Trad Gang
Traditional Bowhunting/Archery Videos => Tarz Antics => Topic started by: Lowcountry Archer on January 06, 2013, 06:29:00 PM
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Arrows were flying and stuff was dying...
:archer2:
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I like the start of this baby!
Early congrats BBB!
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Thank you leatherneck
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Hey buddy. I have been looking forward to this for a few days.
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You bring those shooting skills to the camp next year you will have a rack on the wall! A big rack!
I'll shut up and let you tell the tale. Let's hear it little bro.
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Oh I have unsettled business with some buck :readit: :goldtooth:
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Oh yeah, here we go
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Originally posted by Lowcountry Archer:
Oh I have unsettled business with some buck :readit: :goldtooth:
He's still a walking too!
Sooooo you were at Solana and.....................
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we need intro's of who got to go this year :goldtooth:
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I bet this thread will blow open tomorrow. Guys just getting home and spending time with families. Let's give them 24 THEN harass them.!
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Originally posted by NOMAD88:
we need intro's of who got to go this year :goldtooth:
Hi, I'm Bisch and I got to go this year! I will let Woods (and a few others) tell his tale before I add anything to the story.
The stage is yours, Mr. Lowcountry Archer!
Bisch
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:campfire: :clapper:
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Bring it little buddy!
Congrats! And as I told dad, I'm very proud of what you accomplished :notworthy:
I know what died, but I wanna hear the details :campfire:
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I am ready also... BRING IT ON!!
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Looking forward to this
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This is gonna be good...this thread started out with one of my favorite quotes....
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
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:campfire: :coffee: :archer2:
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Layover in Houston right now. Lots of cool stuff to report. Really enjoyed meeting some new tradgangers as well as hanging out with some old friends.
I got to Austin early and met up with Bisch at the airport. He had stopped by Solana last year and I had enjoyed meeting him and shooting with him.
We had a couple of hours to kill before Terry joined us so Bisch came up with a field trip...
Boarding flight home. Maybe Bisch will tell you about the field trip. If not I will pick this up tomorrow night...
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:campfire:
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It was good to see some folks from last year and meet some new trad guys. Always good to hang out with John and the other guides.
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:campfire: :coffee:
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Well, I guess I can tell this part now......since it happened before the hunt even started. I offered to pick up Gregg and Terry at the airport in Austin and take them to the ranch. Gregg got here a couple hours earlier than Terry so we got in the truck and were driving around when it hit me. Bob Sarrels bow shop was only about 20 minutes from the airport, and who among us does not like to go to a bowyers shop and oogle all his handiwork? So I took a new course. In just a few minutes we were at Sarrels Archery and after looking at all the bows Bob had on the wall. Gregg just had to shoot a few. I think he kinda fell in love with one of the longbows too! Gregg has a pic or two he will probably show you. Anyway, we could only stay for 30 or 40 minutes and then we had to return to the airport to pick up Terry.
Bisch
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That guy does likes to fondle other people's bows don't he? He got me, I mean mine.
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Waaa Hoooo, been looking forward to this. Bring it guys. I sure missed being there this year.
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A filed trip with Gregg and Bisch??? Sounds like a hoot before the bows even got unpacked.
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I can't even begin to tell how much I learned on this trip. The most important thing I learned was to never, ever take a field point in your quiver to the blind with you at Solana! More on that later.....
It was fantastic to meet the guys and the ranch was awesome!
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Oh yeah BDann, some firsts happened at the ranch over the course of the week. Hard to top yours.
Had a great time sharing camp with all who attended, as my first trip to Solana it was fantastic.
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Originally posted by BDann:
I can't even begin to tell how much I learned on this trip. The most important thing I learned was to never, ever take a field point in your quiver to the blind with you at Solana! More on that later.....
It was fantastic to meet the guys and the ranch was awesome!
Sounds like you were one broad head short :biglaugh:
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Woods you are killing us,Congrats little buddy.Been waiting to here this story.
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Glad this is started. All I want to know is did anyone kill anything with my late brother's bow that I sent to the ranch. Waiting on pins and needles.LOL
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Looking forward to all the stories.We are expecting a good showing out of Bisch,it being practicly home turf and all.I have a feeling Woods is being coached by Mr.Lamb!
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I think Brian needs to kick this thing off. He nearly had years of bragging rights...well, he still does.
My favorite quote from this trip was," Don't even think about it...I will make you look sooo stupid!"
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I am always eager to fondle another man's bow, Greg! Anyway, Bob Sarrels is a great guy and makes some fine bows! I had never shot one before and I really liked his take down longbows.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/BDA5F0CD-1919-42D3-B873-245A6CF84C1D-397-00000027F0977728.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/F0EC2A5A-80DF-4F78-9A1E-DF875AE52607-397-0000002808F9CEB2.jpg)
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:campfire: Been looking forward to this!
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After shooting and visiting with Bob for a while it was time to pick up Terry. We bought licenses at Walmart and headed to the ranch. Throughout the day other tradgangers drifted in and we had quite a crew assembled by dinner time.
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Ok,ok. We now know that you bought your licenses at wally world,Gregg was fondling another man,(i mean bow), and Bisch was the pick-up man at the airport.
Now lets get on with some killing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sorry I'm busy at the moment ill tell the story in a bit.
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:bigsmyl: :campfire:
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Woods, You take your time young man. Everyone can wait on the story, the telling is what is important and it takes time to gather ones thoughts and if pics are involved, getting them uploaded and such takes a bit of time also.
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A Floridian with roper boots and a Texan with Crocs. You fellas switch footwear just to mess with us? :smileystooges:
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Originally posted by Izzy:
A Floridian with roper boots and a Texan with Crocs. You fellas switch footwear just to mess with us? :smileystooges:
:laughing:
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Originally posted by Izzy:
A Floridian with roper boots and a Texan with Crocs. You fellas switch footwear just to mess with us? :smileystooges:
Now there is an observation to make one ponder.
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You fashionistas better prepare to be impressed by more than the boots...
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So all but a few guys got into town the day before the hunt and we set out for dinner en masse. The old favorite bar b q joint was closed for the new year so we made due at a Mexican restaurant and it was fantastic.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/3D1BC646-F8BB-43CE-B446-319258141C2E-397-0000002841D0D54A.jpg)
Conny and Woods
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Waiting for the outcome of this as always. Greg you gotta new bow coming?RC
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I want to say that I had a blast and really enjoyed sharing a few days with these guys. The company was outstanding, the food was great, the hunting was like nothing I have ever been around.
It was really good to be able to put a face and personality with the names and posts you see on TG. We just left camp Sunday and I already have future hunts planned with some of these guys.
Needless to say, I will be there again.
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Looking forward to the stories.
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Wild week.....deer running the script...deer NOT running the script...and for some, deer running the script twice the speed and depth....
Talk to us Nathan!!! :scared: :scared: :scared:
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:campfire:
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:campfire:
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:readit: :laughing:
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Shoes are important. Taking notice of a fellas footwear can save your life. :saywhat:
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:campfire:
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I made it out of Texas without buying a Sarrels, but I predict a purchase in the future. Bob makes sweet bows.
So New Year's day was a meet and greet occassion:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/1-8.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/2-4.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/3-2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/4-4.jpg)
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And on the second it was time to get warmed up for the hunt:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/5-4.jpg)
Pay particular attention to the next few pictures, Izzy, and you will see a lesson in fashion and shooting that you might not see anywhere else:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/6-2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/7.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/8-1.jpg)
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HoHum..... I guess we'll get through all the niceties, preliminary fiddle de dees, who got what bunk to sleep in and who was seated at the dinner beside whom, one of these days. Maybe somebody will get the courage to tell us a story.....if there is one to tell. :saywhat:
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:campfire: :coffee:
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In loving this one!..... :campfire: :clapper:
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That's a fine looking chapeau there Dudders!
Bit Huggy Bear for my liking, but def'nitely stylin'!
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Finally, it was time to gear up for hunting.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/10.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/12.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/13-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/14.jpg)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/11-1.jpg)
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Damn Gregg, you is stylin !!!! Next your gonna make me even more jealous and roll into camp in an ASAT upholstered Lincoln Continental.
Now kill me something already. Nathan and Woods both have that look like they were made to kill critters, scary. :scared:
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This is the truck I'm getting in! Guide, John Shepard, is a first rate guy and this was my second year hunting with him. Also in my truck were Terry Green, Jeff Casey, Rob Distefano, and Conny Trahan
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0257.jpg)
Here is Conny getting into his stand:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/F88240C5-30FF-4C0D-A578-DF0E43775AE3-397-000000288FF1DEF7.jpg)
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Finally, I was able to settle into my first stand, an old friend, actually. In fact, it was the same blind that I had killed the buck in my avatar from on last year's hunt. Talk about anticipation....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/931EC715-B04B-4E06-B31B-A09766D08B12-397-00000028AE96A03A.jpg)
I settled in to wait...
Somebody else's turn for a while. The girls are getting home from dance soon.
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C'mon Gregg...
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First evening on stand, it was nice to be in the tree.
(http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab241/katman111/894F0E3E-614C-43C8-80F9-4222EAD681DC-131-000000029EEF2251.jpg)
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Now we are getting warmed up :bigsmyl:
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Keep it coming...please :thumbsup:
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Downloading some photos now.
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Originally posted by Terry Green:
Wild week.....deer running the script...deer NOT running the script...and for some, deer running the script twice the speed and depth....
Talk to us Nathan!!! :scared: :scared: :scared:
Terry told us that the deer were fast. He showed a video on the forum about the speed of these deer. Everyone said SHOOT LOW!!
Well, that is not really in my nature to shoot below the target that I wanted to hit. I thought I would be fine. I have a 70# longbow and only 580-600gr arrows, for this trip. It is a pretty quick setup.
The first time I seen one of these does...SHOOT LOW!! was the first thought that entered my mind. Talk about a live wire!! These critters were on FIRE! Terry said he shoots about 3 inches low, well I thought I would do the same.
The first doe I shot at...yes shot at, I aimed about 3 inches low and only shot 6-8 inches over her back. I was only shooting about 18 yards. It was incredible!!
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/photo-9-1_zps124c2940.jpg)
These critters were all eyes and ears ALL the time. It fascinated me.
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(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/roknjs/Solana%20Jan%2013/DSC_0355_zps1e1e9e48.jpg)
Mexican Dinner from the other end of the table.
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Gregg, Im glad to see you still doin the"Jack". A bit reserved but it will do.
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Gregg, that hat is Dy-no-mite! Lol! This is what the trad-pimp is wearing for 2013! Can't wait for more stories!
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(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/roknjs/Solana%20Jan%2013/DSC_0359_zps0cb51249.jpg)
Robert and Bisch making a plan.
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/roknjs/Solana%20Jan%2013/DSC_0361_zpsb034dcc3.jpg)
Woods getting sage advice from David
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GOODSTUFF!
Lookin' forward to the blood trails....
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
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(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/roknjs/Solana%20Jan%2013/DSC_0367_zps73f0fd53.jpg)
Gregg and Michael ready to go.
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/roknjs/Solana%20Jan%2013/DSC_0364_zpsbeb9a8fd.jpg)
Woods tuning up.
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(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/roknjs/Solana%20Jan%2013/DSC_0360_zpsecea302c.jpg)
Tom getting ready for first evening out.
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/roknjs/Solana%20Jan%2013/DSC_0370_zpse5293df5.jpg)
My shooting hole on the first hunt.
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Shot opportunities were common. In fact, it was easy to get 2 or 3 shots a day from the stands I was on, if you wanted to. I had deer all over me after the first day. I was mainly trying to kill does and pigs, and as luck would have it, I was covered up with bucks. I had about 19 bucks within 20 yards in the last few days. Most of the bucks I saw were 8 points and they averaged between 100" and 115". There were a couple small 6 and 4 points that walked by me also.
I drew and let down on most all of them at one time or another. Contrary to where I hunt, the does were wound tight, but the bucks seemed at ease. I have most of the 8s within 10 yards and some even closer. Very cool place to hunt. I will be back next year, Lord willing.
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Our guides name was Gary. In his truck there was another Gary (Katman), Brian (BDann), Bisch (Bisch), and Me (Bornagainbowhunter). These guys made up an incredible crew for me to be around for that all too short time.
Just wait for Brian's post, he is going to have a swollen chest for a good while. This man started out with a bang.
Every guy in the whole TG group seemed like men of quality. After just a few short hours, it was like I had know them for years. Being able to put a face with the name and posts was a huge part of the trip.
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Everyone's got their hands in their pockets, what were the temps?
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Great stuff guys :thumbsup:
Bill
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This place was beautiful. Here are some random pics from the trip.
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/image-19.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/image-17.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/image-16.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/image-15.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/image-14.jpg)
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/image-18.jpg)
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Didn't take long for deer to show up. See if this works... click the pic.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/th_1AD6D232-F3B3-4DE8-A9A2-55BCB536AD03-397-000000290BA1B1C2.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/?action=view¤t=1AD6D232-F3B3-4DE8-A9A2-55BCB536AD03-397-000000290BA1B1C2.mp4)
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Originally posted by Red Beastmaster:
Everyone's got their hands in their pockets, what were the temps?
I think in the 30s on that day.
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:coffee: :coffee: :coffee: :coffee:
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The days were cold and wet. Maybe in the 30s and low 40s for the first few days.
After shooting at and m-m-m-m-missing the first doe, my confidence was not shaken at all. You see I was advised to pick a rock that was below the deer and shoot at that. I did and I hit the rock. It was not like my shooting was off, it was just that I was shooting a moving target, and incredibly fast moving target.
These deer were taught by none other than Neo from the Matrix movie.
The second deer I shot AT was way closer, about 11 yards. I thought I would pick another rock about the same distance under the doe because she was so close. Well, I hit that rock also. I almost made contact with her back...
This is what those critters looked like when you dropped the string.
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/photo-10-1_zpsf26be5cb.jpg)
Good thing I don't give up that easily...
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Being the handy redneck I am, I devised a plan. You see, the next time I got in the stand there were 2 does and 2 bucks feeding. One of the does was directly behind the other. Both were broadside and this made smile.
I got to thinking. If I pick a spot on the closest doe about 6" under her, when she ducks, I will hit the one behind her. If she don't duck, I will hit her. Perfect.
The only problem was the 2 bucks. Both were 8s, one about 105" and the other about 115". They kept running off the does. Every time the situation would be ready to pull off my plan, one of the bucks would charge in, scaring the does away. Soon it would be dark. No shot that evening.
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The next morning was going to be different. I had some pigs skirt me before daylight. It was looking good. I had deer all over me. I know the iphone vids stink, but I did take one. I watched this for about 30-45 seconds before it dawned on me to record it. I know its short, but they scared some does my way...
Click on the pic to watch the video of a couple of buck fighting. They were hard at it.
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/th_IMG_0529.jpg) (http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/IMG_0529.mp4)
The biggest one in this fight was only about 105". There were 5 bucks there and all came within 10ish yards of my stand.
There were also 2 does and a bb. Long story short, one of the does happened to get real close. Drawing from the first 2 experiences, I picked a spot to shoot at level with her KNEES!!
At the drop of the string, she made her move. She was not fast enough that day. I hit her high and a bit far back for my liking, but it was solid. She ran about 30 yards and looked back at the others to see what had happened. By that time she go the shaky knees, done a backflip, and it was over.
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Yes, it was a grand time, getting to see all the guys I had met before, and meeting the ones I had not met before. The first evening hunt was enough to make me sure that the week was going to be a good one. That first evening I saw several does and small bucks. I was really wanting to shoot does on this hunt. Just as the deer were starting to get in the right area for me to think I might get a shot off, every deer head there swung up in unison and they all ran off. I live very close to Solana and hunt quite a bit in this area. I knew what that meant PIGS! Shortly after the deer hastened off, in came a gaggle of pigs. Most were fairly small, about 50-60 pounds, but there was 2 really nice sows in the bunch and I immediately decided to try for one of them. When a big group comes in, they are all competeing to get to the food, so they are not in a still position very long. One of the sows made it in front of me at about 13yds and I drew back, picked a spot, and let loose the string. WHOOPS!!!!! All this talk of aiming low on the matrix deer that Nathan was talking about must have stuck in my brain. Arrow hit the dirt just under the sow and they all took off out of there. That was it for my first hunt. Nothing brought back to the meat pole but man I had a great time and saw a ton of critters.
