Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Archived Hunting Pics => Shooting and Hunting => 2019 Hunting Pics => Topic started by: HH~ on September 11, 2019, 08:52:20 pm
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Well, folks it is almost upon us again. Will keep a running thread thruout the season with pics and selfbows Im using. A journal so to speak for the hunt season. Will hunt prolly 80-90 days, so something will get interesting.
Now i’m out visiting family and doing some swimming, diving and surfing. Be back for a few more stand improvements then in the bush for rest of year with a bow in my grip.
Cheers
HH~
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That's a great idea :OK
will follow you (-P
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Looking at all the hunting pictures really makes me want to get out there but, not yet. :( :OK
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Have just one last stand location to clear out. Got in there yesterday found the area which had been logged off a number of seasons ago and that really lead to a regrowth of pawpaws on a east facing slope. Very thick and damp and loaded with ripe pawpaws which the deer have been cleaning up day and night by looks of it.
So, where does this 2019 -2020 season start? Had to think about it a minute. I reckon it started the last hunt of the 2018-2019 season for deer. One that last hunt I had a nice buck come in to about 30yds but was pulled away by a herd of prolly 15-20 doe crossing a cut corn strip. Hung in and later that morning two young whitetails fed in tight in some mature red oaks I happened to be next to.
Long story short and the end to a fabulous hunt season was a steep angle 20yd shot with my 40lb 66" HHB. The shot was flawless or so I thought, where it looked like it went right thru the yearling whitetail. Upon further inspection it was firmly implanted in 10" of red oak leaf mold on forest floor. A miss.
I thought "what a way to finish up 2018"? After, a long 3D season with selfbow and some wonderful results the thought kept coming back to me "I missed that little deer which would have broke the tie for the most with a SB harvests in a season for me". I think the shot has sparked me all spring and summer with more drive to get it done right. I know, we all miss and even worse but that's what we do and why its called hunting.
Back to today 24 Sep 2019 new selfbows made, tuned with broadheads and a very very hot opening day is only 48hrs away.
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Good luck, Hedge! Missing is a black, awful feeling. I know--I've done the research. You'll have it when the time comes.
Also, either you took that last pick with a timer or your cameraman REALLY trusts you. ha ha ha
Thomas
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Good luck! I see your bio says you live in clarksville. I drive through there about 2 times a year. I am eager to get some paw paws, I may have to look you up in a few months after season is over.
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Good Luck Hedge. I'm going to sneak out for awhile tomorrow. I might be working later, but I'll take every opportunity I can to sneak in a hunt.
Bjrogg
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You can see one of the bows im huntin with this year. Its in the BOM Aug-Sep
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,66558.0.html
HH~
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Good luck, Buddy. My season probably won't start till I get to Clarksville.
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Should have a hunt story starting Friday 04 October. Snowed on my friend hunting pronghorn at 4500ft in SD today and it's 96-97 here in Tennessee???
Big weather change coming 96 today and by Monday be in 40's. Whitetails wont know what to do after 5 months in 90's. Should be a great few first days of cool weather.
HH~
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Woooo!! Im getting excited!!!!!!
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Good luck on your speedgoat! Blind, or spot and stalk?
Thomas
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yes, he got a Antelope Buck. I did not go this year. He saw some really nice bucks but gun season came in the other day and bow hunting changes over night.
I start deer hunting here in Tenn tomorrow morning to be more clear.
HH~
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First morning out. All my gear waiting on me in the shed. Cooler, 59 with a NNE wind about 2-3mph which should pick up after sunup. See how morning develops as i’m in near the only white oaks on this property.
Just raccoons and a group of hens eating those acorns. Saw no deer on this bluff. Will hunt close to same area this evening. Little more east i think.
The evening sit was slow except for several family grooups of raccoons under me.
HH~
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just wait till racoon hunt! Then youll have your winter gear!
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Report was for east wind before sunup. Walked out about 0500hrs with East of the Sun West of the Moon static recurve I finished about last Christmas time. The call was for mid 50's early and 91 later and being its October 5th I could not put off my second morning hunt any longer. The wind call was correct after days of 90 degree weather the cool 54 degrees felt like a clean cold shower after 100 days in the desert.
Hunted a sycamore flat near my river. No food source in there just a travel route to cross the river on a small shoal of gravel. The deer use when they shift or get the urge to move a bit. I thought maybe this would be that kind of morning, Deer moving to better oak stands or wetter ground to look for Pawpaws that maybe left hanging possibly.
Set up and for first hour I thought "geeze its rather slow but a great morning. Turkeys are coming off roosts and raccoons were all heading back to den trees". Slow, maybe I was wrong about my gut felling? Hung my bow back up and caught movement, buck coming off high ground travelling with wind. Yep, young deer with 5-7 pts just high stepping for the river. He made a loop[ and came back by. Same time a family group of six deer came off same high ground, saw the buck and trotted away from him. They did go down bank and cross river.
Well Shoots, went to hang my bow up again and saw movement once again but close, 35yds. Big doe with deer in behind following. I had taken my finger glove off for some thing? Had no time to put it back on, thought "oh well see how this goes". The glove had made its way to my elbow now as I got bow ready to make a 20yd shot. The deer saw me draw and jumped a little but she presented a slightly better angle. I let loose, arrow flew true 30" Tamarack shaft with a Magnus 125grn took her high in left shoulder with lots of down angle. Shot felt solid even bare fingered.
She wheeled and ran and as she did I could see the crimson well up on her side in bright instantly. Very dry here so I could hear her run up the hill and through some brushy area and thought I heard a crash and thrashing. I waited a good bit and got down to see what the impact site may reveal. Once there I saw it was splashed with bright red. I packed my gear and grabbed my bow as I was purty sure what I heard was her going down. The blood was clearly visable as if spilled from a full paint can. Found the back half of my Tamarack shaft after 60 yds. Twenty more yards and there she was. The rest of the shaft and broad head lay under her it had just made it thru. That little static selfbow shot well.
