RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Yeah, we had a prety nasty wind yesterday but it was in the right direction so I thought,, what the heck.. It s just hard to stay warm in the wind when your body hasn't adjusted to cooler temps yet.. the deer will start running pretty soon and the added benifit of corn going bye bye will mean a lot more sightings... That, and the fact that the leaves are starting to turn and fall means the sight lines won't be only 10 feet in the woods..

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Struggled waking up this morning and by the time I did wake up, I was going to be late so I didn't go out. Headed out this evening to a real hit or miss place. Generally I feel the property isn't very good, or at least I can't figure it out. There's one spot that has oaks and when they drop the deer are there big time. Recent years though they haven't been dropping. We'll see this year.

I checked my logs...I've hunted twice as many hours this season as compared to last season so far. Sometimes I think having more time to hunt doesn't really mean anything better is going to happen. I'm struggling to keep a roatation to keepstands from getting burned out.

Fran this weekend is out for me hunting, gotta work, my only chance might be a saturday evening hunt before I go back in to work.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Keep after it guys, the season is still very young. I will be in my tree lounge this evening hunting a great scrape... Ryan I showed it to you.

Tomorrow morning I have a ground blind to hunt. Theres a tall tined beast using this spot. It will be my first time hunting this set up. The thermals will be right for about 2 hours...

I am determined to kill a good one off the ground this year...

My brother will be joining me with his rifle..but sitting far enough away from me to not bother my bowhunting. Its a big area. Rob will probably kill old Grey.. LOL

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Good luck this weekend fellas.

I'm on wife duty tonight and tomorrow night, but tomorrow a.m., I'll give it a shot. Ryan, if I see anything great down there, I'll let you know, and you can give it a whirl if you get burned out around home.

I'm gonna toy with some mock scrapes tomorrow, and set one at each of a few pre-selected stand sites. I just got my order of scents for '06, so we'll see what happens.

This year, I'll be using Jackie's Deer Lures Mock Scrape Powder (2 pounds for 6.00), MDR 24-7 doe estrus granular, Tink's doe in rut powder, and Kishel's curiosity scent- incidentally, Jackie's Deer Lures is for sale. For a cool $600,000.00, you could own your own little slice of whitetail paradise, complete with a 3-br home, big 14-acre fenced enclosureand 50 head of whitetail deer, including but not limited to a few giant buck, an albino, and a piebald.

Dave - Redbirds need a win BAD. Do or die for the Carp. I hate the Mets. I've hated 'em since Daryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden were in town. Hope your boys take 'em to the woodshed.
Troy - best luck to you and Rob this weekend. Hope your luck is better than mine.
Mike - that's gotta be killingyou, not beingable to get out there, but you'll get your chance in Nov,in prime time.
Anthony - Hope that corn comes offsoon - who do the Cats play this weekend?

Good luck tomorrow everyone!

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

hey guys, I'm back on the horse. Shot a doe last night from the ground at 15 yds. A smallish one, but hunting them from the ground sure is fun. Probably won't get out again till monday evening. Hope to read some bucks down for us this weekend.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

HOW ABOUT THOSE TIGERS??? Yeh, us folks in Michigan have been waiting a long time for this. Well, I hope to get out tomorrow morning but I don't know if it's going to happen. We have an open house tomorrow...maybe I can get out tonight!!!

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

congrats on the doe Rybo. I went out this morning, nothing....again. I am washing all my clothes, going to let them air dry, and heading to my honey hole this PM. i need a doe a least...the pressure is mounting lol.

HOW BOUT THOSE CARDINALS????????

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hey guys, pressed for time, but I had time for a quick check-in.

Congrats on the doe Ryan. Hopefully those bucks will start materializing soon.

I went out yesterday am, saw seven deer, three bucks, but nothing worth shooting - a unicorn spike, a six pointer and really nice five point that was out to his ears.Got to watchthem fight at about 5 yards, butthat was the first day I didn't take my camera.