Here is what the view was from that first evening on stand:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/treestand_zps1259a91c.jpg)
Bisch
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First day at the ranch for me was Wednesday, after picking up Rob at the airport. We had a great chat on the way to Solana, getting there in time for the start of the hunting. I was really hoping to get my first traditional harvest while on this trip, as I've been trying for a few years.
This trip had many firsts, and a paid, guided trip was among them. I really didn't know what to expect, other than to see a whole lot more game than I'm used to seeing. I was not disappointed!
Nathan(Bornagainbowhunter) Bisch, and Gary (Katman) rounded out the crew in our guide Gary's truck. I soon found out that I was keeping company with some very experienced and successful hunters, and was trying to soak in as much info as I could.
Anticipation for the afternoon hunt was nearly killing me as we all layered up, put on the camo, and started piling in the trucks.
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Here's a shot of my view from the stand Wednesday evening.
(http:// [url=http://images.imagelinky.com/1357618146.JPG] [img]http://images.imagelinky.com/1357618146.JPG)[/url] [/IMG]
I had a young 8pt. come in pretty early, along with a little narrow 6. One of the many button bucks made an appearance and offered many shots. Later in the afternoon a pretty nice 8 moseyed by about 70 yards out, being careful to keep his distance. A doe and another button buck came in as well, and she was wired! She seemed to pretend to eat, then pop her head up and stare holes into me as the little guy chowed down without a care in the world.
The deer knew exactly where the stands were, and came in looking up.
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Right before dark I started to hear pigs off to my left. I've never had any experience with pigs before, so I was pretty excited when I saw them coming in.
There were a bunch of cedars and brush to my left, and the pigs came in through the thickest of it, never giving me an open window to shoot through. Most of them were probably in the 50 pound range, and every one of them looked identical, all black. There were probably around 15 of them, and it was getting hard to distinguish one from another due to the fading light.
They finally went out to the corn, and were in constant motion, which I learned is the norm. I picked one out about 10 yards away and began to lift my bow, but they all started dead away from me before I could draw. It was a quick "drive by" snack for them I guess. No shots on Wednesday, but a great day regardless.
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(http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab241/katman111/87CA6C04-8542-446A-98A2-19A57F8EEFD9-131-000000032E7942F9.jpg)
This is the forward view from the hide my first evening hunt, you saw the rear facing view with the sunset earlier. Was in a fairly tall ladder stand with two shooting holes cut out of the ever present thick brush. Lots of game spotted the first sit so was encouraged the week would be good for all. Saw 3 button bucks, 2 7 pts and an 8 pt. and they were all wired except the bb. At about dark thirty a pack of hogs ran in and started hoovering up the remaining corn. Our guide had told us to shoot the hogs, well I tried but in the fading light I got an air ball over ones back. Great sit and a good meal and the story exchanging at diner was super.
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What a great trip! After meeting most everyone, having a great meal at the Mexican restaurant, then a good breakfast the following morning, I knew this would be a great experience.
The first afternoon hunt I was paired with Terry, Rob, Gregg, Jeff and our guide John. First to be dropped off I climbed the ladder stand, got ready and surveyed my surroundings, beautiful area. It didn't take very long before 6 small pigs came in and started to feed but as quick as they arrived they vanished. That was fine by me I kinda wanted a doe for some meat anyway, Yeah Right!
About a half hour past when I spotted a single deer coming in, it was a button. As i watched him feed he was soon joined by a couple of yearlings and things started getting busy. Several deer came in from all directions as I listened to the crunching of the corn. Moving so slowly I surveyed my surroundings when I spotted her, the monarch about 40 yards behind some cedars. She started working her way in to the edge of the feed, she began to feed when a mocking bird decided he needed a drink of water on top of the feeder, they all bolted. Man they're quick, I would soon find out how quick.
This went on several times till the bird had enough to drink, then they settled in on some serious eating. She was moving in on my window bow in hand, telling myself, bend at the waist, anchor, and shoot low. The doe is right as I start to draw so slow, my thumb sliding along my jaw till it hits my ear, spot picked and dropped to the bottom of her belly. As I released I knew she was mine, bow still up I watched as she ducked and rolled and my yellow fletching sailed over her back by a foot. As a smile came across my face I couldn't believe the speed I had just witnessed, the monarch would live another day.
My story was told in the truck and then several times back at the camp as I listened to others with a similar outcome. As I lay in bed listening to the Gatekeeper (Tom) falling to a deep sleep, I was so thankful to have a wonderful day as this.
I didn't bring home any meat but yet I had an extremely wonderful hunt and got to met some of best people one could hope met.
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This hunt held a couple firsts for me, also. It was the first paid hunt I have ever been on, the first guided hunt, the first feeder hunt, and I killed my first animal with a recurve. I have been a longbow shooter for the past 12ish years and have killed many animals with them, but never with a recurve. This was also my first big group hunt. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with these fine gents...
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Danny,
Bisch hunted with Donald's bow one day....I'll let him tell the story.
I have footage of the Broadhead Memorial we did...and I'll post that in the thread soon. Hopefully tomorrow.
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I'd like to thank everyone for coming. Seeing old friends and making new ones is one of the memorable treats of hunts like this. And I like to see folks enjoy themselves as I have for years at this ranch.
It is truly a special place..... :campfire:
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Man O Man…what a crazy, fun hunt!
For this “out West” guy this was about as strange as aliens landing on my roof and coming in for dinner.
I knew I would fit right in after meeting Gregg and his funny little fur hat. My personality type in new situations is to mostly observe and I sure did a lot of that.
Katman rented a car and we met up at the Austin airport. What a nice guy! After getting lost, only a little bit, we made it to the ranch. We shared a room and he gave me some lessons in this type of hunting.
Our first afternoon hunt I got a few looks as I tossed my gear in the truck. Just the normal stuff in my pack, survival necessities, GPS, compass, water system, extra clothes, first aid…you know the normal stuff you take on a hunting trip. And of course, my 64” Blacktail bow. THEN I realized I was the ONLY guy with a pack. It was just the start of my learning curve.
Each truck had, on the front a smallish barrel, I guess about 10 gallons or so. Strange enough for sure. After we dropped the first guy off at his stand, I noticed small bugs darting about the front of the truck. Too cold for much insect life…wait a minute…that’s corn flying out from the bucket! Of course, I have read about hunting Texas style but to be there and see that. Reading and doing are two different things.
When they drop you off at your stand you might as well be wearing your house slippers. It’s all of five or six steps from the truck. Hard hunting for sure!
At my tripod I got settled in, and sure enough I had action real quick. Four real long legged smallish German Sheppard’s wandered into my feeder and started in on the corn. Can’t be, dogs eating corn. Hey, their tails are all wrong! Damn, those are deer! And thus my introduction to Texas whitetails, itty bitty little things. We can’t be shooting those. But we were, or at least tried to.
Sitting there, slacked jawed mouth agape taking it all in…and then the feeder went off! Holy smokes, just how I didn’t mess my pants is still a surprise, well, mess them too badly is probably more truthful. The deer didn’t move at all. Just kept on feeding. Wow I thought, if I am supposed to shoot those, this a walk in the park. I raised my bow just a bit and the limb just barely touched an offending branch and I found myself all alone in about a tenth of a second. They say aim low, I can’t even get my bow ready to draw. Not so easy after all!
Shortly thereafter here comes a really nice boar. He’s alone and I can see his cutters 50 yards out. Now pigs I know a little something about. Half blind, hearing is so-so, good nose. Ought to be easy. Well it wasn’t! Animals coming to the feeder are wired so incredibly tight and I learned that lesson more than twice.
I was really looking forward to the “new” type of hunting and most importantly meeting all of the Trad Gang guys, particularly Rob and Terry. Rob built my website when I owned Helle knives. I “met” Terry before he started TG and was really looking forward to shaking his hand. Both true gentlemen as all of the guys were. Not a bad seed in the bunch.
It was a great fun trip. As a “newbie” I was made to feel at home, learned tons and I am going back next year. Thanks to all!
Bob
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I'll have to second the statement on the feeder noise. I had never heard one go off before, and I nearly fell out of the tripod the first time it went off. The second time wasn't as bad, but I still jumped!
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:campfire: :coffee: great stuff so far!!!!
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I need more :coffee:
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After hunting since I was just a kid, you can imagine that I've had a few pretty good days in the fields and woods, most of which were in the company of my long gone German Shorthair chasing pheasant and quail in Kansas on the farm. I can honestly say that the Thursday afternoon hunt was my most exciting day hunting that I've ever had.
I was still pretty pumped from the night before, and Thursday morning was pretty good as well. There were no shot opportunities during the morning hunt, but lots of game wandered in and out my view.
The guide told me he was putting me in a new spot, and I told him that I was good with wherever he decided to put me. I must say that when he drove up to a box blind in a pasture with what looked like very little cover I was more than a little skeptical.
He gave me the rundown on where the deer approach from, and then turned me loose, telling me on his way back to the truck to be ready as soon as he drove off.
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OK, Look, I have been waiting for a certain hunter to tell his story before I picked up with mine, but I know you guys are blood thirsty savages and since Nathan already told his story, here's a picture of him and his doe to tide you over...
(http://www.tradgang.com/mem-imgs/nathan1.jpg)
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Listen up guys/gals this is good. :archer:
Go for it Brian.
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This is a lot of fun guys! Thanks.
Kenny :bigsmyl:
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Originally posted by katman:
Listen up guys/gals this is good. :archer:
Go for it Brian.
Oh yeah! What he said^^^^^^^
Bisch
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Sounding good guys. Keep bringing it.
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Allright. Just got done with the dishes and getting the kids ready for bed. I've got to start earning points for next year...
Directly behind the blind is a hillside, about 100 yards or so. It's covered with tall grass and some brush, but not very much. In front of me is a cactus flat with cedar trees throughout, and a creek about 150 yards or so. Beyond the creek is a rocky hillside and cliff that the Texas Hill Country is known for.
I was really questioning the guide after 30 minutes, as the cattle started moving into the area. Remembering him telling me to ignore them, I chose to do just that. After the cattle moved directly behind me I happened to look out of the right window, and caught movement instantly. It was only a couple of button bucks, but if the window would have been open I think I could have jumped on them.
They fed within 7-10 yards for quite a while, then a young 8 pointer joined them. I kept agonized over whether or not to shoot the 8 pointer, as I've never killed a buck, with any weapon, and was still looking for my first traditional kill. As he wandered closer, I could not take it any more.
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:campfire:
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I was in the truck when we picked up Brian after the morning hunt and am still jazzed about hearing the story. :archer2:
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Some random pics from Solana:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/24.jpg)
This is "The Box" that Rob hunted several times.
Charlie should recognize it from last year.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/18.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/16.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/15-1.jpg)
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the "kumbaya" stuff ...
this is my third year, but second full stay at solana. it's really all about a confluence of like-minded trad bowhunters that's second to none. fabulous country, excellent guides, great on site ranch management, and fabulous FOOD (yeah man!). it was great to meet both old and new friends, share camp, and hunt the land. you betcha i'll be back next year.
the hunt stuff (well, just some of it) ...
unlike last year, this trip didn't produce a buck for me. not even a doe. nor a piggy or a turk. heck, nothing, nada, no bloody arrows. sure, i was out and up for the kill, but sometimes things just don't come together for sundry reasons - or the critters just aren't that obliging. not a problem for me, the thrill of the hunt is my cake - the killing is the icing. man, i had a GREAT time!
first hunt for me was wednesday late afternoon in "the box" - a large wooden structure set into the woods and about 20 yards in front of a feeder and some pasture land. a narrow horizontal slit window gave me good access to the goings on, and right away a "doe" appeared from nowhere and started feeding. as it got closer i spotted what i needed to confirm - spike horns. pass. that feller got within about 7 yards of me. never knew i was there. from the left a pair of does were feeding in but never got within range. then an truly nice 8 point strutted left to right behind the feeder, about 30 yards out, never stopping, then gone. so were all the other deer. within another half hour the spike returned. end of the first sitting.
a few hunts later i was in a carpet blind overlooking a "road trail" peppered with corn. nada for the whole sitting until the sun went down and hogs moved in, grunting and munching the kernals like, well, slobbering pigs. the light was dim, but i could see the forms of at least 5 or 6 hogs, picked out one that was broadside and standing relatively still, pulled back the 54# sparrowhawk and let fly a woodsman tipped carbon ... "SQUEEEEEEEEEEL!!!!" ... the pigs blew out but i was sure i hit one good. guide truck showed up inside of a half hour but no arrow or blood to track. pigs 1, rob 0. it happens.
"the aeroplane that arrived too late" - another afternoon hunt is from a ladder platform stand with only one viable window opening in the tree leaves. cool, totally still air, quiet as can be. first up is a spike, nibbling the corn off the feeder. he's there for quite some time and then a doe shows up, and then 3 more does. of course the does stay out of the shooting window. i see 2 more does enter from the right, but no way to shoot the 64" longbow. one of the does enters the window and i wait for her to present a better body angle ... and then HE appears. 8 point, nice mains, brow tines, but super wired and edgy. forget the doe, i want this bad boy! he's Real Nervous, i get the bow up, arrow already nocked, apply slight pressure to the string and ... he snaps his head up and looks directly at me with big, glowing saucer eyes. busted. 2 minutes later a twin engine sport plane roars overhead, breaking all the silence. DANG!
sunday morning, last hunt, in a tripod stand. cold morning and a slight northerly breeze makes it colder yet. 6am, 7am, 8am ... finally at 9:01am a real nice 6 point shows up, thick rack, good body weight, and he begins feeding behind the tree stand's leaf cover ... slowly moving closer to the feeder that's about 20 yards away, and then he's under the feeder, cracking corn. at 9:11 he's right in my zone and i aim low and release, he drops into the arrow (i think?), i hear a grunt and he bolts off into the bush to my left. i wait a half hour and come down. no arrow on the ground. no blood. no hair. it happens, again.
no blood, no critters, but what a great hunt! you've got to LOVE solana! maybe next year! :)
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John took these for me from some observation stands during the hunt.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/21.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/25.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/23.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/17.jpg)
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I eased into shooting position, careful to keep the chair from squeaking. He was maybe 15 yards away, broadside, and facing my right. The button bucks were completely oblivious to everything but the corn.
Did I mention that I was a bit excited? This blind had a narrow floor to ceiling window in the front, with a screen covering the bottom half. The screen did a good job of covering up my movements as I got into position.
My eyes were burning holes in the lower part of his chest, just behind the crease. I just couldn't bring myself to aim at the dirt below him, fearing that he wouldn't follow the script of dropping at the shot.
As I drew back everything was going as planned, and I hit both anchors, and let my bow arm get still, feeling the string slip off my fingers. Then I felt the bottom limb of my MOAB slap the dog out of my left calf, sending arrow skidding along the rocks underneath the buck. I felt like cussing, and I did. Repeatedly.
My target did not stick around after the arrow clattered past, but soon returned with the button bucks and another one of his buddies, a 6 pointer with a tall, narrow basket rack.
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PREPARE TO BE AMAZED BY RIDICULOUS ARCHERY MISS...SORT OF...
As I stated before, the first night out found me in my old familiar blind from the previous year with high hopes.
Two different doe groups came in early and competed for the available feed. I watched one mature doe assert her dominance over the group on multiple occasions, It was a treat to see this behavior.
Suddenly I saw a really nice buck coming in. He was a mature 7 point (broken brow on the right side). As he came in to my shooting lane I prepared for a shot opportunity. As he turned broadside I lost focus on the surrounding deer and came to full draw. Not paying enough attention to the doe groups was a MISTAKE! As I came to full draw a big doe busted me. Milliseceonds before my release all hell broke loose. Committed as I was to release there was no way to reclaim the arrow from the initiated launch sequence. As the arrow left the string I remember thinking, "please miss everything!" and I almost did.
With a loud thud my arrow struck the buck's left antler in mid matrix transition. As the deer bounded off with the arrow hanging from his antlers I sat there slack-jawed. Three bounds later the arrow rattled loose and flipped into the mud.
It's ok. I wouldn't believe this story if you told it either.
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This is some great reading fellas, Keep it coming!! :campfire:
Steve
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That buck in the pictures that John took for you from the observation stand (2nd and 3rd from the top), sure is a nice looking buck. If I am correct that it is the same deer.
Great story guys! Keep it coming!!
