RE: 5- Team Official Thread
 

Welcome back from the trip, I'm going to go over and read your post. We picked a name while you as gone, and everyone checked in. We are ready for the season.

RE: 5- Team Official Thread
 

Glad to see that you had a safe trip BG. The weather hasn't been the best for elk hunting, except for the opening weekend! Looks like a cool/cold snap coming in this weekend, with snow levels dropping down to the 8500' level, so maybe they'll get cranked up better. I hope, as I'm headed back up Thursday eve. to try again. Your one story about being without your bow strikes a funny cord with me. Two weekends ago, two of my friends and I set up along the edge of a large meadow at the crack of dawn. We did some on and off calling for over an hour, waiting/hoping to hear/see something. We'll around 7:15, my buddy whispers for me to move over to his location, to plot our next move, so I did, leavning my pack and bow sit. Well, sure enough, I get over to him and were whispering as to where to go next and I look up to see a small 5x5 standing straight across from us, about 350 yards away. SO I whisper that I see an elk. He whispers, "yeah right"!! I tell him again, "there's an elk standing straight across from us". "Yeah Riiiighttt". "No, really, I'm not kidding". Then I slowly raise my bi-nocs and declare, "It's a small bull." "Yeah, RRriiighttt". Finally, my buddy looks and sees it also. He immidiatly cow calls to it, and sure enough, it starts comin. Well, before I can type all of this, the bull is within 100 yards of us, and my bow is still sitting 40 yards away. Our other friend was ready, BUT the bull caught out scent and spun at about 80 yards.
So, goes to show, keep that bow near at all times:D

Hey TeeJay, good luck this weekend. Start the team off right, with a BIG one!!;)

RE: 5- Team Official Thread
 

Curious, do any of you guys like to call coyotes?

RE: 5- Team Official Thread
 

Yep, but not as much as I enjoy shooting `em!;)

RE: 5- Team Official Thread
 

I've done it a few times with little success. Seems like I'm always deer hunting and never have the time for coyotes when their pelts are prime.

RE: 5- Team Official Thread
 

Used to, now all I do is Bowhunt and pheasent hunt.

RE: 5- Team Official Thread
 

I went out calling with a buddy in the Spring with little results. Mostly just owls answered the calls...but there are more and more coyotes being killed and spotted around here. So I'm sure that hunting them is going to become a big thing around here shortly. Maybe something that has to be done for the turkey's and deer.

Been doing a lot more shooting lately, and scouting. I need to get all new batteries and get the trail cam out this weekend....so I may get some pic's in the next week or two.

RE: 5- Team Official Thread
 

1 day and a wake up!:D

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Hi Huggers

Can someone from your team please reply to the ( Who's your team captian ) thread in this forum and let me know who he is.

Thank you

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Well, anybody getting ready? Or for some of you lucky guys.....doing any more hunting?

I will be checking trail cams in the morning here in PA, then hanging a double stand set.

Leaving for a Wisconsin hunt on tuesday night. It will be my first time hunting in Wisconsin and I am ready to go.:)

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Rain....dang rain! Didnt go out this AM cuz of the rain. It is starting to lighten up so im heading out this afternoon. Big country pack warm man. Its only supposed to be a high of 50 all week here. Lows in the high 20s.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

TeeJay

Good luck on your hunting. We are hoping this big rain system moves east so we can get some hunting in. Course that isn't good for you!! Looks to be a wet weekend for us on the ND side. I don't mind the cold weather coming in though. Hopefully it will freeze a few billionskeeters.

Again good luck !!

Tim

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Other then the rain you will have some good hunting weather. I think by the time our season opens on Oct 14, it's going to be real cool here. We've already had some stints of weather in the upper 60's and low 70's. Even the last few days have been cool. Supposed to be nice though this weekend, in the upper 70's...but Wenesday the cold front you guys have will be here and it's dropping us into the low 60's, with 40's overnight.

But goodluck this afternoon....make us Tree Huggers proud.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Nothing yet. Katie (my girlfriend) smoked a doe last night tho.:D

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Opening day in Wisconsin was an unfruitful day for me. Got soaked in the morning and then saw two does in the evening. Even with the lack of activity it was still great to just be out hunting.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Enjoy it guys....all I get to do is fight with my trail camera and look for new stand locations. 27 Days and Counting down till I get to bow hunt.....good thing squirrel season comes in the week before.....3 weeks and I get to enjoy the outdoors....hopefully I can get a good sized red squirrel to mount and hang in the living room tomatch my full body mount pieballed button buck, and 7pt jackalope buck. Not to mention the nice 8 and 9pt racks on the wall.

I think someone asked to see the pieballed in this thread??? If so remind me and I can snap a quick pic for you guys. Goodluck this week if you guys get out and about.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Have we picked a team captain yet? Someone with some computer knowledge would probably serve us best (i.e not me).