HH~
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Well done! She looks like good eating.
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Wow! Thats good stuff! Makes me feel like it was me there and suddenly i feel proud! If you think about it you completed the bows full cycle. Energy used to make a tool to get food to get energy! Something that you cared about and tuned so carefully has proven itself successful proving that you are successful. Good job sir!
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Way to go! Hope the rest of the season goes well for everyone, and there are many more hunts posted! (SH) :-D. I hope to score with my ML during rifle season, but I will have to modify my technique a bit! Hopefully, a nice doe just walks up broadside within range. We will be hunting sage/cedar/ ground cactus mix.
Hawkdancer
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Congrats... looks like a good eater.
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Had no doubt you'd be posting a successful hunt HH. No doubt you have her all taken care of to. Thanks for sharing your hunting story. I'll keep checking in. Guessing it won't be your last.
Bjrogg
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Just getting started BJ. Been so warm. Weather is going to nose dive here in next week. When I say this i mean morning temps in 40s not 70s. Trying to stay out of my best areas. As you well know we have only a couple really good chances every season where a bunch of things must go right to make selbow harvest on a good buck. This next week may be that week?
HH~
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Got her! Nice work Shawn.
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Thanks PD. Still have not even got to my farm that needs some deer reduction Op’s on.
Be hunting a fuel pump for my GMC and cutting a hole thru bed to put the thing in today. What space shuttle engineer does not put an access panel in truck bed to service the fuel pump, etc. ! Time to make one dangit.
HH
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The old cutting out the floor or bed to replace the fuel pump trick ... much easier then dropping a gas tank with a bunch of rusted out straps. Been there done that
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The old cutting out the floor or bed to replace the fuel pump trick ... much easier then dropping a gas tank with a bunch of rusted out straps. Been there done that
Done that myself. Have a friend on standby with a fire hydrant.
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Nice. Thought this might be a long thread, and then you did it.
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Nice. Thought this might be a long thread, and then you did it.
I think he's just getting started! :OK
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Thread will run thru bow hunt season as the hunts occur.
Pappy helped me get that pump done. Truck was dead at the bow shed. We got it done and ruined a perfectly good bow hunt morning!
Will check wind a pick a tree for morning hunt for 09 Oct.
HH~
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That pump is at best in a very awkward position! Too bad the engineer that designed it doesn't have to change all of them that go bad! My son changed out mine, but told me told run the darned thing as close to empty as possible! We don't get as much rust out here, but it was still a pita! Good luck on the hunt! We get high winds late today, and very cold and snow Thursday, like nearly a 70 degree temperature change! That will freeze the (cannon) balls off the brass monkey (triangle brass rack)!! Explanation for all non-military types, the brass rack would shrink in extreme cold and scatter the cannon balls! :-M >:D
Hawkdancer
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If you have enough help you can pull box off by removing four bolts and lifting it off. The small boxes are pretty light. Then it's really easy to change pump.
Jerry I think one of the things that's hard on pumps is running below quarter tank. I might be wrong, but I've been told they are cooled by the gas.
Sorry HH. I'm sure you'll be hunting more interesting critters soon.
Bjrogg
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09 OCT
Got out for a sit this morning 52 degrees. Was in a stand deep in thick cover up a walnut tree. 0545 a deer passed under me. prolly a buck but I could not see it.
About 0740hrs I see some leaves moving off a deer trail, again along same trail. Sure enough a big doe is walking right along at a good clip. Travelling to a persimmon nearby no doubt. I draw and anchor and follow her as i'm swinging slowly. Just as the point of aim is on her brisket I release and the arrow goes right there. Arrow shaft brushes her chest and she jumps. 13yds approx. Arrow is buried deep in the leaf mold on forest floor. She goes upon her way.
Hunting with my 65" NTN super static, the fastest selfbow I have built.
HH~
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10 Oct
Very warm and large moon phase during the evening. Hunted the morning near river and there was no movement. Good morning wind was ESE and the leaves were raining down after sunrise when the wind picked up. Nice morning the Turkeys roosted in the same sycamore trees on creek and gliding down to a oak stand across creek.
Rain today later. Have some chores to get done so I can hunt Sat-Sun full stand days. Will likely hunt Fort Campbell as the training area's I like bow hunt will be open both days. Long walk in but its well worth the hike. The deer are no where near the body size I have here in my area but they are plentiful. See what happens.
HH~
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BJ, that is true about the 1/4 tank of gas, but getting to a bad pump is an exception. I seldom get as low as a 1/4, never saw a pit stop I didn't like (lol)!
Good luck on the hunt everyone!
Hawkdancer
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12 Oct 2019
Good cool morning, 36 degrees. Cold front came thru last evening and it was 80 at 1700hrs by 1900hrs it was 53. Cleared early however and that 2/3 Moon was setting as I left out at 0500hrs. Chose a spot I like hunt later in year but wind after sunrise was bad for my other sets in that area. Thought I may catch some deer moving to bed early.
Very still until about 0800hrs so I sat down in stand. Had my bear finger glove on and had my 65" HH Super Static hanging off branch. Was over a two track I cut last year into a place I call Cambodia ( thick and up and down). Not long after planting my butt in seat I catch a deers ear flip and sure enough deer are walking right down two track which goes right under me. I see a big lead doe and a broke horned small buck coming along.
I grab the Static and stand up slowly and see there are four deer coming in Ranger file. I also see that they are three little bucks following her. I get in position for a zero yardage straight down shot. The doe was the largest of the four deer I see. She comes down a steep bench and is right under me and I stop her. Got in a good arc bent over at waist and grabbed the deepest anchor I could and lined up on spine and sent arrow speeding for earth. It cought her right along spine between shoulder blades and out the bottom side.
