John, yeah the bucks tonight were all in full velvet and most are done growing by early to mid August. Most of the bucks will stay in velvet over Labor day weekend except for a few of the big dawgs.. By Monday or Tuesday of next week, very few will be in velvet..by Sept 10th they will all be out for the most part.

I forgot to mention I watched five small bull elk tonight out on an oat field, 10 cows and calves combined and about 6 whitetail does... it was a good evening glassing.

Yup its time to get er' done, John.

I sure like this new range finder I picked up... NOW after the fact, I can not believe I didnt buy one sooner.. hard headed I guess and figured I might become to dependant on one.... live and learn..

Here is a short list ofthe bucks I am hunting and the areas....


1. 4x5 tall browetined, long mains.... just a dandy 150+ buck.. easy.. hes got another big buck that I hope is still alive in there..an old buck I called old GREY...last year..huge massive wide racked main frame 4x4... gonna push 160 last year.. havent seen him since..or heard of his demise.. Next county over...

2. Double main beamed, drop tined pickle forked browtineside ...with a straight 4 or5on the other... not sure what he'll go but hes hvy...could go over 150..hard to tell from my low light video of him.. hes also runs with a tall tall tined 5x5... home county

3. Long mains..tall tined bruiser.. "Stretch" buck.. gonna push 150's as a 4x4..he has small g-4's I'm not sure if they will be scoreable or not.. he may be a 5x5..based on those short g-4s..close to home ...stud buck..

4... The firewood buck..big shed ...76 inches..huge browtined..buck..gonna scout and hunt his area hard during th week after work since its only 3-4 miles from my home..I got a lot to learn about that area..hope that bucks still breathing.. if he is..hes a booner..or close.. 5x5 175+ gross..or who knows if hes walking..

5. Big tall tined 5x5 ...not real hvy but tall and long.. 150 somethinggrosser..somewhere in there... home county buck

6. big wide racked 4x4 140 class buck.. very wide.. 22-23 inside.. home county

of course any surprises.. once the rut rolls around... or who knows maybe one I haven't noticed around..those big ones are often ghostly even in the summer.. I'd sure love to see the old yeller buck I hunted when I first moved here 3 years ago. I am set up in his area too...