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

LOL me either.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

I just secured permission on 150 acres of new deer hunting property... that has not been hunted in over 5 years!!! I've been working on this guy all summer and he kept saying ask me when season gets closer. He finally gave in and now I'm going to have to do some serious scouting as our season comes in in 2 weeks. I'm also going to have to visit the new sportsman's warehouse (never been to one) they just built here and get a couple new treestands. I tried hunting out of a climber lastyear and just didn't likeit, too noisy. I have a few API fixed stands and really like them.

I hope I'm not a detriment to the team as I hope to hold out for a nicebuck (read tag soup). We are only allowed 1 buck per season here in Indiana so I have to be picky. Lows in the 40's here the next couple days makes my anticipation level very high.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Well I volunteered for Team Captain in the post about team captain's. I'm also the one who had our team officially named to the "Tree Huggers" after no one seemed to object to the name. So if no one wants to take the reigns I can do it. If someone else wants to do it, that is cool with me to.

Also, tomorrow I'm making my yearly trip to Cabela's in Wheeling, WV. Should be a good trip where I wander around the store all day and spend some $$ on "must have" hunting supplies. LOL. I took a couple good pic's of my pieballed mount, I just have to resize them and I'll post them up tonight.

As for the season, this contest shouldn't really dictate what you decide to take a shot on while your hunting. If you want to shoot the first buck that comes out, that's fine...and if you want to hold out till the last day waiting for a big buck, that is fine to. This contest shouldn't really dictate or change the way you hunt. I have buddies that take the first buck they can, even if it's a spike. This contest is for fun anyway, and as long as we get a score for most everyone on the team I think we'll be fine in the end. :)

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Highcountry gets my vote:D BG, sounds like you landed yourself something that many people are looking for, good luck and let us hear what it looks like after some scouting!!

I was back up in the mountains this weekend, and, well, I finally got a shot opp., unfortunately, I help for about 35 yards, and he must have been about 42 yards or so, although I clipped his chest, I apparently did no harm to him, as five of us couldn't find much more than a drop of blood, and I didn't see any blood on him as he ran off. We really got into some screaming elk Sat. eve. and again Sunday morning. I think the cool snowy weather really got them cranked up, finally. Incredible action. One of the guys finally scored on a young cow, BUT as a group, no one has taken a bull as of yet, which is not do to lack of action. We even had a black powder hunter with us this weekend, and as our season luck has been going, he had a miss fire on a 6x6 at 50 yards. I think old, bad powder was the cause, not sure though. BUT, that's how our elk season has been! One more weekend left!!
I hope my buddy got my trail cam up this weekend on my land in KS., finally.
I agree, no reason for anyone to change the season goals because of this contest. I know I won't!! My personnal goal is 140", or bigger, plus a couple of does. ALthough, I had this same goal last year and settled for a 135" buck!;)

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Ok, here is the first picture of the pieballed from the 04' season.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

And here is one alittle more clear.

I really can't wait to get in the woods. I got my High Country Brute Force back from the shop. Finally got the extra stuff I ordered in, and installed. Gave it alittle face lift with the new Muzzy Zero effect rest, and the new s coil stabilizer. I was going to go ahead and get a 5 pin Copper John sight, but I didn't really want to go through all the work of resighting and all this close to season. So I left the 5 pin cobra setup on. Besides this is just a back up bow and I don't see spending a whole lot of time shooting this bow with a new one on the rack next to it.

As for season goals....I always like to take a mature doe first, then watch for a buck. I have taken bucks in early season(first two weeks) before...but I usually like to wait until the last week of October till the first two weeks of November to take one.....that's when the bucks are out and about the most, and that's when I have seen and taken my biggest to date. We can take two bucks, but on most of the places I hunt and have to myself I never release unless it has 4pts or more on one side. When I hit the public land in early season I usually take the first buck that comes through as long as he's not a small spike.

We'll see how the season plays out....if we all have some goodluck it should be a interesting fall/winter on these forums.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

It's been awhile since I posted a picture on here and the last time I tried I couldn't get it done. Can you guys walk me through the process? Thanks.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Well usually I have the picture saved on my computer. I then click post reply(full reply not the fast reply). Under the box you type in is CLICK HERE TO UPLOAD! You click that and find the picture where you saved it on your computer using browse. Selectthe pic and clickOK.It will take a moment or two and then it will say that it upload correctly. Then if you want the picture to show up onyour post like mine did, then check the EMBEDPICTURE IN POST.

Ifyou can't figure it you could always send the picture to my email and I'll put iton here. But if you follow the steps above it should work out fine.

[email protected] just incase you want me to post it....

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

LETS SEE IF LAST YEARS DEER WILL POST FOR ME

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

IT WORKED! THANKS HIGH COUNTRY. THE WAY I DID IT LAST TIME WAS VERY DIFFERENT (AND MUCH MORE LENGTHY).

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

I tried posting this picture again, the same way, in another forum and it said my file was too large. Any idea why it would work here and not in the big game forum? I even attempted to change the size and that didn't work. Thanks again for the help.