She sped off around bend and the other bucks just followed along walking. Hang bow back up, check the time and reach for an arrow out of my quiver and I here a noise. I look on two track and there is a 6x4 dark chocolate horned buck standing on the bench looking at where all the other deer went. I pluck an arrow, nock it and watch this buck standing facing me for about 45 secs. He then moves to turn and I draw on him standing at about 18-19yds fairly level shot. I pick my spot and release. Clean arrow, it takes him right behind his left elbow but only penetrates about 6-8" as spins and rockets out and back into Cambodia.
Well, found the arrow about 15yds on trail. Very little blood at first. 60 yds in blood was very heavy and good color. After 400m in with one hole plowing my way thru the highlands it fades away. I am sure this deer is mortally hit. I saw impact and spot, he was hurt bad. Will get in there after him tonite. Hunt long enough and Murphy has a way of monkey wrenching even the best of conditions and shots.
HH~
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so you got two today?
edit - oh, so your going to try to find him tonight! good luck!
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Hope you find #2 Shawn. Congrats on #1.
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You know how that is Pearly? You hate it but it happens. If I could draw up a shot and make it that was this shot. I thought I would find this buck 100yds up the two track. I would not have even shot at him knowing the Cambodia border was less than 600m away. Hard to know you pooch it on a tremendous animal like that. Thing I have to keep in perspective is " today in after thought would not change a thing about that shot".
I do know where these deer came from. They came off my friends farm about 3miles away. I know this because there's not a place that has soybeans left standing in 5 miles and this doe was full of whole dried beans. The shortest way for them to reach creek I was on is to come over the ridge directly from his farm.
HH~
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Same thing happened to me in 2017. Nice buck, perfect shot opportunity and no meat in my freezer. Its just part of the big picture. I wont be surprised if you seem him again, or even get a second chance. Be nice to kill him and see exactly what happened the first time. Its very possible.
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Aaah,
No one will see this deer on feet again. He's dead. When I see the arrow in his leg-pit 8" deep forward of the diaphragm its over. I may find him today? We know where he went to hole up. To much blood for survival on this buck. Cambodia is no fun.
HH~
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14 Oct
36 degrees under a late full moon this morning. Had two nosey doe cut my back trail and come right to my tree. The older of the two squatted down and pee’d right next to tree.
About 0825 two smaller passed by at 25yds. About same time i saw four deer pass on hill across creek. Nice sit. The turkeys roosted cackled as usual from same sycamores on creek bank. Warmed very quicky.
Miday Update Brother of the Selfbow.
Waited til 1230hrs and went up past Lil Cambodia looking for my buck. I humped up into the last area I made it to yesterday and checked a few gulches and swung to the creek. It was running fairly low so I went down bank and eased up round the last corner I had been into yesterday. Walking occasionly up one bank and then the other. I look upstream on shallow gravel bar horns sticking out of water. I had found my deer.
A nice October Selfbow buck. I will pull some photo's off my cel to post here as well. He went about 3/4 of a mile. Side sloping a ridge all way thru my Cambodian highlands to the creek. My shot was a little low and forward some. Why the penetration was not greater. Arrow did make to far ribcage but no further. He is a 5x5.
HH~
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Nice! Glad you found him.
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YES!!! I was rooting for you. Glad you found him. He's a beauty!
T
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Knew you'd find him. Nice buck.
I've been way to busy to go hunting, but I've got my bow along. Not much chance, but better than no chance.
Haven't been on this site much lately but I still look in once and awhile.
Bjrogg
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I was not sure I would find him. I was sure he was dead and I owed it to that fine animal to look until I had no more land to check.
Pappy and myself have spoke many times about deer hunting, deer hunting with bow and deer hunting with primitive bows, etc. We always come back to "there are a lot of things that must go right to get it done" why there are so few who hunt primitive I reckon.
HH~
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Thats a dandy! Congratulations!
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Was the meat still good Shawn?
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All would have been fine in the 50 degree creek but the buzzards got the top half or more. I got a shoulder, neck and a backstrap. The Blackhead buzzards that don't go south anymore in fall/winter are way worst than coyotes. Fifty of them will eat an entire animal in several hours. I have a 200 bird roost right here at my place. If a animal is on ground in daylight long its gone. But as J Wales said "Buzzards gotta eat same as worms".
HH~
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16 Oct
Had to skun and bone out a deer. No morning hunt. Did get out this evening, wind NW 5-15mph. Hunted a bluff with a few big oaks on it that hung over creek bed.
Nice evening, cool and breezy. Saw no deer moving in my area.
Gray squirrels were plucking acorns and they were falling creek. Kerplunk, kerplunk. Guess thats ok, the wood ducks will get them.
HH~
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I'm a little jealous--we hardly ever get wood ducks around here. Such pretty little guys. Sounds like a perfect evening, other than the lack of deer!
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17 OCT
Yep
Wood ducks love acorns. Their squirrel buddies are helping them out if the geese don't get them first.
Heading to a property about 5 miles away. Have stayed out of it since opener and now its time to get on it. Beans are gone, corn is gone and deer are moving to bed, feed and browse. See what they evening brings.
Well, we got in at 1545hrs and we had sneak around the deer just to get in. I made my way to stand and it was not long after two bucks came by slow chasing a big doe at 1615. Shortly after I had a red fox that came in and about 30 minutes later he came back by again. Kept me occupied for a good while.
At 1800 I saw a flash up on hill in oaks and I see a deer poking about. I gave a light doe grut series and the deer came right in but would not stop walking. Had almost yell to stop the deer. Stopped at 20yds and I hit anchor and let the arrow fly. Impact was high, it passed halfway thru just under spine behind shoulder. Deer went right down. Really wonderful 50 degree evening with a piece of Osage in my hand.
HH~
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Great thread. I'd rather read your adventures than have to do all that butchering, ;-)
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Got all day and night Jim. It's no problem to take care of the meat. I will hide out this lil-un I got last night.
