Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Rob W. on July 13, 2012, 04:41:00 PM
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#1- I learned that the old faithful stands that produce every year don't mean squat if the nuts are falling somewhere else.
#2- After many years in a tree I really enjoy hunting the ground.
#3- I hate windy days as much as deer do.
What did you guys learn?
Rob
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1. Keep 'em guessing. Changing up my spots a bit more this coming season.
2. Go with that gut feeling (or that little whisper in my head). :pray:
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1. Don't take quartering to shots.
2. Cheap strap on quivers suck.
3. Coming to full draw when you shoot at a deer is not overrated.
4. Unpressured deer are dumb enough to be mouth bleated in to 8 yards where it will watch you draw back and shoot it.
This will be a fun thread!
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I learned the same thing I did the yr before. That I start out each year hunting for a big buck, but soon realize I'm more of an opportunist who just loves filling the freezer.
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1You cant kill em on the couch
2you cant kill em if ya aint shootin
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I learned that no matter how well you shoot your bow at a target that it is very easy to miss a deer at 20 yards broadside...... Twice!!
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A. I cherish time spent in the trees.
B. I will regret putting off time spent hunting with my best friend.
C. Listen to my son when he askes, "Shouldn't we be dragging that direction?"
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I like this hunting from the ground thing better than in a stand.
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I learned to never take anytime you can get out in the great outdoors hunting and shooting a bow for granted.
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When your sitting in a stand with your 4 year old grandson, and he gets tired of being quiet and still. Let him talk and move around. Answering his questions is worth more than shooting the critter that may happen to pass by. He'll never forget the experience and will keep asking to go along!
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You can't put deer meat or fish in the freezer if you don't take some time to go hunting or fishing.
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that I still get that warm feeling watching my son and daughter be successful...even though I was'nt.....
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Bring a flash light and one of those lights you wear on your head up to the Adirondack Mts. when the guys walk up the mountain in the pitch dark along what seemed like a dried up creek bed. It was like walking on soft balls and bowling balls in the dark LOL. Izzy had my back, though. I can't wait to do it again.
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I learned I know longer want to be in a rifle hunting deer lease. If you don' t bring a trad bow in the woods, you can't kill a trad deer. It is much funner to hunt natural sign then sitting on top of a bait pile hoping.
This will be a public land, traditional bow carying hunting season for me.
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Don't hunt when 3pts. low on blood.
Hunt a little farther and a little closer.
Stay off deer trails coming and going.
Don't go near areas I'm going to hunt unless I'm going to hunt.
Hunt more areas to lessen pressure.
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Originally posted by Ty-bone727:
I learned that no matter how well you shoot your bow at a target that it is very easy to miss a deer at 20 yards broadside...... Twice!!
Pfffttt 20yds, I learned I can miss a whole elk at 7 paces last year and seconds later I learned that an elk at 30yds can completely spin around 180 degrees fast enough to dodge a perfectly shot arrow after being missed by an imperfectly shot arrow from seven yds. I also learned again that when you cleanly miss said elk from those distances it's a ton of fun without all the packing out and you still get to chase elk for the rest of the season instead of tagging out opening weekend!
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I learned that my ol' buddy Rob is alright for a feller from huntingburg LOL
Really though he's alright.
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Originally posted by swamprat26:
I learned I know longer want to be in a rifle hunting deer lease. If you don' t bring a trad bow in the woods, you can't kill a trad deer. It is much funner to hunt natural sign then sitting on top of a bait pile hoping.
This will be a public land, traditional bow carying hunting season for me.
Same here Swamp, made the switch this year also. I probably will pass on my share of deer (only want two deer max.), but I'll be HUNTING, not killing with a rifle.
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Sounds like some good info so far. :thumbsup:
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Don't quit. Ran back to my wheels after a less than perfect shot. So this season I have no wheels to go back to. Also learned trust what you know. Don't second quess yourself on stand placements and blind spots.
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I found out that a ghillie suit can actually cause the deer to get too close for me to do anything except sit there and hope they don't nibble on the shaking bush.
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Make sure the rest of your party can make it above 10,000'.
MAP
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I learned that I need to hunt more and work less, you cant killem if your not in the woods.
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That dry weather sucks and messes up hunting.
