The 'SOLANA GAMES' have begun!!!

I had a grest time visiting/meeting and shooting with everyone.

I sure am glad I "let" Gregg beat me on the second go-around so it was him against Terry in the long range shoot-off!!!!

Congrats on that doe Michael!!!!

I am really gonna have to try to make one of these hunts sometime.

I am eagerly awaiting all the rest........this thread is like a book that you just cannot put down!

Bisch

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by xtrema312:
From the way it looks on screen in most of the pic's, it looks like shooting holes are not as big as most thing in Texas.  A deflection would be common I would think.  

 

Nah....deflections aren't very common....there are only one or two shooting lanes on each stand so you stay hid well, but the lanes are pretty open.  However, that one stand Rob is talking about does have on hole that needs to be pruned a bit, but that's not the 'main hole' deer get in.


Somebody sent me pics....let me see what I got....

[Terry Green]

I passed on two eights on this trip, one was on Rob's Road....and I was hoping it would come back while Rob was on stand, but he nailed the 1st one that gave him an opportunity....and I don't blame him!!!

This was the 1st year I can remember that I did not see a hog from a stand.

The last evening David had a special stand for me, one like many David is a master at...like Rob's Road Stand, The Grand Stand, and a few other tripods where you are hiding in plain sight.  This stand was 'one of those'.

No one had hunted this stand before except David, and it was very unique.  It was a ladder stand that was in a big cedar on the edge of a bluff, and I do mean on the edge.  I was told if I was to fall, to fall forward, he wasn't kidding, I could see some 200 feet to the river just about straight down out of my perch.

What this did was cut off the deer from getting down wind, and the bluff also was a security boundary for the game as they did not expect danger from that direction at all.  The location was also very unique, even though there was a bluff behind me....someone 'had my back'.....

[Guru]

Lets skip to the last evening....

I got dropped off at a stand I was familiar with. I'd hunted this stand once on each of my two previous trips. It's not for the faint of heart!

It sits in the back corner of a big winter wheat field. It's as high or higher than any stand on the ranch and without a doubt the hardest to get into, and coming down is downright scary!        

But in all honesty it's a very stable and comfortable stand. It's one of those octagon shaped stands with a swivel seat right in the middle of it and a small platform, just enough to stand on all around.

It sits in a multi-trucked tree, and has military style ghillie fabric all around it for cover. Really a cool stand if you can deal with the height.

Being form NY, and just getting done with my late season hunts when I climb higher than usual becuse of the lack of late season foliage...I was fine with it...
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I was the first dropped off this evening, so I had some time to reflect and take some pix. First visitors of the evening were the ever present "Red Birds"...
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"The Broadhead", Chris Surtees' VPA 1 1/4" VPA that I'd already taken 3 turkey's, and 2 deer with in 2011. As you can see all the writing has worn off. It was keen and ready to fly. Chris and I always have a few words as look up to the heavens and snap it on the string...
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Next visitor was this critter. I couldn't help but think how much fun Cade would have riding around with David shooting at these guys...
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Wasn't long and I got a text pic from Terry, he already had a small buck in on him...

[Sharptop]

One of the things I like about Solana is checking out the equipment everyone is using. This trip I got to shoot Michael's Hoot's recurve and it had the stippled handle and a great shelf, probably the most natural and secure grip I have run across. Also got to shoot Bill Turner's Hill longbow and was amazed at how light it was and how natural it felt in the hand. And of course Jack Guard had his usual display of functional trad clothing, etc. which has helped me discern what works especially keeping the bulk down so you can move freely and still stay warm. Terry Green also helped me out with a shooting problem I had where I had misinterpreted the second nuckle set on your release where my elbow was out too far and he helped me straighten that out.  You can learn a lot from the guys who have been at it for a while.

[Terry Green]

Yep....Curt was in the 'Stratosphere' stand.....least that's what it looks like...the one in Vegas....the tree is big at the base, narrows and then the camo netting makes it look like the landmark in sin city.  And Curt is right, its one of the 'monkey stands' I call them on the ranch, there are a few, and those Solana guides come up with some crafty ways to get to your perch let me tell ya....I too had hunted this stand before.....

Curt just hinted about ONE of the parallels of this evening...

Here's a view, and a pic of the little buck that showed up just as the sound of David's truck went away....

   

   

[Terry Green]

There were 3 parallels on our hunt, Curt and I....one was set, one had been brewing, and the similar outcome was about to unfold.....

[Guru]

I forgot to mention that I'd unknowingly dropped my KUIU ballcap as I got out of the truck. After I'd climbed up into my stand I looked down at the truck to give David the thumbs up and saw Terry picking up my hat and starting up the tree to give it to me.

