:rock:That is an awesome buck way to go . My season starts on Saturday, but i have to put a doe down before I can shoot a buck(EAB). After that i will be hunting this guy


This pic is from Mid July so hopefully he grew some since then.

Are we going to have an avatar and team name?

We are team "Lights Out". My wife made two avatars, look back through this thread and pick one guys.

Dave

I've been waiting to see if there is still a 12 pt hanging around this year, but so far no luck. However, this new 9 pt is 200 yds behind the house. What do you guys think? I'm not very good at estimating age and size, but I'm guessing 3 1/2 yrs and about 125". I don't think I'd be able to let him walk without knowing something bigger isn't in the neighborhood.

On another note, I looked at last year's scorecard and The Dark Horses had 850" total. That has kinda been the average winning score the last few years. Break it down and thats 85" per person. Jjones got a great start for us by almost doubling that. With several of the pics I've seen in this thread I think we have a great chance of winning this thing.

Good luck and shoot straight!

Come on tuesday. Season opens and I am itching to go. After 30+ years of bow hunting I am still like a kid and can not wait to hunt !!!!!


Dave

The way I understand it is we go by gross score(I may be wrong) and that deer should easily gross 135" or bigger.

You are correct, we do go by gross score. I was just pointing out what the average ends up being per person for the team. Last year there was 50 teams of 10 people and most of them had less than 4 deer entered. Even the returning champs took 3 zeros, they simply had the most entries. Don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting shooting a deer merely to win. Only shoot what you will be happy with. I was simply noticing the caliber of deer our team has taken in the past and already has tabs on for this season could put us over the top quite easily.

Back to my deer...here are a couple more pics, that in my opinion make him look a little smaller than the straight-on shot.

We could always mess with the defending champs a bit and change the deer in our avatar to a black horse. As in "Lights Out" for their reign as the archery champs.

season starts sat. Don't have high hopes of killing a buck down here in south florida. We do see quite a few bucks but mostly small messed up racks. Last year did see 2 nice 10 pts. This have seen 1 decent 8 pt. around. Will proably wait till November when I go to indiana to hopefully get a buck. was wondering how to get our avartarto my log in any help Thanks Jerry

I don't know if its the easiest way, but I right clicked the avatar and saved it to my computer. Then go to your profile and click "User CP", "edit Avatar", scroll to the bottom, click "use custom avatar", then upload image from computer using the browse button (you just have to know where you saved it).

I'm not seeing 130 inch deer but I'm looking. Checked on a stand yesterday and someone had cut the seat up and stolen the steps. Landowner says I'm the only guy in there so it's a mystery. The maggot must have been a BOZO though because the stand wasn't even locked to the tree. The chain was just draped over the seat...

The sad thing is I'm betting it was a brother in the woods and not a PETA member. I was gonna put up a camera and try to catch him but the deed looks old and do I really WANT to catch him..:fighting0007:

I know how you feel Planter. I had a stand stolen 2 years in a row off private land. The second one was a job because I had cable locked the stand and climbing stick seperately. Whoever it was spent some time doing it because they drank a 6 pack of beer and left the cans behind. :rant:

I hope nobody takes your camera too...

Okay got avatar changed thanks firemedic also still waiting for jj's story on that nice buck he scored for the team

Jjones,

Have you submitted the photo and scorecard measurements of your deer to Rob yet?

BTW- Did your friend from out of state do any good?

Guys, my hunting spot has been sold. I have been asking every land owner all over and can not get permission to hunt. I have decided if I can not secure hunting privledges by 1 Oct then I will drop from the contest.

Team 36 is off to a great start and I do not want to be the limiting factor with having to hunt "the highly poached public land in my area". If you all decide I should drop now so you can pick up a replacement I fully understand.

Dave

Your not going anywhere Dave!!!:nonono2: Your gonna ride it out with the rest of us. Keep looking for spots and don't be afraid of small ones. 10 acres in the right place is plenty. I live and hunt within 20 miles of Boston so I sure know what it's like to find places to hunt.

There are no prizes for winning the rewards are having fun. Just so you know Dave there were a lot of teams last season who were off to a "great" start" and still lost.:confused0024:

No quitting! Hunt where ever and whatever you can find. Like Planter said, small spots can produce. A few years ago I harvested a 10 pt in the back of my subdivision. It was about 15 acres that had been cleared to build an additional 80 homes. I got permission to hunt it and arrowed a buck that used the fenceline to move into the neighboring property. My 20 acres at home is a transition area as well as deer move from a area to another.

This contest is for fun. The best part is meeting new people, sharing stories, ideas and comaraderie. Your a member of Team Lights Out!

Start a thread on this forum and explain your situation. I have been invited by previous team/forum members to come hunt with them. Never know, someone with plenty of property in MD may tell you to come hunt.

If you haven't seen, the score card is up and jjones' buck has been posted....still waiting to hear that story.

Hey guys. I hunted all day on opening day, putting about 14 hours in on stand. Saw 3 bucks, but I'm in A EAB zone so if I don't get a doe I can take a buck after Oct. 2nd. Going out again tomorrow for an afternoon hunt. How's everyone else doing?

