Archery Talk

All day sits are tough. I've only done it a couple of times. During the rut I hunt about 4 hours, get down for an hour or two and get back in for the rest of the day. I usually change spots cause I like to hunt all over the place.

 

technically a bear stand, but short of mt lion and bob cat, everything else has gone by this. bear bait would be behind me as I face the stand. Bad thing is it pitches down hill right off the side of the skid trail...

 

still a little blurry but oh well...I tried...

 

I'm definitely at the "hope I at least fucking see a deer" stage.

 

Little gal was taunting me the other day. Walking across the shooting lane

 

Parents divorced when I was 4. The man my mother married was a sportsman. We would go up north on weekends and he would teach us to hunt and fish. Eventually we moved up there and well if you live out in the woods you better learn to hunt and fish or you're gonna be pretty bored haha!

Started with little yellow I think it was a long bow, then moved to a hand me down recurve, then bought my first used compound bow when I was maybe 10. This was the late 80s early 90s. We didn't use sights and releases. All old school, like my Stepdad. He was very into hunting the old way like how he learned. He used to teach hunters safety, so you can guess how strict he was with us. I'm glad he was though. Learned a lot of respect. By the time I was 16, I was more interested in cars and girls and didn't hunt much. After moving away and going to college, then getting a job in IT I started having time. So of course I got into guns, which led to going up North a lot, which led to lots of fishing, which led to wanting to learn archery again. I was about 37 once I picked up a bow again.

I am still blown away at how much better bows are now and sights and stuff. Also at the cost of them. People's attitudes have changed a lot since then too.

 

I have been blessed to harvest several large bucks in my 30+ years of hunting, all in North Carolina. My 2 biggest trophies are this 13 pt non typical 165 1/8" buck I shot with a compound bow in 2003 at 10 yards from a tree stand. I missed him two different times on two different days prior to killing him and 10 years later this 9 pt with a rifle 1/2 a mile away. I am learning to be humble and just experience what we are blessed with instead of focusing on what could be or what didn't happen. My kids are growing up and I want to pass it on to them and let them experience the joys of hunting and the surroundings that God has blessed us with, not just killing.

 

Oh, it's definitely the journey. The kill is such a small part of the overall picture, as my own hunting log reflects. I love scouting, looking for new spots, shooting, prepping stands, cooking a bacon wrapped loin over hot coals.... The farm I hunt is about 900 acres and has some decent buck. For the most part they are big sixes or eights with 15-16" inside spreads. Not huge, but nice enough. My goal, dream so to speak, is a good eight that scores 135-145. Love the symmetry of big eights's. Of course if another eight walks past like the one I shot last year..... Not a 135 by any means but a good representative of the bigger bucks in this area.

This past year I had been prepping for an elk hunt. I actually should be there right now. Due to some unforeseen $$ issues along with screwing up my ankle, it's been postponed until next year. I had so much fun, e-scouting, pm'ing other elk hunters, gathering gear, training, getting some diaphragm calls and bugle tube and driving my wife absolutely nuts practicing. I have maps printed out and hanging up in my family room with spots circled, co-ords labeled. A 64G thumb drive loaded with info. Gaia mapping software on my Iphone. I was ready to GO!! Am I disappointed? Yea. But I wouldn't trade all that planning for anything. Aside from my tag and putting a menu together, and if I can keep in shape, all is in order for next year!

So let's keep this thread on top with stories, pictures, and general ramblings of this journey call bowhunting.

 

My bow shooting started back when I was in scouts. Hunting started when I bought a used Bear Whitetail Hunter from my uncle for 20 bucks. He had a target set up in his back yard. We were visiting and I took my bow along. After watching me shoot he asked if I wanted to come up "camp" in Michigan U.P.
and hunt for a week. Ma and dad had said yes as long as school work was caught up.
That was back in 1983. Lot of good times hunting up there.
Now I hunt at home or a local state forest.
I've been able to take a good number of deer. Some years I got nothing bow hunting. But time in the stand is always priceless.
My most memorable buck was in 2009. My dad had been in a hospital for 3 months. The day he got out was the start of my vacation for the rut. He died that night. With all funeral and family stuff going on I missmi a lot of hunting time. Back then Wisconsin bow season closed just before gun hunting started. When I was finally able to get out bucks were everywhere. Then on the last day of bow before gun started I went out. I looked up and asked my dad to guide a buck my way and to help guide my arrow. 20 minutes later I was standing over a 185lb 12 pointer.
When I took it to the taxidermist he asked if I was sure I wanted it mounted, because the spread was 14in. After I told him the story and he and another hunter both said they would mount it.
I don't get out to hunt this early, too warm.
I still take a week of vacation in November to bow hunt.

Good Luck to all,,be safe

 

Very true.

 

^^^^This!!^^^^

 

Went ahead and put in a few vacation days. The first 2 weeks of November I will only work 3 days. And I may take those 3 days off as well

 

Nice looking deer!

 

I have 8 days to schedule and I'm not sure which days in November to take. Our season starts a little late this year and ends on 16-Nov. I've always had my best luck between 03-Nov and 10-Nov. Pre-rut and chasing. Still anytime from Halloween till the third week in November is a great time to be in the woods.

 

My work should just fire me during hunting season. I am worthless until it’s over. Off work at 2:30 and hunting until the morning of the 23rd. Sooooo hard to focus on anything but being in the woods.

Any tips for hunting elk when it’s raining? We have 3 days of light to moderate rain forecasted. I think it may be exactly what they need because it’s finally going to cool off. They haven’t been active during the day since the season has started and I have been in the middle of elk each time I have gone out.

 

Found the story from where North Carolina game and fish did a story about the 13 pt I shot in 2003 with a bow. Here it is if anyone cares to read it. At the time he lacked 1” of being the state record. He had a tine that was 7/8” long, they have to be 1” to be scorable.

I don't know why the story is dated 2010, it was 2003.
https://www.gameandfishmag.com/editorial/hunting_bowhunting-hunting_nc_aa083704a/241858

 

Great story! (Muzzy)

 

Damn, I'd love to shoot a drop tine buck. Good read!!

 

I am headed out! Good luck to anyone else hunting this week!

 

Good luck to you!