RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Rack a Maniacs works for me too guys. Let's get an avatar worked up......

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Rack a maniacs is cool with me.

I shoot a Bowtech Tomkat with Gold tip arrows. Im not sure about broadheads. I've been using Wasp Jack hammers, but Rage is looking good.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

I'm going to make it official on the name with a thread change, so I hope everyone's cool. Matt, fire up on a logo and let's get the other teams talking a bit.

Still missing one. What is the time limit for check ins? I suspect it's sometime in Sept, so hopefully we'll have everyone by then. Season kicks off here on Sept 1st, so 14 more days and counting. I had 18 deer in the yard picking tonight, so it's getting to be that time of year.

Kelly

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

I am still not to happy about Kelly starting a month early, maybe there are not to many deer in his area and he needs a head start !
I am going to practice on this guy while I wait for oct. 1 here.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

I say we give Jeff, aka SumHunter a little time. He was on the winning 2005 five team and below is what he did last year for his returning champ team. If you do a search he was active with his team and kept up on his post with the team. If he is a busy guy he may not think by the original rule the teams have not been picked yet, he has not logged in since he signed up. I say we give him plenty of time. He has produced in the past and seems to have good hunting ethics if you read some of his post. Just my two cents worth.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1581826&mpage=54&key=&#17794 45

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Cool Hotburn. I hoped you didn't take it that I was eager to cut him out, I think he'll make a great team mate. Later.

kelly

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

No problem Kelly. I did not take it that way at all. I like to read up on everyone and seen he was active last year and just wanted to FYI everyone. I didn't think you where jumping the gun, just wanted to let everyone know he should be a good team mate to have.

Also, you ever make to the Hillbilly fest in Pikeville? I have a brother in South Williamson and a aunt and grandpa in Delbarton WV. My mother is from the Mingo county WV area. I think I still have some shirts from that fest, been to it a couple of times.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Just checked on my cams, thought I'd share a couple. Looks as though a doe will not be a problem. One decent buck, but I'm still hoping for a specific one to show himself.

Hot, I've never been to the Hillbilly days festival, although I've been through Pikeville several times.




I'd probably take a poke at this guy on opening morning as well:

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Nice pics Kelly! I see you have a feeder to! What do you put in yours? Looks like corn on the ground. I have tried several different types of pellet types and the deer never like it, always leave it lay for the corn. The only pellet I have ever found to work good is sold at the local livestock supply called Sweet Feed. Its for cattle and it contains molasses. The deer will eat it, but in the summer you can only put in a little, too much and it plugs up, and it if gets to hot it starts to ferment. But it works great in thewinter. I am getting ready to turn off or downmy feeder until after the rut. Not because of baiting issues, but because around here it is mostly farm ground with corn and beans. The corn isfilling out its ears right now and why would they eat dry when they can have soft fresh milky corn right at head hight! LOL!! After thecrops are off and the ground is picked over they start to hit it a little, but they really don't pick up on it until late January. Just curious on what you have used and had luck with. Also, how long has it been up?

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Great pics. That's a good looking buck. In about 2 years he should be a real monster!!! I agree, give Sum more time. The teams weren't even to be pickeed til Sept 1 or about. There's plent of time to get an alternate if needed. I think we'll hear from him by the 2nd week of Sept if not earlier.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Sorry guys, the above post from Dabowhunter was really me.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

I run corn only. It's cheaper and deer love it. I usually will run the feeder from August until January. Probably about 800 lbs per month. Our buck to doe ratio is way out of hand and the feeder help concentrate the does so we can thin them out a bit. My property is primarily a bedding area, so I have to create a food source and since I don't have the ability to plant, the feeder has worked.

I've had reasonble luck, all my good bucks were taken off the beaten path. It doesn't take the deer long to get into a pattern, I've only had the feeder out since August 1st.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Wow, kelly, 800 lbs per month!? That must cost you an arm and a leg! How much property do you hunt?

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Alright guys, I came up with a tentative avatar. Let me know what you like/dislike, you know the routine;)

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Looks good to me. I am simple to please. If you want to tweak it some more then thats cool and I will just change it too. So far so good.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Looks good to me.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Big thanks to Matt....looks good.

I only have 100 acres, GT, mostly woods which borders a couple of horse farms that do not allow hunting, so I'm blessed with some good numbers and quality.I hope to get a pic of the deer I was after last year, you'll flip. He had an 8" drop tine last year, so there's no telling what he is now.

Talk to you all later. Kel

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Kelly, I am glad you said that about yours being a bedding area. I have always seen beds as matted down circles in some tall soft grass as a deer bed. Deer sleep in alot of different areas over there home range as they move about, and I think that is the only beds I have ever seen, the ones that get used off and on. A spot I started hunting last year is what I consider a "primary" bedding area. I found this out by accident last year. This area was loaded with tracks and everything, sign every where, but I was not seeing much action. After the snow fell and toward the end of season I found a path in the snow heading into some thick stuff. The trail went into a area about twenty yards long and ten yards wide with about a dozen beds in it. By bed I mean a circle about four feet around worn down to the bare dirt. All kinda congregated together. I watched this spot after season and it was still used and is where the does have had there fawns. I consider this a primary area since it is used the majority of the time, thick stuff. Impossible for me to get in it with out sounding like a dozer coming in. Can you hunt the edges of these or do you need to stay away from them? Just curious on your thoughts of bedding areas.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Here at home, i don't have much choice but to hunt the primary bedding area. Early in the year, I'll hunt the edges where the trails come into the area from other food sources. I always leave a "sanctuary" area where I never go, season or off season, it gives the deer a guaranteed escape and makes them feel safe. As the season progresses, I'll push back in a bit, but never too close to the sanctuary. My home is located dead center of the farm and with two small kids, the deer get use to having us out and about during the summer months, so it's probably atypical of most other bedding areas. The deer have grown accustom to our presence. I've had 150" deer grazing 200 yards from our pool in the back, kids playing and all. It's a unique place to have the quality of deer we have, but like I said, there's about 1000 acres around us with no or very limited hunting. I count myself very lucky, although the deer do get overpopulated and suffer. I do my part and I have a few close friends that will come out and help thin down the does.

Anyhow, it's in your best interest to hunt off a primary bedding area, especially if you can hit the edges, but studying the areaand knowing how the deer will move will allow you the ability to tuck in there once and a while. I highly recommend late Oct until the third week of Nov. Bucks will cruise the area checking does fairly regularly.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Kelly, let me know if you need an extra hand hunting your property.;)jk.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Hey guys and gals, So it has been raining like crazy here so i have not been able to check the cam. Will probably head out tomm rain or shine to check the card and batteries.

So its my b-day on sunday, 22, and I still live at home to save money while going to school at UWMilwuakee. Anyways, i finally talked my mother into giving me permission to keep a pistol in her house. She does not mind the shotgun, rifle or revolver i have, but pistols scare her. Anyways i took her to a local indoor range, shot one, same model i wanted and she loved it. And she said the only rule if i get one is that she gets to shoot it if we go to the range!!
So this morning with gift cards and cash in hand went to cabelas and bought me a brand new Springfield XD .40 S&W in the 4 in black. Cant wait till wed. to go to my gun club and shoot it!!!

My girlfriend also got me an early b-day present and found my arrow and took one in to get me a new set of 6 arrows and bought a 3 pack of luminocks and a new package of the rage 2 blade broadheads!!!! She set me up with the whole arrow rig!!! She's sure is a keeper!

Ladybowhntr, you know where Daniel Boone Conservation League is? On 167 near holy hill?

Let yall know how they shoot!
Pines

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

No Spine, I hadn't even heard of it til now. Do you shoot there? You got a great girlfriend there, too!!! By the way, Happy Birthday!!!

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Ya i shoot at the club on Wed or thurs. nights we have trap and skeet, 50, 100,200 yard ranges, running deer, fishing/dog training pond, archery hay bales, 28 target 3D course, patterning ranges, hiking trails and over 320 acres!

Its great you can also apply to hunt the grounds for spring turkey and fall bow deer if you have your volenteer hours in.

Well put the camera out today after finding out that the entire woods i hunt is flooded. I hunt right a long a creek and its has overflowed its banks and i have never seen it over a foot deep! There is at least 3 inches of water in all areas and some areas as deep as 6-7 in. The creek is almost a river and has current!

Well we will see what the camera hasto hold, going to get my gun tomm and shoot the gun and bow.

Good luck yall
Pines

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

Any one hear from Sumhunter? I pm'd him but haven't heard anything. I'm sure it's just he thought the teams would be drawn 1st of Sept.

RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
 

I haven't heard from him either. I'm sure based on what you all said, he'll check in in time.

I've been out practicing. Season opens a week from this Sat. I am really pumped although I'm sure it'll be hot. Probably just concentrate the mornings until it cools off.

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Sorry folks...It's been crazy around here. We've been packing all of stuff and are moving about two hours north. The big move is set for this Friday/Saturday.

Again, I apologize for not checking in sooner. I am HERE and Definitely IN!!!

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

All accounted for!!! Yea!!!!:D:D Good luck opening week to you Kelly. Mine starts Sept. 15.1st week of Oct I go to Athens Oh, and at some point after to ILL. In between I'll hunt our land in Buffalo Co. Should be a fun and intersting season. It needs to quit raining here so I can finish up our plot work.

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Awesome and welcome Sum. I leased a farm in Athens in 03 lady, of course I didn't have any luck. It was a little too far a drive and I just didn't have time to work it properly. They have some good deer numbers there and some big ones as well. Best of luck.

Kelly

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Testing my avatar...

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Glad to see ya made it Jeff. I was hoping you check in after seeing some of your deer. I figured with your past luck and activity in the previous contest you where either busy or maybe was wanting another team, good to see ya made it. How close are you going o be to cabelas now?

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Hey guys, just wanted to check in as well with a quick update. I hunt 2x spots primarily, my best buddy's place near Oneonta NY, and my own place in Bradford County, PA. We both have great spots with some quality mature bucks. Both of us have multiple 3.5 year old or better bucks on our properties, and have had encounters with them every year for the last several years so it's only a matter of time before it all comes together and one of us puts one down.

I spent quite a bit of time weekend before last at my camp in PA finishing up the foodplots. We are awfully proud of this place,we have worked our tails off trying to makethis place a better core area for deer and it is working.The property is 130 acres in total, and I have almost 3 acres of seperate foodplots.For the last two years we have put in a LOT ofwork mowing, spraying with glyphosate, discing, spreading lime, spreading fertilizer, raking, seeding, and praying for rain.As of now seed was spread on 8/11 for a fall planting on all 3 plots, and we have Biologic Full Draw (mostly turnips), Biologic Maximum (mostly rape/brassica mix), and Tecomate Monster Mix (chicory/clover blend) in different strips in each plot.

Below are a fewpics and video clipsof the plots as they sit now just after seeding, as well as a few pics of plot #1 last year in it's prime. Plots 2 and 3 are new this year, so we are excited to see how they produce. I expect this stuff to start getting hammered about 2nd week of October like last year and produce forage until middle of March.

This year - Plot #1 - Just after seeding on 8/11





Last year - Plot #1 - Weekend of 10/7





Last year - Plot #1 - taken on 12/10




This year - Plot #2 - Just after seeding on 8/11





Video of Plot #2 from this year just after seeding:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/ringostar40/Cabin%20and%20Property%20Pics/?action=view&current=MOV03349.flv

Plot #3 - Pic taken from a distance after mowing and spraying and before discing



Plot #3 just after seeding on 8/11 taken from where my ground blind sits on this plot

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/ringostar40/Cabin%20and%20Property%20Pics/?action=view&current=MOV03338.flv

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Well with all the flooding and what not in the river we got a pic of a nice buck on the cam in our local spot.

He should be a good one!

Pines

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

How do you think the deer liked the turnips? I have been hearing alot about them lately and was just curious if you had good results with them.

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

I didn't have very good results from turnips as I would've liked last year. I guess it depends on the deer and what they're used to or what momma taught the youngin's to look for. I did however have alot of success with our clover, oats/wheat, chickory and brassicas.

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Great looking work Matt. I wish I could plant some plots, but too many cattles on the open areas.

Well this time next saturday, I'll be on my way out for my first afternoon hunt, unless I tag a buck on the morning hunt. Everythings ready, finished up washing the hunting duds today and there are out drying. I'm going to check my cams one more time before the opener and with luck, we'll have "the one" on cam. Later all.

kelly

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Happy Birthday Mike (Spine). Hope it is a very nice day for you and you do as you want today.
Ok team, let's all sing Happy Birthday now!!!

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Thanks ladybowhtr! I had a great day....went to the brad paisly concert last night and then today went shopping at all the sporting good stores and got some goodies. Then we headed to the woods and my girl friend helped me trim some shooting lanes and put in some tree screws. She even went as far as to try and pick out some possible stand locations in trees. Which is so cute cause she has no idea about what would be a good spot or not. She does not hunt but she likes to hike and camp and fish so all the better.

Over all a great day. pulled the camera as well, needs new batteries so we will see.

Other news is that my little food plot that i tried to plant and was growing well was flooded out and is completely gone. It took my bro and i 5 hours to turn the soil by hand and its all washed out.
Oh well thats the chance you take near a river.
Pines

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Bummer about the plot. Which river? Fox or Root? However, there is still time if you want to try again after this round gets thru.

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Well, filled the feeder up for the last time before Saturday's opener. I've got this guy down and got a pic of him shedding already. I'm not sure I can pull th trigger, while he's big, I know there are bigger deer in the area, but I've sat on my Ky tag for four years waiting for a true giant and my patience are a little thin at home. Anyhow, thought you all might enjoy and I didn't want to see our team thread at the bottom of the list...lol.



I guess we will know after I see him out of velvet and under the stand. Take care and I'll post on Saturday to let you all know how it feels to be back in the stand.

Kelly

RE: 18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
 

Nice!! I say take em, we need the inches!!