Shooting Practice & Hunting Prep (pic heavy) w/ pics from Tim's first trad hunt added

[ber643]

This is not going to be a very "exciting hunt" pictorial, I'm afraid but hopefully you'll find some enjoyment in it. For Tim and myself, the pictures represent many great memories for us of Tim's first traditional bow hunt and first ever full blown hunt away from his home area here in Coastal NC This is our campsite within the Primitive Hunters Camp in one of the Piedmont area State Game Lands.

 
(More to follow)

[ber643]

Timmy, in his tent, happily prepares for the first evening's hunt:

 

My tent (I require a lot of room - for a little runt - LOL):

 


Tim ready to attack the woodlands:

 


Likewise, the old man, and your host:

 


I was trying to get a shot of the campsite at night and saw this "light area" - which turned out to be only one of my coolers - LOL. (Tim's chair and a radio he borrowed from Rose - in case he got tired of listening to me):

 


Night in camp - my tent:

 

(more to follow)

[ber643]

Likewise - Tim's tent:

   


After our last evening sit, we had to return in the AM to retrieve the (larger) chair Tim borrowed from me to replace his small chair. We stopped to take pics of our previous eve's stand sites. This large tree was mine. I have a handy seat that clamps onto any tree of my choice.


   

A frontal view of the same spot. It was really just too hot in the daytime for the deer to do much walking. Very few folks we talked to even saw any deer - except at night. We still had a great time and saw a lot of three friends of mine from our old archery club on the coast - who also became friends with Tim. I honestly think Tim had the time of his life - and I enjoyed seeing that, as well as the whole time in general:

   

Tim had set his chair in a good spot on a creek side and viewing grassy patches throughout the woods ahead of him. He saw five deer come into those patches - but too far to shoot at. He also saw one that headed towards me - but she never showed up there. He watched the deer for about a half hour (learning much about trad archery and the opportunities it offers). If he had happened to go just a little further before settling in, he'd have had a shot. Stuff happens - but it is so nice just to watch/observe the deer:

   

A frontal pic, while Tim remembers visions of his big evening before we return to camp to pack up:

   

A zoomed pic of the area Tim was lucky enough to be viewing. He vows to return - LOL:

   

(More to follow)

[ber643]

Tim by a pretty pool on the creek, between our sites:

 

I contemplate part of the same pool and spot trails for future reference:

 


This is our camp neighbors, Kate (Khatja) Dufour, Scott Burgess and there cat "Sis" - coming to me to get some more friendly petting. Kate is trying to call their other busy little traveling/camping mate, "Mr.Buns", out from under things to share in the photo op. Such a nice, friendly, intelligent and knowledgeable couple - a true pleasure to meet and befriend them:

 

Mr. Buns is out (yes, he's a bunny) and Scott has broken out the secret weapon to hold his interest for the pics - a small bag of potato chips - LOL (he also loves raisins and will come running for those at the rattle of the bag):

 


Mr. Buns sits pretty for the chips, of his own accord, while Sis walks away in disdain - LOL. Enjoyed these folks and their pets so much - while we all laughed about a pet bunny (and cat) in a "Hunter's Primitive Campsite":

 


Sign at entry to lake area just down the road from our campsite:

 


(More to follow)

[ber643]

This is the beautiful Lake Holt Reservoir, just down the road from our camping area. We had visited it one day and returned after packing up, as I wanted to get pics before we left for home. (Note to self - take fishing rods on next visit - LOL) They also have a boat ramp (for a small fee):

 

The facilities at the lake - they serve a great little steak and cheese sub there, sell bait, etc.:

 

One last look of Lake Holt Reservoir:

 


Ready to head back home:

 


A happy camper/hunter - but not catcher - that's why they call it "hunting"!:

 

Thanks for looking, y'all.    

[Jason Kendall]

Looks like a lot of fun Bernie!

[JEFF B]

now thats what i call style right there uncle Bernie  

[Benjy]

That looks like you had a bunch of fun! Great trip!

[ber643]

Tanks, guys. It was a great trip - fun, fun, fun - except for the chiggers/red bugs, as Jeff pointed out. They ate me up. Tim got a couple tick bites but no chiggers. I forgot to mention that detraction but I had told Jeff about it on SKYPE, because he had an experience with them when he came to the states for a hunt a couple or so years back. I found some ointment (non-greasy) in WalMart that seems to work well, called "ChiggerX"

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Looks like a great Time Bernie!  Thanks for taking us along.

[ber643]

My pleasure, Charlie.  

[ber643]

Tim and I got out to scout a new place to hunt a couple days ago. Found a good possibility, and had a great time. Then we returned to my home range and had an outstanding shooting practice, topping a good day off with Rose's delicious Chicken and Dumplin's. Hopefully there will be pictures from an enjoyable hunt in the near future.

In the meantime, another good session yesterday:

Time to do a little more to get ready for our upcoming hunt. First we put some Copperhead Skinsations (from Onestringer - TG Sponsor) on Tim's bow for him, like he's been wanting me to. Then we set his hunting arrows up with some Tree Shark broadheads, so we could see if they'd fly right for him.

 

A little closer look - way to focus, Tim.

 

Results are looking good out to 20 yards. So we switched back to field points for more practice for both of us.

 

Tim took over the camera and got a shot or two of the ol' man. Oh, The Mukluks are because I have a bad corn that i'm treating and they are the only thing my foot is comfortable in for now.

 

A closer look - aren't you lucky - LOL.

 


(Couple more to follow)

[ber643]

Rose came out and took a couple pics of Tim and I together, that he has been wanting for his boat. (Hmmmm - that may be for target practice too LOL)


 

And a pic of us taking a draw at the same time. another good practice session today. Hunt will hopefully take place next week. Hope to at least get pics of our set-ups to post here, at that time (and if things work out, maybe more).

 

(and, as always, thanks for looking.)

[Caughtandhobble]

Looks like y'all know how to have a good time. Thanks for sharing  

[far rider]

Good thread, thanks for sharing what seemed like a very fun hunting adventure.

[Thumper Dunker]

Real cool stuff.