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At this point, the 4 bucks now feeding were on the far side, perhaps 25 yards away. Knowing that they would be in the next time zone before my arrow reached them I just relaxed a bit and waited. While checking out the bucks through my binocs I happened to see my wayward arrow lying on the ground about 30 yards away, the hot pink fletching standing out against the light brown grass.
During one of my frequent scans out of the side windows I picked up movement to my right, and spotted a flock of turkeys headed my way down the brush line. They looked like they were in a BIG hurry. Turkeys were passing one another on a dead run, trying to get to the corn first. Once they arrived the bucks backed off a bit giving the turkeys some room.
As they fed closer I picked out what looked like the biggest one and followed his movements like a hawk. Slowly I turned on my iphone video cam and quietly leaned it against the bottom of the screen window, making sure that the turkey was in view.
This time I made sure my darn leg was out of the way, and drew back. I don't remember releasing the arrow, but it was gone, hitting the turkey just back of the chest and low. The arrow completely passed through the bird, coming to rest just past him. He jumped up and flew a few feet, then staggered over to some grass and laid down. The other turkeys trotted over to him and stood around, wondering what was going on I suppose.
I thought he was down for good, but he got up and slowly walked to a cedar tree nearby and went down for good. The dream of my first traditional kill was a reality, finally, and I got it on video.
The rest of the turkeys followed him to the cedar tree, standing around for quite a while looking at him. They took turns strutting around him, looking like they were performing some kind of turkey memorial service.
While I impatiently waited to claim my prize I sent out a few texts and sent the video to my brother, who couldn't believe the story.
I was still shaking like crazy when the deer started to come back with even more of their friends.
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:campfire:
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Still can't believe that a turkey was Brian's first traditional kill. Here is a picture of his fine trophy:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/CSC_0091.jpg)
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Way to go Brian !! :clapper:
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Not just any turkey either.....come on Brian, spill the beans about how special that bird was.
Bisch
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Well done Brian!!
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Your right Bisch, he is leaving out a very important detail....
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Yeah....Tell us...and show us the video!!!
:campfire:
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When the deer started to filter back in, I thought that maybe I could get another shot. The 8 pointer came back, 3 button bucks, the 6, and a couple of does. The 8 pointer was posturing a bit when the others would get close, laying his ears back and doing his best to look nasty.
All of a sudden his demeanor changed and he and the others headed to the far side of the feeder, and they were looking to my left and behind me. Slowly I turned my head, and saw a forkie, another 6 and a doe coming my way. Behind them was a nice 7 pointer with a freakish rack. His left antler was a normal 4 point, the outside edge just at the ear. The other side had 3 points, but was probably 6 inches past the ear.
When he got there, you knew he was going to be running the show. The others gave him lots of room, staying well out of his way. Once again I eased into position. He seemed to be calming down after feeding my way for a while, looking like he was pretty relaxed, or as relaxed as a Solana deer can be.
He was facing my right, maybe 15-17 yards away as I started my draw. Thumb knuckle in front of the ear, check. Nose on the back of the feather, check. Skinny bird leg out of the way, check. I picked a spot low on the chest, just back of the elbow and once again felt the arrow slip away.
I've never seen a deer move so freaking fast in my life! The buck dropped down and did a 180 before the arrow arrived, and I got nothing but air. The deer scattered as I sat there wondering what just happened. This buck definitely "ran the script"!
There's still a bit of daylight left, but I have no more broadheads in the quiver. This is a situation that I've never faced before. For some reason I carry one field point or hex head in my quiver in case I want to stump shoot on the way in or out. I was really regretting that decision on this hunt. I decided I'd better go retrieve the 2 arrows I could see while there was nothing in sight.
As soon as I opened the door to the blind deer started blowing on the hillside behind me. I slowly closed the door and sat back down, not wanting to ruin the spot for the next hunter. I figured that the action was over for the evening.
Then the pigs showed up. They came in fast, from across the field behind me, right at dusk. Here I am, no broadheads left, with 15 pigs at 7-10 yards. The thought did occur to me that I should shoot one with the field point, but I didn't think that would work very well and held off.
My flaslight shining on them startled them briefly, then they returned to the feed. Nothing I did in the blind seemed to bother them, and they stayed for around 20-30 minutes as I waited for the guys to come get me.
The wait seemed like an eternity for me. I was a bit nervous about the turkey, thinking that the hogs may go over there and eat it, but I was ready to rush over and defend it if necessary!
Finally I saw headlights coming and I started out the blind, still shaking from the excitement. Katman noticed the vacancies in my quiver and I told them what had happened.
I was pretty sure where the turkey was, but we retrieved the arrows first, and the one I hit the turkey with was covered with blood. I followed blood on the ground to where he had laid down, then headed to the cedar tree where he died. The guide found him first, and I had my prize!
Upon further inspection back at the ranch house, we discovered that the turkey was a special one- he had not one, but TWO beards! I was ecstatic, and called my wife to tell her the news. She immediately asked if I was going to have him mounted, and I told her that I believe I would!
It was an unbelievable afternoon, one that I will never forget!
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Great stories so far!
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I've hunted there since before TradGang was founded, over ten years. Every year I have ridden with David Shepperd, who many here will attest to, that his entertainment is almost worth the price of admission....
Gan I get an Amen?
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Amen, the mans a blast to talk to.
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"AMEN" for david!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Although I cant see any pics on the work computer(darn state) the stories are great!!!!! Keep em coming.
Congrats Brian on your trophy!!!!!!!!!
Rob I live by your philosphy as well. The kill is just the icing. I LOVE the cake though!!!!!
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Congrats on the turkey, Brian!!!
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:campfire: Congratulations Brian!
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Amen for my buddy David!!!
Brian, Congrats on the turkey man, that's awesome!!
I've been to Solana 4 times and have never once seen a turkey from a stand. Heard them plenty, and saw them riding around, but never from the stand.
You got the tough one out of the way first for the "Solana Slam", and it sounds like you could have finished it in about one night! What a great hunt!
The "freakish 7pt" sounds a lot like the one I shot there a few years back. Big, old mature buck that I shot at 22yds....aimed at a rock at knee hight, he dropped right into it! I call him my "freak nasty"....
Tough missing out on this one :campfire:
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There would have been some serious head swelling if I had gotten the Slam in one afternoon. You all would have NEVER heard the end of it! I actually saw turkeys from the stand 3 different times during the trip.
David was very entertaining to say the least.
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Great stuff so far. I cannot believe I had to miss this year. Great stories so far. Congrats on your first Dan.
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Great stuff so far, congrats to everyone. :campfire: :coffee:
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Here's a video, let's see if it works.
(http:// [url=http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s541/BDann2015/IMG_0594_zpsa13982e9.mp4] [img]http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s541/BDann2015/th_IMG_0594_zpsa13982e9.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
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Wow!!! Beautiful bird and great video. Congrats.
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COOL....1st time I got to see it....that is something special right there sir!!! :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
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Congrats again Brian!!!!! I've shot lots of turkeys but never one with multiple beards!
Bisch
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Way to go Brian! Congrats!! The stories are great fellas... keep'em coming. :campfire:
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I know that blind well, missed a heck of an 8 point two years ago due to my limb tip hitting the top of the blind on release, he ducked and rolled so quick and was gone in a spit second. The arrow did hit the rock I was aiming at,LOL.
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Great video Brian! I could not see it too well on your phone but can real well on here!
Well, I've already told you about my pig miss on the first evening. It seems as though the hunting on this trip was somewhat of a "Comedy of Errors" for me all the way to the last morning.
On day 2 I hunted the same blind as the first afternoon. Again, I saw lots of deer but could never manage a shot. I felt if I could keep hunting there I would eventually get a shot off at a deer. That was not meant to be though, as the wind changed direction.
On Friday morning it was really nasty weather! Cold and rainy. I told my guide, Gary, if he had a box blind to put me in I would go out. He said there was an enclosed blind and we went out in the mud. This blind was off a feeder and was just fed out with hand throw corn. I got in the blind and Gary drove off in the dark. Before I could even get settled I heard something and looked up. PIGS!!!!! It ws really dark and I could just make out blobs in front of me. I told myself to wait till it got light enough to see them better. Alas, that that did not happen. They ate up all the corn and took off for their next feedbag before it got light enough for me to launch an arrow!
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During the midday on Friday, Michael brought Donald Rowans bow out and, man, what a beauty that bow is. After michael shot it a few times I picked it up just to see what a Silvertip felt like in my hand. At that point I could not stand it and had to shoot it a bit.
Man, this bow felt good! Even at 59#, which is really heavy for me, this bow felt gooooooood!!! The more I shot it, the better it felt. It even liked my arrows too.
I decided if no one else had dibs on it, I was gonna try to hunt with it. When Terry showed up at camp, he said no one else had spoken for it and to give it a go. It is not very often that I pick up a bow that I can just shoot good right off the bat. I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to make sure I was honed in with her at hunting range. I really felt like I could successfully hunt with this bow and had the same feeling I had when I got "Hope". the St.Judes bow, last year.
Since the wind had switched directions, it was new stands for everyone on Friday afternoon. I was put in a ladder stand nestled in a giant cedar tree. At about 4:10 I looked up and, out of nowhere, a nice boar hog appeared under the feeder. I moved to get in position and he froze, looking my way. I thought I had been busted but that was not the case. Out of the corner of my eye I catch movenment from my left and here comes about 20 turkey gobblers. I decided that since I had a somewhat unfamiliar bow in my hands I would try for the bigger target, the boar. He was moving around feeding and kind of charged at the turkeys. Three or four of the turkeys startled and flapped their wings and the boar took off out of there. Well, with the boar gone, I was now focusing my attention on the turkeys. I picked one out and began to draw the bow. Of course, they saw me, made that sound that turkeys make, and all began to walk away. I picked the closest one, a jake, finished my draw, and let the arrow slip from my fingers. It looked like the arrow disappeared into the jake and he flew up and then landed a short distance away. I could see a bunch of ruffled up feathers square in the middle of his back right where I though I was aiming. He walked off like he was uninjured and joined the rest for a quick exit.
At this point I was unsure if I had made a good shot or not. It was still real early so I decided to stay put in the blind and wait till dark to look.
That decision turned out to be a good one. Right before dark I heard something to my right and here come the pigs! About ten pigs came in and a nice sow got positioned good, quartered away, right in front of me. I wasted no time, drew the bow, and had a total failure of form on my part which caused a clean miss to the right of the pig.
After thinking about it, the draw weight of the bow could have been a factor. This bow was about 11# heavier than what I am used to and I had not shot it sitting down.
After it got dark, Gary came to pick me up. We looked for my arrows and found them. The turkey arrow had indeed hit the bird! There were feathers on the front of the shaft, but no blood. We searched the area and could not find him. The arrow must have hit to one side a bit and glanced off of him. I suspect that he is still roaming with the flock, waiting for another hunter to get a crack at him.
I really loved having the chance to hunt with Donald's bow. I had two opportunities but it was not meant to be this time. I feel honored to be able to have hunted with this bow. It is a fine bow. I wish I had taken a pic of this bow to show y'all how sweet she is.
After two more misses on this day I decided to give her up and let someone else try if they wanted too. My confidence was boogered up after three misses. I needed to get back to my bow to try to get my confidence back.
Thanks again, Danny, for sending Donald's bow for us to shoot and honor him.
Bisch
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Bisch,
Thank you, I am glad you hunted with her. Sorry she is a bit heavy for you but you almost scored with her, I am sure Donald was helping you all he could and he enjoyed the hunt with you.
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Great stuff so far, congrats on the critters! :thumbsup:
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You are welcome Danny! Like I said, I was honored to give it a whirl.
Saturday was a very slow day for me. I did not see much of anything in the morning or afternoon.
Now we are down to zero hour. Sunday morning was the last chance to bring a critter back to camp. I would have been happy either way, as I had a great time and experience on this hunt.
Sunday morning Gary told me he had a brand new stand to take me to. He said it had not been hunted this week and there was a lot of deer and hog activity around this area. When we pulled up in the dark I could tell I would like the setup. It was a very tall, probably 20' high, ladder stand set in a huge mature live oak tree. I climbed up into the stand and even in the dark could already see well in the moonlight.
Remember, in my earlier post, that I referred to my hunting on this trip as a "Comedy of Errors"? Well, that held true on this, my last hunt, as well.
I was sitting in the stand and, after 5 days of getting up at 4:00am and not getting to bed till 10 or 11, lack of sleep was catching up with me. I nodded off a couple times in the dark. Then I looked down to see a deer form in the moonlight coming in. And another, and another, and another! It looked in the dark to be three does and a fawn. Now I was wide awake and concentrating on the deer, trying to make sure they were what I thought they were. It was still dark but I could see them well and these deer were calmer than any I had seen all week. All I needed was daylight to make it happen.
Now comes the last act in my "Comedy of Errors". I was sitting there, watching the deer. I had my bow on my lap with an arrow nocked. I was holding my bow with my left hand. All of a sudden, I felt something strange in my hand. I looked down just in time to see my arrow CLANG off the first branch below me. It CLINGED and CLANGED off of every possible obstruction in the way all the way to the ground. Those four deer were out of there (probably before the arrow hit the second branch). All I could do was just kind of chuckle at myself. Even though it was not even daylight yet, I was sure I had just boogered up my last chance at Solana for this year!
I got another arrow out and sat there, cursing myself under my breath for being so stupid!! It got light and all was quiet. I sat there for another hour and did not see a thing.......until......looking through a small hole in the tree limbs I saw a deer butt!
I had to look again to make sure but it was a deer butt, and it was only about 20 yds from me. As I watched a second deer walked through the hole and then they both made their way in front of me. It was a nice doe and a fawn. The game was back on now!!!
Both deer made their way to about 12yds in front of me and I waited till the doe got in a slightly quartered away position. I drew back and don't even remember letting go of the string. I do remember seeing the arrow hit the deer.....very low and a bit back. Both deer busted out of there. I sent Gary message telling him I had shot a deer. While waiting for him to come get me. I looked down and could see good blood on the ground from the stand. That was a relief as I knew the shot had hit a bit back. Gary came and picked me up and we decided to go back to camp and wait till after breakfast, just to make sure. After we ate, Gary Brian, and myself piled in the truck to go find my deer. There was good blood at first......and then the dreaded green stomach contents. Gary also let his dog Big Rig out on the track. Big Rig was having a bit of a hard time staying on the track and he and Gary worked together. Brian and me worked the blodd trail. It was tough for a while but then it started getting better, and then really better. About 100yds later down a steep embankment was my doe. I did hit hit a little back as I thought, but the quartering away angle saved me. This deer was probably down for the count within a few minutes of being shot. It is always a relief to see the animal at the end of the blood trail, especially on a questionable hit. Here are a few pics of my doe.
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/Solanadoe001_zps8ab46044.jpg)
This is our guide Gary with me in this pic:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/Solanadoe002_zpsde29eeaf.jpg)
Well, all in all, this was one of the greatest hunts I have ever been on. I actually had shots at all the animals to make the "Solana Slam" that Curt mentioned earlier. Even with the "Comedy of Errors" in my own performance. The ranch is fantastic, the food wonderful, and the fellowship immeasurable!!!! I can't wait for next year!
Bisch
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Awesome stuff guys! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Well shes a beauty Bisch, congrats. Hope your luck gets back on track soon, Im sure it will.
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It was pretty nice of that deer to go down where she did. She died right at the bottom of the hill in the background, along the fence, and about 20 yards from the road. It was fun being in on the tracking job.
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Brian, Congrats again on the turk...the video is very cool!
Bisch, way to hang in there bud...pretty doe!
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Bisch,
Way to hang in there through all of your comedy of errors as you say,LOL. I knew you would do it.
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Congrats Bisch!
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I had several shot "opportunities" presented at the ranch. When I finally started shooting at knee level, I thought I was golden...
On one of the latter trips to the trees that week, I was taken to a tall stand that looked like a sho-nuff gooden.
Shortly after the truck left I seen a lone doe poke her nose out then right back to the woods she went. An hour or so later a button buck and doe fed my way. Now mind you, you have to shoot low on a deer when hunting 25+ feet in a tree, you also have to shoot low when hunting at Solana. This left me in a pridicament. Where to shoot?
I thought I would try just below the knees. So I picked a rock out and focused... At the slip of the string everything looked perfect, but in a milisecond that changed. I picked a rock just below the knees and shot over her back. I know it was due to the jump of the string combined with the steep angle, but it was a clean miss.