Alright went out sat & sun sat. saw nothing but there were 4 of us hunting. 1 guy shot at a small 7 pt. should of been 9 pt but messed up rack. he also saw 2 other bucks. a few does spotted by the othewrs but nothing by me. Went out sun for an all day hunt let me tell you it gets hot down here in south florida I only hunt about 70 miles from Miami. saw 3 deer in the morning with 1 of them being that messed up 7 pt. at about 50 yards. He was right behind a doe as he got farther away I gave out a doe bleat and he did turn around and come my way but wouldn't get close enough. I really don't know if he was after that doe or not. Our deer down here rut in July and early August. That's when we see the bucks quite a bit. So in the afternoon had to climb down 3 times because of our everyday thunderstorms. so I spent the last hour in a blind thinking thqat maybe I could at least sink an arrow in a pig no luck there either. The good thing is there is plenty of time left. Good luck to everyone. Jerry

My season opens tomorrow, but I Monday may the earliest I can get out. I've been in the woods a bunch around the house and need to give it a little time to cool off. I'm leaving for Colorado Springs on Thursday and will be back Sunday.

Went out sat morning, mesguitoes are really bad here in WI could only take hour and half on stand. I forgot my mesh face netting
and I paid dearly.The deer are not hitting the acorns at all in my area or the beans yet, must be eating foilage and hanging out by the water. Have a riverbottom stand gonna have to try that, the temps are 79 to 83 degrees and the deer are not real active right know.

seasons almost here i have been scouting and i saw a big 10 and the one time i dont have my camera he shows up but i also have a trail camera set up so i will have those up soon

Arggghhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!

OH YEAH! RIGHT ON JJONES U R THE MAN! WOW what a way to kick off the team lights out season! Freegin awesome velvet buck!

Guys sorry I have been mia for a week or so, my wifes sister passed away last week, lots going on, we are doing well and after this sats funeral we can put some closure on it all.


AGAIN J JONES saweet buck brother! way to go! LOVE IT

Sorry to hear about your loss shed, my thoughts are with your family. Welcome back.

Well guys how goes it? After losing my hunting property I ventured out to public land. When I pulled up at 0515 there were seven people signed in. So, that was a bust, did not even turn the truck off, just went home, changed and went to work.

Went out that same evening and 6 people were signed in. Max sign in is four. So those who signed in as five and six may get nasty letters of warning from the DNR.

I am still actively looking for new hunting land but as far nothing has popped up.

Dave

Dave sorry for your luck so far don't stop looking though. Do you have a pro shop or archery club in your area there maybe someone around that would love to have a hunting partner. We normally don't go hunting down here by ourself mostly has a saftey issue. On a different note we were out filling our feeders wed. nite and I finally saw my first florida panther. I can't get over how big this animal was. I have seen them on t.v. but never in the wild. Of course it was at one of the few times I go out without my camera or video camera just my luck. Have a good season. Jerry

Sorry for your loss Shed.. It seems the older we get the more of it there is.
Dave.. Talk to the warden. He may be able to hook you up with a landowner with some deer damage or maybe just point you in the right direction. The warden can be your friend!!
I've also found that if you offer to help a guy out with some wood splitting or ditch digging chores that can pay off too.

Thanks for the suggestions guys but I have already done all that. I will figure something out. Got my feelers out there and I am hopeful that something will pop up. Good luck to all of you hunting and those about to start.

5 days into the season and I have not made it into the woods yet. I am darn well determined to be successful this year, even if I have to hunt the "highly used" public land.

Dave

First evening out and I got rained out. Spent about an hour in the pouring rain before I finally gave up. I'll try again later this week.

Anybody shot any does yet? Myself only been out twice nothing yet, on a good note
its gonna cool down this week , begone mesquitoes.

Alright team mates have been hunting everyday this week. Last nite hunted in the pouring rain started just to say heck with it and out comes a couple of does right in the hardest rain I have ever sat in. Didn't get a shot though to far away. Now tonite I thought I was going to be putting us up with a few more points. Had a small 6 pt coming my way and was ready to shoot when he came into the next opening only thing was he took off and ran ahead a little bit. Had to let down but still had a chance. First chance would of been 18 yards the next chance I thought was 30 yards. So here he comes and I draw waiting for him to hit the opening already thinking about if he takes 1 more step I got to stop him. Well he takes that 1 step and stops broadside. I let it go and go right though him. Pretty happy right now. Wait a little while and then go to find my arrow find it and it's full of guts hit a little back. wait for my buddy to finish his hunt to try track him. got on a not so great blood trail but was pretty easy for a little while find a spot where he must of stopped and now can't find where he went so no recovery yet. Will be going out in the morning to look again. Pretty disipointed right now I'm sure the meat will be spoiled by morning down here it's hot lows tonite in the mid 70's. will let you know if we can count him tomorrow after I get back. Jerry

Come on Jerry!! Good luck in finding your deer and I know it's dead it's just WHERE is it! Rally the troops and just give it the best attempt you can.

I hope this AM's news is good news.

Alright there fellow team mates found him without much trouble this morning. Not a graint buck but give Team Lights Out another 82 2/8. Now I just got to figure out how to post these darn pictures. If anyone has any knowledge about this please help me.

Okay trying the photo thing again. Wish me luck. thats the exit wound Hit him a little low and far back. I thought the shot was 30 yards but was actully 38 yds. here are a couple of other pics. I will be posting it in the score card soon thanks JerryAnd last photo with me in it.

Nice job okee, way to hang in there.

Congrats Okee! I know how you felt. I've lost a few after thinking you made a good shot. However, the important thing is you found him. Your pic looks like he was a 7 pt before he broke a brow tine. Every deer is a trophy in archery. Great job.

CONGRATS OKEE

GREAT JOB, WAY STAY WITH IT:barmy: