RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Well guys, I am just sick, went out Thursday night, and right at dark I had 2 bucks right by my stand. I had been watching them earlier, but then they disappeared. I did get to watch them fight for a few seconds tho before the walled off, they were about 100 yards away at this time. I still could not tell how big they were, becouse they never did come close enough. Well, just before sunset, one of them came back, he was a smaller 6 point, he came so close to my stand, I could have poked him with my arrow. But I knew that I wasnt going to shoot, becouse he was smaller than my last years buck. Anyways, while I was watching him, the other one shows up, It was the koolest thing I have ever seen. First you have to realize that I have never had any luck with any calls of any kind, and #2, we just dont have many deer that go above 120- 125 around here. Anyways, I waited until he got to the bean field that I was hunting, and I grunted one time as soon as he got to the beans. I usit with my back to the beans, becouse the come frome the CRP field in front of me. So when I grunted at him, I had stood up and turned around to face the beans, but as soon as I grunted, he turned back around, and went back thru the little strip of woods I have my stand in, and as soon as he got on the path out front, he turned and headed right for me, by the time I was turned back around, he was broadside at 15 yards in my shooting lane. I stopped him with a mouth grunt, and then tried to draw my bow, but my bow hit my bow hanger, so I had to sit down. So I sat down and went to draw, and POP!!! my shoulder popped. (I have a bad shoulder, thats a whole other story, when this happens, I usually cant move my arm for a couple of minnutes) so all I could do was sit there and look at him, I could not believe that he was still standing there looking at me after all of this time.[&:]I should mention, that it was getting pretty dark by now, even tho there was still about 10 minnutes left to hunt. Anyways, after a couple of seconds, I mustered up the strength to try and draw again, I got to full draw, but I was so shook up, and had the fever so bad, that I couldnt even find my peep, and my anchor was way off, I was just screwed up, I needed to calm down some how. I let back down, and tried to calm down and check my peep and everything, and then I drew yet again, (yes, he was still standing there, but he had stepped forward a few steps by now ) But by now, it was just too dang dark to see thru my peep sight, and see my pins. I know he would have gone at least 120, if not better, Went back out today, and sat in the same stand, but didnt see a thing.:( Sorry guys, have to find a way to shake tha buck fever, you should have seen me, I was beside myself. I could have forced the shot, but there was just no way I was going to do that, we will meet at another time.:D Sorry this got so long. Hope everyone is doing ok.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hey cousin (shed) and all you other XX team members... I posted a story that was emailed to me in the big game hunting forum called "the longest minute". It's worth the read if you got the time...

-Scott

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Thanks Quick

That umbrella is the one that goes on the tree

Good story bigdaddy, now shake it off and put one on the ground.

rybo, dont let that miss bother you, it is so easy to make a mistake in archery, just grab the conifidence and shoot another.

Took out my daughter tonight and had 3 bucks comming in accross a field. One 8 point ran off and I got the other 8 and a smaller buck to come our way, busted me reaching for the range finder, stuck the nose in the air and ran off.... dang.... but we got to see some.... last distance was about 60 yards but still needed to change direction to get a shot.... I had a real hard time holding the camera, I will put it on the arm next time.

Good luck fellas

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Ryan, sorry to hear that man, it happens to all of us.

I didn't go to the playoff game today. One of our part timers quit yesterday....so I got stuck at work.[:@]$50 out the window. I went hunting this AM...nothing, again. Full moon is making it tough.....come on cooler weather.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Yeah, full moons and warm temps... Hey Button 29 for a low on wed and 32 low and a chance of snow on Wed... I think, me thinkis, that Tuesday afternoon hunt is in the works for me...


Hope it pushes all the way South.. time for fall to get going.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

don't worry about it big daddy, you'll calm down the next time he comes by. At least you didn't force a bad shot on him.