I whistled to him and waved him down. I didn't need it and didn't want him to climb just for my hat.

 Terry texted me that he was wearing my KUIU cap for some "Guru mojo".  I thought that was pretty cool and hoped it would work...

[Terry Green]

As the sun started down....the little buck moved off...and I awaited the evenings witching hour events......donning Curt's Cap....the cap tied the 3 parallels together even tighter....

   

[lpcjon2]

Hey Curt, How far was the feeder from that high stand,it looked like it was 50 yrds away from up there.

[Guru]

The wind was perfect for this evening...steady out of the NW. The only way something could get me was if they came off the hill behind me.

I was expecting something to show up at any time...but time passed on this last evening of the hunt and for the first 2hrs. no game showed.

About 5:20 I caught movement all the way acrossed the wheat field in the NW corner. I picked up my 8x32's and saw that 4 deer where entering the field 300+yds. away.

As far I could tell from this distance, they were all does. They started grazing when they hit the tender, green shoots.  I kept looking behind them to see if a buck was trailing behind...

[Terry Green]

I'll start with the 2nd parallel 1st....the one that was brewing....Curt and I had been 'holding out' for a buck, not chancing any shots at does that could spook any shooter bucks hanging out on the perimeter....we both had had enough, but didn't know that we both had these same feelings, we both wanted to take an animal this trip no matter what it was....and that time was upon both of us.

Now for the 1st parallel, the one that was 'set'......Curt had one of Chris Surtees' broadheads, and I'd been wearing one of Chris's gloves on my bow hand, and there was more to the stand....

You see, we had a ceremony for Chris last year, ashes were spread, comments were made, and gifts presented in Chris's honor.  There was also on of Chris' broadheads driven into the ground at this site. One of, if not THE, most beautiful sites on the ranch.  This event all centered around a pic of Chris and a crisscross of two of his bows....it was on a small 3 foot tiny hump on the flat of a plateau we had chosen at the river....

Larry, Don, Skyler, Jack, Paul and I built a little monument Friday at lunch on the exact spot....little did I know at that time....

     
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When I said someone had my back,....it was Chris.  Here's where my stand was....

     

[rastaman]

Great stories guys!    

[Doc Nock]

ALL Great stories, guys...but now with this stuff Tarz is pullin out...the chills are starting!  :eek:

[Charlie Lamb]

Curt and T... looks like you guys are in the middle of getting one fired up. Spent the afternoon getting photos ready, but will honor your lead.

   

[Guru]

These deer were so far away, and the fact that most of the hunt the deer weren't coming to corn like usual, I never began to think they would make their way to me...and the sun was setting, and light was beginning to fade.

When the sun set, the wind quit. That left things very still and extremely quiet!

Another problem arose with the wind dying...now the hill behind me was causing the evening thermals to roll down the slope and carry my scent to the feeder.

That pretty much split my shooting op's in half. Anything to the left side of it would have me, anything to the right would be "iffy".

As it got darker, the deer got closer.  Hmmmm...

[Terry Green]

Yeah Dave....like I said...little did I know....that pic of the monument was taken by me on Friday....I didn't even know there was a stand up there on Friday, much less RIGHT over the monument in the pic I took.....cold chills in order sir!!!

[Terry Green]

Now it was time for Parallel #3.....the unfolding....

I hear rocks crunching from me left, but I dare not move....just let them come in I told myself, what ever they are, and get in shot mode...

One, ...the little yearling, ...two, what looked to be its momma, and three, the grandmother....

It was still early but I wasn't going to let one of them leave if a buck of my choosing didn't show up for a shot.

I waited till I had about 10 minutes of GOOD shooting light and no bruisers had shown their presents.....so the grandmother was in trouble, I was just waiting for the right moment, but she was at a little distance and quartering too me....but the bow was in position, and so were my fingers on the string....

Some think its 'easy' taking a doe.....its much harder than you think, even over feed.  Not only do you have to get the right shot, you have to choose 'where' to aim accordingly as the does reactions are worse than the bucks....

[Guru]

Next time I looked out all 4 of the deer were actually trotting toward me.  

Two of them held up at about 100yds, but two kept right on coming and cautiosly walked in...I picked my bow off the screw-in hook...

David had put out some corn to the right of the feeder in just the right spot. These does started eating, and for a while where too far to the right and were blocked from my view.

My scent had to be just missing them and I knew the longer I waited, the better the chance of something going bad got.

But I couldn't help but wait to see if anything was trailing behind. I was still thinking about the possibility of a buck showing.

Time was getting short, and light was getting low...decision time...

[Bel007]