Mybuddy had an opportunity on ashooter, but wasn't able to get drawn before he passed out of range.

Better days ahead.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Congrats on the doe Ryan, good shootin. It sure is a lot of fun from the ground.

GO Tigers!!!!!

Sounds like everyone is doing well in there hunting, I think we will be seeing some bone for this team soon, the bucks should be starting to get a little crazy and want to get some nookie soon.

Went on Pheasent hunt this weekend, itsa boys over night hunt, and we all had a great time. Came home with 6 birds and the company was just great. I hope to get my butt out for some hunts this week.
Good luck to all of you.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Howdy Guys,

I had a very eventful weekend... and have picked up valuable info on my big buck!My brother got a 2.5 year old 6x5...as well.....I passed up two dandy 4x4's 3.5 year oldsbut better yet I had the Grey buck cruise by me at about50 yards... ..I heard him coming at first and thought it was an elk he was making so much noise in the thicket of brush and timber...I just watched him slip by behind me about 60-70 yards...he then movedabout 60 yards above my position and stopped and rubbed a tree for about 5 minutes..then headed off towards his bedding area...I contemplated calling him...but my gut told me to hold off, move my stand...and get closer to his route...thats what I have done..my stand is moved..he used this in the morning..I need a morning to hunt him..have to work all week...Sat..will be my first time back in there..

Rob and I set two new stands...they are in SWEET SPOTS... I saw 4 other bucks this weekend, 6 cows and 1 spike bull...all the elk came into bow range..my tag isnt good until the last week of OCT though...all I could do was watch them right below me...

I am stoked...ole grey buck looked awesome.. big bodied, goodness..hes a beast...and wide racked.. lol! I still couldnt make out forsure if he hadg-4s or not..hes either a huge 4x4 (huge 4x4 to me in my areais 150 plus..)orbig 5x5 with small g-4s ...nevertheless hes alive and cruising through my funnel..I saw him 45 minutes after daylight sat morning. He had no idea i have moved in on his travel route..Theres only one problem..I believe he is using this route to get to a pond...its been DRY...but now it is raining like HECK! I sure hope he continues touse this route with all this rain...he most likely will to target doe groups in the bottoms...down there as well.. Scrapes are opening up too...all over

Sunday I got drenched...saw one small buck... 4 does...tis it...

I'll get pics of my brothers buck..up today..

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Good luck getting after him Troy. Congrats to Rob.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Troy - congrats to your bro & it sounds like you guys had some good action this weekend. Good luck on that buck, hopefully he sticks to the same travel route and you get an opportunity. A 150"eight pointer is a whale of a buck buddy.I'd really like to see you get a chance to take him.

Ryan - did you get out this morning? Tonight? Went spotting last night in Greene - not much to talk about. The spotting pressure is heavy - saw 3 other vehicles and the deer are wary of the fields on the roadway. We saw about 5 real nice shooters, all in our hunting areas, so they're there. The bucks look like they're really putting some weight on now.

Tonight I'm hunting again, but not sure where. I'm gonna check a field-edge stand that I hung but haven't hunted yet. If enough leaves are off, I might give it a shot, but I bet it's still too thick.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Planning to get out this evening. Not sure where yet. Was going to head back to where I got that doe, but the wind is wrong. I might try a spot closer to my house. I'll decide soon. Heavy rain expected tomorrow, I will be out of action thursday thru monday so I'd like to get a good hunt or 2 in these next couple days.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Robs Buck

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Thanks, guys...Yeah we had a great time...we even sat together one evening 60 yards apart, me in my bowstand..he in his rifle..I watched him shoot that buck. It was pretty cool..

Good luck guys..this evening... I'll be after em' as well...most likely close to home tonight...

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Nice deer. It's always cool watching somebody else take a deer, but usually the gunblast (even when I know it's coming)causes me to jump out of my skin,so I usually miss the show. [>:] I've never been near anyone when they shot a nice buck. That's got to be a real nice experience.

Winds out of the ESE right now in my neck of the woods, Ryan. That's rare. Should be a real nice evening, and they should be feedingwith the rain moving in. I'd like to get a shooter in range tonight and cut one loose.

Good luck tonight fellas.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Quick,

Yeah it was a little loud! But ya know my brother he's the exception, he's the only one I allow to rifle hunt in there with me.. Can't let my best friend down. Rob works so much, ungodly hours..hes been pressed for hunting time, I was real happy for him and he was happy as well. Hes killed much larger bucks..but like he said they are all a blessing to him, especially with how busy his work is these days. That buck came right down to me 70 yards, laid down and died in front of me, I watched it all. Of course my hunt for the night was over...I didnt care a bit, I love seeing my brother happy and enjoyed our time dragging it out together..

Troy

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

I'll bet your bro was pumped. When you don't have much time, just getting a buck on the ground is a huge accomplishment, and gives you an awesome feeling. So did you guys have to drag him far? I don't know what caliber of rifle he was using, but it seems like a lot of guys are going to the .300's, ultra mag'sand 7mm's, which will all get your ears ringing. I hunt with a .300 Weatherby, and I'd swear that gun takes 3 years off of my hearing every time I shoot it.

Speaking of loud, my buddy got a pistol this spring, and we went out and shot it not too long ago. Jiminy Christmas, have you guys ever seen or shot one of those S&W .500 Magnums? It makes you go deaf for three days, and knocks you a at least a step backward when it goes off. Good grief, I shot that thing a couple timesbefore I waved the white flag.

Ryan, I know you're into pistols - you've gotta see one of these things. I thought it was a joke or some kind ofpaintball gun or a toywhen he first pulled it out.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Slow, weird night tonight. Heard what I thought was a coyote howling but sounded different from the ones I've heard before. Had 4 does come in at dark and spook for seemingly no reason. I think the wind was swirling. Also got to listen to someones target practice, 14 rd magazine that got emptied faster and faster the later the night went.

Fran,
Yea I hunted my 1st time with a 357 a few years back. Just about went deaf at the 1st shot at a deer. Went right out and got a set of those electric muffs that shut off. My 44 is loud and kicks just fine for me, I don't want no parts of a 500.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hey guys it was a slow weekend for me but I did finally see a few does. Saturday I saw 3 does and sunday morning I saw 7 early then nothing. I was glad to see a few so hopefully things will start to pick up around here. They are starting to get the beans out but still alot of corn around for the deer to hide in. Troy sounds like you will have a big one down soon. Tell Rob congrats on the buck. I know all about not getting much time in the woods I have not been out as much as I would like. Ryan congrats on the doe. Glad to see all is going well around here. Good luck to all and be safe.

William

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

William, don't sweat it man. You'llfind sometime to get out there, and from the looks of things, hunters haven't exactly been setting the world on fire over the past couple weeks, so you haven't missed much. That will change soon enough, though. Be extra nice to the wife, make dinner a few nights, send her shopping, do the laundry, whatever it takes. ;) After that beast you killed last year, that'll be tough year to top, but they're out there. By the way, did you ever settle on a mount for that buck?

Rybo - you hunting tonight? j/k You'd need a canoe and chest waders just to get to the stand. It's a bit damp out there today.

According to my spreadsheet, I've spent 32.5 hours in the stand so far, and 29 deer total. Last night was the best night of the year so far, 9 deer, 3 bucks (bringing the year's total to 10). For those keeping score at home, that's .90 deer per hour.(not so good, but my average is down b/c of the slow start)

The evening started off good, as I went to this bottom edge of a cornfield and found a hotbed of rubbing/scraping/feeding activity. It's a natural funnel, bounded by a steep ledge and the field, just a narrow feeder strip that leads out past the fields and into the bedding areas behind the houses. The deer would typically use the high end of the field, but there's been a guy hunting up there, and he has them re-routed around the bottom in the evenings, where they can scent-check the downhill breezes from his stand.

