeah, we ate well. A few of us met up in Austin the the night before the hunt started. Stayed in a hotel and went to the Texas Land and Cattle Company for steak and beer.
We'd get up early and have first breakfast. Just coffee, pastries, toast, that kind of thing. After the first hunt we'd come back for second breakfast...bacon or sausage, mexican eggs, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, pancakes. Dinners were enchiladas, steak, pork ribs, smoked brisket...Oh yeah, we ate well. :thumbsup:
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Great read so far fellas!
Don, who's left handed widow has your arrow on it...I know it's not yours cause it's not a longbow :rolleyes: Love the pics.
Pretty fletching there Doc :D
"Terry on a roll", yep, get that redhead in gear and you'll be up late laughing.
Never cared much for Texas deer...don't like to aim at something I don't intend to hit (under them)...but them hog pics have my attention!
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Great pics. When do we get to see some of the hero shots you all are holding out on us?
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Hay Brant, good to hear from ya. You know I hunted with a Massie, just not the one I got from you. Shot my doe with a Massie "Longhorn", 55@28 and WW heads. 2008 was the year of the longbow. I havn't shot a recurve since December, 2007.
For those TradGangers out there who have never experienced Texas whitetail hunting pay close attention to the threads stating how wired the deer are around feeders/stand areas. This is not like shooting fish in a barrel. My new friend from Mass. "Tippit" will vouch for that. It is meeting and sharing the traditional bowhunting experience with people like him and the other guys that made the trip that make this type of experience so enjoyable. :campfire:
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I need all of the Solana Vets from this years hunt to check the Solana forum and post to my thread on next years hunt as soon as possible.
Thanks....
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Ha, just checking on the gal Bill. Might not have sold her to the other side of the Sabine if she was going to get neglected. Ha.
I feel like a real chump for not getting in on this hunt.
One Day!
Brant
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real great pics guys :thumbsup:
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I had a lone doe come in on the 2nd morning and give me a 15 yard shot...and I aimed to cut off the far leg at the base of the body....and she dropped right into the arrow perfect. Odd for everywhere but TX, the exit wound after blasting the shoulder was 3 inches HIGHER than the exit wound, and I was 15 feet up a tree. I should have taken a pic of that exit wound, but just forgot when I got hooked back up with the gang.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana0818.jpg)
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Great job guys.
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O and I love the contrast between the pics with and without deer. :saywhat:
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With a smile thats the way. Nice quiver too.
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nice shooting terry :clapper:
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Here's a few more..... (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0149.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0160.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0161.jpg)
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(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0148.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0140.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0167.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0174.jpg)
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Whens the barbecue guys? Nice meat pole so to say.
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I had some camera issues and my hog pics are too blurry to use, one of them is in the group pic....Here's some pics of Curts hog...entrance and exit... (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0170.jpg) (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0169.jpg)
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WHAT??!!?? Is that a WW and not a Snuffer? Curt, you feelin ok? :jumper:
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Entrance hole on one of mine....I do believe you are correct MR. Coots......I know Curts got several pics yet to post.... (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/rickybob_2006/DSCN0165.jpg)
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JC...Curt saw the boar, and switched....good call as he had a half inch shield.
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What an incredible hunt!! Can't say enough about Solana, my fellow TG'ers, and the critters!
My hunt started with a beautiful sunrise at the Albany airport.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08002.jpg)
After arriving and getting our gear together,little by little we were all out shooting pieces of prickly pear, out to 40 yds.! My shooting felt real good, I was positive if given the opportunity,I would make it count.....I was ready to hit a treestand!
I was very fortunate to hunt in a group with Terry Green, Joel Smith, Matt Shuster, and Rob DiStefano, and of course our guide supreme,the extremely funny and very entertaining David Shepperd...that guy is the funniest man I've ever been around and an extremely experienced TX hunter.
Got settled and had some visitors within a half hr......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08004.jpg)
That's when I got to see first hand just how jittery these deer are....they make an eastern wild turkey look like they're drunk! I have never seen a more paranoid creature in all my years of hunting......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08005.jpg)
I was thinking I might shoot the bigger doe,so I inch by inch reached for my bow and managed to get it between my legs as I sat on the low stool in the stand. I wanted it just in case a buck showed, or I decided to shoot her. These deer had me on edge like I've never been,and they were wired beyond belief......then the feeder went off!!!
It scared the living daylight out of me! I jumped so bad, the arrow came right off my bow, and the deer exploded out of there like they were lit on fire! I was fortunate enough to catch the arrow, but it took about 10 minutes for my heartbeat to return to normal!!!!!!
