Solana Ranch -What a ride into the New Year

[dposalski]

I am having a blast reading this thread.  thanks guys.  Might be renaming it "Skyler" Ranch.  

[COOCH]

As "The Gang" slowly started to filter into camp we were able to shake hands finally and get aquainted and assemble gear.

Upon meeting everyone my initial apprehension was immediatly stayed.One quickly realized that this was quite a collection off high caliber people.If Ya'll ever have a chance to do this hunt DO NOT HESITATE you won't be sorry.

After a great steak dinner at Johnny's the hunt really seamed to jump into high gear.

[COOCH]

Yea that Skyler kidd is for sure the real deal.And his dad ain't so bad either.  

[COOCH]

As the next morning progressed to the makeshift archery range,one could not help but be immpressed by the assembelage of bows of all makes and styles.Some of them I had only seen in adds.And there respective owners were more than happy to let you shot them.(I wish they hadn't because I have to now purchase one that I absolutly fell in love with.)

There are some very good shots in this group and I was a little nervous stepping up to the line.Having not shot in a few weeks because of an insane work schedule will do that.After a few shots all was well.

[stick_string]

Awesome...thank you guys for taking us with you!!  I really enjoy reading these threads!!

[Guru]

So much more to show and tell, but I we're just waiting on a great one that needs to be told...hold on, it's worth it!

Then our group will get on with another hunt that went from rock bottom, to high intensity in seconds          

[magnus]

You guys are doing a great job with the stories and pics. Thank you! It's almost like being there. Not really but the next best thing.  
Keeping the Faith!
Magnus
   

[Mike Gerardi]

Looking forward to the rest.

[Big Ed]

   

[Sharptop]

While you are waiting on the hunting stories let me offer a tad bit of advice....

When you wake up with knowledge that a cold front is coming in to Salado, TX and Solana Ranch and you wake up and its a balmy 49 degrees according to Terry's Smart Phone and sort of verified by 45 on the TV back at the office/bunkhouse don't expect your Sitka Gear 90% stuff with capilene long johns, a fleece shirt with a Sitka Kelvin Vest and good 1,000 gram Boggs boots and two good fleece hats and some gloves to in any way prepare you to not freeze your butt off.

I have never been colder in my life than when I was shaking so hard that my arrow head, rested on my Shrew was shaking a good 4-6 inches back and forth as I was trying to hold onto my gear. I don't know how much the temp. dropped or how hard the wind was blowing but it was a fast and fierce drop and it caught me with my pants down, so to speak.

Somehow I remained on the stand and was coherent enough to climb down when John pulled up. The warm stuff does you no good back at camp or at home. Hopefully I will learn this lesson for about the 11 hundredth time.

[Izzy]

Well Im sitting at home today with nothing to do so I thought Id show a pic to tide you folks over while the bigger stories are yet to be told.These are something I picked up during the bloodtrailing of the last doe I shot in the last 15 minutes of the last hunt. Seems we werent the only hunters to ever have walked those central Texas hills.Here are a couple of flint hide scrapers/blanks I was lucky enough to find. I have a bad habit of looking down while Im in the woods always hoping for the long shot chance of finding artifacts.With all of the good fortune that was being rained down on us during that hunt long shots were made short.That doe ,,,, or someone brought me to these.  

[Wile E. Coyote]

As you can tell from Sharptops post, it was so cold the lawyers had their hands in their own pockets. LOL

Sorry Carlton, could'nt help myself you kinda set yourself up for that one and lobbed it over the plate.

[Guru]

   

[Huntschool]

Izzy:

I am down in that country several time a year with my students (from up there around Salona to down south of San Antonio) and every time I have found some good stuff.  Its just laying there on top of the ground.

There are some great flint (chert) nodes to be picked up also...

Neat find man.

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by Sharptop:
While you are waiting on the hunting stories let me offer a tad bit of advice....

When you wake up with knowledge that a cold front is coming in to Salado, TX and Solana Ranch and you wake up and its a balmy 49 degrees according to Terry's Smart Phone

freeze your butt off.

Yeah...and I remember Carlton's comment just before  stating it was 'balmy'.....he said to me...."You gonna wear wool this morning"????  

He didn't take my subtle advice when I replied "Yep, this aint my 1st TX rodeo".

                     

[leatherneck]

Cold!!! I should have stayed here and read this post instead of going hunting this evening. No deer and 8 deg. with wind chill. I'm staying inside tomorrow. Now,you all may continue,I'm warm again.

[Sharptop]

Wayne, I would have put my hands in Richard Simmons pockets that morning I was so cold.

and Terry, I am buying some merino long johns.

[COOCH]

And you guys were laughing at my wool clothes  

[Izzy]

Wayne, that was too funny although mighty cruel! Carlton is not that kind of lawyer. He promised to represent me should I ever be indicted for nothing more than a shout out/spot on my upcoming show on the Puerto Rican Outdoorsman Channel.

[PA stickbow boy]

need more