Think I will make some deer stir fry with sesame oil, peppers, onions, celery, carrots, bok choi over a bed of white rice. Maybe a little tiny bit of saved ginger in the dish. Not much, maybe just marinate the meat with ginger in the mix is all.
Here's the photo from skinning shed.
HH~
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Are foxes legal game where you hunt? He'd make an awfully pretty quiver...
Enjoy your stir fry! Fresh ginger, soy sauce, sesame seeds, garlic, lime juice, and hot pepper in mine. Fry it all up in some coconut oil.
mmmmmm
T
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19Oct 2019
Hunted with my fiend this morning. Pretty slow was 39 but warmed to 70 rather fast. My friend took a small doe off this farm. Have a ways to go to get this place thinned out a bit.
Nice morning with a breeze in my face.
HH~
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21 Oct
Had some wet weather pass thru miday. Goung to hunt an orphan section off this farm Im taking dow off of. Has part of the land that was cut by hiway on NW side. Will give it a go with West wind tomorrow morning.
I switched up arrow BH combo. Still going to hunt the 65” static but will shoot 23/64ths Wapiti shafts with old 160grn two blades my friend gave me last week. Then fly nice, arrow weighs 560grns.
22 Oct
Went out this morning. 55 and clear, west wind. My hunt friend sprayed my boots before we split to go to different stands. Was sweet smelling. Walked it and got set in dark. 0615 i here a deer or two coming in on my back trail. I think “can that be”? So, look down thru the splashes of moon light and this big doe is coming right to my tree. She goes right to the ladder and walks around tree. Then, she walked back up my backtrail! Was unusual to say the least. Guess she liked sweet cover juice he put on my boots. If she had come 15min later we’d be have liver, onions and chantrelle’s for supper tonight.
Good Hunting
HH~
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23 Oct
Hunted this orphan section of farm this morning. Great crisp calm daybreak.
Was on a slope with a drainage leading down behind me with some red oaks. About 0710 i hear some whitetails coming behind up the rise. I check my wind with my milkweed seed fluff and thought “ anytime”!
With the upper air warming and the cool air driving down this slope I knew this lead deer is gonna get a nose full right NOW. 30yds this gal could not stand it. She blew and took family back way they came. 10 min later she tried agian. Same result.
Wil hunt the SW wind this evening. Should be good as there are several great spots for a stand tonight.
We got set about 1545hrs and it was a really warm evening that cooled rapidly. Right at last shootable light I had a deer move along ridge below me in thick cover and my friend had two doe come by travelling at a pretty good clip. Just a one of those pretty Tennessee evenings but not a lot of deer mvmnt where we were. They were planting wheat about 1/2mile above us til after dark.
Good Hunting~
HH
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24 Oct Evening sit
Had east wind 3-5mphand temps were warm almost 70.
Got in and set up in a smal opening with a small hill to my east cover with oaks. Old dry stock pond to my north with a two track thru clearing.
1730 i see deer moving off hill and coming to clearing. There are four, 3ea small doe and one mature one. The three come around right by me and the mature one cuts thru chest high goldenrod and blackberry brush. She headed for stock on a dirwct route.
Im ready for shot at 28yds its gonna be but i cant stand because this hickory has limb above in my upper limb. It’ll have to be a seasted shot off platform. I line shot up, pick the hold spot (dead on), draw at let loose. Arrow looks to be high but should drop right in!
Well, it looked pretty all way into ground. I flew 4-6” over shoulder slowly twisting counter clockwise into the goldenrod.
The deer went about thier poking about made a loop and headed back up hill into oaks and feeding routine. Great evening out with some Osage in my hand.
HH~
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25 Oct
Hunted the Orphan section again. Went in at 0500 and got set kinda gray morning and took a good while to get to shootable light. Heard deer go by as soon as I went past this small meadow in a thicket behind the stand. Sat for about three hours and I look up and there is a 1.5 year old doe standing in meadow. I make a series of very soft doe grunts and she comes and does a big loop around stand back to the meadow never offering a quality shot. She fed out in meadow on wild clover for about 15 minutes then headed for a large Burr Oak on east side of meadow.
Rain moved in about 0945 and I got down. Went home and put another coat of tru oil on my Osage/Hickory/Bamboo backed ELB.
HH~
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27 Oct
Had a large wind event last nite, 30,000 plus folks no power. Hunted Fort Campbell in one of my very fav o rite spots. Went in a mile or so back on ridge that has a big cedar flat on top. Was 55 and drizzle trees down in woods all over. Hunted til noonish then left my stand and went on walkabout see what sign was in forest.
I can say that rut here has not started, very few rubs and very scrapes. This area at this time is destroyed with both as there is a high buck/deer density on post. Unless we get some cold weather this pre rut will continue. Just south of us here in Tenn in AL Deer rut into Feb!
Going stay with it. October has been good to me good for many years. Few days left to eek out some more pre rut hunting.
HH~
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Still looking over your shoulder Shawn. I like the reports.
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Sure Jim.
The forest took a beating last night here. Saturated ground, strong winds. Lots of old Oaks on ground, cedars snapped clean off. Squirrels be happy. Nuts are all on ground now.
The spot I hunted was all open fields 40 yrs ago. Lots of cedars in woods there. Was tobacco cultivated long before GVT purchased it and added it to Post. I have found some nice native scrapers or fleshers on this ground. Has come giant ERCs in here where they must have left the in fields.
Have had some close encounters over the years with some large whitetails here. Pretty spot in big woods.
HH~
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29 Oct
Got a call while I was in the garage sharpening broad heads yesterday about 1000hrs, was Pappy saying he shot a doe and was going back to get out his hunt clothes and get the Hound. He had found both pieces of arrow and figgered he could use another body to find this whitetail. Only a few minutes to his farm, so off I went.
