RE: 12- Official Team Silent Assassins Thread
 

Thats a NICE buck MY7. I'm real happy for you!! Do you have a picture with your bow in it. That would put the team on the board. Lets hear your story. What time,how far,ect!!! CONGRAST YOU THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hatchet Jack

RE: 12- Official Team Silent Assassins Thread
 

Congrats on the buck Ryan. He looks like a beauty.

Guys,

Here is the story of my opening day...no luck but an interesting story regardless.....

Sorry for not posting more guys but things have been busy on my end for the last year or so. Two little boys and two or more jobs tends to keep things hectic.

I had a rather interesting opening morning. It went something like this.....

The alarm clock went off at 2 am. I proceeded to get out of bed, hit the shower and get the truck packed up in short order. My primary hunting spot is only ten minutes from my home at one of the local gamelands. At this point it is important to put the story into perspective....

Directly across the road from the gamelands that I hunt is a local game preserve, the Trexler/Lehigh County Game Preserve. The entire preserve covers well over 1100 acres of excellent habitat. The central range houses the Lehigh Valley Zoo (20 some acres) but the rest of the property is a mixture of rolling wooded hills and valleys with some agricultural fields mixed in.

This past year the county and the trustees of the preserve decided to open up the North Range section of the preservefor hunting...archery only for deer and turkey. Almost immediately following the public announcement some of the animal rights groups in the area began to dispute the decision and attempted to fight it in court. The case was thrown out a week or so ago however that should set the stage for my opening morning.

I rolled into the gameland parking area at 3:30 am to find five other cars parked along the road and five more cars parked in the parking area. One of the cars was my hunting companion. He had arrived at 2:50 am to already find two cars in the lot. We spoke briefly and then headed in to our stands. (A later conversation with a hunting buddy who rolled in at 4:30 am revealed 35 cars parked along the road that borders the far side of the north range).

My stand location is about 300 yards from the gameland parking area but only about 115 yards from the road that I drive in on. Directly downhill from my stand is the entrance to the North range of the game preserve. This entrance allows hunters to have access to the main parking area and thus the entire north range. However,hunters can park anywhere along the roads that provide the property boundary for the range and just walk right in (no fences). I counted 22 cars entering the North Range prior to 7 am. Most of them entered before 5 am.

Around 7 o'clock a few cars parked along the road next to the front entrance. The people that left the vehicles were not dressed in hunting garb but rather plain street clothes. Some were actually dressed in black though I paid little attention to it at the time. They began unloading flowers, wreaths and various signs from their vehicles. After setting up these "decorations" they began to stand around and chat at gate. They were far enough away so that I only caught brief bits of the conversation and I really wasn't paying much attention as I was actually there to hunt.

A little after 7:30 I heard a car pull up in front of the crowd and a brief, muffled conversation followed. The last words out of the driver's mouth were rather derogatory in nature before he pulled away. A short time later another car drove out of the preserve and stopped in front of the protestors. This car proceeded to spin its tires on top of the gravel stones before speeding down the road. No words were exchanged.

A little after 8 am another vehicle pulled up in front of the protestors and a gentleman exited the car. He was dressed in plain clothes and calmly walked around the vehicle to stand in front of the protestors. The next fifteen minutes that followed were filled with expletives that I dare not repeat here. However, it took the Game Commission to break up the exchange.

Every fifteen or twenty minutes or so afterwards a different vehicle would pull up and some angry words would follow.

At 9:30 am I decided to pack it in as I had not seen a deer all morning (nor had anyone else in my crew...we are guessing the moon played some part).

The afternoon hunt was less dramatic but much more rewarding as I took my oldest son ( 5 years old)out with me for the first time. We set up a ground blind at the edge of a previously productive field. Though we did not see anything I received a great deal of enjoyment out of having the opportunity to share a hunt with him. We left a bit early as dad forgot to pack enough snacks and a silent video game to keep him occupied....;). We did get out last night again but that is a story for another time. Pictures to follow this evening.

I look forward to having the opportunity to hunt more this season includingsome excursions into the game preserve itself as there truly is the opportunity for some record book bucks in there. Once our small game and muzzleloader seasons open up in a few weeks the game preserve should be much more productive for archery as the gamelands will receive quite a bit of multi-season pressure.

Just thought I would share my opening day with you guys.

RE: 12- Official Team 12 Thread
 

Ryan, No big deal about forgetting to get the bow in the picture- I can see where you could be just a bit exciteded.