I got back to camp and started dinner. Terry came over and started asking about the hunt. I explained what had happened. He said "Nathan, when your that high and these deer are that wired, you just have to shoot beside them. They'll usually move into it".
I know that sounds crazy to anyone that has not been in the situation, but I do believe he was 100% right...
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Well, I see a lot of the early stuff has been covered already... I just want to say, this hunt is so great for a number of reasons... but, I think the people are the #1 reason for me. Seeing old friends, and meeting new ones is second to none for me... Especially when we all know we have a very common interest/passion which is traditional bowhunting. Well enough of that... Sum it up with GREAT HUNT! As always!
First day, new stand I have never been in before on the ranch. Actually about 100 yards away from the feeder in a "staging" area... Robert put the corn out and was off... I could still hear his truck in the distance and I had a doe and two yearlings walk right under my stand and out into the area he had just put feed out in... They were not the first!
I've become reserved to shoot a buck then go after does, hogs, turkeys, etc, etc... So, I've gone a few years without shooting anything on this hunt, but I'm fine with it. I've seen 2 or 3 bucks over the years that are great bucks so when I see good bucks I tend to let them walk looking for a great one... I realize the odds are against me, but I try for them none the less...
So, back to this first evening hunt... Pretty much since Robert left the area I've been watching anywhere from 3 to 15 deer feeding on corn from 10 to 30 yards from me... The feeder up the way went off at 4:30 and 5:00 and a few of the deer mosied up that way, but then came right back... A little after the feeder went off the second time,I heard pigs up that way... 5 large hogs moved into the feeder and grunted and sqeeled their way through the feed up at the feeder... To this point I haven't seen a buck one other then buttons... Then he stepped out...
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I've been going to this ranch since before TradGang was started. As a matter of fact, TradGang was spawned at Solana ranch.
Every year I've ridden in David's truck and have so many memories I can't keep up with them....from kills, hunts, and laughter!!!
The guides all have their own areas, so I haven't seen a good portion of the ranch or views from other stands....so this year I decided i wanted to see more of the ranch and I chose to ride with John, David's brother. A man who says a lot but with less words.
I really enjoyed ridding with John, and seeing so much more of the ranch and the 'new stands' that awaited me.
On our way out the 1st day I pointed out the "Killin Tree"...a legendary stand on the ranch known for and named properly for the taking of so many big bucks. I'd taken two from it myself. A nice 8 point on my Birthday a few years back, as well as a 10 pointer.
I've shared pics a few times from the stand of this towering live oak but never from the ground. It's larger than it looks, the width takes away from its height, but trust me, its full grown.
Hope you enjoy the pics.....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013killintree1.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013killintree2.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013killintree3.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013killintree4.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013killintree6.jpg)
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Saturday night was a pretty fun hunt as well. Gary put me in the blind that the "buck magnet" bornagainbowhunter had seen several bucks from. Gary knew I had my heart set on a deer, especially a buck.
As far as stands go, it was very comfortable, and there was a nice view. Unfortunately, since Nathan wasn't there the bucks decided to stay away. I did see a nice, heavy 8 about 100 yards away. He looked up into the hide, and left when he didn't see Nathan....
Hogs started to come at at dusk, and this time I had a broadhead ready to go. I picked one out about 7 yards away and let the arrow go to work.
Sparks flew from the 175gr. Tiger Shark as it exited the hog and hit rock on the far side. I could hear the arrow clanking off the brush and cactus as he barreled up the hillside. A few seconds later I hear what I thought was probably a pig giving up the ghost.
Gary wanted to wait until after the morning hunt to track the pig so we wouldn't blow out the stand for the next day. We found some blood at the impact site and headed back to the ranch for the famous steak night. Thoughts of the Solana Slam were still alive.
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Already told you about my dark thirty airball on hog. The week flew by sighting many deer but not 'the one'. Quite a few young bucks, up and comers, teased me but I was steadfast to hold out for a goodin'.
Friday morning sit found me in a elevated box blind with turkeys gobbling there heads off all around. At fly down it got very loud with all the wing beats. They hit the ground about 100yds out from the feeder. A pile of jakes and 8 goblers strutting. Jakes made there way to the feeder twice and several got 12 yds away but I was holding out for a tom. Well they did not come close enough. Wonderful time. Had the jakes in and out and all around all morning and when Gary come to get me a lone hunter slipped out of the truck stalked up to them and...
(http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab241/katman111/61EC0EF2-5615-4D88-8218-1074A47D368A-131-00000002BA02B0A5.jpg)
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My 1st stand was a 'carpet blind'....cool, I'm in the carpet buiz....
And the new views of 'The Shell' pasture were beautiful and there was exitment about the 'new to me' stand.
Here's a little clip ...... click the image ...
(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/-ClMkF3GVlw/mqdefault.jpg) (http://youtu.be/ynvq0KawGSM)
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Bish, you're comedy of errors sounds like my entire season! :banghead: Way to hang in there and make it happen. Congrats and thanks for sharing!
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...To my right walks out a really good 8 point... close to 2" outside his ears and tall with really good mass... Only flaw was a broken G3 on the right side... I looked him over really good and finally decided to take a shot if he presents it to me... Well, he finally eased into position at about 23-24 yards slight quartering away with his head down. I eased up came to full draw and looked at my normal position just below body line and about 3" behind the off leg and loosed the arrow... And all He!! broke loose!!! There were deer jumping and running in every direction as there was 14 down there before he came in...
Well, I didn't see the arrow connect, but I heard it... and it wasn't that nice thump of a chest hit. Heck I would have taken a crack of the shoulder or thump of dirt over what sound I heard... The sound I heard was the smack of a paper bag full of water... I couldn't see him move off to far because of cover, but I got the general direction, and it was the same direction at least 1/2 of the other deer ran.
When Robert arrived to pick me up, him and I went to the site of the shot and confirmed what my mind was thinking... Guts... There was some blood on the one side of the arrow, but definate gastric contents on the other...
You know the old saying, "Rather have a clean miss then a poor hit," I couldn't agree more...
We backed out and let him sit for the night... a long rather sleepless night...
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(http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab241/katman111/5B0B1BDB-3C45-46BD-83C7-831F5217BE1F-131-00000002CBB8CBB4.jpg) (http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab241/katman111/D5C9564E-83B5-4D3E-8577-563630D19478-131-00000002CDC637D0.jpg)
Here are the views from my hide the last evening of the hunt, a carpet blind set up just off the top of the ridge. Gary drops me off and I get settled, the deer all showed up just after the feeders second throw, 30 minutes after the first, unusual as most times button bucks, does and fawns came in after the truck left after dropping some corn. I think the competition for what corn is available is high. But there were 5 bucks coming from the right, made a wide loop in back of the feeder and worked there way in from the left by the tree, timidly. Good thing the guide figured the wind perfectly. Wind started out northwest and switched to southeast just before they showed up, I was looking south with the cameras view.
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Sunday morning was pretty uneventful, except for the spectacular show at daybreak. I could hear deer crunching corn in front of me, ducks whistling overhead, and wave after wave of turkeys gobbling.
A doe finally came within range, and appeared to be pretty calm. She was quartering away slightly, with her head down feeding when I began to draw. Suddenly her head snapped up and around, looking right at me. It looked like she was saying "don't even try, I'll make you look stupid!" She and her young son were gone in a flash.
I ended my hunt early to search for the hog I shot the night before. Amazingly we could find no blood, and an exhaustive search of the hillside revealed no arrow, no blood and no hog.
What an awesome time I had at Solana, and like Rob said, the hunt is the cake, and the harvest is the icing.
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But I am getting ahead of myself, evening before,Friday night, had me in a tripod stand amongst limbs and leaves of a live oak, what a neat hide. Saw several does, fawns, bb at first. Finally a buck shows and its a young 8 point just inside his ears. Was watching him eat corn, bounce out and filter back in several times for about 30 minutes. The buck throws up his head and looks up the hill in front of the hide. These deer will let you know if anything else is coming way before you know, so I learned just to watch the deer at the feeder and DON NOT MOVE anything but my eyes. And on the mature does squint.
A large group of hogs were trotting in and when they got about 40 yds out the buck takes off. The pigs went to munching, after a bit a sow gives me an opportunity, I drew and let her go, SQUEEEL, and trots off, the others just looked up and went back to munching. Well time to reload, picked out another and let her rip, SQUEEL, another arrow finds the mark. Pigs got a little nervous but remained and went to munching but now out on other side of feeder. Guide had given it to me the first night when I did not shoot at hogs at dark thirty so what the heck, reload. A little further than I like to shoot but drew aimed low on the hog, nervous animals are supposed to squat, and released. Arrow looked good but fell just under the pigs chest sparked off the ever present rocks and I watched the firenock glowing angling up and out into the cactus. At pickup we tracked the second hog easily and had trouble with trail on first, let it rest over night but no luck scouring the flat the next morning. Amazing I got all 3 arrows back intact and the VPA survived the rock nicely. A very exciting hunt to say the least.
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So my early hunts produced a lot of sightings and a host of "almosts."
Jan 2 PM Carpet blind
7 point, 4 point, nub buck, 10 does
Jan 3 AM Ladder stand
3 does
Jan 3 PM Tripod
6 point, 8 point, 4 point
Jan 4 AM Rained like heck and only real hunters went out to shooting houses. I slept.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/3F64385E-D85F-4508-BC9F-1EAA0FBEDD03-397-0000002A5FF28BC5.jpg)
Then on Jan 4 PM, John and I decided to get a little creative. There was a shortage of stands set up for the wind that afternoon so we took a Gerber machete (awesome tool) and hacked out a blind inside the branches of a cedar tree on the down-wind side of a productive feeder.
The whole process took about 10 minutes tops.
Here is a view from inside my improvised blind. Note the video camera mounted on the gorilla tripod:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/656E6EAC-7813-4627-8205-1369DC9C4BDD-397-0000002A92CD3771.jpg)
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Deer started coming in to the blind almost immediately and a small spike fed at 8-10 yards for nearly 45 minutes. Other deer that visited the blind included a 4 point, an 8 point, a broken horn buck...looked vaguely familiar!?! and five does.
Then the pigs came.
This is the first time I have tried to film a hunt and I learned a lot. Namely, shoot the pig that is on camera. That would be ANY pig, EXCEPT the one I shot! :knothead: But I had my heart set on the little ugly one and that is what I shot. It was completely perfect. The shot was seven yards or so and the lethally shot hog charged through the cedar cover that I was hiding in passing four feet to my left before expiring thirty yards behind the blind.
CLick the picture to play the video.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/th_M2U00145.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/?action=view¤t=M2U00145.mp4)
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:bigsmyl:
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Great video! :clapper:
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Great video, Gregg!
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:notworthy:
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Here is the video of the recovery. You can see that the first part of the arrow is just yards behind the blind. I need to figure out how to edit the dead part out of the first video and seam the two videos together...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/th_M2U00146-1.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/?action=view¤t=M2U00146-1.mp4)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/737A9566-41CC-432A-9070-6EF623A0594E-397-0000002AA337D469.jpg)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/4D583E3F-617E-45E8-B7F0-16E3AC3FAAF8-562-00000135CB6435D1-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/CSC_0093.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/CSC_0221.jpg)
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Bisch, Congrats on the doe, bud! Sorry I wasn't there when you recovered her.
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Great Work!!!
:coffee:
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Perfect shot on that hog buddy. Fine looking nanny Nathan and what a sweet bird. :jumper:
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That great stuff. Many congrats to you all.
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This thread is Hot.
Great shooting guys !
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Originally posted by katman:
[QB] Had the jakes in and out and all around all morning and when Gary come to get me a lone hunter slipped out of the truck stalked up to them and...
]
Gary is referring to me. It was quite a morning already. I had shot a doe already. Gary, the guide, picked me up first. We tracked the doe with Gary's Blue Lacy (by the way, I am looking to buy one as I type this...) and went on our way to grab Bisch, Brian and then Gary. Long story short, as we passed through a gate nearing Gary's stand several turkeys crossed the road. I steped out of the truck and took a shot, a looooong shot. On deer, I would have never attempted this, but turks, its kill or miss. Anyway after the turks ran off, from a distant shot, I went to retrieve my arrow. When I picked it up I heard yelp yelp yelp.. There was one that had not made it across the road yet. I stalked up on it and listened for the leaves crunching, here he come. I put tension on the string for what sounded to be about a 20 yard shot, but when he come out of the cover, he suddenly burst into flight. No shot.
I am telling you, if you ever get the chance to partake of a hunt like this, you better do it!!!
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Here's another real trophy from the hunt!
(http:// [url=http://images.imagelinky.com/1357788160.JPG] [img]http://images.imagelinky.com/1357788160.JPG)[/url] [/IMG]
I saw this cool T-shirt hanging on the bed long after Gregg left for the airport. You'll notice that he was wearing this shirt in one of the previous photos. I thoroughly scanned the bunkhouse for that pimptacular hat/jacket combo, but no luck there. He also remembered to pick up the awesome Randall knife from the nightstand. :biglaugh:
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I love this thread, so much happens that you have no real idea has happened even while you are there... Just not enough time in the day to convey it all...
Congrats to all so far!
Back to my miss adventures... Thursday morning hunt was a great stand I've hunted before. Randy, it is the one you shot your buck out of on the 2008-2009 hunt. Nice ladder stand with a well covered lane to the feeder about 25 yards away to the left, with another lane directly in front of me with a 10-15 yard shot there. Now we are planning on looking for my gutshot buck from the night before after this hunt so I'm not looking for a buck deer on this hunt as I may have one down already...
First deer into the feeder is a good 8 point that must have had his antlers injured in velvet as the G2 on the left side had a big knot coming off the base of the main beam and the point went straight out the back level with the ground. Unique to say the least. Does and yearlings filed in, probably 8 or 9 total deer now feeding... Then I see antlers first coming in from in front of me. Very good 10 point with no broken points enters the scene. Reminds me a lot of your 9 point Randy... A few minutes later I hear the twang of the barbed wire fence behind me and a great 8 point walks into the scene maybe 10 yards to the left of my stand... very wide, very heavy, and very tall. Main beams were the only thing this guy was lacking. Old deer, easily a shooter as were either of the other two bucks below me... I did draw on all three at one point or another during their stint under me, but with a buck possibly down I never loosed an arrow. Was more preserving this stand for another hunter to get a clean sit and possibly shoot one of these very good/great bucks.
Robert came and picked me up, and we headed over to the scene from last night. Upon looking at the scene, there was no sign on the ground in any direction. With Roberts experience from this location we did a grid search of the area with no luck finding my buck... He may turn up, but the duration of the rest of the hunt we didn't see any buzzards forming. I also hunted two more sits in this same area. One from the same stand Thursday evening with does and yearlings seen and the hogs from up above came in late. Took a shot at one of the hogs in the dark, sparks flew off a rock and after being picked up found the arrow and it was clean...
Disappointing to say the least, but Robert gave me the go ahead to shoot another buck if given the chance. So, I was still Buck hunting...
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I left half of my worldly possessions in the bunkhouse when I packed to go. I packed in a hurry because I knew Conny had to drive all the way to Louisianna and I didn't want to hold him up. One TBOF shirt is a small ransom to pay for the return of all the other stuff that you guys brought me at the airport. :D
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The hunting was great, the food was awesome, but the people made the trip. Some traits just don't show up in posts.
Wither its the wise cracks from Dudley, the passion Terry has for making all feel welcome and have a good time, the enthusiam the Bisch has, the desire for perfcetion Gary has, Brian's suble but very comical sense of humor, or the many other traits these guys had...you just can't describe it. I can think back about every person I met. They all have an outstanding attribute that defines them, but at the same time, we all have like passions, like hunger for the chase, and the desire to see your fellow bowhunter excel.
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Originally posted by gregg dudley:
CLick the picture to play the video.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/th_M2U00145.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/?action=view¤t=M2U00145.mp4)
Anyone who didn't watch this one till the end really missed out....hearing Gregg talk about it was REAL....not any of that 'studio made up after the fact stuff'.....you can tell from the trembling tremors of his voice how pumped he was. Really cool Gregg....really cool!!!!!
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As said earlier, Friday morning it rained like a cow relieving itself on a flat rock... Most stayed in camp, but a few did make it out into ground blinds... I was one of the former... Well needed sleep was a blessing.
