Archery Talk

everyone has their own reason for hunting, passing on shooting and or shooting an animal. At least we all have the common bond of "hunting"

 

Well said, wilcam47!!!

Enough from me........good luck to all who are still out hunting!!!!

 

Our season here has been done since 24 Dec... but still nice to see others still have some season left, prob not a lot though...always look forward till next season!

 

Everyone has their own reasons to hunt, meat or antlers, I’m after big antlers because I would rather eat beef. The biggest issue we have in our area is an over abundance of outfitters. With all of the outfitters in our area,land prices have gone up as well as lease prices. I don’t have a problem with non- residents coming here to hunt but Illinois is very liberal with the amount of N/R permits. Deer hunting has become a cash cow for Illinois and they refuse to cut back on permits to manage the herd properly. I’m not saying all outfitters are bad, but most in this area are. I can go to the county circuit court website and see that most of them have numerous conservation violations. These are the guys who will do just about anything to get their client a big one,that way they get a repeat customer. I personally know the guy who started the biggest outfitting business in Illinois. The way he got started was because he lost all hunting privileges in Illinois for 5 years. Back when he started,you didn’t even need an outfitter permit. I agree that there are a lot of douchebag hunters out there that gives the whole industry a bad name. The worst thing about all of this is that hunting in this area has gotten so expensive that if you don’t own land or have a lease then you’re pretty much screwed. This will be the death of future young hunters. I know of very few young hunters around here and that’s really sad.

 

I will be out either Sunday or Monday. There is an extended season for antlerless deer in my county in an attempt to cull the herd. Time to fill the freezer!

 

I guess it is now a business as opposed to a sport when I started in 1969. I miss the "Good Old Days"

 

Well one positive thing is even though land access is scarce, the amount of deer in North America is higher than it is ever has been in history. Too bad we can’t get land to hunt em!

 

You and me both,I started deer hunting in 1975.

 

'75 for me as well..

 

Let's change the subject....since we are all in the "no season blues". Anyone small game hunt? Squirrel, rabbit?
OR, does anyone hog hunt or go outside their home state to do other types of hunts in the off-season of deer and elk?

 

I hunt everything haha. Switch over to mostly winged creatures after deer season is over. Put down the bow and pick up the shotgun. I’ve hunted squirrels when I’ve been bored but don’t find their meat all that tasty. Love me some rabbit meat though. Wish there were more opportunities for it here in Virginia!

 

When I was younger and in better physical condition to do so, I used to hunt rabbit, pheasant, grouse, and turkey along with deer. Occasionally did the duck and goose (sky carp) hunts, too. After 5 back surgeries it is now deer only on a limited basis - as my back permits. Used to have a beagle (grew up with them!) 3 different Brittanies (never more than one at a time) and an English setter. There were times archery hunting was pretty much non existent due to getting the dogs out for bunnies and birds - our volunteer fire dept. group were known as the ' Bazetta Bunny and Bird Blasters' for a while. Again, the good old days!!!

 

Awesome thanks for sharing! I've been itching to try and get a couple of squirrels to try Steve Rinellas buffalo hot leg recipe. Maybe rabbit to if I come across one. Just haven't been motivated since holiday break ended and work started.
I thought about chasing some hog in Texas with the wife for a getaway but haven't looked to into it. Anyone go?

 

I go on the hunt for coyotes...I occasionally run across them while out on my atv. But Im still waiting on parts so I cant do that for a while.

 

Good luck with the ATV, hope you get out there sooner than later!

 

Welp, I'm throwin in the towel. Today I went to an area that gets a shit ton of pressure so I sat in the parking lot until 2:30 and noone showed so off I went. I text my buddy (that was a couple hundred yards away) that I was 98% confident that at least a few does were gonna swing by. At 4:30, here came the barking dogs. They were straight upwind of me so I climbed down and left. Sorry no excitement, but that's how it goes. I snapped a pic of the trail I was hunting as I was walking out.

 

Our archery season ended last week. The Lancaster Conservancy Group has taken receivership of close to a 1,000 acres next to the property I hunt. It used to be water company property (no hunting) but has been in limbo for the last several years. Typically Conservancy land is open to archery hunting. So, the plan this weekend is to stay warm today, continue planning my DIY elk hunt for September and let the major winter storm pass. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll have the AR in hand, predator call, 6" of pure as the virgin Mary snow, start looking over the terrain and maybe shoot a 'yote. Had one cross the road in front of me the other morning driving to work. It IS nice driving through your hunting property everyday. Scouting for October 2019 archery season starts now.

Side note. Any tips for a 1st time DIYer elk hunter would be appreciated. Not looking for spots or special hineyholes. Just gear, calling tactics, call preferences, setups, etc...

 

Never been elk hunting but I like the coyote hunting plan.

 

50 yard number visible now, same trees, new target, arrows straight as can be. However, hit another Robin Hood @60 yards, granted my groups aren't as good as I'd like, but 2 more arrows down

 

Thats a damn good tight group at 50yds..