I finally saw a shooter yesterday morning. Had lots of action with the does too. So close to getting off a shot. Probably one ofthe longest times I had deer in range but no shot presented. I also saw a huge coon and a gray fox.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Don't sweat the whiff, Rybo. At least it wasn't another 130 class, or you'd be really sick.

Dave - good thing you didn't go to the game - Pujols stunk up the place.

BigDaddy - that's what it's all about. If you don't get excited, it's time to hang it up. It's feelings like the one you felt that drive us all. I'm just happy that you got to experience it. Get back out there and climb back on the horse. Hope that shoulder holds up too.

Anthony - Things will get better once the corn is off and the youth seasons end.

Sum - I have the same one - it's called the Buckwing porta roof or something. $15 and worth its weight in gold.

Saw two doe yesterday and two more carloads of hunters at the farm I hunt. Really getting disgusted. They walk all over and stink up the place. They show up at daylight, leave at dusk, so they're clearing the deer out before they get to me. It sucks. The deer respond by getting into the cover andsitting tight. The hunting has really gone south. I went this morning to scout out some public land (where we spotted Ryan) and found an isolated hollow with what appears to be little/no hunting pressure and a nice heavy rubline on an old logging road. I cleared a tree out about 35 yards from a really active scrape. I'll be in there soon.

In other news, my buddy killed an absolute hog of a buck yesterday. An absolute hog. Probably one of the nicest bucks that will be killed in the state this year. Once I get a picture of it, I'll post it. It's a mainframe 5x5 with the most massive main beams I've ever seen - palmation that runs all the way to the G4 on the right beam (probably related to a hoof injury on his rear left hoof - missing a toe). It couldn't have happened to a better guy - good kid, hunts as hard as anyone I know, his wife just left him, so he needed something like that to happen. Me, him and another guy grew up hunting and trapping together since we were knee-high, and I'd say for sure that this cat is one of the best whitetail hunters in the county, but the monster bucks have always alluded him. Until yesterday. So, that made my day. It might not score so high, because I bet it's under 15" inside, but what a rack. 11 scorable points, with about 8 stickers that are just under 1".

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Fran,
Was it one of the ones you guys were seeing spotting?

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Well guys...My wife was gone all weekend to Chicago and my sister offered to keep my kids! Perfect, plenty of time to hunt and it being a long weekend (Monday - Columbus Day), I wanted to take a doe also!!

Friday night was alright. I sat in a fence line connecting a picked corn field and an alfalfa field. I had two basket six points, a 90 inch 8 point, and a buttonbuck walk right by my stand. The 8 wasn't too bad but he is definitely a young deer. I listened to the two six points spar for probably 10 mins. Saturday morning the wind was blowing out of the east...only have one stand that I can hunt with that wind direction. Saw a small four point and another buttonbuck...No shots at does. Saturday night, saw a couple of does but the one that I tried to get a shot on just wouldn't cooperate; she quartered towards me way too much>>>NO SHOT. Then this morning, sat until 1030 and saw absolutely nothing. Looks like I'll give it whirl next weekend.

Good luck to you all.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Sum - tough luck this weekend, but it sounds like you saw deer and enjoyed the free time. That's what it's all about.

I'm hunting tonight, not sure where the winds of fate will take me. I've got four options. I'll decide once I'm driving.

In other news, I almost bought a dog yesterday. The wife wanted to go out for lunch, so we did, and we hit up a burger joint that is in a plaza with a pet store. Well, they had this Saint Bernard pup. I was bored waiting for her to get done ogling the ankle-biters, so I made the fatal mistake. "Sir, can I play with that guy right there?" 1 minute later, I'm in the playroom passing ball with this dog. We bonded. Kelly shows up, and now she loves him too. He had these big clumsy feet, and was kinda dopey and uncoordinated - looked like a big brown and white bear cub. So then I'm determined to own this animal, that is, until I found out the price. Holy bejeezus. $1100 (plus add'l charges)for a dog?! I got my golden with papers, shots and everything for $500, and he was champion show line. Apparently, financing is available. LOL I may go back in under cover of darkness and steal him from the evil clutches of the pet store.