Got to shoot with some other members while we prepped for the afternoon hunt. Soda cans, water bottles, 3D deer, nothing was safe...
Afternoon hunt was still drizzling, but not the downpour we had in the AM. I found myself in another stand that I had never seen on the ranch. Very nice setup with a tripod stuck into thick cover. Feeder was about 25 yards away in a small opening in thick cover. Wind was in my face, all looking good...
Again Roberts truck was still in hearing distance when I saw movement straight out in front of me. 2 does a button buck and a small 4 point came off the ridge in front of me and started feeding on the corn Robert had dispensed before leaving. Another 2 does, and 2 yearlings worked into the area about the time the feeder went off the first time. All fed until the feeder went off the second time. Right after that another small 4 point came into the area, along with a good 8 point with a broken G3 on the right hand side... tall, heavy, but narrow... probably right at the ears inside. They all milled around, and the two 4 points sparred a little. The 8 point worked right over to me, less then 15 yards, drew on him several times but never dropped the string.
Right around a half hour before dark, I had several pigs work into the area and all the deer worked out... There was one hog that had obviously been shot previously as he was dragging his hind legs from about mid body back. Didn't slow him down in the least. Eating and pulling himself around with his front legs. Since the deer were out of the area I went into pig shooting mode. There was a 80 pound or so silver male that had my interest. Eventually he moved into position broadside to partially quartering away at 15 - 17 yards. Drew down and burned a hole in the pocket and let the arrow loose. At the shot, he jumped forward and away from me and my arrow went right between his front legs less then an inch under his chest!
Kicking myself again for the missed shot I waited alone in the rain until Robert arrived to pick me up after dark... Arrow confirmed what I had saw and was clean sticking in the dirt...
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Thanks, Terry! :archer2:
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Saturday morning found me in a box blind a few hundred yards from the tripod stand I'd sit in the first evening and Thursday evening where I'd shot the buck. Before the sun was completely up I could see forms of deer out in front of me nibbling on the feed Robert had dispensed. The sun finally rose, and there were 8 does and yearlings out there, a small 8 point and a smaller 6 point out there feeding.
Now, I haven't moved within this blind, and the deer eventually fed right up to it... but, every single one of them was facing the blind and every few seconds one of them popped their head up and looked right into the shooting hole I was watching through. It was then I noticed they were all formed in a semi-circle facing straight at the blind I was in... obviously they have been there when someone else had hunted there and probably took a shot...
So, no shots taken Sat morning, but 10 deer seen... As said before, no buzzards gathered that may be pointing me to my poorly hit buck from the first night...
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Saturday evening I found myself in another stand that I have never seen... 500 or 600 yards away from the stand I shot my 11 pt. buck out of on the 2008-2009 hunt. Rather open area, with the ladder stand tucked nicely in the cover along a tall ridge where when I look to my right I was almost eye level with the terrain.
Ten or fifteen minutes after being dropped off a doe and two button bucks walk right out from under my stand. Obviously came through the thick cover to my left and right out into the feeder. When the feeder went off they didn't even really move a muscle... Shortly after the feeder went off, a good 8 point walked out of the thicket to my left and up to the feeder. He never got into my shooting lane to offer a shot, but was fun to watch. Another doe and button buck came in from my left also. All feed their fill through both of the feeder sprays.
About 20 minutes before the sun went down I hear pigs up on the flat to my right. 25 or 30 hogs moved through the thicket to my right not offering a shot...
Quite a few animals seen, but no shots taken.
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Originally posted by BDann:
Here's another real trophy from the hunt!
(http:// [url=http://images.imagelinky.com/1357788160.JPG] [img]http://images.imagelinky.com/1357788160.JPG)[/url] [/IMG]
I saw this cool T-shirt hanging on the bed long after Gregg left for the airport. You'll notice that he was wearing this shirt in one of the previous photos. I thoroughly scanned the bunkhouse for that pimptacular hat/jacket combo, but no luck there. He also remembered to pick up the awesome Randall knife from the nightstand. :biglaugh:
Please visit the Traditional Bowhunters of Florida facebook page and "like" us! Thanks for the advertisement, Brian... :laughing:
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So there I was Saturday night in the carpet blind with 5 bucks easing into the corn. 2 shooter 8 pts, one wide but not to tall the other tall but not wide, but both with good mass and body structure. Others were a 6 pt, 4 pt and spike. They all acted nervous twitching around, jumping out 10-15 yards for no apparent reason then easing back to the corn. Had the wide eight 22 yds slight quarter away and put tension on the string, heck they all bounced out again. Slowly they worked in and the wide 8 came back to the same spot. Ok there's the shot draw, anchor aim low. I had practiced at home aiming off the body but it is sure hard to do in real time, just don't feel right. Anyway picked a rock about 3 inches below chest behind front leg and let her fly. Shot looked good, slightly right but correct elevation. BUT THIS SOLANO BUCK DID NOT READ THE SCRIPT. He stood still and I watched the arrow fly under his chest. What the heck? All bounded off and watched the empty feeder site until dark. My bad for not reading the deer correctly. Quartering away, head down feeding, easy to second guess but I listened to many who shot over these deer.
Sat the same feeder the next morning but in a tripod since the wind had changed but the 2 8's did not return but had several small deer to watch. Just before pickup time I hear a soft purr and cluck, heck its a tom coming in from behind left, Ok here we go, he needed about 5 yards to clear the brush but spooked at the sound of the guides truck coming to pick me up. Oh well exciting for a minute. Here is a pick right before I got down. And the live oak limb the tom needed to clear.
(http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab241/katman111/C37F0DA8-FC90-4599-B7EB-C990EAC4BB59-131-00000002EF8E4088.jpg) (http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab241/katman111/D32568AA-C1FE-475C-AA6A-C93B764DBC58-131-00000002E1AFD1BF.jpg)
I learned lot about these deer and will be better prepared for my next foray in reading the deers attitude. Sometimes I think its a guessing game but playing the odds I will be aiming low, how low depends. All in all a great experience with some wonderful people, not a bad apple in the bunch. If I could get a translator I would have enjoyed David's, guide, jokes more. Do not know what language he uses, but he sure had us rolling and belly sore from laughing a couple nights at diner.
Thanks a bunch guys for a truly wonderful time. And a very special thanks to T for making ALL this happen.
Gery
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You dont need to know what Davids saying, its just a riot hearing him talk. :biglaugh:
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Sounds like fun was had by all. Congrats to all who harvested and told their tale. I lost track of who killed what!lol
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I don't recall anyone telling the story of a very stylish and graceful decent...
It was like poetry in motion. Any chance we could get a first hand story?
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Where is lowcountry archer?
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Originally posted by leatherneck:
I lost track of who killed what!lol
It aint over....more tales to be told......
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Wednsday night was a 'no shot' for me....waiting for a bigger buck, like I would the rest of the hunt...but then the stories unfolded under the pavilion and around the diner table....if you haven't experienced a group hunt diner storie telling....well.....you need too. Hard to find one with a character like David Shepperd interjecting his TX humor and wit!!!! As Katmat said one night 'PRICELESS'!!!! Yes, again, he is worth the price of admission.
Anyhow, the next morning everyone was up at at em....ready to go for our 1st 'dawn hunt'. I was taken to the far end of the Rumsey field. Last time I was there we let my dad out and we ran off two big boars that afternoon at his stand....
I was further toward the end of the field just in the woods at a corner, and I was expecting action to say the least.....and I got it.
Before the feeder went off, I had a young 6 pointer with longhorns and now brow tines....he fed a bit till the feeder went off and he bolted a safe distance awaiting the feeder to stop spinning....but seconds later, he bolted again for good.....here they came.....
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Steak night!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/43.jpg)
Getting to ride in the truck with Rob was a treat. Rob keeps the tradgang technology trucking along and he is a lot of fun to be around.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/48.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/49.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/42-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/47.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/41.jpg)
The guides:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/40.jpg)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/44.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/39.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/46.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/45.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/50-1.jpg)
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NO mistake....I was getting BUM RUSHED by a herd of hogs......
They just PILED IN ....with no fear of ANYTHING.....
Bad Mistake!!!
There was a few bigger ones, and a bigger spotted one, but I know too well what can happen around hogs the longer you wait....wind change, or one smells your track, or where your knee drug across a limb....
Soon as I got a shot I wanted...I let it rip with the virgin Lost Creek NAT I had chosen for that mornings hunt.....I'd shot ONE practice arrow 'spot on' in front of Jeff Berberick at some 20 plus yards or so...and I turned to him and said..."I'm done"....so this was the 2nd arrow out of that bow....
PERFECT!!!.....or so that's the sceen I saw that was etched in my mind...and he bolted forward about 10 yards and stopped completely out of sight behind a cedar for about 5 seconds, then reversed travel across the field behind the feeder paralleling me to the right still toting the arrow.....
With the 9 inch flo yellow wrap, I could plainly see there was plenty of penetration, and placement was as I thought.....
Here's a view of the stand....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013rumseystand1.jpg)
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Some folks couldn't see the 1st clip of my 1st evening....so Rob fixed me up with this....
SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION......
(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/-ClMkF3GVlw/mqdefault.jpg) (http://youtu.be/ynvq0KawGSM)
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So.....now my hunt was likely over with what I thought was a successful ending.....
I waited a bit will nothing appeared for a while, and soon as I relaxed a bit thinking it WAS over, 3 deer slipped into the feeder directly across from be behind the blockage of the limb in the pic.
Now they fed around a bit and I was satisfied there would be no 'big buck showing'....so I decided to shoot the closest doe when the shot was offered....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013rumseystand2.jpg)
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There they were....with the mom still behind the limb. I wanted to take her, but I knew time was running out, so I picked the younger one and drew as I spied a little dirt clod the size of a hand ball surrounded by corn 3 inches back of her elbow and 3 inches low of her body line.....I bared down on the earthen clump and dropped the string...
The arrow looked to have met its mark as the doe DID NOT DUCK!!!!
Once the arrow stuck into the earth, she bound for her getaway....and ran over my arrow leaving it lying flat on the dried mud.
I got down to retrieve it to get it 'out of the way' of any suspecting pigs than might have wanted brunch....and sure enough, the clod was centered by the broadhead and still in the clod and still attached!!! (should have take pic)
This is the 1st deer that I have shot since coming to Solana for over 10 years that did not drop on the shot. Go Figure!!!
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Thank goodness theres still a whole lot to come. :campfire:
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Great video Gregg!!
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Originally posted by gregg dudley:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/50-1.jpg)
That's Terry "I miss Guru" face :(
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John and crew arrived....and I told them I was pretty sure I'd aced the hog....and where I thought it would be lying. When the herd made their retreat, the majority of them were way ahead of my hog and exited the field to my right through about 30 yards of woods and ran through a dry pond area that was open....and there was no arrow toting hog amongst them.
We found blood quickly behind that cedar he stopped at momentarily....and John wanted to let Nocho out for some training....
Ah, ...Nacho....some of you may remember the pic last year of Nacho razzin a cow....the little bugger is FEARLESS let me tell ya....if only he was 200 pound he could conquer the world!!!!
Nacho got on track and made short order of the recovery......
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(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013nochorecovery1.jpg)
Upon field dressing....John pulls out the heart....I've heart shot a few animals, but never seen an exit wound of a heart quite like this....
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(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013heartshot1.jpg)
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Here's the setting I chose for the 'Hero Pic'....the stone wall at the gate to the ranch....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/Solana2013hogpost1.jpg)
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And here's me with John's casual pose....he's so easy going....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/Solana2013hogjohn.jpg)
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Originally posted by Guru:
Originally posted by gregg dudley:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/50-1.jpg)
That's Terry "I miss Guru" face :( [/b]
HA!....I'm not sure if I was in the process of blinking or what....as most of you know, I was not tired....but WIRED as usual!!!
TOO FUNNY!!!!
Yes Curt...you WERE missed!!! :readit:
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/96732D11-D8C8-40E7-A760-DF740C9203A7-397-0000002A03802A5D.jpg)
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More random ranch shots:
look at this tree (rub) growing out of the rock!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/7F41AC61-C47E-4DCF-9BF6-CFAFFC9435B6-397-0000002AF3556D9D.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/7E1E651D-4427-44CF-A9CB-FDD60CFCEA64-397-0000002AD90B0D2F.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/77819D94-8E7F-4D0D-83B3-8D9F4BB0E6EB-397-0000002AB8242B91.jpg)
A den of sorts. Coyote? Fox?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/94153BE5-5D9A-4646-BFFA-0CD722526328-397-0000002B0C75AE46.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/B01E13FB-F8CB-495F-9500-AA360C0AB4CB-397-0000002A26A96259.jpg)
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Terry was a VERY happy man when his long lost cooler full of hunting gear showed up at the ranch.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/B8A0A8DC-F7F0-45DC-A19B-2B80FFE6EACE-2482-000002DF4256A23F-1.jpg)
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Yes Curt, you were missed!
My Sunday morning hunt found me in a different ground blind... It was probably 75 yards away from the feeder with the feeder being out front and to the left as I looked out the blind... but the road between the feeder and the blind has been fed well and right in front of the ground blind fed well also... basically it is a rifle blind that I was bowhunting out of...
Robert's trap worked well... feeder went off, and out walked a definite shooter 8 point. Walked from my right to my left at about 75 yards right to the feeder... he fed there for about 5 minutes and left the same way he came in. Several does came from the same area to my right and walked over to the feeder in about the same path the buck had taken. I had to move a bit to actually see the feeder and when I did I saw there were several more does and yearlings that must have came from my left...
Now there were 8 - 10 does and yearlings feeding at the feeder. Slowly they worked their way into the road and started feeding towards the blind. Eventually they were right there in front of me in that familiar semi circle facing the blind... every so often on of them pop their head up and try to see into the shooting hole in the blind...
Being the last morning hunt, I was really looking for a clean shot at one of the does... Then out of the corner of my shooting window I see tines... That same 8 point was now in the road out in front of me with 7 or 8 does between me and him that were looking for a reason to leave that blind in their rear view mirror... Patience would have to be my best chance of getting a shot at that buck...
So, I watched as the deer worked in & out and around right there in front of me... after about 30 minutes of this finally there was only one doe out there to the left of my shooting window with her head down and the buck walking back into the shooting window from the right to the left. I made as smooth and quiet a motion as I could... simply raised the bow and slowly started to draw on the buck... the doe popped her head right up ears pinned on the shooting hole and bolted taking everyone with her...
The buck hung around the feeder for about 5 minutes and then I was all alone until Robert showed up to pick me up...
Now, I'm going to hold off on anymore story telling until Bob catches up, he has some story telling to do before the after party to the hunt unfolds... ;)
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WOW!! Absolutely great read plus pics and videos! Congrats to everyone!!
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:campfire: Congrats to everybody, Solana looks like a blast to hunt along with the Tradgang family. Maybe one day I will make it on this hunt.
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Awesome thread everyone.
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Originally posted by Mike Gerardi:
Awesome thread everyone.
Thanks again.....and AGAIN...its NOT OVER!!!
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Is THE Lowcountry Archer waiting for us to chant his name?
:biglaugh:
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Looking at all the pictures brings back found memories of the ranch and good times had by all......stabow
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Woods how muck longer are you going to make us wait,Quit kissing your girlfriend and tell us your story. :biglaugh:
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Terry,
That stand you took your hog at looks very familure, I am pretty sure I have hunted it a couple of times, once the very frist time I went to Solana and once two years ago, good stand. Congratulations.
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Great stories and pics so far. Anxiously waiting for more. Glad to see the missing cooler show up. Whas there any explaination about how it got lost?
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Stabow and Danny....ya'll were also missed.
About the cooler....didn't ask...no time for that....too much going on....it arrived AT the ranch an hour before the meeting for the 1st hunt.
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Need more stories.....
I never did hear about Woods' adventures.
:campfire:
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Terry Nice shooting. Thats a good looking hawg.
Carlton and Rob, you guys are looking good.
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One red head story down....4 more to go....at least.
:campfire:
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Looks like you all had a good time,thanks for sharing.
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Oh....Yeah Danny....the fence has a sagging low wire and it wasn't light enough to really see that when they rushed in....all the hogs were on the other side of the fence a...
Then all of the sudden some just somehow were magically on MY side of the fence.....later I could see how that happened, but at the time I thought the hogs had the matrix chip also. :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
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Originally posted by rraming:
Looks like you all had a good time,thanks for sharing.