The story I want to hear about is where you heard the expandable opening on the way to the target.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2348739&mpage=1&key=&#234873 9

Sounds very exciting.

RE: 12- Official Team 12 Thread
 

Alright Boys.

Heres The Stories.

After My morning hunt was so depressing and i was all bummed out Lowest of lows is what i like to call it. I decided to go get new broadheads, after i had the problems with my prior set. I went got my Muzzy MX3'S and shot them in for my bow in a treestand, 20 yards Dead X. Took me about 15 shots maybe. Anyhow its about 245pm now, and i was starting to get that itch.... Well i got my climber ready and suited up sprayed down with my scent stuff and went for a walk to my honey hole behind my house, wich is by my attempt at a food plot. Anyhow, its about 3:30 now and im sneaking up through the woods, Im not sure what it was but i saw something it may have been a fox, anyhow i get to my old tree and decide i diddnt want to hunt out of it since the deer i saw were closer to this white oak.... i stood there thinking for about 3 or 4 mins i walked about 10 yards toward the white oak and discovered something..... the only tree that i could use was the white oak that was dropping.... I was still in my lowest of lows mode, so i was like well im out here im gonna hunt goddanget! So i climb the white oak that was dropping... and If it could go wrong it went wrong, i forgot that green strap that comes with your summit to keep your seat in its place on the ground at the base of the tree then after that happened my little pocket Yatzee game almost fell out of my lap and in grabbing it before it fell i dropped my Caribiner for my draw rope. So the stuff is starting to pile up at the bottom of the tree.... i dont really know how high i was in the tree but i'll gaurentee that i was pretty darn high! like at LEAST! 26 foot or more. so im sitting there enjoying the weather and listening to the people in the trailer court down the street work on a garage.. when i look up and hear this harley pulling into this old garage this is about 300 yards away from where i was sitting, Dude i'll tell you guys what this guy got out of the looney bin and bought a Harley i'll gaurentee you that, He sat there for about 5 mins and reved that puppy up till it hit rev limiter and his wife did the same.. so im sitting there like yeah... im ready to go home now just sleep this one off tomarrow will be better....they leave and FINALLY its quiet. i turn around to look at my "foodplot" and i see a deer head moving around... mind you i can only see about the fisrt 15 yards into my foodplot before it turns, so i cant really see much i see this doe walking around im like woah!! i cant believe im seeing deer... then im like wow!! theres two... then three... they diddnt leave the foodplot they were sorta just being playful with one another. I broke out my cell phone and started making movies of them, im fully turned around in my openshot making a movie of this deer, theres a quad trail between myself and the "foodplot" its like 2 yards from the hidden enterance to the foodplot. Im sitting there enjoying watching them, and i hear this race quad comming up the trail im saying words you shouldnt say on a sunday im telling you im flipping out. I was like this cant be happening. SO the quad pulls to about 80 yards stops along the edge of the thicket (also the bedding area) revs that puppy up and she has 2 bags on the back of her quad with her.. i diddnt really pay much attention to the bags... she started acting weird and looking around a lot... she sat there for prolly 2 mins or so just looking around, she takes one of the bags throws it off and pulls away pretty fast i turned my cell phone on her, i have her on video about 30 yards from my stand anyhow she goes up the trail and gets about 20 yards from my stand im still recording. she stops.... STalls the quad. I whistle at her.... shes looking around like durrrr what was that i was like no i want to see what she does, after about 2 mins of looking around for me and not finding me she starts the quad, drives off onto the posted property wich NOONE I MEAN NOONE is allowed onto with a quad unless you know the owner and he dosent let ANY racequads onto the property. she goes over i can hear her ripping around getting on it a little here and there she eventually makes her way back past me with no bag on the back i got 3 or 4 more movies of her, driving without the bag and then shes gone.