As an aside, I think pet stores play on people's emotions bydisplaying the dogs in tiny, uncomfortable cages, thenhold them for ransome by charging exhorbitant prices, and making you feel like you have some moral obligation to "save" him from a life of misery inside that cramped, smelly cage. Pet stores are evil.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Quick - I agree - those places are evil! (I amlost saved a cougar kitten from their evil clutches one time many moons ago) - a cute little 12 week old kitten. Best of luck tonight wherever the wind takes you! OH - WOW - what a HOG! - that is a beauty of a deer anywhere! - Tell your bud congrats!!

Big Daddy - Sorry that you got that shook up - but it was great that you were there! Quick is right - that level of excitement is what it is all about - gotta love that! - One thing that I have been doing - the second I decide I want to shoot it I try to focus on where I want my arrow to exit - and let the pheriphial vision watch if the deer is getting nervous - relaxed etc. - but that does seem to help everything else to go on autopilot! - Best of luck in your next encounter!

Ryan - sorry to hear that bud! - but again - a clean miss is nothing to hang you head over. I have had 4 - the first two when I shot bear bow, one was just a flat miss and the other Iused the wrong pin. Look on the bright side - you have your mulligan out of the way. Sounds like you were into them good this weekend - best of luck tagging one of those shooters!

Scott - I loved the story - that bear is huge!, thanks!

IL - that is the ticket - moon getting smaller - corn leaving and temps dropping - sounds like the planets are comming into alingment!

Sum - sorry you could not connect on that doe - but again - it is great being in deer all weekend! - good luck next weekend.

We camped this weekend - put in another new stand on Sunday. Have one more left to put up now - just have to decide on where - and the portable chase stand- but all of them look great! - now get a little cooler weather like is headed our way and some sitting time!!

Take care

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hey guys how is it going? Ryan sorry to hear about the miss. That stuff happens if you hunt long enough. I know where you are coming from I have yet to miss a deer with the bow but did lose that doe last year and that made me sick. Bigdaddy hang in there it will all come together soon. You will get one sooner or later. Well on my end the deer movement is nonexsitent. I hunted this weekend and did not see a single deer on stand. I did see a nice 10 point that was probably 16'' wide saturday night in the field after I got out of my stand but nothing else. I am hoping when some of the corn comes down and the temps cool off the deer will get moving. I hope that all is going well everywhere else. Be safe and good luck.

William

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Troy - Love the journal - takes me to a better place!
Mike

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Quick.. Man, don't buy a dog from a pet store... Asking for trouble in oh so many ways... I have... 9 dogs... yes 9... What the heck is wrong with me?

3 are shelter rescues from Montana. 1 is a 15 year old Husky, he won't be with us much longer unfortunately. 1 is a 10 year old Malamute/Shepherd mix and the other is a 10 year Rott Sheperd mix.. Old gals both who probably are on their last legs too, or getting close to them... Than the three sheep/cattle dogs that are 2,3 and 7 and than the guard dogs, one a free Great Pyr that has hit some tough sledding of late and than two pups we got this summer that are Anatolian crosses.. Great pups, 7 months old and weigh 80 pounds probably.. They had the rolly polly big paw thing ging when we got them, now they run 30 miles per hour without trying, have gigantic paws and jaws that could snap a coyote in two with little if any effort. They go out to protect the herd this winter.. Moose, the male should top out at 130-140 pounds and be as tall as a Great Dane... Great disposition but he will be a bruiser.. I lvoe dogs but got too many... Need to get down to 4 or 5 I think.. Time will probably do that for us quick enough.


Still real warm today... Tomorrow too bt Wed and thursday look nice.. Light rain with the cool temps.. Sounds Ideal... I think I will be out both evenings if Ican...