We rode out to the area he hunted and he showed me the shot and both arrow ends, blood trail. I was purty sure this deer was hit just as he described and would find her directly. Well, she went down, down, down and the dog pretty much led him to the deer. She went a 7-800yds all down. We were happy to get her and he dressed her out for long drag up the hill to where he could get his machine to her. I think I busted a small bead coming up that hill? The woods was very pretty, damp and moist and temps at about 55 degrees. The forest floor is cover with wind blown acorns both reds, white and chestnuts. Just really pretty now, leaves falling, lots of yellows and oranges and some red (dogwood, sassafrass, maples).
Got her back, cleaned up and in the walkin all before 1300hrs. Always feels good to get your deer after a long track & drag. Needed a cold drink of water after that!
HH~
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Must be nice to live near Pappy--even if it means more work sometimes.
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+1 jim
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You guys have the old fudd :)
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30 Oct
Had to go to Post and up to North Christian County KY yesterday. About a 50 min drive and it gives a good idea how the deer are moving because my county and that one are loaded with deer and these two Hiways kill a ton of them when the rut has started. I saw only one dead deer on road when during this time I see ten each way this week of the year.
Went out with my static yesterday after the drive. Got set in about 1420hrs near my old stock pond stand. This old stock pond that held water when they had cattle in here 20yrs ago, its dry and the forest has gobbled it up. No tress grew in the bottom of it and it is like a green flat spot in middle of forest. Has some elm, hedge apple, persimmon, cedars around it. Love to sit here, as it attracts everything that happens to contour around this ridge to it.
Wind would not settle or make up its mind until around 1700hrs. Leaves were just falling in the light breeze and overcast skies. I noticed after the big wind storm the squirrels are not working much in the treetops as there food is scattered on the ground now. Was watch some of the them work under a big oak some distance behind me and slowly turned to do a 180 scan to my front and there was a deer standing 25-26 yds in the old pond. Small deer by itself. It must have came in off the ridge and I never heard it? It fed around and thought "if it come within range and offers a good shot I will go on and take it". It came and turned at 16yds offering a good shot. I drew, picked a spot and released! I watched arrow fly high right and impact behind last rib into vital area but no penetration. Deer went down snapped arrow and got right up. Then, made a big wide circle and came to stop about 22yds out in pond and layed down. I thought about letting deer expire right there but it was fast nearing last light I did not want any other thing going wrong I decided to take this shot on a small target in dim light.
I remembered my old SOTIC instructor's saying "Lights up sights up, Lights down sights down" rule when shooting rifle at long range with apature. Had a good idea the arrow would fly a bit higher than in normal light so I picked a spot well below deer's vitals in leaves below, picked one and shot. The arrow was an absolute gem. It hit center half way up body, right behind shoulder blade and disappeared. Deer was dead in 20 seconds. Was glad to have the harvest completed before total darkness fell.
I dressed deer in the dark, packed my stand up. Got the pack over my chest backward, threw the stand on my back, found my bow and made my way in the dark some mile and a half homeward.
HH~
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Better go buy a bigger freezer man! Nice job.
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Nice shot(s)! Not often we get a second chance like that!
T
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I have four freezers. They are empty from last year. Think im about halfway to what I will use in a year Pearly. Will hunt out west next year for prolly six weeks. Gotta put up bulk meat for jerk for the Mts. Not to forget we do bratfest in Feb at TO!
Think we did 700+ brats last year.
HH~
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Congrats on your success. That's a lot of venison. God Bless
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Jim
I got those reparrows ordered. Thanks.
Thinking I may need a few repairs to come yet. Fixing arrows and sharpening broad heads is not such a bad thing! You know.
HH~
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you have to be the most dedicated hunter I know HH. and a dang good one to.
bjrogg
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Thank you BJ.
A guy I know told me other day "got to love your hunting, you shoot a nice 5x5 and next hunt you shoot a button".
Really have not hunted a whole lot with warm temps early and I did not go out west to hunt elk either. Thinkin next year I will need some extra meat in elk camp as I'm going to ID and hope to get drawn in MT as well. Go from one camp right to the other. I do 10-20 miles a day in Mt's and need plenty protein. I can eat enough in elk camp!
Two years ago I hunted ID and camped at 8000ft. Had a nice backstrap I took out and stashed in melting snow pile near tent. Came in from hunting and it was gone?? I followed the blood trail and freezer paper and saw my culprit. Big blood loving Pine Martin, I got half my whitetail backstrap back. Guess he couldn't eat whole thing.
HH~
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Congrats, again... ;D
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31 Oct-1st Nov
28-degrees under clear high pressure and low moon phse which was only up the first few hours after sunset.
Hunted last two days with my friend at his place. Saw 12 deer on the 31st from 0845-0930. They were eating re-sprout soybeans on the field edges and never offered a shot, 30yds was as close as they fed into me. One was a nice buck but he was a long way off.
This morning Nov 1st had lots of action right after sun up. Deer came out of this draw heading straight up to the white oaks I was in. Wind was out of SW which these deer would hit at some point. A family group of six doe and a button buck. They come out and beelined for my location. Stand is only about 13ft up and it looked like they were going to pile in right under me but as it happened the lead doe veered around me to the north and under the biggest oak. They came in like they owed they place. Lead doe crossed my downwind slipstream and new something is not quite right. They fed out at 25-30yds and never came near me and the big doe started getting birdy and stomping occasionally.
I watched this for about 5 min and this doe prancing about when I looked over to my right and 3x3 buck was standing watching this doe. Think he got the wrong idea! He moved on her and checked her and some other and they were not in the mood and moved on. They younger deer were looking at this buck like "why is he doing this"? The young'uns prolly never seen this yet. I can only guess. Like yearling seeing snow for first time.
My friend shot a doe on 31st and after a 3/4mile track with really good blood ended up where we could not continue. Tough deal. We gave it some hard hours and we just ran out of real estate. Today he shot a doe and this deer went in thick and we found arrow and not one drip of blood. After breaking off after several hours he went back out and went in only direction we did not cover and found her. That's like me I guess I would go back after a bite to eat and rehydrate. Lookin purty grim for awhile there but It ended with good harvest and she did not go to aweful far!