So now its quiet again im STARING into my foodplot with so much hope i was like come on dont be scared!! come out PLEASE!!! so about 5 or 10 mins go by im looking around YES!! theres a Deer!!! YES!! my hope is restored... well
THE WOODS CAME ALIVE...... it was like they knew she was gone for good... it starts out i only see the one doe, standing in that little piece i can see of my 5 yard wide 15 yard view of my food plot... she slowly edges to the quad trail very cautiously.... then behind her i see another deer following.... her 2 fawns follow her... then another big doe, another two fawns, another big doe another faw another doe another doe another doe another 2 fawns another doe another fawn doe doe doe fawn doe. i was like Wow. they all headed in a line down the quad trail to the other set of oaks, i was so happy to have seen deer i could have shot they were about 35 yards away all broadside then turning into quartering away shots. SO. i was like yeah that was cool, the last doe is just exiting the food plot, i see another deer sorta trotting to catch up... i hear my FIRST EVER grunt. It was the buck!!! first thing i did was look at his G2. It was the right buck too atleast i thought it was. I was like ok come to daddy!! he followed the doe till she got onto the quad path, she went right and he went left..... for whatever reason. he started to walk broadside i broke out my cell phone and started to record him for fun. I could have shot him at anytime that i saw him idk why i diddnt, he walked up the trail about 15 yards went back into the very front of the thicket and did a basic circle, but when he got to the foodplot he stopped looked over at the white acorn patch i was in and started walking my way... i was holding my bow and i was like ohh crap!! my bowhanger is in the way.... i swear to it this deer is 20 yards away I REACH UP AND MOVE THE BOWHANGER..... he never even knew i was there... hes about 15 yards now. I start to draw.... he slowed down a lot now reember the part wher i said i was shooting my muzzys in..... well.... that plus some practice shooting to make sure it was the equipment not me had me tired.... i started to pull on my bow, i get it about 3/4 of the way there. and i couldnt get it to roll over... hes about 11 yards now... finally i give it all i have and with a lot of movement i get it to roll over..... i was like ok!! hes about 8 yards... i estimated where i should aim and i dont know why but i took a quartering to shot at 8 yards... i hit him pretty far back, i got a vital enterance wound and a gutty exit wound wich made for JUNK! tracking. the arrow flies and hits its mark, i watch his back legs kick up really high, he started to run off his tail went up down up down up down, wich at the same time my heart was going up down up down up down right along with him. i listen as closely as my deaf self would let me i hear him running through the scrub brush... then all the sudden it stops. i was like YES!! i get on my phone call my dad i was like HEY I GOT THE BIG BUCK!!!! hes like Alright man!! good for you. At that instant i looked up i was like hollie ****........ my heart hit the floor. right there walking out of my food plot was the big boy, looking around wondering why that little buck just ran past him like he did he is double the buck i shot im standing there on the phone with my dad about to cry im like i got the little buck by mistake!!! he was like hey calm down keep it together i'll be up. so i got to watch the big buck do a 20 yard circle of my treestand eating with its head down, i drew on him let down drew on him let down i was heartbroken. he never knew i was there he eventuallly mozeyed on down to be with the other deer. so my dad gets there im about in tears hes like hey! im proud of you your 17 and hunting by yourself scouting by yourself and you practically tought yourself my dad and me had a genuine father- son moment right there in the woods.

Its getting pretty dark now its about 6:30.. and im starting to worry i just got down to get my arrow and i saw it coverd in crimson blood with some darker colored gook as i call it all over it.i was like well i heard him go down, theres no doubt about it so i get onto his trail looking for blood looking for blood.... nothing i start to second guess myself... so i followed it for about 80 or 100 yards and i decide to come back to the begining start over. By this time a flashlight is a must.So i get to the point i was at before. Look around I was like well this is the last i saw him he was headed this way In essace he did a big J from where i hit him so im in the thicket i cross over my food plot i could see where he crossed my foodplot thanfully. so i get into the thicket its DARK now, my dad is standing watching my stuff to keep it from getting stolen I finally found blood! YES! my hope is back!! i felt like i was floating when ifound that blood, i marked it and did a circle YES!! found more blood!! this is what i wanted!! so i have a direction wich he was headed. i stopped looking for blood because it was becoming stupid. It got so thick bac there i was crawling... well i felt something on my hands as i got further into the thicket. i look down my hand is RED. with blood. well i look down the leaves are COVERED with blood i started to look around... nothing took about 5 more crawls look again... BAM!!! a dark choclate rack and a tail!! YES!! i stood up in the thorns started screaming I GOT A BIG BUCK DOWN!!! YES!! THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!! I CANT BELIEVE IT!! i ran out to get my dad ran up to him hugged him, we got all my stuff gathered up went to the house, put everything away i called my friend Dustin to get his four wheeler and help dragging my massive buck. he said sure hed be home in 20 mins. By now my friend chris is at my house congratulating me and then Bill shows up then bobby, then shawn, then Brian, Boo, Jimmy.... i dont know how but the word spread like wildfire all in all i think there were 15 cars outside my house. So dustin gets here i was like ok guys i'll meet you at the butcher shop up the road. They all take off me and dustin go get him and i got my pictures of him on my cell phone under the light of the Quad. Then we drive to the butchershop on the quad and i pull in my feelings were indescribable my friends were all pumped for me and everyone was telling me what a good job i had done, talking about how the broadhead cut a PERFECT triangle in him.... So i get to skinning my legs out and cut the feet off (for the record i work at this butcher shop so its free for me to do it so i just started working as soon as i got there) So i start skinning out the legs, i get them both done getting ready to cut the feet off my sister shows up with our digital camera. She gets a bunch of pictures with me and my buck in the skinning room of the butcher shop.... NO BOW present. Anyhow. thats the story.

