RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Ryan did you get my pm? I had internet issues here at school yesterday, tried to pm you..had it up on the screen sent it and then got dis-con from our server. I dont know if it showed in your box, because I cleaned mine out right after that later in the day and forgot to check my sent items...

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

No Troy it never got here. Another cyberspace casualty.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hey guys just checking in. It was a good season for me even though I did not get a buck. I got to hunt alot the last few months of the season but just could not put a nice one down. I will be back after it next year.

I think that we should lobby to stay together since we are past champs. I really don't want to be on another team.

Quick I would really like to come up their and stay at deer camp next year. I will have to wait and see if I will be able to or not. I will be informed with in the next month if I am going to be an Indiana State Tropper or not. I have been pretty busy trying to get ready for the acadamey.

Now that deer season is over I have been out duck and geese hunting myself. I have not killed many birds but a few. The weather has not been cold enough up north to force the birds south. It can get cold but is a very fun time. It is about the only time that I get to hunt with other people. I enjoy the friendship that goes along with the hunting.

Good luck to everyone that is out hunting and be safe.

William

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Season ended without a buck and with an injury.. took a doe about 10 days ago and on the draw I felt something go on my back behind/between my shoulder blades.. Has happened now and again so I didn't think much of it until the next day in which I felt a snag back there everytime I would extend in a certain way. Went to a chiro who is a family friend and her comments were "What the F... did you do?" I guess all those time to times that it was acting up should have been payed attention to... Oh well, nothing major, muscles just in spasm and pulling this and that in every direciton but the right one.. Basically some Advil and will and I can gut through it and I even went out one more time on Wed. but just didn't get it done guys, sorry, not sure I could have drawn well after sitting for a while anyways but wanted to give it a try. Have a nice Jan, and feb ahead of my for PT to try to get those muscles to loosen back up..

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hello guys, got my first goose today, froze my arse off in the rain then sleet, did not see a thing untill I was packed up and going back up river... one two three flocks before I could get set back up... twenty min. passed and ended up calling in 8 geese and put one into the water.... what a blast, patcients pays off again, went out by myself and got one.. Im pumped... hope the ice stays off for a little while longer so I have a few more opportunities.

Quick,
I would like to get out to your camp next year, keep me posted, I will just have to get it by the wife and I may be able to make it happen. What season is it gun, bow or both?

Rybo
I just got my rack to the pope and young guy to have it scored Thurs. I should be getting the mount back around the first of April.

Sounds like all had a good season buck or not this year. I hope we get to stay together, but if not it should make for an interesting season next year in watching many teams, not just the best one!
Team XX rules.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

AR, youve had a heck of nice fall! Two bucks and now the honker killer! Good work! I'm interested to see what the PY scores get net out of your typical. That sure is a beauty of a whitetail.

IL, sorry to hear about your hitch in your gitty up! I hope you feel better. Glad to hear you got a doe on the ground. Take care out there bud!

It's a cold snowy buggar here.. Gonna drop below 0 again tonight. Wash and I were gonna go shed hunting but we decided to wait till we get better condtions. I will probably try again behind my place tomorrow..instead.

Take care guys.
Troy

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

I finished up my 06/07 deer season yesterday. Archery season ended here on Thursday, Fri-Sun was a doe only gun season. We got just shy of 5 inches of rain during the 3 day gun season, not much fun slopping around in the mud. I got out yesterday afternoon for a few drives, didn't see a thing. Its been great getting to know you guys over the past 2 seasons, we made a game of it this year going for the repeat. Hopefully we can stick together next year, if not, I'll have to check up on the score card for the familliar names/ faces lol.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

You guys should be commended for yer performance last yearand this year.Nothing like hard work to be successful.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Thx for the props Bob.

AR - Big congrats on breaking the ice on the geese. You've been out there sloggin' it up in the weather, and you deserved it. What kind of geese are you hunting? Canadian? I'll keep you posted on the camp thing.

Troy - Send some of that cold weather our way. We've had 1/2" of snow all year. It's rained here for 3 days straight. We actually have fruit trees in bud already and it was probably in the 60's at times on Saturday- global warming... Kinda creepy.

Rybo - we'll have to get out sometime in the next 2 months and start turkey scouting

Dave- glad you didn't drown out there. I think building an Ark might be a good idea at this point.