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

not much going on here. Saw nothing but a coon this morn. Headed to a different farm tomorrow.

Quick,
Go with a shelter dog or a breeder. I know pet stores are all nice and fancy and stuff but I'd never get one there.

Keep at em out there guys.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Just checking in. I will be out in the AM to find a bigger buck.

Quick, tell your buddy congrats, thats a great buck.

Man that is a hog that team 7 posted. Huge

Get busy boys and lets pull a repeat!!

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Troy - that journal entry was great, and so were the pictures. It looks like you fellas had a whale of a good time! Good luck tonight with the whities Chief.

Fellas - thanks for the advice on the pup. I normally wouldn't go the pet store route either, but it was one of those things that just happened. He looked like he'd have drooled a lot. Not sure how that would've went over with the Misses. LOL Anthony - I can't believe you have nine dogs. Holy mackerel that's a lot of animals (and a lot of dog food). I guess it helps to have them around on the farm. I'd be the same way if I had the space - I like dogs.

Last night's hunt: I wasn't expecting much, because the temps were in the high seventies (close to 80), but I headed into a new place anyway. On my way in, (4:30) I walked right up onto two doe feeding on a little oak ridge. I waited for them to get down over the bank, and I slipped by. I opted to hunt a narrow field strip that connects two small woodlots, one containing a lot of oaks, mostly reds, that are dropping a lot of mast. Imagine two largefields connected by narrow grassy strip, the aerial photo looks like an hourglass. There's a nice telephone pole tree right in the middle of this 20-yard opening. Lots of activity and trails crossing the field laterally.

5:30 - 2 doe come through.
6:00 - a huge doe comes through alone. She wanders under thestand munching the leaves off of the limbs that I had just cut one hour earlier.
6:20 - a decent eight pointer steps out (maybe 13") 15 yards quartering away, he wasn't what I was looking for. He heads out into the field. I'm pretty amped, because that's theonly thesecond legal buck that I've had in bow range all season.
6:30 - rumbling in the distance - a quad. Ten minutes later,here he comes,driving the path that goes through one of the fields, clearing the eight pointer off the field, along with everything else that I couldn't see. I hear at least onedeer running through the woods.

He gets closer, and I get him in the bino's, and this is what I see: Random guy driving acandy-apple red ATVwith a climber treestand strapped to the back, just rumbling along at about 5 mph. He's wearing blue jeans, a camo shirt, and a camo bandana. Now the funny part - he had his bow on the handlebars in one of those rubber bow holders, with an arrow ON THE STRING, broadhead pointing out in front of the quad. His head is on a swivel, looking for anything to move. I got pretty mad about it, but maybe I shouldn't be such a baby about such things.

So, this clown proceeds to ride through the fields and up and down every gas line within earshot between 6:30 and 7:30.I never saw another deer. He was still going with the headlights on the next ridge when I left.

Needless to say, I was hoping to pass him on my walk out to give this guy a piece of my mind, but continued out the other way, and I wasn't about to chase him down b/cI was hungry and wanted to get home.

Looking back, I was happy to have finally seen some deer, but as usual, it's the deer that you DON'T see that leave you wondering what might've been coming. It was non-stop deer from the time I got out of the car to the time I saw the ATV guy.

My goodness - what a buck for Team 7! If I saw a deer like that, I'd fall out of my treestand.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

IT is too many but if I could afford it I would have more... The best is going on a pasture walk with all of them running around you. You might walk a mile but some of those dogs cover 3-4 miles in that time period just running around.. Let me tell you, I started feeling better about leaving the farm when we got the one great Pyr to patrol the yard.... She really wouldn't hurt a fly unless that fly was trying to hurt one of us but a 120-13 pound dog just gives people pause.. The ny real problem is when the coyotes are running and howling... The 6 sheepguard dogs jsut go nuts and you don't sleep... The barking doesn't seem to bother the oldtimers inside however.