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No morning coffee
Stay on stand longer in peak time
Breath,relax,and find your "spot" when the time is at hand. rat'
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That if you try to cross a smallish log, over a creek, containing coon/possum/fox do, in zip up snake boots, that give you zero ankle support, you might as well be hunting in 4" heels.
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Confidence in a shot is everything - and that a missed deer is a learning experience.
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Don't give up right to the last minute. Took off 10 straight days to hunt out of state. I hunted every single day in all kinds of weather and passed up several deer including bucks much to the dismay of those around me. I went several days without seeing a single deer. Then on the last day, the last evening in the last minute a nice buck came strolling by at 12 yards. 20 yards later I was attaching my tag that I swore I was gona eat minutes before.
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Never stop scouting
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Pick a dang spot!
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Time in the woods is better than anywhere else!
20'up a tree is 20' closer to the Great Spirit!
Hunting off the ground puts you just as close to the Great Spirit!
Hunting with your son, before he deploys to Afghanistan is NOT wasted time!
Johnny/JAG
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1. Gods grace is always there and when I hunt I feel his pleasure.
2. Resentment is like taking posion and expecting some else to die.
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Re load as soon as your arrow leaves the string. In 2 sits I had 4 shots at big game in a combined total of about 10 minutes. Killed 3 of them.
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I learned that big bull elk will give you a 20 yard broadside for over 30 seconds if, and only if, you have a cow tag in your pocket.
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I learned (again) never to take up the trail of a buck when not positive you have punctured both lungs, even if rain is coming! Once again that bad judgement almost cost me finding my deer. If you are unsure don't track until the next day, PERIOD!!!
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#1 Pick a spot...pick a spot...pick a spot!!! :knothead:
#2 I eat everything i shoot, but no matter how long you marinate them, the backstraps from a Maple tree are never tender and never taste good. :banghead:
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No matter how many deer you have taken, they can still find ways to outsmart you. Had a nice buck confound me to no end last year and I was positive I was gonna get him several different times. He never gave me a shot.
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I agree with Kentucytj.
Also that if you miss the deer the first time. it may come right back if you're still playing the game.
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If you expect to hunt the November rut do not buy a broadhead business at the end of October!!
Bill
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Do not be afraid to shoot no matter the condition when ur brain says shoot- shoot. Misses happen as will bad shots those thoughts can't even be in your head at the moment of truth.
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I've learned to Thank God for all game I harvest. I also learned if I don't get out of Pennsylvania to hunt I won't be doing that very much!!!!!
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to shoot smaller feathers
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That I love bow hunting and absolutely hate the rifle season here in Kentucky. It signals the end of the good bowhunting.
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1. Just how important confidence in your abilities is.
2. Saving a new area until rifle season starts can be a huge mistake.
3. How important it is to work on number 1.
Ken
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That the last 40 years weren't the one ,this year maybe the one! Sooner or later has to be the one. :dunno:
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1)We had a TOTAL acorn crop failure last year, never seen anything like it in the past 20 years. Hunted some of the normal spots we hunt and have killed deer in the past for the first few weeks like a moron.... Finally decided if we were to even see a deer we best find something green and quick.
Spent two days scouting and found powerline crossings and honesuckly thickets. Wound up with 5 deer just could not get them stickbow close. The lesson though was ya gotta move sometimes, deer are slaves to their stomachs.
2) The Cabelas Recon Hunt app is awesome and then some.... thanks Uncle RobTattoo !
3) Net seat for my Summit Viper is sweeeeet !
4)KME knife sharpener is the best tool ever devised on this planet. Gutted all 5 deer with a KME sharpened Buck 110 folder and it will still shave after wahing off the blood a quick strop on leather.
5)The Wensel's little flashlight is very cool !
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While ground hunting, I learned it's one thing to find a great spot to hunker down unseen. It's another to find that spot that will let you hunker down AND draw your bow! Couple times I got myself squirreled away real good, only to realize at the moment of truth that I had no way to draw without first moving my body around way too much. Result: Busted or watched them walk.
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1- if your going to hunt in Vermont pateince is very important.
2- Make sure you put your video camera in a spot where it doesnt get in the way( luckily learned this on a practice shot)
3- if your going to use a video camera, try to have pre drill the hole for it prior to winter time before the trees start to freeze and you can't see because it's still dark making it nearly impossible to set it up.