I found a tree and just as I took my stand off my back, at least one deer tore out of the thicket, maybe 50 yards away. Busted. I thought my hunt was ruined, but climbed anyway. There was a bad tree selection, so I found awide openwalnut tree that I could get to about 15'.

By 5:45 I had a big doe and 4 button bucks under the stand, they were followed in by a small buck (I thought it was a spike), but I lost track of him and never got a look b/c I was really pinned down. At 6:00, another big doe showed up and headed in with the herd (maybe mom#2). Deer came and left, I lost count because I couldn't move to watch them all. There were at leastsix antlerless.

6:30 a 1x3 wanders by and starts feeding behind me. Five minutes later an eight pointer comes in and passes behind. Maybe 10-12", not what I'm looking for just yet.

Like an idiot, I'm fidgeting around, trying to glass the eight pointer when that smaller buckpicks me out from about 25 yards behind the treeand blows, clearing the whole hillside.

At dark, a lone deer came through and passed below at around 20 yards, but I couldn't see a thing. If it would've come into the field, I may have been able to get a positive i.d. or a shot. I grunted at him once to try to bring him around into the open, and he stopped abruptly and stood for what seemed like an eternity. Then it circled my position and stood around some more, then finally left. It sounded heavy and seemed to take long strides. He was looking for the other deer, but when he didn't see anything, he went on around the hill.

I feel pretty good because all of those deer crossed my footpath, and at least a half dozen of them stood within feet of my tree and never smelled me in the swirling, intermittent breezes.

Anyway, I found a much better tree, one with some cover, so I'll be back in there either Wednesday or Thursday.

I'm stuck in a Catch-22, because I don't want to overhunt this area, because these deer tend to be really perceptive of danger, and I've already spooked two, but on the other hand, if I don't get in there before Saturday, that guy will be back in there, and the thermals push his scent right down over their crossing, and I'm afraid that the big buck might vacate the area after Sat. I think it was him that passed below me at dark. Very slow, heavy deliberate steps, straight-lining it into the rubline and bringing up the rear from where the rest of the herd had gone. I guess I'll have to strike while the iron's hot.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Fran - thanks for taking us along with you - sounded exciting! - That is a tough position - not wanting to overhunt - but needing to be there before Saturday which may run him out for quite a while. HMMMM think on this we must...harvest this beast we shall! Just have to get the XX force converging on you the next couple of days!

William - I know what you mean - I still will not be able to get out for a couple of weeks - that sucks!! - but there should be some getting worked up pretty good at that time!!

Ryan - congrats on the doe! you are making me hungry! (started back on my diet again!)

Troy - Tell Rob congrats! - like I said - it is special being close when one hits the ground! Is he going to be able to make it up again this year?

IL, Big Daddy & Sum - I finally got more tubes last night - and am shipping out some prints your way today - should get them later this week.

AR - I need to get your address - PM me (I cleaned them out of tubes - but still have one left with your name on it).

Best of luck to everyone out there!

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Just be careful not to cross the streams, or we might all just wind up covered in hot, molten marshmallow paste.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Yes - we definately would not want that - it may be considered baiting!

WHY NO officer - I have no idea how the large molten mass of marshmallow paste got there - and certainly did not intend for all the largest antlered bucks in the state to gather there!...but by all means you get first choice!!

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

As we speak, some country bumpkin in the foothills of Kentuckyjust finished scouring the internet for instructions andsuccessfully rigged up a homemadeEgon Spangler Signature Seriesproton pack out of a bunch of oldEl Caminopartsand is now pointing it at a bag of Jet Puft marshmallows over top of his deer baiting site. Tomorrow's headlines will read "Local ManSeriously Injuredin Bizarre Hunting Accident."

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

hahahahahaha

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Thats funny!!!!!!

Shed, congrats to your brother, I wish I could get my two brothers a buck!

Good luck guys, it sounds like you are all seeing what you like to see.
I will be out in the AM to look for a bigger buck.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Top o' the mornin', guys.