Weather and deer here are doing that fall deer stuff in a big way.
HH~
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03 Nov
Went out for a 3hr sit this evening. Time change so dark at 1700hrs.
Dry and about 53 degrees when i left under clear skies.
Got set and sourh breeze was good for my location. Along about 1650 i can here a deer coming thru the dry leaves up the bluff. It was two doe. They were travelling along and went by at 30yds or so.
Some big scrapes showing up on trails now. Nice fall evening. Saw a few raccoons cross in front of me during my walk home.
HH~
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04 NOV
Conditions: 54 degrees and high pressure, south with 5-10mph, Moon is Waxing 1/2 tonite and rising at 1645hrs
Going out soon. Going to hunt the farm up the way from me. Bucks are now scent checking every doe and moving well. think it may have been a bit warm but as sun dips the deer should move to feed.
Be a good night either way it goes.
Update 1930hrs
Got in stand about 1520, nice setup about 20+ft up on a nice creek side flat with big oaks, sycamore, osage. Settled in and after 10 min I see a big bodied deer coming along creek bank 125yds out. As he gets closer I see it's a big 4 pt on left side and a main beam with 1pt on the other. He hugged creek and went by me at 40yds out.
Sat for another hour or so and stood up. Right about then I see two doe coming in behind me headed for creek. Pull out my 35yr old doe grunt and give two short soft grunts and the lead doe comes right in jumps a big dead log and stops at about 8yds. I pick a spot, bend out at waist hard and grab a handful of D97 string, hit anchor and send arrow. Arrow looked high at impact, deer spun and ran with about half arrow out at a steep angle. It looed to be stuck out thru the off shoulder low. She crashed thru some deadfall about 30yds and fell.
A short time later the other doe went and checked the fallen deer out. Then, a fork horn came in and went at checked out the fallen deer as well, he then went to raking a small river maple right by dead deer. Then he chased the second doe about for a bit and wandered off in the direction the doe ran off.
Another nice night on the deer stand with a piece of Osage in hand. Will get after it tomorrow night in same area I'm thinking.
HH~
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Nov 4th 2019
HH~
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Good job!
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Nov 5th
Hunted tonite in creek bottom again under clear skys and nice North wind. Was pretty warm 57 degrees. We were sure action would be right at dark. Was exactly how it went. First deer i saw was a forkhorn walking in creek. Shortly after a big buck chased several doe off the field behind me.
My friend was about 150yds from me on the creek. Right at last shooting light he shot a deer. I saw his light on the ground and knew he had shot. I worked my way over and he told he shot a doe. We found blood and after 200yds we came upon the largest doe I have seen taken in TN. The deer was bigger than the 5x5 i shot a couple weks ago, a lit bigger. I had to lift her leg up and check her head to be sure it was to a buck! She was dry. Good deer to take off farm.
Will get a photo she is in my shed now.
Good hunting
HH~
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From last nights hunt. Deer was a big mama 123lbs dressed. One of the bigger ones I had seen in Tenn.
HH~
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08 Nov
0445 25 degrees North wind 3-4mph under clear skies.
Went up to farm this and we knew it would be a good day. Bucks are cruising and we saw 3 dead ones that were not there on road yesterday. Had my wool on this morning :). Got in stand and could here deer in a depression below me right away. Got light enough to see at 0545 and could here a deer above as well. Told myself I need to stand up soon or I will get spotted. About 06o5 I saw a shadow coming up the scrub line in front of me and stood up. Then I saw it was a big 3.5-4.5 year old buck I never had seen here before (cruising). He came up and turned to east to go through some goldenrod and blackberry open scrub and skirt me. Pulled the doe grunt out and gave to short light grunts. He turned and stated to circle into the wind which would bring him to about twenty yards and a shoot opportunity.
He stopped and was looking in brush hard for the source of the grunt at 25-27yds. I had my bow in hand and fingers on string. I knew once he cleared these lower branches on my stand he would be a shade over 20yds. He picked up walking again and I stopped him at 22yds. Pick the spot and drew and loosed a 540grn 23/64th Wapiti shaft with a 160grn two blade which took him behind the right shoulder. To my disbelief the arrow only went in about 10" with not much down angle. This was big issue I knew right away. One lung at best.
0945hrs
Got down and met my hunt buddy. Told him the problem. We find blood right away but oh so little. We stayed on the blood for 5hrs over 3-4miles. We knew the guy who hunted the next section farm over and we followed into his section. No long after on far side of corn field I hear a yell. Then, see a bow hunter walking about 400m toward me. I met him in middle of field. He was getting out of stand when he saw a buck coming past him with bow on ground. I asked "you saw a good buck"? He said "yes, with a big fresh blood spot right in sweet spot" I said "yep, right side halfway up body", he reply "yes".
1100hrs
We found blood and followed into a old logged off section on this other farm. Stayed on blood and I knew he had the broad head in him and was dribbling steady every 10-15ft. We picked thru this rough brushy section as he headed to the TN state line and a large creek that was swelled by rain over last day or so.
1200hrs
we finally hit the creek up on a steep bluff hand railed the creek checking deer crossings without any evidence of deer crossing. about 4 miles in at this point and the next property over we had no idea who owned. So, we circled round a beanfield and squirted creek and walked back to retrieve our gear.
Not the outcome we had hoped for, but one we knew was in all honesty was what we were expecting after a few miles in. Tough day in woods. You get quality chance like these once maybe twice a season with a selfbow. When so many things have to go right I don't expect my arrow without hitting bone or shoulder blade to only go in 8-10". Murphy is truly out there, you can beat him a time or two by he is going eat at some point and today was his day.