They came back though and fed around for a while till they all looked to my right and then walked away....I knew something was coming.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08006.jpg)
Some good eating.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08007.jpg)
The cows moved off and the three deer came back but wouldn't come all the way in where I needed the big doe to be for a shot. I kept hearing something off to my right and sorta behind me, but I couldn't see real well that way. Again, the deer walked off and I heard something walking right behind me....a big,black,boar hog! at first I thought he was gonna come in in walking right under me to my left....but he was a smart old fella....he was circling downwind!!
As he moved around the Live Oak tree next to my I took the opportunity to switch arrows.....I had 4 BH arrows in my quiver....but one was specifically there just in case a big boar hog showed up...it was a Wensel Woodsman....I figured it's low profile would be better suited to for the thick shield of a big boar. I got the arrow nocked just as he got directly downwind. Clean clothing and a Scent Lok head cover helped I believe, because he kept on coming......
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Toby mentioned "The Day the Pigs died"....all I've got to say is they wouldn't quit coming back, but I saved my last arrow in case a buck came in and ran the rest of them off..And all this happened the first 15 minutes on the stand..Terry and Curt got to see the blood trails. ..Yall really need to try to go on this hunt...it was un-real....Does it sound like we had fun? :bigsmyl:
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Carnage on the doe...Zwickey Delta 4 blade....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana0819.jpg)
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Yeah Joe....I measured his shield at a full 1"!
.....I stood but had to crouch low to see under the branches of the live oak I was in. It was really made to shoot sitting,but I felt more comfortable shooting from a crouched standing position. He stopped just he got to the edge of the feeder corn, dead broadside at 20yds......I pulled my headcover down under my chin, crouched lower to shoot between the "V" of a branch, and started to draw.....next thing I remember seeing was the arrow strike in the exact spot I was looking at....I mean my impression of the shot was that I couldn't have placed it any better! But things happen fast......
....at inpact he wirled to his left and took off at a low, choppy, crashing run, and was quickly out of site.....within seconds the running stopped and seconds later I could hear erratic hard crashing....then silence.....
All this told me that I had in fact made a good shot. But the fact that I couldn't see him,and things always happen so fast at times like this.......I was confident...but you never know......
I nocked another arrow and waited out the evening.....I think I might have seen some more deer.....but at this point I was so much looking forward to finding the hog,that deer were kinda taking a backseat this evening.....
Master guide David showed up..."well,how'd ya do?" I told him "I hit a pretty nice boar hog and I'm pretty sure I couldn't have hit him any better than I did, and I thought I heard him crashing around, then silence". He said..."good deal!"
"let's go get the other guys and come back to see if we can find him".....
...We were soon back and while Matt and I looked for and trailed the blood,Joel marked last spot, Terry got out ahead in the direction that I'd said he'd gone. Soon came the words I was looking to hear....."Hey Curt, I got him!" I remember saying to Matt and Joel, "well that didn't take very long,so much for the bloodtrail"
I had in fact hit him right where I thought....I couldn't have placed it any better......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08072.jpg)
Couldn't have shared this with any better folks....The smile says it all!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08008.jpg)
Copperhead Jack kempf Kwyk Styk,"Timex"....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08011.jpg)
His choppers.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08015.jpg)
What a way to start off a hunt!!!!!
More pix tomorrow......
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Glad you measured it Curt....I thought it was thicker than a half inch....great pics....and I got the video!
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Looking forward to seeing that video bud! I'm already looking forward to next year!
I was thrilled to get such a great hog. I've killed 3 FL. hogs before this,including a giant that was way bigger than this one,but they were all sows. I've long wanted a big boar hog with some "teeth". It felt like I'd killed a P&Y buck after I killed this hog. He was a smart ol' boy, I'd made a good shot, and I got to share it with friends old and new.
Does it get any better?
I'll be back after work...........
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Awesome shot Curt, you certainly can perform on the fur as well as the foam.
I know what you mean about Tx deer, they make everything else I've ever hunted look plumb sedated.
Keep it coming ya'll :campfire:
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Curt did you use a wood arrow to take that hog? Give us the detail on the wetight, length etc. Congrats to all you guys. Looks like you had a good time!
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Curt,
What were your other broadhead choices in your quiver and why did you pick the WW ? Pass thru ? How far did the old boy go ? Great pics and thanks for sharing with us !
nocams
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wow!!!! awesome guys just awesome man that WW sure did a number on the hog.
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Waiting on David.....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana0820.jpg)
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The whole gang minus Rob with a day and a half left in the hunt. (Rob had to leave due to his wife getting ill, but she's fine now)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana0821.jpg)
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Congrats Guys!!! Glad you all had a Blast. :thumbsup: Congrats on the MONSTER HOG Curt. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
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Don, those are great pix bud!