4- dont get carried away testing if a broadhead is sharp by shaving leg hair.
5- the thing that holds your arrow on the shelf is very important to remember to attach to the arrow so it doesnt fall off in the wind
Just a couple of the things I learned, Schafer :biglaugh:
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Double post, my bad
Schafer
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I learned to use traditional archery tackle and appreciate ground blinds and blow downs.
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My main thing was--when I think its time to leave the blind or stand give it another 15 minutes or so. Missed a couple of shot opportunities by leaving early and getting busted...patience!
Eric
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1) I learned that if you are going on a DIY back country elk hunt in mountainous terrain (we were hunting and camped at at 11,200'), make sure you make arrangements with a packer to come in and pack out the elk on horseback. I have packed out elk before but we did it along the Missouri Breaks in Montana (gently rolling hills). If you are in big mountains, 10 miles on a map is like 25 miles in the Missouri Breaks. We came close to scoring but didn't score. We hunted to the last minute. After hiking out from the back country we realized it would have taken us between 3 and 4 days to get one elk out. We were glad we didn't score near the end of the hunt. We also learned that if you go on a hunt like this and there are two of you, if you don't have a packer you are only hunting one elk. Once someone scores the hunt is over. If you have a packer you both can hunt the whole trip.
2) I learned that when back country elk hunting, 99.999% of the bugles you hear are elk and not other hunters.
3) At first we didn't want to bugle and only cow called, thinking that the elk would be bugle shy. We found that they must not be bugled at much because thy responded to every bugle. I also pulled in bulls from a long distance with a cow call. I drew a monster to me from his cows with a cow call to within 20 yards but couldn't get a clear shot. Two satellite bulls pulled him back to the cows before I could get a clear shot. We found every time we bugled we got an answer and wound up having one person bugle while the hunter went to the bull.
4) I also learned where to find the elk in the back country.
5) I also learned that at 58 I can still do anything I put my mind to and will continue to live like I can, until I bite the big one. I am going to do a DIY elk hunt every year. This year I am going back with partner, next year I will going alone.
6) I learned I belong out there. We stayed for 11 days and if I had enough food I could have stayed out there 30 days.
7) I learned that trying to make your pack light you can leave things that you should bring even if it does add weight. The difference between 70# and 80# isn't noticeable, because both kill you anyway.
8) I learned I would rather leave my bow behind than my two walking sticks. They saved the trip for me.
9) I learned Tyvek is better than any light weight tarp and a necessary piece of equipment. It also saved the trip for us.
10) I learned that pump water purifiers are no lighter than the camp purifiers, harder to use, take forever to get water and have to be cleaned many times to get any kind of results. I will be selling my pump water purifier. Both my hunting partner and I will be carrying the Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter. We had one last year and the pump. This year we will have two.
A lesson I have to learn is how to deal with the lightning storms when in alpine country. I still haven't figured that one out yet. That is some scary stuff right there.
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You really do hit what you are looking at. When the animal is getting near where you are going to shoot it, only look at your spot and it just happens. In other words, if you practice correctly and trust it, you generally eat real well. God Bless
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1.) Swallow your pride and get a shooting DVD or coach.
2.) Like Gene and Barry say old bucks are smart...VERY smart.
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Around here the new thing for the modern guys is virtually chain link an area with tree stands. They think they are the equivalent to no trespassing signs, the best places for mature bucks is places that they cannot put up their tree stands.
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Wait to follow up a deer no matter what and then approach slowly.
I spined a doe, put a second arrow in her just to make sure. She flopped down over a little knoll where I could not see her. I only waited about 15 minutes (if that), I wanted to get her gutted and to the house since it was really warm. Walked over to the knoll, yep, she gets up and hauls butt. I backed out (little to late) came back in 2 hours, tracked for ever and never did find her. She went 300 yds with out bedding down again.
Four arrow quivers are not enough
Urban deer don't pay attention to perfume but they sure get skiddish around tinks 69
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Wait to follow up a deer no matter what and then approach slowly.
I spined a doe, put a second arrow in her just to make sure. She flopped down over a little knoll where I could not see her. I only waited about 15 minutes (if that), I wanted to get her gutted and to the house since it was really warm. Walked over to the knoll, yep, she gets up and hauls butt. I backed out (little to late) came back in 2 hours, tracked for ever and never did find her. She went 300 yds with out bedding down again.