I'm pretty wound up - hunting after work tonight - the weather is supposed to be nice, and I feel like I'm getting pretty close to pulling the trigger. I'll decide later about where I'm headed.

Did anyone hunt yesterday? It was a washout here, but cleared up in the evening. I didn't make it out, had some stuff to do at home.

So I have a couple halloween questions: When you guys pass out Halloween treats to the local kids, do you all dress up in a costume? Do any of you guys do Halloween parties or go out to clubs/bars where everyone dresses up? The Bunnysuit is returning this year for round 2. (I dropped $89 on that baby, so I'm getting at least two years out of it).

Dave - I watched the game last night. I'm trying not to put the cart ahead of the horse, but it looks like you guys will be getting the Tigers in the Series. The stadium was NUTS! Did you go?

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Fran, I had to work the game last night, so i was forced to listen instead of watch. I hope they break it off in the Pond Scum tonight, I don't want a nail biter, I want a 2 TD win tonight in NYC.:D

I don't normally dress up for Halloween, but a few years ago I found an old lime green polyester suit of my dads, with like 12"lapels, had on a lemon colored polyester shirt of his and a nasty fat brown tie. I looked like Herb Tarleck form WKRP....people kept asking me why I was so dressed up.....[>:]. That was the last time I dressed up for Halloween.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Fran- I think you should change up the bunny suit just a little - consider the following:

Either a mohawk - or a mullett - the ears would not seem quite so long.

A tattoo - (not sure exactly how to accomplish that - but may need to use some jet puffs, can of WD-40 and a lighter to create the correct texture) - I think a good XX logo tat would be killer for the suit.

Leave a blood trail - that would be the best yet - again there is the logistics of that, but I am sure that the team's collective minds could easily come up with a number of solutions.

How about the rabid fuzzy wuzzy bunny - pop alkaseltzer in your mouth all night long... I am sure there will be some others!

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

I'm doing Fuzzy Wuzzy Bunny - The Football Hero. My fantasy football team is the Fuzzy Wuzzy Bunnies, so I got this pink football jersey to wear over the rabbit suitwith random accessories. I'm gonna staple some cardboard inside the jersey to makeshoulder pads. Black stickies under the eyes and a breath-rite strip over the nose. I can't do a helmet, so I'm tying a Chuck Norris-style pink bandana around the head. I have an old pair of football spikes and some wide receiver gloves that I might wear too. It's all about how you accessorize. Ha Ha

The wife is being a referree, so that should be pretty funny since all the guys from my fantasy league will be there. I'm most excited about the naughty referree. LOL

Mike - funny you mention the blood trail. We almost did Rabbit Hunter and Rabbit. Unfortunately, I couldn't sucker her into being Naughty Woodman Hunter Girl, while I dressed as bloody, wounded rabbit.

I like the tattoo idea, but the fur on this thing is real long, and I don't want to permanently damage it, because I have too much fun tormenting the kids every Easter with it. Now the Mohawk.... that might be do-able. This bunny needs to look intimidating.

Dave - that description of your halloween outfit reminded me of the Sex Panther scene from Anchorman. "it's illegal in ten countries..." Leisure suits are awesome. So do you still wear that thing around the house or what? You can be honest, we won't make fun of you. I'm serious, we won't. LOL

By the way, no way the Cards blow out the Mets tonight. They're gonna make you sweat it out. Even with Carp on the mound, they left too many runs on the bases last night, so that's gonna carry over to tonight. There you have it -my fearless prediction.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

No, i don't wear it around the house LOL.

No way, IMO, the Mets win tonight.
1) Maine's era is over 10 vs STL this year, Pujols hitting a cool .450 against him.
2) Carp is the reigning Cy Young winner.
3) The Mets suck.
4) The Cardinals rule all.