I shot the hog with a Carbonwood 4000,29",560grs..(around 192-195 fps)...the only other BH's I had in my quiver were big ol' 160 Snuffers. I know how a boar hogs "shield" and heavily muscled shoulder area can be notoriously hard to get thru. So I weighted up a WW to be the same weight as my Snuffers. Both had steel adapters in them and weighed in a 250grs including the reg. alum. insert.
The arrow hit a rib going in and out,but slipped between them without cutting them. It ended up on the far side just shy of sticking out the other side........
He went about 70-75yds from the spot the arrow took him thru the top of the heart and both lungs......
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U2 Terry, thanx for the pix bud....
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Group pic...Left to right.....
Joel Smith, Matt Shuster, BTH, Tippet, "DW", Guru, Terry Green, Bill Turner, bwhuntr4life, Sunny hill archer, and Bobby and Bob Walker.....Missing was Rob DiStefano
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The next morning I learned first hand the importance of being absolutely ready within minutes of being in your stand in the morning darkness.....I had deer under me almost immediately. I usually wait to put on extra cloths and such when I get up in a tree waiting for daybreak......After this morning,I wouldn't do it again.....As it got lighter,in my bino's I could see 2 bucks and a few does.But when it was light enough to shoot only one buck remained,and he was a young buck......he walked off.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08017.jpg)
The view south....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08018.jpg)
About 9:00 I looked off to my left and saw a deer that I could tell immediately was a buck. Thru my 8x Leicas I could see he was a good,but weird character buck. He had good mass and 5 points on his left side, but had about a 12" spike sticking straight out of head on the other side! Off the base of the spike was about a 3" hook shaped point. A very cool buck that I'd have shot in a heartbeat.But he never came closer than about 150yds.
Something I found very cool in my tree. maybe it's common, but it was the only time I saw it...a prickly pear cactus growing about 15 ft. up in the fork of a live oak tree...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08021.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08020.jpg)
Terry giving Jeff Springer(Tippet) a Hush Puppy installation lesson......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08016.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08037.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08047.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08046.jpg)
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Way to go Curt, pretty good shot placement I'd say. I haven't been on a hunt yet with Trad Gangers that I didn't have a great time at, so I know you guys had to have a great time.......looking forward to more.
David
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Thanx Guru for the arrow and broadhead specs ! Also the other pics look good too. I stopped by DW's store this afternoon and heard all the tall tales firsthand, haha ! Looks like ya'll had a great hunt, congrats !
nocams
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Thank you David, see ya soon bud!
Your welcome Jimmy,it was an awesome hunt!
Before we headed out the next afternoon, we took some time to take some daytime pix if my hog. These came out great......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/curt1.jpg)
This photo with Terry is long overdue and one I will cherish forever.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/curt2.jpg)
Some deer pix from the afternoon hunt.....no bucks came in till it was too dark to shoot,and a hog came in when I could just barely see it. It crunched corn in the dark till David and the guys came to pick me up......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08032.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08033.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08034.jpg)
Toby Ray "BTH" gearing up....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08050.jpg)
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Thank you for demonstrating proper shot placement on a hog Guru! :thumbsup: It's good to see one shot through the heart. Them bigger hogs can still cover 75 yards with no heart. Great shot! CK
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Ain't you got no runnin' water there? Jeff's face is all dirty!
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I'm ready to go back!!!!
Anyone up for a hog hunt????
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I'm IN!!!
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Whats the dates?
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Darn, Terry! Don't you have enough hogs to hunt in Georgia?!
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No Cams:
Hope DW told you about the stand he set in on Saturdy night with the wind just howling. I promise you when he says he was more interested in holding on to that tree than shooting the deer that was below him he is not stretching the truth. Ain't no way this old boy was going to hunt that stand. DW was definitely in the nose bleed section. :notworthy:
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CK, Thanx bud,we all get lucky sometimes ;)
Terry, I'd love to do a spring turkey/hog hunt sometime.....But just a hog hunt would be fine too!!!!!
......Next mornings stand was another good one that produced plenty of deer sightings, but all were at long distance. Also saw the only coyote of the trip.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08041.jpg)
Had this fella come for a visit though....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08038.jpg)
Gonna download a few more pix,i'll be back soon...