Over New Years weekend, I did get out for a little post-season scouting walk at deer camp. Check this out - my buddy took the pic on his camera phone. That tree was fatter around than my thigh, and I'm 5'11" 170. You won't find a much bigger rub than that around here.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

I thought there were no big bucks in PA??[&:]Thats a nice rub Fran, I'm calling dibs on a 3 mile square around that bad boy LOL.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

I think my Dad and I might be going out to Nebraska this spring to do some spring hunting.. That is if I can get away for 3-5 days. That will be snow I think but I can't remember for sure.. We can generally hunt geese on our own place in the fall... We had hundreds come in every day this year and every year we are getting more and more.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

We have snow geese here by the hundreds of thousands. Almost makes me want to get my stamps and go again....almost lol.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Yeh Fran...what's this about lots of deer but rarely anything really big? There will definitely be some dibs on that area this fall!!!

Has anyone talked to the "Mods" about our team being able to stick together for another year? After us being together for two years, it just wouldn't be the same on another team that only posts 10 to 20 pages all season. Oh well, I guess it's in their hands now. Maybe we should just suggest that the top three teams each year get to stay together the following year?

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

I think we should do like nascar and have a champions provisional. We are allowed to stay together indefinitely.

Well guys since the aerial photo thing is the big kick right now, here's a pic of the place I just got access to. I have yet to set foot on it. What do you think?



About the only thing I can offer about it, is that where those finger/island is is SOOO thick looking from the road. And its a big hollow going from the houses down thru the woods.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Ryan, that place looks awesome - I like those isolated field corners. I'm a field corner kinda guy - mostly due to getting into the woodsso late every evening.

Hey, how did you get an image of that yahoo map to edit? I've been trying to figure out how to draw on those things, but I'm too cpu illiterate. PM me a how-to when u get a chance.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Canadian geese here. I have not seen a snow goose.
I have not said anything about keeping our team together.
I should have my score on my buck on Tues.

That property looks great.
Buck rub too.

Talk to you all later
Mark

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Bob, thanks for the kind words. These guys hunted their tails off this year again.

Fran, well its still cold here, its moving east isnt it??? Suppose to be near 0 lows all week again here and mid teens to 20's for highs.

IL well good luck to you on your trip to Neb if you make it out there. I'd love to whitetail hunt their someday.

Ryan, I pm'd ya. last night.

The geese must be south, I haven't seen any or noticed anysince late Dec. We do have a lot of wintering bald eagles showing up. Lots of people out taking photos and filming them.

I had a very enjoyeable day of scouting yesterday. It was cold but clear. I used my snowmobile to run a lot of countrychecking deer traveling routes too and from bedding to feed. Located heavilyusedfood sources and then hiked about 4 hours up through a deep snow packed north into a light snow covered south. The southwas literally packed withdeer sign and I bumped several. This time of the yearI dont mind bumping them. I took a lot of photos and got about 30 minutes of footage shot with the video camera.. It turned out nice. I spent the majority of my time backtracking deer, seeking out bedding areas and looking for sheds. I didnt find any sheds but its early. Located over 20 beds and two of which were definately buck beds. Size, loan tracks and rub littered. I got into a couple and couldnt believe I didnt see a shed in there. Anyway, I really enjoyed the day on the mountain. The area I hunt is about 1000 acres. It usually takes me about 3-5 years to really get a new area in this country thoroughly scouted enough that I have a solid grip on what the deer do in association with season feeding patterns and snow levels/conditions.

Well guys, have a good week I hope to get back out scouting again next weekend. I'll ask Rob about the team thing.

Good football to watch as well this weekend... Go ..Saints !

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hey Guys - sorry I have been somewhat scarce - been trying to get on frequently and read (and if you look at my post count will know that is what I typically do) just don't have much time to reply - since it seems to take me too long to do that.

Troy - I bet the mountains are even more breath taking covered with snow (seems hard to believe that they could be though) - best of luck scouting the new area. Also if you think it would help - maybe we could all start PM'ing Rob - if nothing else he may give in after the first thousand or so!!:eek:

Anthony - sorry to hear about the back - congrats on the doe! - best of luck on a speedy recovery (and hopefully pain free as possible).

Fran - that sounds like about as perfect of a deer camp as it would get - I would love to go - especially if we could get the whole gang together - will note it for discussion with the boss in a few months (maybe bring it up this summer she should be feeling better then) -that was a big ole rub!

