The 'SOLANA GAMES' have begun!!!

[RM81]

Great stories and pics!  Sounds like you guys had a great time.

[Rob DiStefano]

another highlight of the hunt for me was meeting up again with charlie lamb.  good stories and laughs, and charlie's bow and hunt knowledge is a deep well of solid resource.  looking forward to his book, too!

after my friday morning killing of the buck, i really wanted to go back to the road stand that evening and seek out a doe, and our guide david was pleased to oblige.

by about 5:30pm i was covered up with deer - 5 does in the big window, 3 more to the right and under tree limbs, 3 or 4 bucks coming down the road from the north.  man, was that exciting to see!  

a nice doe lined up broadside in the big shooting hole, i drew to anchor slowly, picked the under chest spot at the hair line, aimed the arrow and made the release and then ... all hell broke loose as about 10 deer sped off over the road to the southwest.  

dang, a miss - the arrow had bounced down on the road, but i was so sure it had hit low, right where i aimed, as the doe did more wheeling around 180 degrees than dropping down.  from near 20 yards away, the feathers didn't look matted down with blood or guts, either.  bummer.

as the evening light faded with the setting sun, and shadows disappeared into the night, i climbed down from the stand and checked out the arrow.  it was covered in bright blood from the point to the nock, a complete pass through.  the bright pink feathers weren't matted down flat, but they were smeared good with blood.  however, there was nothing more than a small spot of blood on the road itself.  

david arrived for the pick up and advised leaving the arrow as is - we'd pick up the team and come back for search after suppers.  however, when the truck was full, he drove back to the road stand and we began the blood search - i took a bow along as well, just in case.

the blood trail was sparse in the beginning, and then some good splotches were found until it stopped cold.  david set out a tracking dog, but nothing turned up, we went back to camp and that was that.  disappointing, but that's the way it goes, sometimes.

[Friend]

Terry - Fabulous thread! Please reconsider posting upcoming trips of high intersest. Yes, there will always be some that are a little too impatient as well as myself on occassion. The thrill of anticipation is wonderful and may be all that one takes home from a hunt. Sure some of us will fall in the prelims , however those that hang in receive the greatest of treasures in return.

Note: I have one nice buck on the wall that is actually made a 360 turn. The entry is virtually identical to my point of aim on the other side.

Thanks again for a wonderful thread to all those special contributors. Looking forward to the rest of the story.

[Over&Under]

Excellent first trad trophy Carlton!  Great photos as well!

[Izzy]

Greg, as usual an awesome pic you took of my buddy Carlton.

[StanM]

Great stories out of Solona, as always.  Looking forward to more.

Izzy, love that sunset pic.

[Izzy]

My 1st morning sit was interesting as well as exciting. Upon arrival at the stand a whole herd of cows was bedded literally all around the tree. Guide Robert was a little apprehensive putting me in there fearing that the game would not come in with them there.

      I assured him I was fine chancing it and waded through a sea of tasty looking cattle.
 
      Soon after Robert driving off I could see deer moving in through the predawn fog. The cows didn't appear to bother the deer much and they arrived at the feeder seconds before it went off as if they'd been wearing watches.

[Izzy]

The group of deer were 2 big nannies and a yearling. Soon they were joined by another from a different direction. I watched them for what seemed like a half hour and finally picked what I thought wad the biggest. Soon enough I had a perfect 1/4 away angle with her head down. I finally got close to full draw and all 4 deer go alert and stare off into the distance.

[Izzy]

The subject of their attention was a 3 1/2 year old 8 which was considerably smaller than my solana buck from last year which I vowed not to shoot anything smaller this year.

[Izzy]

That buck got a pass but I switched my attention back to the bigger of the doe. Again coming to nearly full draw I was defeated by the love sick buck which ran my girls off into the Texas brush. That ended my sightings for the morning.

[lpcjon2]

Great photos and stories from all, it seams like every outing was a great adventure. Now I have to go and do some self help stuff to get over my jealousy

[FerretWYO]

Originally posted by roknjs:
  I wish I could have taken something there, but hearing the stories around dinner and sharing the excitement of the hunt, was a great experience for me.

Jeff I have no doubt it wont be long and you will.

[Izzy]

That evening found me in "the artifact stand" where last year I picked up 2 ancient flint tools while bloodtrailing a doe I had shot from it. I saw 3 doe after the feeder went off and my finger was getting itchy. Two went behind me but luckily a big old mature gal fed in perfect position for a quarter away shot. I got to about half draw and she heard the slightest rustle of my wool coat and was goooooooone!

[Izzy]

A short while later I hot a text from  Randy letting me know 3 more doe were coming. Before they got to me someone started letting loose with a rifle at one of the ranch buildings and they too were gone.

[Izzy]

To be honest I truly can't remember the next mornings stand but oh man, things started to get really memorable that evening.  

        I find that one of the worst things about my job is that it unfortunately, sometimes drains you of adrenaline and it takes a good bit of excitement to get the heartrate up. The following hunt had no problems giving me a case of "elvis legs".


        I'll be back tonight to lay out the details as I recall
 them with some interesting pics.

[Terry Green]

These pics might not mean much to most,,,,....but I've been going to this ranch for 10 years I guess...before TradGang was even started....and for me....looking at these pics brings back many memories of hunts of the past. I can remember several morning and evening experiences from these sites.


   

   

   

   

     

 

[Greg Clark]

Originally posted by gregg dudley:
[QB] John at play; deadly!!!!!!!

 


Is he string walking?????  That arrow looks really high for any other style.

Sorry you could not locate that doe, Rob but this is how it goes once in a while!

Great pics, a Terry!

Come on Izzy I want to hear more......

Bisch

[gregg dudley]

Originally posted by Greg Clark:

Originally posted by gregg dudley:
[QB] John at play; deadly!!!!!!!

   


Is he string walking?????  That arrow looks really high for any other style. [/b][/QUOTE

John has his own unique style for sure.  You aren't going to see it anywhere else.  He uses an unorthodox finger placement and a kisser button  for consistent anchor and can smack the heck out of the target in hunting ranges. He just picked up a stick bow last January and has already killed several deer and hogs.

It looks a little different, but it works well for him.

[maineac]

Terry, I haven't seen any stands I recognize from my opportunity to attend, but I recognize those first couple of picts from your posts from previous years and from the ground view.