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Young Bobby Walker....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08049.jpg)
Two of the finest fellas walking gods green earth...."Tippit" Jeff Springer and "DW" Don Wilson.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08051.jpg)
Mr. Green, Terry's dad....one of the best sleepers I've ever seen...he can literally fall asleep in seconds!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08052.jpg)
"Admin" Rob DiStefano and Terry "Tarzan" Green,our fearless leader....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08053.jpg)
Me and my bud.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08054.jpg)
Our guide, David Sheppard....the funniest guy I've ever met! He has to be "experienced" to be appreciated! He's an absolute "hoot" :biglaugh: .....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08056.jpg)
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HAY there was some folks I recognized :scared: :scared:
That Rob guy could really really EAT. And about yer eatin???? HOW WAS IT :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
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A dried up hog wallow....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08057.jpg)
You can see in this pic where the hogs used the trees to rub against....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08058.jpg)
We were having a great time and Terry and I were getting our moneys worth......no time for sleep. It seemed there was always a blood trail to help out with in between hunts. I usually got back to camp just in time to grab a quick shower and get right back out to hunt in the afternoon....I was glad to help out and I was lovin' every second of this hunt!!
Got to spend a lot of time with some real special folks......
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Vance the eatin' was top notch!! Everything,and I mean everything was awesome!
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Yes,....we have plenty of hogs in GA...but I'm telling ya, and others will also tell ya, there is something about Solana Ranch that calls you back!!!
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No doubt about it....I can't stop thinking about going back!!
I remember,about 2 days into the hunt, saying to Terry, Matt, and Joel...."I can see how this place gets into your blood".....It really is a spacial place! Throw in a bunch of good 'ol trad gangers and it's just unforgettable.....
The bunkhouse......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08059.jpg)
The pavilion and practice area.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08060.jpg)
Terry, big Bob Walker behind him and David walking to his rig....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08061.jpg)
Another good stand,but this afternoon was slow for nearly everyone......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08062.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08063.jpg)
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Looks like young Bobby's making good inroads into that six-pack! :campfire:
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Bill "Bootstrap" Turner,
Yep, Don told me about several of the stands. I can only imagine the one that he told me about that was out on a limb with nothing around, kinda floating in space. Said he was hanging on with his toenails and if he had a tail like a monkey he would have wrapped it around the limb too !
nocams
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Speaking of David.....He shot a hog the last evening we were there, and came and got us....we'll he went looking for his hog after we'd all left.....and he found it.
Now, see about two years ago Joel and I got him out there on the 3-D deer with a longbow, and he got the bug a bit....Joel sent him an old bear recurve, and I sent him some arrows. David got to practicing in the off season, and got a few does the next year, and this year as well.....and he got this boar on our hunt with that old Bear recurve...and a Wensel 'Woodchopper' as he likes to ball them....
Congrats David, you are very deserving of this hero pic for all you did for us, and have done in years past....let's hear it for David Shepard!!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/Solana33.jpg)
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Well alright!!! :scared:
I know I've talked about how funny he is,but he's much more. He's an excellent hunter and has many yrs of experience that he uses and passes on to his hunters.....he's just a great all around "guide" and a better person!
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I guess I'm the only one that took a lot of pix.....
Nobody else has more pix?
Terry working on the nock fit on another arrow for his quiver after shooting his doe that morning.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08065.jpg)
Don re-loading arrows and sharpening some bh's....I believe this was the night he got Terry going about "aiming methods"....that was a hoot!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08067.jpg)
Another group shot.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08071.jpg)
Terry and Tippit having a laugh......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08074.jpg)
A couple pix for my dad to enjoy.....Courtesy of either Terry or Bob...nothing like the smell of a cigar to remind my of playing golf with dad...something I need to do more of...back stps of the bunk house...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08075.jpg)
front door....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08076.jpg)
till later......
We need some stories fellas......
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Guru, I think Terry was laughing about my Boston Airport Camo Bag...no one suspects your a hunter with an orange flower duffel :eek: When Joel & Matt picked me up at the airport, their first comment was "you must feel pretty secure with your manhood totin' a bag like that!" The big plus is No One even tries to pick it up and walk off with it :biglaugh: Doc
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That's right,I remember getting in on the laughs about that! :notworthy:
I sure hope you can make it next year....
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Curt's right, there has to be more stories to go along with this one, just has to be..... :archer:
David
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Words can't express how envious I am of you guys. Looks like one awesome trip. :notworthy:
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Second to last morning I got dropped off in the dark,but I was ready this time so I wouldn't spook anything that came in quickly. Within minutes I could hear something walking in. Against the back round of light colored dead grass I could barely see some deer moving in. But it would be at least another half hour before it would even be close enough to consider a shot. As it got lighter,thru my bino's I could see it was several does,a small big, and a slightly "rutty" 8 pt....he was playing "ring around the rosy" with one of the does as they alternated eating and chasing. He wasn't a monster by any means,but from what I could tell a good representation of a Solana buck. I dearly wanted to have a TX buck to go along with my hog. So I decided to try for him. It was getting close to shooting light and I prepared for my shot...then the feeder went off, and everything scattered. But quickly started coming back,and were soon all around my shooting lane again. It seemed like deer where coming out of the woodwork now. All the deer that were under me before and then some with more coming. I'd stood,had my hand slid up into the grip of "Timex" and my superglove tipped finger hooked on the string. All the deer were feeding contently,with more coming.....I wasas relaxed as I could be given the circumstances, just waiting for the 8 pt to get 'right'.........