Yep.. Nice buck for team 7... Yowzer I would have fallen out of a tree too.

Sorry about the Quad guy... Where I hunt I here truck traffic the whole time, doesn't bother the deer because it is normal but I wish it was quieter usually.. Hard to escape semis around here during harvest season however.

Good luck guys... Cold front coming this way... Sounds great to me.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Fran, he was riding with a nocked arrow?? What a cabbage head. I'm going to try and head out this evening for a hunt behind the house. I could have shot a doe Sunday morning, but I kept seeing movement behind her in the honeysuckle, thought (hoped) it was a buck, so I let her walk. Whatever it was never showed up, so she got a free pass........this time lol.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Yeah, he looked like some kind of redneck Sir Lance-A-Lot with an arrow on the string, pointing out in front of the quad (he drove by twice at 40-50 yards). I'm guessing he had one of those drop-away rests that holds the arrow in place. Before he got there, that eight pointer had drifted up near the quad trail -If it would have stood there and letQuadguy pull up and deliver a fatal shot, I might have bludgeoned him with my climber and pushed his quad down over the hill.

To give you an idea of how lazy this guy is, take this into consideration. The entire woodlot consists of basically 5 parcels, the largest being 120 acres, the smallest being 80. That's less than a full square mile. Seriously, when you're reduced to roadhunting a 1 square mile woodlot, it's time to hang up the bow and maybe take up a low-impact sport likeAnt Farmingor Competitive Sleeping. Honestly, you canhoof itfrom one road to the next in just a few minutes.

I guess he just packs his treestand on there for looks, or maybeso that if anyone asks, he's "on his way" to his evening hunting spot.

On a positive note, I remembered my boots yesterday.

Dave - good luck tonight. I'm heading out here in 40 minutes. It's clouding up and looks like rain, but I'll be out there. Not sure where the winds of fate will guide me tonight. I can't wait until it cools off - hot again here today. I hate hunting in the heat, but if it was 130 degrees, I'd still be out there, so who am I kidding?

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Best of luck tonight guys - the mercury is dropping here and has been drizzling all day - wish I were in the stand right now!! - I think it looks like it is heading your way Anthony. - will be freezing here tomorrow and thursday nights.

Quick - hope you are done with all the blundering idiots! - they sure have a way of screwing things up for you.

That was a nice buck for team 7!

Hope Troy's appointments went well today (both the Doc and the Grey buck!)

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hey guys. Took the morning off today. Next 2 days are supposed to be cool and I'm off:DI think its going to be a good couple days.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hey Buds,

Finger is doing well, Doc said 2 more weeks should be my final visit. Hunting went slow, had one small 4x4 come out in front of me along with 4 cows, 1 calf elk which fed right next to me for 5 minutes. Critters are feeding between 10 pm and 4 a.m. I have been keepting tabs on the 4 bucks at my place feeding in my yard...the Pottenger whitetail Research Facility! LOL

I most likely wont get to bowhunt until Friday...Dee and I have a bunch of work to get done outside the house...My brother Rob is coming up for the weekend to join me for some whitetail action.

I have a couple more stands to move. One directly in ole greys travel corridor... Ole Yeller...hes getting tons of pressure from the gunners..I will leave him alone..pray he makes late archery season...

Quick... good luck hunting bud! I know its a matter of time for you...and thanks bud on the Journal... We truely had a great time. The best part about it was...I got to meet and spend time with 3 great men. Jason, Mike and Ryan are all class acts.. Lifes short times like our elk hunt make for priceless memories..I really hope the guys come back to fill an elk tag..in the future..

Mike thanks..on the Journal.. It was you guys that made it so much fun! Tell J hi for me..! I miss him..get his PC working!

Ryan good luck on your days off! Best of luck!!!

Everyone else I need to run..Best of luck guys...have fun, be safe and shoot straight...