I'll post the pictures from the butcher shop when i get them emailed to me.

The Rage Story will be tomarrow im tired of typing.

Any Questions ask me!

Ryan.

RE: 12- Official Team 12 Thread
 

It offical Ryan, Your a Bowhunter for life;)Good job!!!!!

Hatchet Jack

RE: 12- Official Team 12 Thread
 

What makes you say that Hatchet?? Just curious.

Anyone else like my story i have scored 100% on the last 3 english papers i wrote.

Ryan.

RE: 12- Official Team 12 Thread
 

I forgot to mention to you guys, i found this girl.... she dosent like hunting because she says its mean to animals she dont eat beef ither, shes a cutie a vegetarian, Do you guys think i should try to take her out with me some time hunting and show her how great nature is and ect, Im trying to move on from my Godforsaken ex already she wont leave me alone keeps telling me how terrable everything was i dont usually say anything back when shes yelling at me i just take it like a man, but yestirday in school she came up to me and started her crap i stood up and bent down looked her square in the eye and said "since it was so terrable when you would say jump and i would say how high and for how long then why diddnt you just leave??" i left and she hasnt said anything to me since then. That being said I never hurt her and i never did anything to cross her in any way shes just being a 4 year old about everything what do you guys think i should do most of you are married or atleast have girlfriends, im looking for advice this isnt something i can really talk to my dad about we dont really talk... ever...

Some feedback would be nice thanks a lot.
Ryan.

RE: 12- Official Team 12 Thread
 

Go for it My7! I dont think Id take her hunting if she thinks hunting is cruel. Maybe take her on a nature walk and explain that hunting isnt just killing. I met a girl a while back, (Im already taken) who was anti-hunting. I listened to her point of view then told mine. I spoke about hunting and it came from the heart, and explained that I only shoot what I intend to eat, told her that mounting your game was a way to honor the animal by giving it a place in your everyday life and that it will not be forgotten. After about a 2 hour chat, which I thought was going on a one way street that was in her favor, she told me that she will try to be more open minded about things such as hunting. She even went as far as to proclaim that she was not Anti-hunting, but a Non-hunter. Were now somewhat friends, and keep in touch. You only have around 29,000 days to live. Dont waste one wishing you'd donethings differently. Go for the girl, my girls a non-hunter and that just means less competition.:DJust dont let her try to change you. Your going to be quite a hunter at the rate your going.

RE: 12- Official Team 12 Thread
 

Wow, i haven't read that much since college. Good story Ryan.
Go for the new girl, but don't let her change you, you'll change plenty on your own. And if she doesn't work out, an old saying of my dad's "Women are like buses, there will always be another one that you can get on." I think it came out a little different than he intended but i gets the point across.

Back to hunting, i was out again last night and i had another run in with a big guy. I think that he is bigger than the ten i saw last week. He didn't come out till 7:45, but end of legal shooting is around 7:25. I was still in stand because there were other deer around that i didn't want to push any. So i need to hunt everyday. I haven't told my wife yet. And worst of all i leave for SD on the 12th and after that i can't hunt the land till after gun season.

Hopefully something will come out a little sooner one of these next few nights.

Good luck to all.

RE: 12- Official Team 12 Thread
 

well im not sure weather to ask her out quite yet or wait for a while, you guys will have to shed a little more wisdom on me on that subject matter:D Does. (stereotype voice) haha. Anyhow, i went for a QUICK i mean QUICK walk up to my honey hole behind my house, got ate alive by mosquitos..... but other than that no big deal saw one deer but it was too dark for any shooting by the time i got to my spot that and i was reeking from hockey practice. Anyhow, shoot Straight and kill a big one!

Ryan.