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08048.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08068.jpg)
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AARRRGGHHH..... :banghead:
David
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Okay y'all... I held off checking this thread thinking I'd get to read it in one sitting! LOL! In true TG style I see I'll have to keep coming back!
Congrats to all of you for a time well spent together, and for the successful kills.
Curt, A special congrats to you on your Texas boar. I got a good chuckle about your comment on the feeder going off and you jumping. I've been there...done that, too many times!
Now... let's get on with the story telling!
Thanks for taking the time to share!
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Looks like a load of fun guys , wish I could have been both places at the same time.
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Can someone give me some more info about these arrows posted on page two? Who made the wraps and what color/brand feathers are those? Got a closer pic of the wraps on the right in red??
I have been looking for some REAL bright arrow wrap/feather combo and these are great!
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n217/reviveourhomes/Image1-3.jpg)
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Those are Terry's arrows with Trad Gang wraps. You see a deer or hog runnin' with one of those and ya'll know it ain't goin' far :thumbsup:
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Great Pics guys!! It looks like an awesome time!!
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(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/brightones2.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/brightones3.jpg)
Will be available soon here on the Trad Gang Store ...going to make the red ones a little more blaze orange.
Going to have another goodie wrap available also.
Feathers a basic shields in Flo Yellow....lots of sponsors carry them.
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My story isn't as sweet in the hunting end although the Solana Ranch & comradery shared was incredible!
I've hunted Texas a few times with the TX Sweat for hogs, javies, and goats But never experienced Texas deer on corn feeders. They are probably the most alert spooky animal I've hunted...more like turbo deer :eek:
The first night I had seven what I thought were fawns on my stand....a couple with in 10 yards under me. I just watched them hoping to see some bucks. Then three very large beagles came in! That is they were the size of beagles but were actually fawns...now I was beginning to understand size of Texas deer compared to our Northern deer :) Just around dark two bucks showed up...a fork and a very nice nine point. I made up my mind right then that it was going to be a nice eight point or better for me to shoot.
The next day & a half, I saw a lot of does but no big bucks. It was an education in their reactions to everything that moved, made noise, or just appeared to move. They were like someone light a firecracker under them. As to my education, everyone was telling me to aim low for the white spot on the far leg Under the body.
On the third day after seeing guys come in with hogs (I never saw one) and does, I couldn't take it anymore...I decide I'd even go for a beagle :mad: To justify my decision, I'd use one of my forged points.
The next morning, I had two very nice eight point with tall racks come in. They weren't with any does and seemed to be feeding pretty calm. I just waited til one came on my side of the feeder before taking a shot. I kept repeating my new mantra...aim low, aim low, aim low, etc. You guessed it, my arrow hit him in the chest right behind the front leg...low :( He hadn't even moved with the shot! As I watched him run off with my arrow sticking out, all I could hope for was it slipped in above the sternum into the lungs or heart. After an hour, I slipped down to see if there was a blood trail. No sign of anything. I found my shaft broken off in a small creek about 50 yards off then my broadhead another ten yards furter with no sign of blood. We searched and never found any blood. At the end of the week the deer were even spookier and I didn't get another shot opportunity. I'll be back next year but I won't be passing up shots this time :pray: Doc
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Solana%20Ranch%20Hunt%2008/DiscGrinder001.jpg)
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....I sure was pulling for you kill a deer with your hand made bh Jeff...next year bud! I feel the same way....
....So like I said, I was as ready as I could be...waiting.......a bird would flutter by...they would flinch....then I'd let them settle again....then he'd take a run at one of the does....and I'd wait for him to come back....more deer were coming in.....he was almost where I needed for him to be.....Then what sounded like 100yds away a deer blew.....in a split second deer scattered in all directions including under me on both sides and I was left all alone holding my bow! Dang!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But it was early...........
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Tippit is a very talented guy. Knife builder and arrowhead maker deluxe. Like Guru, I was pulling for him to harvest a good whitetail with one of his home made broadheads. There is no way that whitetail would not leave a bloodtrail if hit in the vitals with Tippit's broadhead. That deer is running around on the ranch today with a minor flesh wound, well on its way to healing. Heres hoping Jeff gets another chance next year. My money is on him. :archer:
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Speaking of Tippit.....where's that pic someone took of his knives spread out on the table???