Again....its AIN'T OVER!!!!
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Terry says, "it AIN'T OVER!!!" --
That's great news.
Soooo..... More stories, please!!!!!!!!!!!
Good stuff so far. Almost like being there.
Back to work for me, I'll check in again tonight to read more stories.
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:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
matrix chip, now that right there is funny, don't care who you are,LOL.
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Watching the Packers in TX!?!? Weren't you breaking some sort of rules? :rolleyes:
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Originally posted by Greg Szalewski:
Watching the Packers in TX!?!? Weren't you breaking some sort of rules? :rolleyes:
Violation of state gaming laws I believe!
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Awesome stories :thumbsup: Is there more? Been quiet for a while...Thank you for sharing ya'll
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I may have to try and go on this hunt one day it's sounds like you guys had a great time
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:campfire: :coffee:
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Yeah..... there's more.....
Our #1 Hog killer recharged his batteries watching cartoons!!!!
Now just how cool is that???....yeah...and he's even red headed.
:jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
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How many red heads were at Solana? Michael, Woods, Terry and myself? Maybe Roland as well! :biglaugh:
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Was there beer in the cooler????
:laughing:
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Cant wait for more!
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I heard IT AIN'T OVER....
:saywhat:
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
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:campfire: :coffee:
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I see where young Woods is going. He started it and now he wants to finish it. All right "gamecocks" your up!!!
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No way Mike. It's saturday morning and you know that means cartoons are on .
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Originally posted by Don Batten:
No way Mike. It's saturday morning and you know that means cartoons are on .
:biglaugh:
Thanks for the reminder, Don!
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He's probably fish :mad: in right now.
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6 days, 17 pages and Charlie wasn't even involved! Come on kiddo, spill...
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I don't know Don Izzy might have something. They very well may be out on the flats!
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:campfire:
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:campfire:
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Just got caught up on this thread.Awesome as usual.Congrats to all.Solana is a very special place.
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I'll be posting the Donald Rowan memorial tomorrow .
Yeah.....there's at least 4 more critters we need to hear about.
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:campfire:
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Is this hunt sort of like the old 60's and 70's California hunts off of Catalina Island, where there was lots of game and shot opportunities, so guys could hone their bowhunting skills?
Sure sounds like a good time was had by all!
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I got sick on the way back and have been slow to post. My experiences were like many others, some days covered up with deer, a few hunts just had a couple come in.
First afternoon our guide Robert dropped me off only about 100 yards inside the gate way up in a double high ladder stand. The feeders were set to daylight savings time and went off at 3 and 3:30. I wish they all were as it seems the deer don't care about the time, just feed. If I have my days right I had a few does and fawns come in and although I'd forgotten about it I ended up having a shot at a mature doe standing broadside to me in front of the feeder. I've been there before so I drew back as slowly and noiselessly as I could, however on the subatomic level there must have been a slight amount of friction between some quarks and a Higgs-boson as the matriarch blew up at the minimal transfer of energy and ruined my shot opportunity. They milled around and left but right at dark a spotted hog came in to vacuum up the remnants of corn. Just as it edged into the moonlight lit shooting lane Robert showed up. The hog darted to the left giving me an outline shot but I had lost depth perception and loosed a hail mary over its head.
Next morning had me in the same stand with the feeders off at 6 and 6:30 with deer coming in before light. Eventually had 4-6 does and then a nice mature 9-10 pointer (5 on one side and four on the other with a split main beam at the end, probably count as 10). Then a mature 8 came in about as the 10 was moving into range. The 10 ran him off several times and almost offered me a shot. At about 9 AM a chain saw lit up about 150 yards away, they all looked in that direction and took off, end of hunt.
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One of the nice things about this hunt is meeting good folks from around the country. During the day when you aren't worn out and napping we tend to practice shooting and shooting the bull. One day early in the week I walked out to the pavilion area and Gary and Nate were doing some long distance shooting at the deer target. I said I'd never shot that far so they said give it a try. So I stepped up and acted like I knew what I was doing and loosed an arrow, hitting the buck right in the heart. We stepped it off at 44 yards. I put my bow down.
Got a pic of it as I thought it might be the highlight shot of my trip.
(http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g279/A007_photos/photo-6_zps4ffeb730.jpg)
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First arrow, First shot!! He acted like he had never shot at that distance, but I think he must have been out there the night before practicing for the shot. :saywhat:
It was really cool to say the least...
Gary and I were skooled...simple as that.
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Originally posted by gregg dudley:
I left half of my worldly possessions in the bunkhouse when I packed to go. I packed in a hurry because I knew Conny had to drive all the way to Louisianna and I didn't want to hold him up. One TBOF shirt is a small ransom to pay for the return of all the other stuff that you guys brought me at the airport. :D
Gregg,I still want to trade you a TBoT shirt for a TBoF shirt if you want.
Man, a guy goes off to his hunting lease for a few days and 10 pages get added to this thread! I just read every post to catch up. I even read about a few things I had not heard while we were in camp. Woods has got to be caught up on the cartoons by now!
Bisch
Bisch
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Originally posted by Sharptop:
One of the nice things about this hunt is meeting good folks from around the country. During the day when you aren't worn out and napping we tend to practice shooting and shooting the bull. One day early in the week I walked out to the pavilion area and Tom and Nate were doing some long distance shooting at the deer target. I said I'd never shot that far so they said give it a try. So I stepped up and acted like I knew what I was doing and loosed an arrow, hitting the buck right in the heart. We stepped it off at 44 yards. I put my bow down.
Got a pic of it as I thought it might be the highlight shot of my trip.
(http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g279/A007_photos/photo-6_zps4ffeb730.jpg)
Way to go, Carlton. As always, a good lawyer knows when to rest his case.
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Yeah buddy, been waiting on your tale since receiving the text. What'd you snipe that 3D with anyway?
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Carlton gave us a good woopin. Sauntered over mumbled about never have shot that far, 12 rings it and nonchalantly strides mover to the table sets his bow down and grins. Classic woopin for sure, great shot buddy. I wonder if he was waiting for a fee to repeat it?
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Yeah, the ol fellas way better a shot than he leads on. :thumbsup:
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Well that was good practice for what lay ahead. We decided to switch around some and I ended up sitting in the stand Allen Devore had been in and seen some good bucks in the prior hunts. I didn't know that at the time. Settled in, got my harness hooked up, was reaching for an arrow when they started milling around out 100-125 yards out. This was before 4 PM and the feeder going off. Several forkhorns and does. One doe was frisky and was doing wind sprints every now and then and continued that off and on between both periods of this hunt. After awhile they started filtering in. I had pretty much made up my mind to shoot a doe early on in a hunt if I got an opportunity because like most others I'm keyed on shooting a nice buck and thought maybe you might be able to shoot a doe and have bucks come in later. Its hard to think about shooting a doe when there's a 10 point milling about the other side of the feeder.
Well there was a mature doe, a smaller doe and a fawn type doe feeding off to my left where Robert had spread a little extra corn where I had a shooting avenue to the left of the feeder. I was lucky as the deer fed to places where the others were blocked by the limbs of my tree and I had a clear broadside shot at the medium (but small by any other standard) doe. 4:10 PM. Drew back, remembering the several deer I had missed previously at Solana, even at 10 yards that had dipped and turned leaving my arrow a pitifully sympathetic howl to the Gods of bowhunting.
This time I approached it from a foundation of failure and expected this deer to duck. Got a steady, slow draw, anchored and imagined the shot under the deer a foot or so. Hard to do, folks. Saw the arrow fly and it did exactly what I envisioned it doing before I released. Hit the deer right around the heart, I thought. Deer turned sprinted away from me snapping the arrow off immediately and I lost it after 40 yards.
Well I felt like I had really accomplished something. I knew it was a kill shot and it had gone right where I aimed and the deer didn't drop and turn so much that the arrow was grasping fur.
Sat back and reminisced about prior failures and how nice it was to have a successful shot and still had the afternoon hunt ahead!
And ahead it was! As soon as the feeder went off I had a number of deer come in, a bunch of fork horns, 6 pts, and a nice mature 7 point. As I watched about 12 deer off to my left including about 6 bucks I happened to glance to my right and my heart stopped...........
Below me feeding quietly was a mature 10-12 point heavy beamed buck and two does. Had this been a stand in the piney woods or pretty much anywhere else I could have simply quietly shifted, drawn and I would have shot this buck, but Solana is a different game. I quited and had tension on my fingers waiting for the buck to offer me any contorted shot. But a few moments later the deer opposite the big buck looked up at something away from me and he and his 2 does took off. I watched him for a few minutes as he decided whether to return and he did not although his does returned gleefully to feed. Man this is frustrating but fun. The deer are the smartest dudes in the woods and we never know why they are self preserving, they just do.
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Originally posted by Bisch:
Originally posted by gregg dudley:
I left half of my worldly possessions in the bunkhouse when I packed to go. I packed in a hurry because I knew Conny had to drive all the way to Louisianna and I didn't want to hold him up. One TBOF shirt is a small ransom to pay for the return of all the other stuff that you guys brought me at the airport. :D
Gregg,I still want to trade you a TBoT shirt for a TBoF shirt if you want.
Man, a guy goes off to his hunting lease for a few days and 10 pages get added to this thread! I just read every post to catch up. I even read about a few things I had not heard while we were in camp. Woods has got to be caught up on the cartoons by now!
Bisch
Bisch [/b]
Deal! PM me your adress.
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I just edited my video... Need a highlights 2013 forum!
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Originally posted by gregg dudley:
I just edited my video... Need a highlights 2013 forum!
yessir! you got it! :)
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Okay, well, let's see where it started. It probably started when two trad people met up with another person from Trad Gang at Atlanta, Georgia. Then things started to really happen in Austin, TX when we hooked up with Mr. Gregg Dudley. When we all got together at the airport we watched a little bit of the Carolina/Michigan game. Mr.Gregg and Mr.Terry headed to Solana while Sunny Hill Archer and I were trying to get a car to rent for the hour ride there. :bigsmyl:
P.S. I think Mr.Gregg is related to Vernon Dudley. :biglaugh:
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I love this post! Great stories guys!
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Thanks, Rob!
Woods, Vernon is my father's cousin's mother's sister's grandfather's nephew. There's a lot of talent in my family.
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:campfire:
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
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:campfire:
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What kind bow hunting or magic. :biglaugh:
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:coffee: Woods eagleeye and myself have been waiting on your story congrats
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'Bout time the real killer of the trip gets going!
Congrats again little buddy :notworthy: :clapper:
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had a great time. got a pig and almost got a nice 4x4. the arrow hit a twig on the way towards a 15 yd kill shot..... next year he'll be taller and i'll be wiser.
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nice trip and nice team !!!
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First night at solana.
Here's what happened Mr.Tom, Mr.Roland, Dad, and I were going to our stands and blinds I was the 3rd one to be dropped off at my stand and I am sorry to say this but i did not like that stand.
Well I saw two small bucks and when they left i decided to fix the bag and bow to switch sides and put my bow to my left and my bag to my right.
Then when i turned around I saw five pigs that were staring right at me I'm praying that they would stay but no they left.
Saw nothing when they left and got picked up and had a delicious meal and went to bed at ten.
1st morning well Mr.David dropped me off at a tripod being the person who likes chairs I didn't put my harness up.
1st thing I hear were some turkeys then around 7:00 a.m. I see some pigs 2 sows and 8 piglets.
I decided to shoot the biggest one there was since the piglets would still have a momma so when i get the shot I shot at her and thought i did a bad shot so waited for another thing to shoot at.
Saw a half rack buck and then saw a small buck that left then got picked up.
When my dad and Mr.David came to pick me up I said I didn't think that I made a good shot then Mr.David said that here was blood and a piece of meat then about 50 yards we found my pig.
My dad will put up the pictures.
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Woods, never say in public that you thought you made a bad shot. Keep it to yourself and then when you find the pig, say " the shot looked good and I knew the pig was on borrowed time" You need to spend some more time with Marty.
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Congrats again, Woods! That was a great hog. Can't wait to see the pics.
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I've been waiting to hear how this went down! Congrats on a fine hog Woods! :clapper:
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Congrats again, Woods! I know there is still more to come, though.
Bisch
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Yea that's me mr.don I tell stuff that I shouldn't
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Still working on pics n vid for Donald Rowan....will post up tomorrow. Sorry for the delay....just trying to get this right.
:campfire:
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Congrats again Woods! :thumbsup:
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Way to go young man. I just know there are some more dead critters from you,LOL.
Terry no problem take your time. :bigsmyl:
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Here is Woods' "leg shot"....
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/silvertip70/IMG_0239_zps4cbc6bb6.jpg)
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I love it alot better when I think it's bad and it's good, vs think its good and it's bad.
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I'm trying to edit the size......
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This is what we found 5 yards from the shot.
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/silvertip70/IMG_0247_zps1e3d5286.jpg)
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I hate the new wPB!!!!!!!!!!!
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Now this is getting good,Is that a piece of lung?
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Then we found this....
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/silvertip70/IMG_0240_zpsf973a7a2.jpg)
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Then we found this!!!
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/silvertip70/IMG_0238_zps94d21e7b.jpg)
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Congrats again Woods!! Tell Don Woods, your just an honest young man.
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:thumbsup:
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(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/silvertip70/IMG_0241_zps92e6136e.jpg)
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(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/silvertip70/IMG_0242_zps2a7ecde8.jpg)
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:thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
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Besides being a good shot, Woods is a polite and well mannered young man. Lots for Sunny hill archer to be proud of. Congrats again, Woods.
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Congrats woods. I did not hear the story until just now. Gotta love a good outcome.
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Originally posted by roknjs:
Besides being a good shot, Woods is a polite and well mannered young man. Lots for Sunny hill archer to be proud of. Congrats again, Woods.
So true!
Congrats again, Woods!
Bisch
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Woods, It seems like everytime I see you, you have some sort of crazy hat on! :biglaugh:
Way to go buddy! I was so proud of you when your dad texted about your success that morning...well done!
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Great job story tellin and congrats to all the successful hunters!! Can't even imagine having to shoot where you think those durn deer are gonna be instead of where they are... :confused:
Finally got caught up so keep it coming...
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Woods is a great young man to hang around the camp with, even if he was forever trying to bust my nocks on the practice range! :biglaugh:
Never forget this; red hair is a sign of genetic superiority and higher intelligence!
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What can I say you said I could.
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That was a great story Lowcountry Archer!! And some fine shooting. Congrats on the hog :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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I know there's more.....
:archer2: :
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:biglaugh: :jumper:
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:thumbsup: :clapper:
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Thanks to all for taking the time to share their experience!
I've heard about an occassional deer bunching up for the exit and it has probably happened to me a couple of times. A high miss might have been a deer "ducking". These deer you folks hunted have well developed exit genes!
Sort of reminds me of early bowfishing days. To keep from going over the back (light refraction) I had to try to shoot under them.
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It STILL Aint OVER!!!!!
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Congrats Woods!
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Originally posted by buffalo-hunter:
had a great time. got a pig and almost got a nice 4x4. the arrow hit a twig on the way towards a 15 yd kill shot..... next year he'll be taller and i'll be wiser.
PICS?!?!?!?!?!?!
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If yall don't mind, we will take a short break from the hunting stories and tell a camp story...
It was on Friday evening, i believe, this took place. Its hard to sort out the days, may be due to a lack of sleep. There were 5 or 6 of us standing in the kitchen of the main house. We were talking about what we had seen that day, where we were going the next day, and all of the common camp jabber you hear.
All of the sudden i see a chair leg come spinning into the room like a top. Now, mind you, loose chair legs are always a bad thing. I looked over to see where it had came from, when I see one of the most graceful decents in history. Terry was sitting at a table in the dining room just feet away from us. When the chair he was sitting in decided to go from together to apart. When the chair shucked its leg Terry was facing south. In one graceful and slow motion swoop his feet ended up north bound. He had near done a compleat 180 on the way to the floor. When all was said and done, Terry was laying on his back, with his head proped up by his elbow. It looked like he had just decided to lay down and relax... The chair was still bouncing in the floor when T was at a total state of rest.
I went over to him to offer a hand in getting up, he just smiled. Meanwhile in the kitchen all heck broke loose. There were guys leaning on the counter laughing, guys crying from laughing, a very concerned Peanut (still laughing) and Brian (BDann). Brian was actually on the floor laughing, yup, it was quite a sight to say the least.