Four arrow quivers are not enough
Urban deer don't pay attention to perfume but they sure get skiddish around tinks 69
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1- that a selfbow for turkeys at 15 yards is harder than with a recurve at 25yards
2- that dragging out and loading a 160# buck now at 48years old is harder than a 200# when I was 28 :)
3- no matter how much deer meat you have....if you start giving it away to family soon you wont have any and will need to visit them to see how it tastes
4- I want to kiss the person that invented the Thermacell for our early season here in Lowcountry (15 April)
5- You can still buy Ribtek broadheads direct from Australia and if you buy quite a few of them with shipping is still cheaper than buying them when sold in USA by our favorite shops. :)
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What NoCams said!! Exactly!!
And DO NOT save areas where good bucks are hanging out on public land! They won't be there when "the time is right"!!
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1. Big bucks aren't stupid enough for me to get close to them.
2. wild hogs taste way better than they look
3. explosives set off in your hunting area isn't coducive to seeing game.
4. 7 year old boys have a real hard time sitting still in the woods. Especially after a 32 oz. root beer and smores.
5. Don't trust any goose hunter that says it's "just a short walk", "we'll just carry a few decoys," and "it's supposed to stop raining in the morning."
6. Goose hunting sucks. See #5.
7. Wet old men may actually smell worse than wet dogs, especially in a truck with the windows up.
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I learned to keep my bow arm stock still on the release if a hog has it's head up chewing even if it doesn't seem to be alert.
I learned that when you are over 40, you don't bounce as much as you used to, and that the ribs are a touch more brittle.
I learned that side quivers aren't all that they are cracked up to be when you are trying to belly or knee crawl during a stalk.
I learned that my eyesight isn't very good for picking up game when moving quickly. Wish that I could do something about that.
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Move slower, Pat!
Fat chance! :laughing:
I learned that I am turning into a lazy old gal who likes a second cup of coffee in the morning.
A bear will not come sauntering past the cook shack for me every durn season.
Neither will a deer.
Killdeer
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BDann you had me rolling with those! That is some funny stuff right there now.
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See if I ever go goose hunting with a smelly old man! :laughing:
Killdeer
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Keep my bow in my hand even after arriving at the stand and setting out scent pads. I missed out on a beautiful Buck last year cause my bow was leaning against my stand tree.
:banghead:
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That goose hunt was one for the ages. It's a long story, and you guys just got the tip of the iceberg.
After I finished my hunt on the family farm last year my brother showed me a video of him setting off some explosives. It turns out that he did that about a week before I arrived, and about 50 yards from where I normally hunt. He said that it wouldn't bother the deer any....
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1. Don't save your best public hunt spot for the peak of the rut since they will be filled with hunters that you only see those days.
2. Set up a stand in the thick stuff during the rut so when the woods get flooded with other hunters you can still be by yourself if needed.
3. Recalibrate your GPS after taking it on a plane ride since it will be way off when you get home.
4. It is a lot of fun seeing your friend load up your deer in your truck for you when you are recovering from major surgery.
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Here is something my wife taught me:
Men only have two faults
1. Every single thing we say.
2. And everything we do.
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Look side to side with your eyes first, then move your head! Cost me a possible shot on a nice buck last year.....
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never ever put a tree step in the same hole that you used last year.... ouch! it hurts when you hit the ground
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To quit burning out my good spots waiting for the bucks to show up. BE MOBILE and don't get stuck in a certain area. Try out some of the public land that is nearby. WATCH THE WIND!
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1. Be VERY Careful HOW I voice My Opinion.... :campfire:
3. That This is My Post Number 5,000!!! :goldtooth:
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Originally posted by Bowwild:
A. I cherish time spent in the trees.
B. I will regret putting off time spent hunting with my best friend.
C. Listen to my son when he askes, "Shouldn't we be dragging that direction?"
:knothead: :laughing:
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Bdann your brother was right, it didn't hurt the deer hunting for him. He was on the other side of the property where all your deer ran too.
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I learned to try something new, and make things happen as best as you can. After several seasons of disappointment in a so-so hunting area, I'm taking a 500-mile, 6-day trip to public land where I should have better chances.
By myself... yep, but I'm gonna do it.
Not very whitetail savvy... yep, but ya gotta learn sometime.