BTW my son was only 2 years old last deer season and he through a fit until mom let him come out and "help". It was pretty cold that day, but he never complained one bit. Hopefully he stays interested and we have many many hunts in our future.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

That is a unique deer HighCountry, neat trophy. And BG that isa heavy horned brute for sure. If all of us on the team could tag out with something like that, I think we'd stand a fair chance at the end of season at being on top!!
I usually download my pics. at photobucket, which is a photo hosting web sight, and then I can edit them/change size etc., then I post them here. It is more lengthy, but it works. Not sure why you can get your pic. to show here and not over in the other forum!
I'm headed out after work tomorrow, AGAIN, to go try one last time for an elk. There may be knee high snow by Sunday in our area. Hopefully the snow ends up being about 4-6", I can handle that much better. It's one thing to climb a mountain at 10,000', but if ya add 1' of snow, it becomes a whole new adventure!

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

I know the size for pic's on this part of the forum is 500kb. Maybe it's set lower on other forums.

And what a great buck.

Goodluck Howler...I haven't done much but hang a stand a moved a camera. I just found out my 35mm moultrie from last christmas is messed up and I'm mailing it in for repair tomorrow. LOL. I think that maybe a adventure in itself.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Good luck Howler. I was watching the weather channel last night and couldn't believe the weather change out there in the past two weeks. I was packing in in shorts two weeks ago now it's a blizzard! I wish I had the oppurtunity to go elk hunting as you do. It's hard to figure those guys out when you only chase them 7 days a year. Sometimes I feel like I'm just wondering around the mountains and don't have a clue about what I should be doing. I guess thats better than being at work.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Well not much to report from here fellas. Just about a week down and nothing. I did have a young 7 point wander past me at 15 yds, but he was just a little guy. 120 lb deer. I am done hunting till Saturday now, then it will be 4 days at them again.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Looking like rain here till Sunday[:@]

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Well, FINALLY broke my elk cherry. I left work at noon yesterday and got to the hunting area around 3'ish. Had about 2"-3" of snow on the ground and a light breeze with little snow showers on and off. I would be by myself, as the others have to work. So I headed to an area that seems to either have elk, or otherwise. There's one particular meadow that we hunt around that is about 400 yards wide and 600 yards long, and I decided to walk a circle around it to listen and look for fresh elk sign. First track I cut was a bear track. It was going the opposite direction and a couple hours old I figured, so thankfully I didn't have to watch over my back for it tobe trackin' me. I then cut a single fresh elk track. I started following it, and at first it seemed to be going some where in a hurry. After tracking it for a couple hundred yards, the tracks began to wonder and slow, so I also slowed my pace, and took my bow out of my sling. Well, the snow was wet and although good for tracking, was difficult to walk quietly through as it packed under foot and made noise. And it was this packing noise that spooked the elk from his bed about 30 yards ahead of me. He was laying along the edge of a very small brushy meadow, at the edge of some thick jack pine timber. I immediately started doing some lonely cow calling, and this brought him back some to investigate. I then knocked an arrow, as he seemed interested in having some "cow" company. As he worked closer, I could see he was small, BUT he looked to be legal, so I kept cow talkin' to him and finally he got to an opening at about 20 yards, and I drilled him. He didn't make it 60 or 70 yards. I looked at my GPS, and it was 1645 hours. By the time I field dressed him, got to where I had phone service to call my friend to come help, and for him to arrive, and to get the elk packed to the truck, it was about 2230 hours. So, now I've got elk to cut up tomorrow, luckfully, it's nice and cool and the meat will age just a little before I cut it up and freeze it. My friends wife shot a descent 6x6 last Monday, one other friend got his cow last weekend that I called in for him, so now there's only one of the four of us left to tag out this season, but he's got good snow now and the bulls that are around cowsare screaming, so if he puts some time in, he should get a shot yet too.

Our area has a 4 point restriction, or brow tines 5"+, so mine is legal by way of long brow tines!!:)

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Kick ass Howler!!!! I have always wanted to hunt the great Wapiti. We dont have Elk around here anymore. They have been gone since the 1800's.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Great job. It looked like a blast hunting in the snow like that. Every year I put in a lot of stand time in December(after rifle season) so that I can bow hunt in the snow. It makes for the best blood trails. ;)

Now all you have to worry about is scoring on a big whitetail for the team, and you'll have had a great year.[8D]

But again, congrat's on the elk. Looks like the time you put in was well worth it.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

One nice thing about getting this elk/meat, is now I'll be able to concentrate on a big whitetail buck, and won't be looking at shooting any does this fall, well maybe one for good measure!!:)I might get to go back to KS. Halloween weekend, and then I've got Nov. 9th through the 19th off to hunt for a KS. buck.
If I can get a good buck, it will top off a great year that I started with a triple bearded turkey, then my doe antelope, now this elk, then just possibly a good whitetail buck. That would be the iceing on the cake for sure!!

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Right on howler go get them man. If the weather over would ever cooperate I would get out more. Looking forward to Halloween.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

3 weeks and I'll finally be on stand.....2 weeks and I can get out in the great outdoors for some squirrel hunting....still counting down the days....[&:]

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Congratulations Howler on the elk. Not much action here in Wisconsin yet. Saw a 1 1/2 old buck this morning but that was it. Hopefully better luck tomorrow.