RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

The rain finialy quit. Katie and I will be heading back out today after church.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Fantastic job Howler! Beautiful scenery also. I've got the elk bug bad. I think I'm going to start alternating each year archery/muzzleloader out there in CO. I'll figure them out one of these years.

I scoutedmy new deer huntingarea last week and it looks pretty good. A lot of tracks, but very few rubs and no scrapes. Still a little early, but that should be changing in the next few weeks. My season starts next Sunday!

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Howler, Congrats. We have an elk herd here in North Central Pa that they have a drawing for tags each year. Thinking of applying one of these years.

Pa's season starts this Saturday. Won't get out this weekend due to my Daughter's soccer schedule but that's ok. I'm concentrating on a few big bucks this archery season and the area I hunt, I usually don't start seeing them until late October, so I probably won't spend much time if any all the first 2 weeks of the season.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

No luck last night. just got off work, a quick shower and im out of here. ill report back, but i think it is about time for a Doe.

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Good luck guys, TeeJay, I hope ya get us started off.

BG, if ya ever have any CO. elk related questions, let me know and I'll do my best to help ya out.

Pops, elk is good eatin', and there's a lot of meat on one, even a small one like mine. It's nice to have friends after ya shoot one too, it does take some work to get 'em hauled out of the woods!! Just being around them when thier bugling is worth a hunt. I compare them to turkey when they are really gobblin'. The elk bugle just gets my heart pumpin':D

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And nothing again....these deer are chapping my arse

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Sometimes it takes alittle time to get the season started....I'm still waiting on the sidelines. LOL. In the next few weeks about everyone should be able to hunt and I expect we'll get on the score board early and often. Just counting down the days....

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Howler thanks for the offer. I think what I need is to hunt with someone who has a lot of experience to tell me what I should be doing in ceratin situations. I have tried to find someone who would like to do a swap hunt whitetails for elk, but have had little success (which I expected). I think my biggest problem is that I try to get into the woods before the gun hunters to hunt bulls that have not seen that much pressure and the bulls are just no vocal enough. Not that they can't be killed at that time of year, but with my limited knowledge it's much harder for me to locate them.

I scouted out the new property for deer here in IN last night and found a lot of good sign. I found numerous places to hang a stand and they all had the perfect tree for a climber nearby soI ordered a new Summitt broadhead climber. This weekend is opening weekend and the weather looks great with a high of 60!

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Ok, so maybe i've changed my mind. Saw a great buck out feeding this am from 7:40 to about 8:10. Saw him from my office window, right where I was going to put my ladder stand. I'll get some pictures off the camera later today and post them.

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It's early TeeJay, don't let'em get under your skin already!;)

BG, do ya happen to have any preference points for here in CO. My cousin and I are planning on hunting a different area next year, BUT it takes 3 or 4 PP to get drawn. I'm no expert caller either, BUT one of the guys I have been hunting with used to guide elk hunters for an outfitter years ago, and he has taught me a lot about calling. And you're right, when the elk aren't talkin', they are hard to locate and in that situation, we were setting up and calling blind, sometimes for an hour in one spot, and we had a few bulls come in silent. When the bulls are silent, patience and confidence in your calling is what helps alot.

Pops, I like your way of scouting, "from my office window"!:DI can only wish!![&:]

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Howler,

I've very fortunate to work out of my house. I live in a residential community but we back up against an old farm. My office faces out the back and into field edge of an old farm. This edge is a natural funnel for deer to move. So over the past 4 years, I've seen some amazing whitetails. If you do a search on 'Backyard Bucks' you'll find a few of my posts. Every year I put together a thread of what I've seen. This morning is the first I've gotten on video this summer.

My 3 year old son and I put out a ladder stand at lunch time today that would give me about a 7 yard shot on where this one came thru.

Keep in mind, these are screen captures off a video camera. Where he is standing is about 80 yards from my office chair. :D

I like the third one, of him hiding in the shadows. Thought it was pretty cool.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Smoke him pops!

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Nice lookin buck there Pops

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Nice pictures Pops!:D

I am back from a few days of hunting in Wisconsin. No shooting, but I did pass on several 2 year old bucks, and got to see a few good ones out of bow range. I will definately be back there before the season is over.

Heading out to Ohio for the opener on Saturday, hopefully we canput some bone on the ground.;)

Good luck guys, and keep those pictures coming Pops.:)

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Nothing again tonight. I did shoot a Ruff grouse though. Dinner in about a half hour.

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I took two grouse last year. I just happened tocatch them on the ground as I was going in and out of my area.


I've been on Cabela's site all evening trying to find some stuff to buy. LOL. I went up there last week and got some stuff, but they have a bill me now promotion where you spend $199 and if you pay it off in 90 days you don't get any interest charges. So I'm looking around trying to round up some stuff I think I want/need to get that amount. LOL. What to get, what to get....lol.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

TR, I do have 3 PP's for CO. You are very right about confidence in your calling and patience. Me=no confidence in my calling =no patience. I did wait around more than I would have this year after reading your post about them coming in silent (20 minutes max however). What area are you guys thinking about hunting next year?

Pops, great footage. The third picture really shows that bucks true size. I also have a 3 year old son who loves to get out in the woods with me. His picture is on page 10 with my last years deer. Now if I can just find out a way to get my 1 year old daughter out in the woods w/o my wife knowing!

TJ, There is some good hunting weather coming your way, keep at it. Nice job on the grouse they are some fine eating.