Maybe next year at Solana, we can get some safety harness hooks mounted on the ceiling...could come in handy!!
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Nathan....just before the hunt....I too got the matrix chip
:D
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I know that "T" would say that it doesn't matter how many times you fall as long as the number of times you get up is one greater....lol
Thanks for sharing!
God bless,Mudd
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like a ninja... :thumbsup:
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Your matrix chip needs an update! :biglaugh:
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You updated it with that fee adjustment....
Now NO BODY tell Brian's mother in law!!!!
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Dang, looks like I missed it! I heard talk of Terry breaking a chair but, Nathan, you made it all come alive. Wish I had been in there to take part in the laughter!
Glad you did not get hurt T!
Bisch
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Originally posted by sunny hill archer:
Then we found this!!!
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/silvertip70/IMG_0238_zps94d21e7b.jpg)
:clapper: :clapper:
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We lost another great TradGanger in 2012.
Mr Donald 'NAKOHE' Rowan....Brother to Danny Rowan.
Danny had been to Solana before and Donald was on the list a couple of time but things came up and even though he always wanted to go, he never made the hunt.
Donald's post here were always welcome, delightful, and enthusiastic.....we will miss him dearly.
So, Danny sent one of Donald's bows to the ranch, and I requested a broadhead of Donald's.
We gathered around one of the most scenic places on the ranch for a Memorial for Donald, and its the same place we had the Memorial for Chris Surtees after his passing.
I picked a dark hole to send the broadhead into the ground with Donald's bow along side Chris' Ceremonial marking where some of his ashes were spread by his Dad Larry.
Here are a few clips, and a video. Sorry if I didn't come across clear, as these type of things don't come easy for me.
A Solana Tribute to Donald Rowan......
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donalsmemorial11.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donalsmemorial15.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donalsmemorial17.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donalsbow1.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donalsarrow1.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donaldrowanpic1.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donaldrowanpic2.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donaldrowanpic3.jpg)
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(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donalsmemorial16.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donalsmemorial12.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donalsmemorial13.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013donalsmemorial14.jpg)
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Click Here for Memorial Video..... (http://tradgang.com/youtube/page1.html)
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that is such a fitting tribute to the man I called "husband" Thank you so much.
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Thanks Terry for this tribute to one of our beloved members.
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That was a very special thing to do. Well done men.
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Again Terry, thank you all so much, it is very fitting due to his great love of traditional archery and hunting, he loved it so much. You did just fine on the video.
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An excellent tribute. :campfire:
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As stated above, A fine tribute!
RIP, Mr Rowan!
Bisch
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:pray:
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Very fine tribute.
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Sorry I missed it. I know Bisch was fired up to have a chance to hunt with Mr. Rowan's bow and I'm sorry it didn't work out but this memorial is a powerful remembrance.
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A man couldn't ask for a finer tribute, from hunters to another hunter.
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Awesome tribute to a fine Trad Ganger that will be missed by so many...powerful...
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A wonderful tribute to a true hunter and gentleman.
Congrats Mr woods. I would take a "bad" shot like that on a hog any day! Good shooting sir!
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Having been there to add a rock to the cairn when it was placed for Chris and then for this occassion as well I can tell you that it is a pretty special tribute indeed. We let the bow hang in that tree for the evening hunt overlooking the creek and hillside that you can see in the one picture that Terry posted. All evening I was sitting on stand thinking about the bow in the tree and wondering about the game that might pass by that spot. It was pretty cool to say the least.
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Man O' Man I got the chills !!! Awesome tribute to say the least. Well done!!!
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Very well done fellas!
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Very nice tribute. He is with us all in spirit every time we take to the woods.
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Originally posted by Guru:
Awesome tribute to a fine Trad Ganger that will be missed by so many...powerful...
Couldn't have said it better...
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A very nice tribute.
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Very nice
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Who is this we are talking about sorry if I offended y'all for not knowing who he is?
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Originally posted by Lowcountry Archer:
Who is this we are talking about sorry if I offended y'all for not knowing who he is?
You aren't offensive- you just didn't have the chance to know my amazing husband Donald a/k/a/ Nakohe- he passed away on 10.11.12 he is a Twin to Danny- and he was a avid traditional hunter, lover of God and lover of Life. He loved this forum and all it represented- the people here that he met both in person and just online made a huge impact on him. I know he is looking down on us, watching over us and guiding us.
be well,
Kimber Rowan
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LowCountry....don't you have another story to tell?
And how about Dad....another redhead with a couple of stories to tell.
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Wonderful tribute :campfire:
We would all be so lucky to have friends that love us this much. RIP brother Rowan :campfire:
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Bisch and I shooting Donald's bow.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/25CF7206-CCED-4B69-B732-E07F979E94D0-637-00000105F2AFB7A7.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/3C0EC23A-77C2-4B0C-AC1D-0403524E9464-637-00000105859F1933.jpg)
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I still can't believe how smooth that bow felt to me, even though it is 60# at my draw length!!!!
Bisch
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Ok.... Here's a tease for later on.
Woods is busy doing math.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii51/rburtis1/IMG_0257_zpsb259c207.jpg)
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Originally posted by longbowben:
Now this is getting good,Is that a piece of lung?
I think so Ben.
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Here are Woods and David, Guide extraordinaire...
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w43/silvertip70/IMG_0254_zpsf0fc89c1.jpg)
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That young man seems to be a killin' machine and a fine hunter, hope to meet him one day as well as his dad.
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Wow, that looks like a blast!
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Originally posted by Terry Green:
LowCountry....don't you have another story to tell?
And how about Dad....another redhead with a couple of stories to tell.
Speaking of stories to tell, while you guys are continuing to spin your tales, I'll tell one having nothing to do with Solana, but that I was reminded of by Carlton's shoot.
A couple of years ago Terry Green, Larry Surtees and I were at Muddy Marsh in MD hunting sika, along with a couple of other groups. One of the other groups was two young men shooting wheel bows. One afternoon before going back out a bunch of us were practicing/goofing off outside the farmhouse, including the two compound shooters. They put a water bottle - 20 oz size - out in the field about 40 yards - the targets in the yard were too close for them - and proceeded to not hit the bottle - close but no wounds in the plastic. Terry walked up, nocked an arrow and put a hole clean through the bottle, walked out, picked up his arrow, walked back past the compound shooters and back toward where the rest of us were. As he passed me he said "Only a fool would take a second shot after that." The compound shooters were so disheartened that they gave up on the bottle.
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there is no questioning about it - when i grow up, i wanna be like woods. :saywhat:
"what wood woods do?" :confused:
well, woods sure showed us a thing or TWO. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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I want to hear about the TWO! I know for a fact that he isn't at school!
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Great job Woods!
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2nd night at solana.
When we got back everyone was jealous well not my dad and Mr.Terry had killed a hog.
When we went to breakfast we had another delicious meal.
when we went to our evening hunts I was the first one to be dropped off.
About an hour later a group of deer came in 2 button bucks and 3 does I saw one dominant doe and when one of the button bucks came and was eating next to her it spook it off and then a hole bunch came along.
I said okay i'm going to shoot the biggest doe but then some squealing came along and scared away the deer.
Then about thirty minutes later some hogs came in and there was one that I wanted to bust so bad even tough he wasn't the biggest one but ohh.
He was Clemson tiger color. but then the biggest hog scared it off so then daylight was fading there was the second biggest hog in range so I decided to take him out shot at him but it was one of those moments where as soon as the string hits the point wham you let er rip.
Here's the thing about the shot and not heeding Mr.Don's warning I shot bad into the back part of the pig.
When the other pigs had left and I got picked up I Said it wasn't good but lets look for it then I had to go back to the tree to grab something coming back to the others I saw my arrow out on the ground and it was bloody.Then i said here's the arrow and when my dad saw it we let the dogs out then about a hundred yards away there he was shot in the back piercing the artery that my dad will saw what it is and I said it was a lucky shot then I was taught something you guys will take luck over skill any day.
That's it for tonight. :bigsmyl: :archer: :coffee:
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Way to go on hog #2! :clapper:
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I won't take luck over skill any day but it sure is nice to get lucky once in a while when you make a boo-boo!
Congrats again Woods!
Bisch
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Originally posted by Bisch:
I won't take luck over skill any day but it sure is nice to get lucky once in a while when you make a boo-boo!
Bisch
I am right there with you Bisch. Skill and hard work are much more likely to pay off, but we all need a bit of luck every now and again.
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:campfire: :coffee:
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Nice Pig #2 Woods. See ya soon. You say your Dad got one too?
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Good job Woods following up on the shot. Even though you knew it wasn't a great hit you still followed up on it hence your trophy. Congrats again little buddy!
And what's this "you guys" stuff? You, Hayden, Cade, you ARE one of us. Just the younger version.
Again, great job!
Now Old man, since Woods let the cat out of the bag lets hear it.
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Now Woods..... what's the deal with having visions of shooting a Clemson Tiger? :knothead:
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Originally posted by Duckbutt:
Now Woods..... what's the deal with having visions of shooting a Clemson Tiger? :knothead:
I can't fault you for that Woods! Only better thing would have been a Tarheel! But a powder blue hog would have me worrying.
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I think the tarheels are pretty much shooting themselves this year.
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Oh I just greatly dislike those Clemson tigers
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Great job Woods, good to hear the stories again.
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Way to go Woods. Revenge for that white faced, red hog we ran into on the Bacon Strip.
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I love reading your stories Woods.....really neat perspective coming from a youngster....but he guys are right...
You are NOW one of US!
Seems to me you killed your very 1st hog the same morning I killed one as well. Not sure how you feel about it....but its sure was special for me to share a successful morning on your 1st hog kill as well.
Two Red Heads......
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/solana2013woodsnmehogs2.jpg)
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Still waiting on another Red Head on some hog stories.....and then another Red Head joined in....BDANN, added to our bag with his turkey.
Odd even to have that many Red Heads in camp :biglaugh:
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Didn't I read that Carlton killed a doe? So where are the pics Sharptop??
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Yes...no pic of Carlton's doe...don't know if there is one...
No pic of Roland's hog....don't know if there is one.
No pic of Bob's hog....didn't take one.
Really wish we had them all to go on this thread as a remembrance of the total hunt.
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Great pic. of Terry and Woods with their hogs.
Terry, I think Woods should graduate up to one of your trademark salad hats. :thumbsup:
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I have a pic of "C-Diddy" Carlltons doe. Ill get it up when I get a moment at home. Congrats to all you red heads.
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Agreed I'm gonna bust him big time.!!
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Awesome tribute terry :thumbsup: :pray:
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By the way guys, almost all of the white rocks are chert. Its like a gold mine of napping material.
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/image-17.jpg)
Some of them might have found their way back to AR...I ain't sayin'... I'm just sayin'.
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Here's a shot of a couple of our guides, John and Gary, showing us up on the practice range.
I swear I heard them say "if only they could shoot as good as we can they might actually kill something."
(http:// [url=http://images.imagelinky.com/1358393402.jpg] [img]http://images.imagelinky.com/1358393402.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
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Here is Nathan, Katman, Bisch and Gary (guide) looking for a hog that Katman had dispatched earlier. I must say that I have never seen anyone find blood like Katman.
(http:// [url=http://images.imagelinky.com/1358393477.jpg] [img]http://images.imagelinky.com/1358393477.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
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I remember back in the day, none of the guides shot traditional bows... Now all do... Robert won't admit it, but I've seen picture proof that he has! ;) And, yes they are all good shots! Probably better then they think they are... Slowly I think we are infecting them with the trad bug...
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Yes Jeff.....Robert said he's not ready to convert yet....hasn't killed enough with his wheel bow yet...but get this...
His 1st trad kill....what a shot at a running hog!!!!
I need to hear a few more stories!!!
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:campfire: :coffee:
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Heres my pal Carlton and his first trad deer. You keep stepping it up year after year, next year I spect we'll be seeing a big old boss buck laid out in front of ya. (http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o244/2crazyboys_photos/IMG950068_2.jpg)
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Izzy, I was maybe 5 feet away to his right when that picture was taken. It was the same stand you shot that "Doe" that turned into an 8 Point a couple of years back... Carlton's shot couldn't have been better placed.
Congrats again Carlton!
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Ohhhhh, thats a good stand. Saw a mess of bucks from it including one bigger than my 8 that he ran off as well as 3 yotes. Last year Skylar missed a hog or two from it as well. A prolific stand for sure.
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Way to go Carlton >>>>--vv------->>
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Wow just got a chance to catch up, great stuff!!!
Wonderful tribute, wonderful............
http://tradgang.com/youtube/page1.html
:campfire:
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Yup, Carlton brought in the first doe in the camp. I didn't know it was his first trad deer, that makes it even more special!!
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I was not aware that that was his first trad deer either!
Congrats again, Carlton!
Bisch
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A most-excellent tribute!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
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Originally posted by BDann:
Here is Nathan, Katman, Bisch and Gary (guide) looking for a hog that Katman had dispatched earlier. I must say that I have never seen anyone find blood like Katman.
(http:// [url=http://images.imagelinky.com/1358393477.jpg] [img]http://images.imagelinky.com/1358393477.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
I think Brian just posted some evidence of northbound chert...
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Hey Nathan, I found some worked pieces of chert. If I could have I would lay the bow down for half a day of area head huntin. I've heard the entire area is loaded with artifacts.
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I just now saw the rocks in your hand. You have been caught red handed!
It's no wonder you didn't find any blood....you were looking for chert the whole time! :biglaugh:
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No Brian....he was just picking up the bloody rocks!!! :D
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I think there are still a couple of stories with some pics missing, lets hear about them. :readit: :readit: :bigsmyl:
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T your british? :bigsmyl:
Actually Nathan was picking up some unusual specimens with fossilized imprints to take home to his children if I remember that hike correctly.
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I believe it Katman. He wasn't even helping look for blood! :biglaugh:
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It was actually both. There were some cool rocks with fossils I picked up for my kids because they collect them and there were some very nice pieces of chert that I collect... :thumbsup:
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Well back to my doe hunt. Robert drove up after dark and I was the first picked up. We looked at the shot site and found the first half of the arrow covered in good blood. About 10 yards away Robert found the other half, similarly covered. But we didn't see any other blood which surprised me. Robert said lets get the other guys and make a search which made sense as he is color blind and no longer has Taz, his deer finding and deer biting dog.
Picked up Bob and turned out he had shot a doe but was not completely sure about the hit or the direction the doe evacuated. The stands we hunt out of are well camouflaged but you tend to lose sight of an animal very quickly.
We went to pick up the other guys to start looking and found Jeff wondering about an arrow he had loosed at a late hog. We looked around a bit and found it virgin so we headed back to look for Bob's doe.
Bob was confouded as he expected to see the arrow somewhere. We looked all around for an hour or so and did not find the arrow or one drop of blood. Decided to leave and look for in in the A.M.
Went back to my stand and spread out to look for sign. It was very spotty and we only picked up blood where a small streak had landed on the numerous white rocks which covered my area. We looked for a long time, moving slowly as Bob was gifted in finding small splats as I was lighting the foreground expecting to see the doe any second. This went on for quite a while and I finally found the doe piled up against the fence as Robert had predicted estimated 400 yards away. As I moved up to get a nice picture in my excitement I failed to realize that the doe had piled up against the fence at a big prickly pear protuberance.
I was excited and dropped down for the bad I-Phone pic and was greeted by a bunch of prickly pear thorns which worked on me for the rest of the week. Sorry no pics as photobucket has lost me.
Thanks to all the guys on the trip and for making it another really memorable hunting experience. We didn't kill many animals this year but we probably had more opportunities/near opportunities than in any of my 4 trips to Solana. These are really tricky deer.
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Congrats Carlton, woods on # 2 and Terry on fine critters!
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Congratulations Carlton.
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Congratulations Carlton on your first trad deer. That is very exciting!
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There are some more critters then need a eulogy.
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Maybe we should eulogize the cow that made the ultimate sacrifice so we could enjoy the awesome ribeyes that Peanut grilled up for us!
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As we gather here in remembrance of Bob...A fine angus all the way to the end.
I am with you Brian. Those steaks were great. Good food, good hunting, good friends and new friends. It was great.
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Originally posted by bornagainbowhunter:
As we gather here in remembrance of Bob...A fine angus all the way to the end.
I am with you Brian. Those steaks were great. Good food, good hunting, good friends and new friends. It was great.
I still can't believe I ate the whole thing......and the brownie and ice cream too!!!!!
Bisch
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I know there are a few stories left to be told...
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:campfire:
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Still waiting on the tooth puller :D :goldtooth:
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:bigsmyl: :campfire: :coffee:
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Yeah...It's like pulling teeth...
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One week to hunt and 3 to tell the tale. Nothing like savoring the flavor :readit:
At least it helps the winter months go by! :bigsmyl:
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Originally posted by Guru:
Still waiting on the tooth puller
Originally posted by gregg dudley:
Yeah...It's like pulling teeth...
You guys crack me up! He probably had some kind of emergency extraction come up?
:scared: :laughing:
Bisch
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Originally posted by gregg dudley:
Yeah...It's like pulling teeth...
Naw......
It's more like pulling arrows out of all the hogs Woods and I killed!!!
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Solana.
A word that has come to mean so much to a great many of us.
A word that brings back memories and anticipation at the same time.
It was good to be back this time with my son Woods.
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Well said;)
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The preliminaries have been discussed ad nauseum so I will get right to the tale.
David put me in a tripod where he had been feeding the road and as I settled in I was again amazed at how well I was hidden.
Almost immediately I was seeing deer. Saw several does and some smaller bucks. Nothing that got me interested.
As a I was waiting all the deer jerked their heads up and then I heard it.....Hogs
They came barreling in and ran the deer off.
Since it was getting dark I shot the closest biggest one. They all lit out at the shot. She made it about 100 yards on a dead run. Then she cartwheeled about four time and it was done.
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Ok, Now the pump is finally primed.
Get ready to enjoy the flood :campfire:
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When David came to pick me up everybody piled out to look for the pig. Tom saw the eyes of the dog shining and Roland thought it was the hogs eyes!!!
He kept saying "get your bow" "where's your bow"
I knew the pig was done and told Woods to get ready... Just in case.
Well the pig was indeed expired and we put her on the back of the truck.
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Congrats again bud! Nothing like a squealer to start off the trip.
But this was only day one :saywhat:
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Congrats again Michael!
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No shots between the eyes? You're losing your touch. :biglaugh:
Great stuff. Keep it coming.
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Congrats Michael.
Just a note, got my brother's bow back from the ranch today. I was horrified when they brought out the PVC tube it was packed in. The Postal Service had managed to snap the end of the tube clean off about 4" from the end. Well the bow was fine, good thing the tube was longer than the bow. First time I have had that happen.
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Danny that is a beautiful bow. I wanted to shoot it but Bisch had nabbed it and was so fired up to hunt with it that it didn't feel right. He must have shot it for an hour or so and was hitting the bullseye every time. I was so sure he was going to nail something with it but such is Solana.
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Danny I sure enjoyed shooting that bow! I've never had my hands on a Schafer before, and it was as awesome as I had imagined they would be. I appreciate the opportunity to shoot it.
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Originally posted by Danny Rowan:
Congrats Michael.
Just a note, got my brother's bow back from the ranch today. I was horrified when they brought out the PVC tube it was packed in. The Postal Service had managed to snap the end of the tube clean off about 4" from the end. Well the bow was fine, good thing the tube was longer than the bow. First time I have had that happen.
Whew! I was getting scared as I began to read this post. I'm sure glad the bow was not damaged.
Bisch
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Bisch,
When I saw the tube, I almost collapsed, I removed the bow right there and inspected it in front of the Post Office Clerk. I was amazed that the bow was even still in the tube with the end snapped off like that just hanging by tape. Guess Bubba was watching over it for me on the trip home. Took the bow almost three weeks to get there via Priority Mail and about 4 days for the return trip, go figure.
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I shot the bow several times myself. First Schafer I ever put my hands on. Very nice and well mannered bow. Thank you for letting us enjoy it and the meaning behind it.
God Bless,
Nathan
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I knew there had to be more
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congrats to all the trad gang attendees of the solana 2013 hunt! can't wait for next year!!
special recognition to ol' Hog Killer Woods, who showed us all just how to git 'er done. :D
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Okay, now that everyone has had the chance to tell their stories of the hunt, I'm going to tell my sad tale of woe. I went to Colorado for Christmas vacation with my daughter, her new husband, and my wife to visit my son, his wife, and his six month old daughter (my first grandchild) who live in Colorado Springs. We all went up into the mountains for a few days and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrating the birth of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. My daughter and son-in-law unfortunately had some virus that they brought along, and my biggest Christmas present was a hefty dose of the virus that struck me down on Christmas morning. I was sick the rest of the trip but took things easy and got plenty of rest, liquids, over-the-counter drugs, etc. By December 30 when we flew back to Oklahoma City, I was doing much better. On December 31, I got some work done, saw other family, packed my gear, and got mostly ready to go to the Solana Ranch. I awoke on January 1, 2013, feeling better and thinking I would be fine for the hunt I was so eager to attend again. After a busy morning of final preparation and wrapping up matters at home, I finally hit the road for the 6 hour drive to Salado, Texas.
As I neared Salado, I got myself worked up for the tasty barbeque dinner that had been planned for weeks. I finally got to the turnoff and made the short drive from the interstate to the restaurant, only to see upon my arrival that it was closed. I pulled up Terry Green's mobile number and put in a call to see where everyone was. They were all at the Mexican restaurant down the street where I joined them minutes later to find the party in full swing. After a good meal and warm greetings of friends old and new, we paid our bills, jumped in our vehicles and headed to the ranch. It wasn't long before we arrived and I claimed my bunk below Gregg Dudley and across from Brian and Bisch who occupied the small room with me. I had never met Brian and Bisch, although I had seen their posts. What a great couple of guys. In the next room was Jeff Berberick, sleeping by himself in the most open area, with most of the other guys lodged on the other side of the bunkhouse. I was certainly glad to be there with everyone.
The following morning was breakfast in the diner on the interstate service road and then a trip to the local Wal-Mart to pick up a few odds and ends, like an extra blanket for my bed and some hangers to turn my bottom bunk into a closet, with clothes all around me on hangers hooked on the wire framing supporting the mattress of Gregg's bed above me. I have to say that everything was set up well with my bow, arrows, broadheads, quiver, clothes, living quarters, and other essentials. And did I mention how good the food was?!?
Allan
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Allan, I just have to bust your chops a bit. Now I know that you were sick and all, but that knocking point you tied on for me, you know the one that was supposed to last forever? Well, it started to come untied the next day! Nathan and I were cracking up at that one. I'm chalking it up to your illness! :biglaugh:
It was great getting to know you, too bad you weren't feeling better so you could have stayed for the duration.
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As everyone knows, Terry Green had shipped a huge cooler filled with most of his hunting gear, and the cooler had gone AWOL. After much anguish and waiting to hear good news, all appeared to be lost, so Terry loaded up a new set of gear and arrived ready to go. Then, shortly after arriving at the ranch, the cooler appeared unannounced. With great joy, all of us congratulated Terry on the return of the prodigal cooler and marveled at all the extra gear that he would have at his disposal, especially all the heavy woolen clothing that would keep him warm.
On to the hunting. I was teamed with three other gentlemen in Robert's truck. They were Jeff Berberick, Carlton Carter (both of whom I already knew), and Bob McMahan who is a Helle of a guy (pardon the pun, but Bob used to be a distributor for Helle knives). I was one of the last ones dropped off on the first morning hunt. Almost immediately, I saw a bunch of small bucks -- four forkhorns, a spike, and one small eight point. They came in, left, and then came back as the early morning passed. Not too long before pickup time, I heard some noise behind me and looked over my shoulder to see a doe coming in to feed. I had determined to shoot the first decent doe who presented herself for a shot, so I started getting myself positioned for the opportunity to loose an arrow at this female or one of her companions whom I could hear but not yet see. Shortly, I heard another deer coming in and looked through a shooting lane to see a big seven point who was definitely worthy of receiving the pointy end of one of my arrows. Unfortunately, there were two of the forkhorns only feet from the base of my tree who would sound the alarm at my slightest movement or noise, so I resisted the urge to swivel my seat and draw on the big seven point. Seconds later, I heard the snort of a doe behind me where she had inhaled the scent of my disgustingly humanoid body. The white flags all rose at their rears as the deer below me trotted away in alarm. So much for the first hunt. I climbed down weakly from my stand feeling chilled to the bone through my seemingly ample clothing. It was a good morning, except that I wasn't feeling as well as I thought I would. I told myself I just needed another layer of warm clothing and would be fine.
It is always great to get back to the comradery of camp, especially when a delicious, hot meal awaits me. That's exactly what I found as Robert and my three fellow hunters pulled into camp. We ate hardy and spent the early afternoon enjoying one another's company and fellowship. The time passed quickly and soon the call came to load up for the evening hunt. I went to the same stand as that morning and quickly saw some of my small, male visitors from that morning coming in to feed. Unfortunately, although they stayed for long enough to shoot any one of them, none of them made me even begin to think of shooting because of their diminutive size. I did see a LARGE ten point pass quickly through an opening about a third of a mile north of my stand, but he never gave a thought to passing near me. I was miserable from the cold air, even though I had put on a second pair of long underwear and another button up shirt, in addition to all the other clothing I had worn in the morning. It seemed I couldn't stay warm. As the truck pulled up, I was already out of my stand and was not feeling well. I was the first one back in the truck with Robert as we headed over to pick up the other guys. When we reached Jeff Berberick, we found out he had taken a shot at a nice buck and had connected. However, when the arrow was located, it had a distinctly disgusting smell, indicating a hit too far towards the back end of the animal. You've all read Jeff's account, so I'll leave my story here. After picking up the others, we went "home" for a hearty dinner.
It was hard to nod off that night, and I was already a bit sleep deprived and not feeling well. I was still taking medication and getting worse. As sleep was just about upon me, I was concerned about how I would feel in the morning.
Allan
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Brian,
I am sorry about the nocking point. One of the things I discovered was that the kind of serving you had (which I also had some of but had never used) simply wouldn't hold on to itself with the kind of whip finish I am used to applying. I tied some of that same serving like yours on the string of a bow I bought for Christmas for the eight year old son of my partner, and the nocking point came off of his string very quickly too. I had been using different serving materials that worked very well in that application. I have now found that the use of clear fingernail polish, fly-tying head finish, or super glue is needed to keep serving material like yours in place. I wish I had used my other serving on your string to make the nocking point because mine DO stay on permanently!!!!
Allan
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No problem, I was just looking for something to harass you about! I'm looking forward to sharing camp with you again. You know, for a while there several of us thought that you were actually dead in your bunk. We voted and decided that we wouldn't do anything until AFTER we got done with the morning hunt! :biglaugh:
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You are a cruel, but funny man, Brian!! :bigsmyl: :biglaugh:
It was nice meeting you Allan! I was surprised that you had left when the other guys told me. Sorry it went down that way and I hope we get to share a camp in the future.
Bisch
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As everyone has heard, Thursday morning brought rain, so I stayed in bed and tried to get feeling better with some extra sleep. I finally woke up and went to get some breakfast and visit with everyone. I never lost my appetite, and when lunch rolled around, I got my fill of food again. Talking with all the good folks in camp was such a treat, especially my fellow TradGangers. I relished every story and enjoyed seeing every killed animal as it was proudly displayed by the man who had hunted it and his guide. One of those men was a very youthful one, yet he was skilled and exuberant. That is Master Woods, of course. Woods hog was one of the first kills, and one of the best appreciated by all my fellow archers. It's good to see the young in age hunting side-by-side with the young at heart.
Again, it seemed like no time at all before the guides were rounding up their hunters. I was the last of my group to get ready, and they had to drive to the bunkhouse to hurry me along as the final member of the group. That evening I was to be placed in a high stand that Bob had occupied before that presented nearly impossible shooting options for a lefty like him. I found myself getting immediately chilled and uncomfortable, which was enhanced by the total lack of any animals moving, despite the feeder dispensing corn twice as I sat there waiting for a shooting opportunity. Time dragged on as I felt myself becoming unstable and wobbly. Finally, as the light dimmed past the point of being able to shoot, I carefully managed to climb out of the stand with difficulty and then sat uncomfortably on the ground, waiting for Robert's truck to appear. I loaded up as we headed to Jeff's location. He had shot at a pig, and we found his clean arrow with the tip of the broadhead slightly damaged. Jeff mentioned that he had created a small fireworks display with the sparks flying as his arrow ricocheted off a rock.
When we reached the tree where I had hunted both times the day before, Carlton told us he had shot a doe after seeing a multitude of deer. As we began the search for blood, most of us had doubts that Carlton had hit the deer as well as he thought he had. We searched extensively before the first drop of blood was found. Then we painstakingly began the arduous task of pick apart the ground, finding specks of blood on bits of grass or on the white stones that dotted the earth. With every new sighting of blood, we marked the direction the doe appeared to have taken, wondering if we would ever see another dot of blood, much less the whole animal. Robert predicted we might find the doe near the fence that was located along the general line the blood sightings were taking us. Some of the flashlights were dimming from the long tracking job, but we never stopped. Suddenly, a light fell on a white belly up ahead, and there she was! Upon examination, it was quickly seen that Carlton had hit the doe perfectly through both shoulders, just as he had first told us he thought had happened. It was a great shot! But I was dying and could hardly wait to get back to the truck and sit down.
At dinner that night I determined that I was very sick again and needed to get home and resign myself to taking the time to properly heal. The next morning I packed up, settled my bill with Peanut, said goodbyes to the guys who were nearby, then hit the road for Oklahoma City. The worst of my problems hit me over the next few days, with the most unpleasant being the bronchitis that caused significant chest pain. Recovery to the point I felt okay took about a week, but I'm still coughing and congested more than six weeks since I first contracted the virus.
This wasn't the best hunt of my life, nor is it one I want to remember much for how well I did or felt. But I do cherish the times I spend with my buddies, the ones I knew before, and the friends I made this time around. I'm sure there are traditional archery hunters whom I wouldn't want to be around, but so far I haven't met them, and every TradGanger I have ever known is someone I look forward to sharing a hunting camp with again someday. Hopefully, I won't be the sick guy in camp next time. Thanks to all the wonderful guys there for a great time despite my illness and failure to even take a shot at game.
Allan
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Brian,
I saw the way you were looking lustfully at my beautiful Shrew Classic Hunter with the sweet little EFA quiver attached. Admit it -- there was a part of you that was HOPING I was dead so you could get your hands on that amazing equipment! HAHAHAHA! It was great to bunk with you, Bisch and Gregg (in separate bunks, of course). I got some darn nice roommates on this hunt. If only I could have been there for the whole time! I'm looking forward to seeing you guys on future hunts. Maybe I can share some of your successes and bring in some dead game myself next time. Congratulations on your kills. That makes me happy.
Allan
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Bisch,
I always heard what a good guy you are, but I was pleasantly surprised when all the hype turned out to be true. Thanks for being a good roomie and not snoring a lot. :D I'll see you again soon in another hunting camp, I hope.
Allan
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I will not forget when Brian said, "I was pretty sure Allen was dead".
Allen, your right, must have been the Shrew. I also heard him talk about it...
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I was thinking about checking your pulse, but I thought with you being an attorney, and me being a chiropractor, you might think that a doctor-patient relationship was established and proceed to sue the pants off me for abandonment. In reality, I was just seeing if it was safe to put that gorgeous Shrew in my jeep for the trip home.
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Good to hear you lived Allan. I got real cold one day and I think I ended up catching what you had. Just now getting over it. Almost like walking pneumonia.
Sorry you had to leave. But its no fun when you are sick. I knew something was badly wrong as you had none of your usual energy. Hope to see you next year! Another chance to be humbled.
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Glad you are starting to feel better.
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I don't know about anyone else, but I am REALLY missing this place, even though I only went one time.
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i agree, brian!
but not the place itself - the trad gangers, the guides, peanut and those killer meals. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Yep, certainly miss sharing camp with a bunch of trad gang members.
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It was a fun one, for sure!
Bisch
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Drove by there a few days ago and got to thinking about shooting at lunch time and all that tall tales.
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Tough to see that deal end. My buddy Robert Mitchum was as real deal of a cowboy as Ive ever known. I miss him dearly and was just as happy just driving around hearing his stories as I was hunting. The guides made that place for sure. I miss em all.
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Gone but not forgotten. Good hunting but the sharing with other TG members made the experience. :campfire:
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The ranch isnt doing hunts anymore?