My prediction, Cards 7-3 winners tonight, Pujols and Edmonds go yard, (so does Beltran...that little ...[:@]) We then get our keisters handed to us by the no name Tigers, and Leyland, who was a low level scout for the Cardinals until last year.[>:]

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

You guys crack me up. :D

I did venture out last night, even if it was only behind the house. Acorns dropping like mad. No deer just squirrels. Its only been since the beginning of archery season that the neighbors son stopping running his dog back there. I still don't think the deer find it safe to hang out. I'm hoping maybe that will be a late season area for does, since there should still be tons of acorns left.

I like halloween, but it falls when the hunting is too good. I love hunting halloween day, just something about it. Anyways, we(I should say loretta) take the dog into my parents since we get no tricker treaters where I live and dress her up and hand out candy thier. The kids love a dressed up dog, this year she will be a power ranger. I end up hunting almost all day, sometimes stop in to check out some costumes and head back out.

Tonight I plan to head out again for what will be my last hunt for a while. Heading to martinsville, VA this weekend to watch some beatin' and bangin' on the race track. none of my dogs are in the hunt, so I'll just root against gordon and johnson:)[8D]

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Good luck tonight Ryan, I'm heading out tonight too, just not sure where. Hope to be back in the car when the puck drops at 7:30 forMalkin's big debut. Have a blast at the race.

On the halloween hunting, back when I was in high school, I killed my buck and dragged it into the back yard just as the first trick-or-treaters were walking up the driveway. You might be a redneck if you've ever had to wash deer blood off your hands before you can pass out candybars to little kids.

I know what you mean about the walking dog thing. My oldneighbor walks his dog every night, and he has effectively ruined the evening hunting behind my parents' place.

A Power Ranger dog? That's pretty awesome. We may need to see a picture of that.

Man I love halloween, therut starting and an excuse to dress up like a complete idiot.

Dave - if the Cards win, will you be attending any of the WS games? Anyway, I hope you're right and the boys can pull it out tonight. There are a lot of guys on that team who deserve another shot at the crown after living the Red Sox debacle.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

I'm not sure if I can score WS tix or not, I've been bled dry this month by going to all these games. The WS tickets offered to us are $90 a seat, IIRC. Those are not even good seats. For $90 in STL, I could........probably end up divorced LOL.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Good luck tonight Ryan and Quick, I hope to get home in time to get out behind my house as well. I have a meeting until 4 pm.

Ryan I wish I was with you at Martinsville that sounds like blast.

Holloween hunting has always been fun, but now that I have kids, my wife usually wants me to tag along to help with the boys and trick or treating..

Quick thatredneck line..is classic..Ican just picture you as a kid dragging that buck..in LMAO...sweet..

I can't wait tillSat morning to sit in my new stand...site..

Good luck guys, be safe...

Troy

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Ryan - good luck tonight - you have to send me a pic of your dog - G absolutely loves the Power Rangers! - he would get a kick outta that!

I have always taken Halloween off and hunted, no matter what day of the week it has been - just one of those goofy things - have not shot any deer on that day - or seen any Huge bucks on that day - I might just say screw it this year!

Troy - good luck at the new site

Later

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

the last time I had a kid come to the house on halloween had to have been... 1999 when I lived in a neighborhood.. The 3 100-130 pound dogs running around outside tend to keep the faint of heart away:D;).. Almost ended my bow season today while we were working cows... Don't know what I was doing but I smacked my slightly closed hand into the squeeze chute... Hand is still sore, for a second there I thought I was going to have one of those "How the heck did he break 3 bones in his hand" story... Oh well, need to finish off the pregging tomorrow, would have finishd today but the skies opened up once again..

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Ryan and Quick I hope you had good luck tonight. Quick as for the mount I am pretty sure that I am going to do a euro mount but have not had time. I am hoping to get it done soon though. Ryan have fun at the race. I hope that the bucks start showing them selves soon. Good luck to everyone and be safe.

William

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Fran,
I would like my humble pie ala mode, with a diet coke please. Friggin mets[:@][:'(][:'(]