A/R congratson the goose -I have not shot a Canada - have hammered the snows a couple of years ago which was a blast. andquite a few different ducks,but have spent countless days freezing in a blind dark till dark - withoutpulling atrigger(or seeing alegal bird within 500 yards for that matter).One gets to learn a great deal about those you are with on those days!

Take care everyone! - Mike

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

The Doe was a moment for me.. That is for sure, first archery deer, I think that is why the shoulder didn't bug me till morning,lol... Camera, for some reason, I couldn't get the darn pictures to come off of it.. Kind of a bummer.. Something wrong with the camera and deer is, uhm, processed now.

We shall see about Nebraska.. Family owns farms out near Shennedoah, Iowa so it is right across the border... If dad goes when i can go I will go.. If not, I will stay home and sulk, lol.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Ryan, ok finally here at home I can see that photo you put up of the property. Man that looks nice. I'm gonna take a gander at it in more depth here in second after, get these photos posted.

Here's a few photos from the other day.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

snow got a little deep here... on my way through up the northern slope into the southern face...

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Southern exposure only had about 2 inches of snow in it compared to the 16-18 in the north, the draw below was littered with deer tracks, feeding activity and beds...

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

I found over 20 beds Sunday, this one being the largest of any whitetail bed I found. Alone and had several rubs near it. Big tracks leaving and entering it. I looked every where for a shed when I found this bed.. it just felt "sheddy"...but after a thorough methodical search there was nothing to be found..its still early..

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I shot some video of this rub and several others surrounding the bedding area.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

A snowmobile comes in pretty handy this time of year for checking deer tracks. I can cover a lot of ground checking trails and travel routes. I stopped here to get a second look at a good set of tracks in awell useddraw crossing.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Walking out in the dark I got this photo of the western sky.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Wow, nice pics Troy. Beautiful country out there. Amazing how much difference in snow cover between the N & S slopes. When we get snow here, it usually burns off in a day or two, so we don't get that kind of differential. Looks like you're into some nice yarding areas there. I'm sure by March, you'll be into the sheds.

I wish I had some time to get out and scout for shed hotspots, but I'm up to my neck with stuff to do. Bar exam, Valentine's weekend, in a wedding coming up, 2 bachelor parties (one to plan, one to attend), anotherbirthdays, etc... I hope to shoe-horn in a weekend of shedding and weekend of turkey scouting soon. This year is jammed already, and we're only two weeks in.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Poor fellow was just taking a nap and didn't realize he would become a focus of your hunting efforts!:DGreat pictures Troy! Is it November yet?

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Great pics Troy. I like being able to say, Hey I know that spot:D

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Nice pics Troy, beautiful country up there. Sure beats looking at cornfields and cell phone towers around here lol.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Thanks guys, the country out here is nice. I find myself attracted to the kinds of country you guys hunt, I guess we all are interested in what we don't have. A corn field and big midwestern buck sounds pretty good to me, if you know what I mean Dave. :DHardwoods intrigue meperiod, It's pretty much all conifer timber here. I love it here but would like to see other parts of the county before I am done.

We recieved another 3-4 inches of snow at my place yesterday. I am going to travel over to the area where Ole grey lives this weekend and do some more scouting. I'll hit the southern slopes over there and see if I can't find out some more about him, I sure would like to find his sheds and from what I know, no one killed him, he's be a buck that everyone would have talked about if killed. I know his Northern bed that he uses in the late summer, but I have a feeling hes moved over the mountain now. I will take more pics. Did I say I am ready to find some bone. :D

Have a nice weekend guys, you and yours.

Troy

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

I agree Troy - there's definitely something to mixing it up and hunting different areas. I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to hunt three separate types of country every year, even without leaving the state.

I live right at the base of the appalachian mountains, so if you go west, you're into some rich, hilly lowland that is really patchy with lots of agricultural lands in the SW corner of PA. No huge farms, mostly 100-200 acre plots, but it's still a patchwork of hills, draws, hollows, hillsides, fields, corn, beans, hay,flats and hardwoods. Great whitetail habitat - very good carrying capacity. It's PRIME deer hunting, but finding a good place to yourself is becoming difficult. Similar to the habitat in Ohio.

To the east, it's rugged, rockymountainous hardwoods (not like the Rockies, but still a large, round old mountain range). Big mountains, almost no fields, nothing but varying plots of timber - some freshly cut off, some old standing timber, lots of tangled evergreen laurel thickets. Fair deer density.