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Not sure who took that pic,but i'd like to see it too :notworthy:
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I know how you feel Tippit, I shot under 3 different Impala because everyone told me to aim low, aim low. I finally decided that I was going to shoot at the next one like everything else and it was perfect! Critters can be frustrating when they don't do what we want them to. :D Joseph
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Joseph, That at least cheers me!
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Terry, Here are the knives from Solana. Funny cause that was the night you told me you were considering allowing a Hunting Knife Forum.
What shock to come home and see the Hunting Knife Crafters Forum on the Big Board! A very nice surprise. Thanks...tippit
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/SoplanaKnives002.jpg)
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Next year Jeff, next year!! I can't wait!
.....So with our last evening approaching.... guide David and I got into a little friendly shooting competition. After thumping a water bottle from about 35yds, then calling a head shot on the 3D deer and shooting it in the ear from about 40yds, I was ready...he was all smiles....he's such a cool dude....
We headed out to a stand that he said "your last shot on the bottle EARNED you this stand".....he then said...."when that feeder goes off be ready"
.......So I climbed up and got ready as quickly and quietly as I could......
Deer started to show up before the feeder even went off.....but a swirling wind was killing me!
Only the young skipper fawns would come close enough,but all the does and the one buck I saw were very skittish and wouldn't come in....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08078.jpg)
the view in a couple directions....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08079.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08080.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08081.jpg)
But then all the deer started looking in one direction toward the woodline......all slowly left the way they came in...they'd seen something that made them uncomfortable...and I would soon know the source.....
Within minutes I could hear something in the trees to my right...another BIG black boar hog! He was coming in...I slowly switched arrows like I'd done on my other hog and got ready for the shot I just knew was coming.......
At about 25yds he stopped and started hooking(with his tusks) a small 3ft. cedar tree...my heart was just pounding! He did this for about a minute...I was just waiting for him to start toward the feeder...but he had something else on his mind.....he slowly turned and started back the way he came. I have no idea why,the wind was good,he had no idea I was there(I think). He moved off to about 30yds and stopped quartering away....I never even thought to shoot,I figured he was going to work around into the feeder....he walked into the woods and I never saw him again.......
He was at least as big as the one I'd killed earlier in the hunt, but I really think he was bigger!!!
Never saw another critter...but as I waited in the dark to get picked up...a whole bunch of 'lil hogs came in(I could barely see them thru bino's)....the sound of crunching corn was almost deafening...I was really enjoying just sitting there......But then when it was too dark to see at all I think the big boar came back in....whatever it was had a heck of a grunt! I could hear him right under me......
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Jeff, That one caper with the "spaulted" wood(at the bottom of the pix) was just awesome! Well they all where,but that one was my favorite!
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That evening was Steak night!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08082.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08083.jpg)
Big Bob Walker and arrow slingin' Don Wilson(DW)...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08084.jpg)
Bill and Terry Green......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08085.jpg)
Joel Smith holding court.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08086.jpg)
The guides...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08087.jpg)
The "grub"......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08089.jpg)
Time to eat....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08088.jpg)
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I recognize the store on the shirt Joel is wearing. I drove by there the weekend after Christmas. Does he own it?
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He might, I know he has one down there.....
I'm out of pix guys,anyone else have any pix or stories?
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Chuck...he's the manager of Bear Country Outfitters.
I got a couple more pics....but there's a few more kill pics out there as well....maybe they'll get around to posting soon.
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Sure wish I could have been on this hunt. I've enjoyed this thread immensely.
:thumbsup: :campfire: :archer:
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I wish you had been too, Charlie. You would have loved it! Here's a few pics, including a few of my hunting partner. This place is perfect for big deer.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/Solana07013.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/Solana07012.jpg)
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Here's my partner at the ready.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/Solana07020.jpg)
Not so ready.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/Solana07021.jpg)
Dreaming of the hunt!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/Solana07022.jpg)
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A 70lb Schafer Silvertip with a 200gr Ace tipped MFX Classic 340 does the trick.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/Solana07023.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/Solana07025.jpg)
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That a boy Bob,been waiting for you to chime in.
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Thanks for sharing that Bob....I needed that.
Tell little man I said hi.
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Originally posted by tippit:
Terry, Here are the knives from Solana. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Knives/SoplanaKnives002.jpg)
What I want to know is, when will one be fer sale....I'm LOVIN some of these blade shapes yer doin bro! Awesome lookin stuff :readit:
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STILL enjoying these tales guys....thank you so much for continuing the story. Looking forward to next year.
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Those are great pix of Bobby!!!
Thanx bud
JC, I've been wondering how I'm gonna talk him out of one myself :notworthy:
We're going to have a great time next year Joe!!