HH~
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09 Nov
24 degrees, SW wind, clear
0600
Went up by KY border this morning. In stand by creek bottom crossing point. Had plenty action until 0745hrs two coyotes under me in the dark. Swam the creek right in front of me., 5 min later it would have been light enough to shoot. Had tow different forks come in. Then two doe and a button. The doe hung up when then hit the coyote trail.
Did not stay but til 0920. Had chores to knock out. Will hunt my place this afternoon. Wind has picked up 5-10 will head for thick cover.
1500
Went out at my place. saw no deer. The smoke poles were going off all around the river basin. Will be a different hunt season after today and gun season open. Saw only raccoons on the ground looking for acorns under some oaks. Hope the deer start flooding into my section soon as they do when guns are going off. No guns go off in here. Take til Monday probably. Problem is the 4.5yr deer and older wont show in daylight until late Dec when this banging starts. It's all good everyone, has to eat.
HH~
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Nov 11th
1000
Just in from morning hunt. Big storm pushing in. Very quiet in woods. Saw no deer movement in my hunt area.
Happy Veterans Day
HH~
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glad you found your buck, ,way to keep looking,, congrats and best to you on your future hunts,,, -C-
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13 Nov
Did not last couple days. help a buddy skin and butcher a doe. Good eats for him.
Had the cold front pass thru. Nice hunting weather mid teens and big bucks moving very well. Went this morning was in stand by 0500 under full moon and 3/4" snow and ice and 13 degrees. I pulled into edge of bean field early and waited, could see 500m into field. Watched four bucks and four doe walk by the truck in moonlight. let them go by then moved to stand.
Soon as I was settled in stand I here one deer coming off ridge right at me, passed by at 30yds or so in moon. Moon going down and sun coming up made easy shoot light by 0600. Watched two buck walk the ridge down past me at 150yds. Then, saw a lone doe in scrub below me. I could guess what was going on here. She walked right by and nice 5x5 stayed 30 yds out along tree line keeping an eye on her shadowing her as she went up slope.
0630 I here a deer running and looked over and a large 4x4 is standing 15yds from when he pulled up. Could not move. He made quick trotting circle hit that doe track and trotted off in that direction. Few minutes later several forks and a 3x3 walked past. Saw the 5x5 again return back doen ridge for parts unknown at 0700.
Sat for an hour or more with no action then about 0845 I see the herd of doe we been wanting to trim down working my way. They came in and fed around. I picked what looked like a breeding age doe at about 25yds, line her up and sent arrow. Just as I had picked my spot and was thinking about release she hopped a half hop. To late arrow was already halfway there. I caught her in back third looked like angled right thru.
I watched her go in circles for about 20min then a buck chased them out of sight. Got arrow, broke in two and point was on ground so I know I kibabbed her. Go back in there in morning and see where she bedded.
One of those rare cold November days here in Tennessee. Maybe happens once every decade and it was a show for sure. One I will not soon forget.
HH~
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14 Nov
Snow still on east and north facing areas, 25 degrees this morning. Hunted this evening saw two bucks and two doe. Saw a good deer easing out of the woods right at last light.
Had two coons climb up a big Basswood tree near me. Why they went up that I can only guess? They thought it was a red or white oak. They came 60-70ft and went about their way. Deer really packed in my thick woods during this cold snap. In the brush eating honeysuckle vine and browsing low limb buds. There is a couple uncut soybean fields and they been in those then cutting over the ridge to water in creek. Saw two big groups of 10-12 driving around back way to house. Pick the right travel trail and stand they all going to go by you.
Good Hunting
HH~
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15 Nov
Clear skies, high pressure Lows in 20s highs in 50's.
Hunted a standing beanfield. Deer have about destroyed the backside of it. Combine had a accident and it is offline. May never get cut? Any how I got in at 1500hrs and was on ground in a fence row cut into a cedar. Saw first deer, a spike go by at 1615. Sat a bit more and saw deer start popping up everywhere in a low spot in field about 150yds from me. I crawl down a bean row into some tall Johnson grass next to a sinkhole. I grunted a big doe to about 40yds. Then, she new something was clearly not right and blew out. When she did deer come out those beans all over.
16 Nov
0600 24 degrees.
Saw bucks of all sizes scent checking every doe they saw and ground. Had same 3x3 come by me four times as he made his rounds. Lots of doe feeding by 0700 by river and edges of cut hay field. I could see a goo way now thru woods as most all but Oaks and Beech's have no leave. In the distance could see bucks chasing deer through thick scrub back and fourth. The rut is really in full swing and these early cool temps have them revved up. Good to see this going on.
A good 4x4 slipped out of thick stuffed for an instant then back in as he was nose to the ground. Did not hunt long today but saw a bunch of whitetails in two hours or so. Love being in the hunt woods with selfbow when this is going on.
Good Hunting
HH~
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Sounds like fun! The whitetails in our neighborhood are rutting too. There's been a decent 3x4 chasing does around with his nose to the ground like a hound dog. Too bad the season is over! I've thought about trying to grunt him in just for fun, but it seems like a bad idea to educate him; he'll be even nicer come next september!
Have fun!
Thomas
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17 Nov
0500 clear 26 degrees wind NE 0-3mph. Got in a creek bottom, big flat with river cane, sycamores, burr oaks and osage. Nice morning with a kind of dampness to it. 0625 I picked up a deer with its nose down working down the bottom toward me. Did not know what it was but as a single I was purty sure it was young buck. He worked into a creek dry oxbow and when he picked his head up and stopped gave him two small faint doe grunts. That was enough he came right to tree. When he got close I see he's 15" wide 1x2. P & Y 3pt! His right horn was coming out sideways. he goes by me 20 yds and did something I have never seen whitetails do. The big Osage next to me had seed globes all over the ground. He walked around and scraped the outside skin off them with his bottom browsing teeth and ate it. Must be why his antler is sideways?
Late saw two groups of different doe poking along creek travelling hard for better picking I guess?