Then, there's deer camp, which is on the PA/NY border 3 hrs north - it's more coniferous, with eastern hemlock interspersed through the range. Still lots of hardwoods, but the pines give it a different feel. Very open understory and low deer density. Three totally different types of habitat/hunting. Neat to get to experience the different ecosystems.There are even a few species up there that I've never seen back home (porcupine, fisher, black squirrel).

Finally got some snow on the ground here too, maybe 1/2". I thought Old Man Winter might have forgotten about us.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Quick you really ought to be an outdoor writer, you have a way with words.After readingyour post I feel as if I have seen your woods.Quite a diversityin comparison to what I had pictured before.Get some pics this spring when you have time to get out and shed hunt/scout/turkeyhunt. I'd love to see them.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Thanks Troy, right now I'm training to be an essay question answer writer [8D] but after that little experiment is over, who knows? Hey - new shed picture? Is that the first of 07? Whether that's a freshie or one from before, that's a hog of a buck either way.

Man, I really need to get outside - stricken with a bad case of cabin fever.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

I am headed out tomorrow morning for my first walk thru of the new place. I hope to cover as much as possible, when I called to ask if it was ok for me to check the place out, it was like they couldn't understand why I wanted to be there if there were no (deer) hunting seasons in. So we'll see how it goes. I'll post some pics of anything interesting.

Quick,
Maybe its just me but I had a rough time adjusting to the "big woods" mountain areas of state college. Granted I only hunted there 1 season, but it seemed over whelming. Give me my chopped up farmland any day.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Scouting report..... Not as excited as I was hoping to be. Very few trees to get up in with a hang on let alone a climber. The few places that had accessable trees either had hang ons in them or marks where they've been used for climbers. Orange ribbons flagged almost the whole property with trails leading to stand sites. I found one area with no hunter sign, yet decent to hunt in. Going to be a tough entrance to it though. Although I found no beds that day, I know deer will bed there.
As far as deer sign, I'd rate it about moderate. Some tracks, probably less than a half dozen rubs though, some real good trails here and there. LOTS of gray fox tracks all over. Saw one set of red fox.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Ryan - bummer on the new spot, but I'm sure you'll get a better feel for the place over the summer. You might have to resort to some hang-on stands or even a ground blind. I know that sucks when you're amped about a new spot, only to go in there and realize that it's already getting pounded by 10 other guys. Downer. Oh well, maybe they don't spend much time in there, or it's just gunners.

On the big woods, it's definitely hard hunting. Since I cut my teeth in the patchy farmland, I tend to look for smaller benches, formations, funnels, etc...and those just aren't very common in the big mountains. So I wind up covering miles just to find one spot, and usually the spots that I pick out or like are just too far away to bowhunt. Even with that said, I've spent a lot of time playing in the big woods, and made it work. You're definitely right though - harder hunting for sure. The plus-side is that most of the farmland I hunt is becoming overrun with hunting pressure, while the big mountains are a ghost-town in bow season. Lots of positives/negatives on both sides.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

From what the land owner has told me, its only supposed to be hunted by 1 guy, and sometimes his Dad.(both gun and bow)I just hate going to a place where someone has stands up everywhere. He can only hunt 1 at a time, but if I set up 20 yds from a stand and he happens to pick that one, I look like the bad guy for crowding him.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Sounds like hunting the farm ground around here Rybo. The best spots have flags, trail reflectors, or homemade tree stands that look like hickory Hiltons. Hope it works out for you.

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Howdy Guys,

Scouting report. I got a full foot of fresh snow at my place between Friday and Sat. We got pounded. I spent Sunday on the snowmobile checking tracks in all the areas up behind my place. I saw very little deer movement. I didnt bother hiking into any souths because the norths at the higher elevations were packed with snow. I would have needed snow shoes and only had 4 hours to scout.

I am actually happy about the snow. Many of the deer will pack into the souths and shed in there now. The shed hunters will stay out of the woods for the most part now due to the depth. This will keep the deer from being scattered all over. It looks like we have a few more inches coming this week.

Quick I found that shed in the photo in very close to where the Ole Grey buck beds in the summers. Not sure if its his or not, I dont think so, I believe it belongs to another buck that I saw last summer and videod in there. I call him "Robs" buck since Rob saw him with me and Rob was instantly fascinated, man I want to hunt that dude, hes got mass..rob said! Anyway hes a heavy racked 5x6 with some junk at his bases. Found that shed last spring.