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Tippit knives do go on sale once in awhile if you know where to look..........
On the St. Jude's auction thread in June! :readit: :readit:
Save your pennies boys and girls!
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is that a new zealand hat ya got on bob LOL!!!
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Wish you guys could of got by Peacocks Archery in Belton,only about 6 to 8 miles away. Not a trad shop,but he collects stick bows. There are over 300 recurves and longbows hanging from the ceiling and in glass cases in the front of the shop. There is every kind of stickbow there you can think of and more. You need at least an hour to look them all over. Oh,and Mr. Peacock is a great guy. He competes freestyle unlimited compound but hunts with a recurve.
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We chatted about going to that shop....but there was always a blood trail to follow every morning and evening...we stayed too busy let me tell ya!....
Wish we could have gotten by there though....maybe next year. :pray:
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Here's my story about Solana. I'm not a great story teller like Guru or Terry, so this will be short. The TRAD GANGER's---there's not one of them that I wouldn't like to spend more time with in camp. I know several trips are in the planning stages and life-long friendships were made. I think everyone had a wonderful time....SOLANA RANCH----this place just hasn't been "discovered" by the bowhunting crowd...It is beautiful with large stands of live oaks and cedars, large flowing creeks, food plots, and LOTS of animals.....The ANIMALS----I saw grey foxes, bob-cats, Coyotes, turkeys, all kinds of birds and waterfowl, Black Buck antelope, lots of deer and a ton of hogs. I saw a lot of bucks including one real giant and passed on several that I shouldn't have in hind-sight. That's OK because you just didn't know what was gonna walk in next. I said to myself, several times,the next good buck I'm gonna shoot...but I let them walk and thats fine...I'm lucky and get to hog hunt a lot BUT I've never had to get down and run them off because I was down to 1 arrow...well, I had to at Solana.....I'll hunt with several of these guys between now and the end of the year and look foward to meeting the "new" guys...Skyler is going to love this place.....Don
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Well, I figured I'd wait a bit to see how high Guru set the story tellin' bar...Can't beat him, so I'd better just join him...
This is the "five pointer from He##" that hangs out at the barn stand. Jeff, bowhunter4life, had him in first. We had just dropped him off and were driving by again after dropping Micheal off and this guy was already in looking for corn...Oh yeah...Texas is the state where corn is a verb...
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c398/tfr270/IMG_0643.jpg)
Anyway...when my turn came to set this stand this little feller kept goosing the does I was gonna let fly on. I had one old, dry, tattered doe that was perfect and he goosed her too! I told Gary that this little guy had to go, just on general principal. But, no, he was just too small to bother with.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c398/tfr270/IMG_0642.jpg)
These were three of the younger ones that came in to this stand. I think one was a button buck.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c398/tfr270/IMG_0655.jpg)
This was the stand on my last day. I really liked the tripods, as did ole "Bootstrap" Bill Turner.
I didn't get started taking pictures until late in the hunt. Never got more than a few. The darn camera was always in my pack instead of my pocket and I was afraid to move much...it seemed every time I did I saw white flags in the distance or had blowing and stomping behind me.
By the way...this was my first ever whitetail hunt. Gary, our guide, was desparately hoping I'd get my first one under his watch.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c398/tfr270/IMG_0672.jpg)
This was the view from that stand. These does were nervous nellies who never gave me what I was looking for. I had shot a good sized hog from here in the morning, but even with experts like Terry and Curt helping, we couldn't find the hog. I had also seen a bruiser buck from here but he just disappeared.
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c398/tfr270/IMG_0662.jpg)
And last, here I am, the last evening hunt. I really enjoyed myself and enjoyed meeting everyone. Listening to you all talk about bowhunting, bows, tradgang, hobbies, families...the "real time thread" that Don started up with Terry about aiming was hilarious!
Meeting Peanut was great. We're both firemen so we naturally hit it off good. Turns out I got some good dirt on my current chief from him. My chief used to work in Texas...I'm hopefully sending five of my coworkers to Solana for his special pig hunt in May.
This was cool as well 'cause I won this hunt in the St. Judes auction. It'll be up for bid again so save your dollars for it! I'm putting in my deposit for next years hunt. It'll be a good time and maybe I'll get a shot at a nice, corn-fed, Texas whitetail buck!
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And, Tippit, sir, I really, really, really like that caper smack dab in the middle of the knives :D :thumbsup: :pray:
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Hey Joe---Jeff promised us one for the raffles at the banquet this year---already got some cool stuff committed for the raffles but that'll be one of the coolest !
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Toby, Did you notice the fresh cut branches at that tri-pod? I sat that one a couple evenings earlier....good spot. I posted earlier pix from there....