Troy

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Ryan - we've got some cool weather moving in, hopefully it's here to stay. Good luck over the next couple days. FYI , there may be a Sunday night spotting adventure in the works, but time will tell. I'll have to clear it with my supervisor first- she's been pretty decent about letting me hunt in the evenings, so I won't push my luck. I just got your email about that article - I agree 100%.

Troy - I think there's been a lot of late-night/early-morning activity overnight around here too. I guess it's the moon phase combined with the daytime heat. Either way, it hasn't made for the greatest hunting - like Rybo said - we've got lower temps on the way. I wouldn't worry about Yeller - he didn't get that big by being dumb. Big bucks like that are patient and smart. He's got a good hiding spot, and I'm sure he's not shy about staying holed up in it.

Last night's hunt: I've been saving this isolated hollow for late Oct., but I got antsy and jumped the gun last night, heading in there. The same buck is back from last year, I think, running the same rubline and he has some fresh scrapes. I found his core area last year shed hunting. When I got in at 5:00, there were some fresh deer dropping in the middle of his biggest scrape - looked like he was there in the a.m. Anyway, I perched over the trail and never saw a deer. It's awfully thick in there, and my visibility was capped at about 10 yards. It's also 200 yards from a major interstate, so it's non-stophighway noise. I'll go back in a week or so for Round 2. Judging by the size of some of his rubs and tracks, he's a beast, and he's hiding out in this hollow where nobody is bothering him. Lots of 2-3.5" diameter trees really torn up, but I know you can't rely on that. I'm just being optimistic. It's a pretty sweet deal, I just whip off the Interstate, and stick a white plastic shopping bag in the driver's side window (pretending to be broke down), then slink down over the bank. The nearest gamelands parking is at least .5 miles away, at the bottom of the mountain.

Mike - Ryan can attest to what we deal with around here. These people seem to get worse every year. It's not their fault really, just too many people trying to hunt areas where the huntable acreage dwindles more every year.

Man, it sure is nice to be bowhunting. That's all I know.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Quick, you and Ryan really are fine whitetail hunters, to play the hand you guys are delt is simply amazing. It really does force you guys to hunt creatively, let alone smart! I wish you the best on the "pavement beast". I hope you get him.

I am not in anyway putting anyone down, but to see you guys harvest the best bucks in your area given the equations you must solve...versus those huntersthat simply are opportunist that areput in the best hunting spots in the country...oranges and apples ...to me....Man I hope you guys get one of those secretive PA survival mastors...

Your right with old yeller.. I believe he makes his sanctuary on the other side of the mountain..its private and not pressured...Only a hot food source or doe will pull him from there...problem is..he has that feed over thereand plenty of does over there. Of course this is my presonal speculation, but it makes sense...I only see him when the alfalfa is right...


Gotta get back to work..

Have a good dayBrothers of the XX

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Thanks for the kind words Troy. It's not just Rybo and I, it's getting like that everywhere to a degree. As more roads go in, more developments go up, and more forests are cleared for ag fields, it not only concentrates the deer herd, but the hunters as well. I guess it's something that we're all going to have to contend with sooner or later. On that highway buck, I'd just like to see him one time, and get an idea what it is that I'm chasing, but I have a feeling that the first time I see him will be from the treestand.

Like Yeller, those old bucks have a knack for survival. I don't think they get on their feet much duringdaylight hours, and they're very content stayingput. Like you said, the pursuit of does or food will be their only undoing.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Its funny how the moon works...we caught all our sturgeon the other day from noon to 3...

Yup Fran they get real careful in their daylight movements...

The 2.5 year olds in my yard at night are showing that off...only 2.5 and being very careful ...theres lots of gunners beating the brush my way now...oh well...time to get creative...you guys inspire me..thanks...

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Fellas,

I sent all of you guys the picture of the buck that was taken out of one of my hunting areas. I'd have posted it here, but again, I didn't have permission from the guy, and didn't want to take any liberties posting it online. Really good guy, and the best buck he's ever taken. I'm really happy for him.

It looks like we finally have a good cold front moving in, but I've got no rabbits left in the hat - I've hunted every stand set at least once, and come up empty for a variety of reasons. There is significant hunting pressure on all my stand locations now. Small game/muzzleloader/youth rifle seasonstarts Saturday, and that is very bad news. I hate going this deep into the season without tagging my PA buck,but I'm holding out for something nice. I'll have two full weeks of evening hunts coming up before daylight savings time ends. Something will have to happen soon. Good moon and good weather tonight.

I'm gonna try hunting a new cornfield corner where I know there's a good buck moving through, but there's a loc-on hanging in there (that doesn't belong to me). I saw the guy in it on Saturday. I'm not sure if he's been there through the week of he's spooked anything yet. Tonight will tell the tale. Problem is that this location is in an isolated draw on an east-facing slope, halfway down a hill. The winds are always coming out of the west, and even if they're coming in from the east, the thermals at dark start pushing air down into the creek hollow, which is where the bedding area is. Tonight, we have some heavy winds, maybe enough to blow my scent over them or dilute it enough to keep them from getting nervous. ...but I'm still kicking around ideas. It may come down to a coin toss that will dictate where I hunt.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Fran,

That buck pic...DANDY! typical 6x6...very nice genes..looks to be a 3.5 year old? Again congrats to the friend.

Tonights hunt, best of luck. Tricky winds, pressure ...can be enough to make a guy want to sit at home, but you know as well as anyone you have to be out there. Just like your friend sitting in the stand that morning only to have the buck get shot by another that evening from the same stand..

How about our highway buck? Whats the plan on him?

I'll be bowhunting tomorrow evening..on my #1 (getting tore up) traditionalsocial scrape...first time I have hunted it this year..this is located 200 yards from where the ole gray buck was videoed.... feeding..I am soley hunting him for the next couple weeks in 3 different locations..stands..that encompass about 100 acres...

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Troy - that highway deer is safe for now. Even if I get out of work at 4:00, I can't be in that stand any earlier than 5:20. If I'm going that far out of my way, I'm gonna have to wait until some foliage comes off, because I can't see my hand in front of my face in there.

On the buck in the picture, he doesn't look too old - I'd agree with 3.5. Antler restrictions really do work even despitethe illegal buck kills and guys indiscriminately shooting off the button bucks. Every year, it seems like the bucks get bigger. Butwith the big bucks comes big pressure and more people posting/leasing/restricting access totheir land. We definitely have the genetics for monster whitetails, but we lack the age structure. If you kill a 3.5 year old deer around here, you're doing something right.

Man, it looks like Ryan picked a couple of good days to be in the stand. This is the coldest it's been all year.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

DAMAGE - it is tough staying focused - on well that other part of my life - but will get a reprieve here quickly!

Troy - best of luck on Ole Grey - I am sure his days are numbered now!

Fran - best of luck bud - hopefully your upcomming hunts are merely you and Deer!

J got his truck back already - has not signed off on anything - but said they did a great job on it - wants go give it a couple of weeks (cure paint and driving etc.)

OK - back to work

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Any of you guys bowhunt during rifle season? Some like in PA wouldnt dare I am sure..but like here..we can hunt with any weapon... Just curious...

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

shed, they close bow season here for shotgun season in mid November and early December. No rifle season in IL, too many houses going up and way too flat for the most part.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hey guys hope all is going well. Quick hang in thier it will all come together. Those are some nice deer killed by your buddys. Troy as for hunting with a bow in rifle season I have not done it before but am planing to this year. It gets pretty crazy around here so who knows. We are not aloud to use rifles though shotgun, muzzle loaders or pistols only. I hope I get more action this weekend with cooler temps. I hope everyone else is having a goo season so far. Good luck an be safe.

William

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hey guys, just checking in, not much going on in my neck of the woods. I have been out the last 6 evenings in a row, and have not seen 1 deer. Getting frustrated, I decided to take tonight off. I am going to move a couple of stands this weekend, and try some different spots. You would think with the weather changing like it is and getting colder, they would start moving. Hope you all are having better luck seeing deer than I am.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

IA is similar to IL - they close bow season during shotgun season - we now have a late rifle doe only season (in January) for selected counties (gotta wonder how many big bucks get whacked that way though).

BD - sorry to hear you have not seen any - that is a long dry spell. Hope the weather gets things moving for ya!

William - good luck this weekend.

Best of luck to all!

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Hey guys, it was a cold windy one today.

This morningI set up in the backside of this hill where the terrain and trails kind of merge. NOTHING. I had decent hopes for it.

This afternoon I insanely braved the wind and climbed a tree. 3 times I almost got down. 1/2 hr before dark had a doe and youngin come in. Had momma @ 30 yds broadside but she was working her way to me so Iwaited. Well she never gave me another good shot. I really got to pull the trigger on another doe soon. Those were the only deer I saw. Tomorrow morning I'll be back in the oaks hoping to drill a doe. Nice and cold. It's amazing how the deers patterns have changed since the season opened. Deer everywhere that 1st week, now they are holed up and not moving at all.

On a side note....maybe I am getting old but I am this >< close to giving up the whole thing and hunting traditional from the ground. I've got more straps, harnesses, strings, buttons, and crap getting caught twisted and tangled with ever movementI make. I never remembered it being this bad.

Good luck out there to you guys getting after them.

Fran, I used to be like you and try to get a buck ASAP, but lately I don't even start trying for them till the last week of october. I'm in a tizzy trying to drop some does early.

Troy,
I've thought about using a bow in our gun season and I still may sometime, but my biggest worry is if it runs farther than 50 yds and someone else pops it. 2 of my 3 shots with my pistol were EASY bow shots.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Well, spent a cold evening out and about... Saw a few deer but nothing really close to me.. Heard that dang fawn again complaining... Corn is coming out a bit at a time but there are still huge patches up and I keep seeing deer duck out of those patches during the day... Oh well...

I am not even hunting shotgun this season but I might be able to hunt during it if I go to my folks place... There are certain properties (state owned)and counties that stay open during shortgun season for bow hunters.... My folks happen to live in one of those areas.

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Ryan - sorry to hear that - I was hoping to see another fatty on the ground! I started in the trees - then hunted from the ground almost exclusively for several years and went back up the trees the past 3 or 4. It does seem that sometimes there is stuff hanging you up everywhere which definately sucks big time!

Good luck tomorrow! - have you seen the state police guy lately? - hopefully NOT.

I have not been out at all yet - and won't get to this weekend either - but hopefully will be out the two after that - then get some time scheduled off in November!

Anthony - did you get the wind that we had today? - sounds like Ryan did! They were just starting to run corn last weekend - much of the beans are out - and the corn will be soon to follow.

Better get back to the task at hand!

RE: (20) Official Team "XX" Thread
 

Skunked last night on an east-facing slope with winds out of the west - had some deer pass below me and head out into the fields. They were really hugging the yards of the houses, because I could hear the dogs going wild, and the brush cracking down in there. When I was leaving, I caught them out in the field edge, so I re-routed around the top, out of sight and out of mind. Too dark to see what they were, just brown outlines.

Some other guy has been hunting in there (I saw his car the other dayand found his stand last night) so I think they're circlingbelow him, using the evening thermals and winds out of the west to stay alert for danger. That's okay because I've got the drop on 'em now. Smart deer.

Ryan - I'm hunting the Greene County gamelands in the morning, if you wanna tag along, you're more than welcome. I plan on staying in the tree until around 10:00, then doing some scouting in some new areas. If you need a change of scenery, just let me know. It's kid-senior doe day, and muzzleloader (maybe small game too). So, there should be some people in there, so the deer will have to move, whether they like it or not.