Troy

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Pops, I do remember seeing a couple of posts of deer that guys are seeing in thier backyards. Too cool!! I'm a little jealous!![8D]

BG, we haven't set anything in stone yet, as far as which unit. We have a couple in mind such as 76 and 67 for starters. We're going to do some summer scouting once we decide. I'm very familiar with parts of 67 as I rifle hunted that unit for 14 years. My family still hunts there. I have an old friend that has guided for an outfitter in 76 for many years, and is willing to give me some pointers about that unit too. There's a couple pther units that we're going to look into.
Right now, it's just my cousin and I that are looking into some where different for next season. If you're interested in joining us, along with a friend or two, that could be a possibility too. It'll be several months until we decide on which unit for sure, then like I said, he and I will then do some summer camping/scouting in that area so that we know it at least a little before hunting it!

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Well went out this AM and had some serous bad luck. At about 7:15 I heard a twig snap over my left shoulder. So I slowly turn all the way, to the point that I feel like a Owl. I cant see anything. Then out of the corner of my eye I catch movement to the right. So I start my slow turn to the right. Then i hear crunch crunch. I keep turning ever so slow. i get turned and nothing. I mean nothing. NO DAMN BOW! It fell out of my bow holder. Man i was beside myself. 18 ft straight down. The first crunch I heard was it hitting a small pine (which actually broke its fall). After it was all said and done all I lost was my stabalizer and a awsome morning of hunting. So after a trip to Gander Mtn. we are set for tomorow!

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I have never had the bow come off the holder. Are you using one of the short bow holders or something like the EZ Hanger that extends your bow out away from the tree?

They just opened a Gander Mountain about 40 miles from me....how's their prices on most archery gear? Fair?


Anyway, goodluck tomorrow. :)

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Thanks guys. I'll post more as I see them. Going to carry the video camea in the woods this fall too. I figure with the anter restrictions we have in PA, I have to take a look at them anyway, might as well use the camera instead of binoculars.

TeeJay, Glad to hear it wasn't anything too bad. Good luck today.

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I like Gander because it has everything, but not to the extent of Cabelas where you cant find what you want. Yes their prices are fair. My local Pro shop the guy is such a donkey I have to do all my own work anyway. The bow holder was the type that clamps onto the rail of the stand.

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

It's too bad tomorrow isn't opening day...going to be real cool(around 56 as a high, with a overnight low of 37). Saturday is the youth squirrel hunt. Then we are 7 days from regular squirrel season, and 14 from bow opener...I don't know if the time can drag by any slower? I have continued to shoot pretty regularly. I actually did some adjusting on the sight cluster and started getting alittle better groups. Nothing major just something to stay busy with. [&:]

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

TR, I did not get the email you sent. [email protected] (those are zeros)

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We lost some of the posts......guess we'll just have to get updated on everyone's progress again....about 9 days away from opener here.....

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Still nothing, took the 8 year old out tonight. Seen everything but a deer.

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It's still early TeeJay, at least you're getting out!!

BG, I tried again, maybe check your junk Email folder, as both Emails went somewhere, and didn't get returned to me! Let me know. Or, try to Email me at [email protected] and you will need an underscore line between the R and the j

RE: 5- Team "Tree Huggers" Official Thread
 

Finally got a couple pic's worth posting for you guys....I made a long topic in the bow hunting forum about the deer and the land the pic's came from. But what do you guys think about him?

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And another....

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I wish the pics. were more clear, But I say we'll get a better look at him, when he's lying on the ground with his antlers in your hands;)

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I certainly hope so...but I think it's a pretty good buck. If you look at the first pic that I lightened up, you can see his tines are very tall and appears to be a 9pt.

The camera would have been better if the deer had posed and got centered for the flash. I got some pic's of does that are crystal clear...day and night pics perfect when the deer gets squared for the camera. But anyways, I thought the pic of that buck was nothing until I had it up on my 52 inch big screen! Then I saw the outline and the antlers so I put it on here and did some work lightening the pic up, and I can clearly see the antlers and he looks like a real good 9pt to me. Just my opinion though......:)

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Looks like a very nice buck. If it is one you choose to go after then good luck getting him.

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I'm still putting up the camera in other locations...but if I was in the area and he came by I don't figure I would pass him up. Only time will tell........6 days away....but the squirrel gravy and biscuits this morning after taking my fiance out hunting was delicous. MMM...nothing beats it......also looking at the weather it's going to be really cold and frosting over night from Thursday through bow opener....that's definetly got me pumped after the weather was in the low 70's today, and is expected to be low 70's tomorrow and Tuesday before the rain comes in and brings the cold weather with it.

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Well me and Katie scored a double on a pair of does tonight! Hers was a bit small but mine went 147 lbs!

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Congratulations TeeJay!

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Teejay,

Congrats to you both. Those will be good eating.

I haven't had any luck as of yet. Out scouting last night and walked up on a Doe and a fawn and on the way back a very nice buck. He was feeding and never knew I was there. Didn't have the camera with me this time. But he was a little wider and taller than the one I posted a few weeks back. He had very white colored antlers. Getting too dark to count points, but definitely a shooter. We are supposed to get some really cool weather this weekend. I already told the boss I feel a cold coming on Friday morning and that I would need a late start to the morning.

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Congrat's Teejay! We got some cold weather in the forecast as well for opener.....looking at 5 days. [&:]

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Congrats to the both of ya TeeJay..


Cough ....cough.......pops.................go get him!!!:D

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No points, but some meat in my freezer. Congratulations to you Teejay on your doe.

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CONGRATS to TeeJay, Katie, and BG!:)