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Curt...I thought that stand was a little "lefty friendly"! Thanks for prepping it for me :thumbsup:
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Still a little tough to shoot right under the feeder....nice pix bud....
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This was a great read guys! Glad you all enjoyed your hunt and YES these deer stay on the edge around here for sure, hunting feeders at times is not all that easy and is hard sometimes to get a shot on a doe due to so many being around ..TOOO many eyes HAHAHAHA
We do have our share of the hogs too I guess everyone noticed, bro and I are going to our lease next weekend for a shooting spree ourselves
Id like to make this hunt next year if for no other reason than to meet some of the tradgang brothers..would be about a 4 hr drive and if anyone wants to fly in maybe I could pick you up at the airport and give ya a lift
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longstick....that just may be possible...there may be a couple of openings....we'll let ya know.
T
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:pray: it can happen HAHAHA..
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The last morning I ended up in the first stand I'd hunted on the trip, the stand I killed the hog out of. But shortly after getting dropped off the wind changed,and was blowing right where I expected everything to be......oh well...
More beautiful landscape....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08090.jpg)
The stand....if you look close you can see the ladder stand.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08091.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Solana/Solana08093.jpg)
I ended up getting down and still hunt around for a while to see if I could find some thing. All I saw moving was Terry about 500yds away doing the same thing I was.....
The hunt was great, but the hunters where even better!
I would just like to thank you guys for the great company, the laughs, the friendships, and the memories that will be with me forever....Thank You :notworthy:
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Hang in ther Curt and others....the hunt starts in 343 days!!!!
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Sure seems like a long time.....
Got an Idea about next year I want to talk to you about bud....
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WOW....A "Border Bob"O" " in Training :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Looks like the EATIN was good too (http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d171/IronBull_/Smileys/yikes.gif) :clapper: :clapper:
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From the looks of Bobby in the pics, we need to work on the training a little more, LOL!! He did his darndest to stay awake but just couldn't be still and awake at the same time....
You know, I was really blessed this year to have him there. I had decided to cancel my trip to Solana this year cause I didn't want to leave Bobby behind during the second week of his Christmas break. It was bad enough for him to spend Christmas without Brenda this year and I just didn't feel right leaving him behind so I could hunt. When I called to explain why I couldn't make it to the hunt, boy was I suprised to hear that all I had to do was to get Bobby there and he could hang out with the ranch hands. He slept in if he wanted to, hung out at the lodge, helped the cook, got in on some blood trailing, got to sit and watch deer with John, one of the guides, and even got to spend an evening in the blind with dad. They sure made his Christmas break a memorable one. I can't thank the Solana Ranch manager, Peanut Campbell, enough for allowing Bobby to tag along this year due to his circumstances and it sure helped keep his mind off of his mom being in the mid-east. It was a great thing that Peanut and the guides did for him. :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
But....that's just the kind of folks they are......
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It was great having Bobby around.....he's a real good kid... sure knows how to keep himself occupied! He sure didn't need us around to have fun.
Someday we need to get all these bowshootin' kids together!
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Yeah...little Bobby cracked me up more than once. I really got a kick out of him throwing little sticks at folks on steak night....you should have seen the grin on his face.
:smileystooges:
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Solana Vets,
I'm sure it is first come first serve and Terry has ultimate say who gets in...But, if there is room next year, PLEASE put me down, along with longstick. I am having to pass on TX Sweat(again)this year due to me coaching two baseball teams, but Solana is one I do not want to miss. And early Jan. is a nice time to make that hunt. Just putting my name in the proverbial "hat". Thanks for consideration. I'll throw in a bushel of Florida Oranges if it will help! :goldtooth:
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Tripp, Get a hold of Bob Walker to get "in the hat"
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I hope you guys enjoyed my home country. I was born a few miles west of there in Williamson County.
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Anyone thinking about going should make every effort to do so. It was great just meeting some of the guys on TradGang, but when you combine that with seeing game at every sitting, well, you just can't ask for more than that. I was fortunate enough to kill a big doe with my only shot, but I had numerous opportunities at immature 8 pointers and one really big boy, who stayed just out of range. Because of scheduling conflicts I will not be able to hunt next year, but I just might drive down to spend an evening with a great group of TradGangers. Adios.
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And of course there will be pictures to follow??????????? Yep I thought so. Good luck, have fun and please be safe.
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Next year we might even have Kevin Smith as entertainment on Steak Night.....and maybe even a camera man to film at bit.
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That's gonna be great Terry! It'll be cool to have a cameraman rotate around and hunt with diff. guys as stands allow. Plus all the stories after each hunt and camp life....a great idea
More I think about it,maybe he/she should just follow David Shepperd around.....that's would be priceless!! :biglaugh: