Well I guess I will put a little story down about how things went for me there.
I arrived down there and Michael (sunny hill archer) was kind enough to fetch from the airport on tuesday. That night I got to meet Terry, Guru, Bob walker, Thomas(hogdancer), David Hill, Rob(videographer extraordinaire). We all went out to dinner and heard a lot of stories and a few tale tales i am sure lol.
The next morning it was time to head out hunting. We gathered our things from the hotel and headed for the Solana. When we got there I got to meet the rest of the gang. Everyone was getting ready flinging a few arrows and chomping at the bit to get out there.
After our hello briefing from peanut we where asigned to groups. I was set up with Jeff, Thomas, and David. Fred joined in the next day. We where set up with robert for a guide. I can honestly say that few people work as hard as the guides there to put you in the action and Robert was no exeption. He would take it quite personal if we had a bad sit.
We loaded up and headed out for our first hunt. I was the first to be put on stand and within just minutes after being droped of the action started. I saw lots of deer that night but the bigest buck would never come in and give me a shot. However right at dark I had a heard of pigs come rushing in. Pigs was why I cam here and I was not disapointed. I was amazed at how fast they came in and how loud they where. I had enough light and picked out a good one that was really close. Then sent my arrow straight through the chest of the oinker.
Shortly after Robert came to pic me up. He already had Jeff(who had a good buck down) and Thomas with him. I told Robert hit a hog and he promptly got ahold of peanut to bring his puppy out. I went with him and the others went to fetch Jeffs buck and Thomas' hogs.
Peanut came and got me and I told him the story and showed where the hog had gone. Hib quickley got on the trail and set to looking for my hog. We went a long way seeing good blood and no hog.
Hib seem to get a little messed up at one point and we thought that maybe I had not made the shot that I felt I had. Then just about that time we herd him start barking. Sure enough Hib found my hog.
Over the next few days I got the privledge of hunting with some of the greatest people there are. Made a few friends and saw a lot of game. Had the honor of being with David and Thomas when they recovered there bucks. It was awesome to see two good long time hunting buddies hit it big the same morning. I however could not get a good buck in range. Though I saw some absolute dandies there.
The last morning, last hunt robert said that he had a plan to get Fred and I on some bucks. Let me tell ya he had it right for me. Fred did not get in them though. I was the first to be dropped of on the coldest morning we had there. It was almost forty five mins till daylight so I got comfy put on my wool and waited kinda not so paitiently.
I could see deer in the moon light and hear them all around. as it got lighter and lighter there where more and more. At seven the feeder went off and I could see just enough in my binos to see that there where several good bucks there. I counted seven. None of them where really shooters though.
Then right in front of me was another one. He was by far bigger then the ones that where already there. I got set up and ready to take a shot as soon as he presented one. With that many deer around it was tough to move around much.
Then he finnally walked into the opening in front of me less than ten yards. I remembered all the stories about these deer being fast and had seen the evidence of it. I picked a spot nearly six inches below his chest, drew slowly, anchored and released. Instantly there was a mental panic( I just shot under a deer on purpose WHY?). Then I saw it all come together he droped fast and far my arrow hit perfect. I knew I had my FIRST whitetail buck with a bow.
Now I had to wait all morning to be picked up. We where given strict rules to not go wandering as many of the stands are not far apart. Robert came and picked me up first and we took a quick look for blood. There was alot of it. Robert said we would gather the rest of the team and pick up Taz(blood dog) and then find my buck. Now I had already been waiting all morning so I was a little pumped.
When we got back there Robert turned Taz out and he started tracking. The heavy wind that day made it tough work for him. We all followed right on the blood trail and start moving quickly. We kept going 50 60 70 100 yards and still blood with no deer. We droped over into a ceader break now out of the wind taz was hot again.
Then we heard the famous robert yell. We hurried down and there he was.Not huge but a good deer and I was happy. Most of all I was happy to be in good company when we found him.
I had a good time and met many good people. I thank everyone who is now a friend.
Topic: Hunting in the 'New Year' @ Solana Ranch.... (Read 36461 times)