Good Hunting
HH~
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19Nov
0600 43 degrees and light rain.
Hunted back over at farm up the road down by creek. Got in plenty early. Gray morning with SW winds. Not much deer action where I was sitting.
As it became light enough to see well, I was looking in creek and saw antlers sticking out by bank right under me. Could see it was a dead deer now. Victem of the Hiway. As morning went by I heard sqweeking on far creek bank, then again. I looked and then saw four Otters working the bank and then got in water and swam past upstream.
After hunt we got the Mule and yanked the buck out of creek. Very large bodied 4x4 that will make P&Y! Harvested by Kennworth. To bad.
Good Hunting
HH~
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20 Nov
0600 East wind 32 degrees, high clouds
A really great hunt morning. Saw many deer and more bucks than i could keep count on. One very nice 4.5-6.5yr old buck. One of the better deer i have seen in Tenn for a couple years. 250lb buck and that may be an under estimate. Like to see mature whitetails!
Later around 0700 coyote was standing in field about 200yds out. He was just standing in sun looking west. A whitetail doe walked toward coyote. When she got to about 25 yds she rush the song dog. He never moved and doe turned off and loped away. The yote watched doe go across field. The coyote then saw another dog and took off across field chasing the intruder.
One of those November morning where deer were in full rut and doing that whitetail mating thing.
Goos Hunting
HH~
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21 Nov 2019
0600 45 degrees SE wind, partly over cast
Warm temps but deer did move early with a rain front coming in from west. Saw deer chasing before 1st light. Saw same two coyotes and a few doe out feeding early on. Then, a few small bucks out scent checking and poking around. Big group of long beards came by say 12-18 of them. Later about 0820 my resident bald eagles flew up the river. I had just wondered if they were still occupying their nest up river a mile or so? They have about a rick or two of sticks and things up in the top of a 75ft Sycamore tree that hang directly over the river. They have raised one or two hatchling for the last 10yrs out of that nest.
Raining hard out today 22Nov will take a break and go help bone and grind several front whitetail shoulders up and work on my new Osage bow name "Wrecking Bow".
Good Hunting
HH~
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See ya in a bit Shawn, yep it is sure raining. :)
Pappy
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22 Nov
Rain day. . . . Flood day really.
Hunted Osage Billets and shot some Arra's.
Good hunting
HH~
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good hunting HH and thanks for this diary
it's a good reading :OK (SH) :-D
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24Nov
35 degrees, SW wind clear.
0600
Took my climber and hiked in top where I hunted last evening. I had seen a large whitetail buck in thick cover with a doe there.
Got in early, wind could not make up what it was going to do. Stayed in tree til 0930 and it was first day I think this season I saw no deer while hunting. On hike out I did see one in the back of a yard a long ways off in distance.
I'm not surprised as this is opening weekend of rifle season. Gets very tough to get within SB range from here on out. Deer, mature ones do a lot moving at night with the horde of runners and gunners in the woods.
Good Hunting
HH~
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25 Nov 2019
0600 frost, warm clear 60's by noon
Great day for this Ranger. Turned double nickels today. Never thought I would see 30! My better half (the Kaisers daughter) made me a real Black Forest Cake and at 0530 I cut into that baby and had a giant chunk with my coffee. Figger if all the commies, dictators and turds did not get me last 25 yrs maybe this sugar shock will.
Some nice deer taken last several days. All nice deer ive seen have been in thick cover with doe in last couple days. Not a bad thing, mature deer passing good blood along.
Good Hunting
HH~
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Happy birthday! Sounds like a good one. I haven't had real black forest cake for a long, long time. There are worse ways to die!
T
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26-27 Nov
Warm 30s -60s for highs and lows.
Hunted both evenings in same general area. Very thick old grown up tobacco fields on a ridge. Been the same big 5x5 in here for a week or so breeding doe in the this jungle. Lots of osage, small tulip poplar and honey locust, blackberries, wild currant, etc. I have had this buck with in 25yds twice in two days but just no shot. Nice deer 17-20" wide prolly a 4.5yr old and he's broken up on his right side. Had this deer in the heavy rain last night come within shooting range but would not turn for a good solid shot opportunity.
Anyway on my way in I saw about nine deer walking the base of the ridge in Ranger file, Nutt to Butt. They looked like they knew where they wanted to be and were wasting no time getting there.
By the time light faded and the rain really started coming down I got down and started for home. My wool Mackinaw was about 20lbs for the walk back. Think it heavier than my stand and pack? Felt that way anyhow.
Good Hunting
HH~
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Maybe tomorrow Shawn. ;) I passed on the rainy day yesterday and glad I did, it came a flood at the farm. Have a good Thanksgiving and maybe see ya this weekend. ;)
Pappy
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Yes
Will be down and find something to get into.
Saw 8 whitetails acroos flooed creek from me. All doe and one Einhorn. Tells me the mature bucks have breeding doe ears punned back in cover doing deer stuff!
Coyotes cut loose right at last light and as usual they were right where deer had gone. Hope those dogs show in morning!
Happy Thanksgiving Bowmen
Good Hunting
HH~
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28 Nov 19 Thanksgiving
0600hrs, 32 degrees wind out of NW at 2-3mph partly cloudy
Did not see much action, few deer. I did hear deer before light walking in flooded timber. Saw one good one but he was a looong way off. My river and creek bottoms are flooded and river crested last nite after I hunted. Saw a few doe feeding early then not much. I did shoot a coyote about 0700 I hit it back a bit and it headed for the power line scrub. Went thru but I did not get down. Was a long shot. One less deer eater anyway.
Good morning. Turkeys were back in the their roosting spot in flooded creek bottom. Funny seeing the blue heron standing way up where one of my stand location is.
Going to hunt up some butternut squash and turkey bird on a plate later :)
Good Hunting
HH~
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Happy TG, Shawn!
Thomas
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01 Dec 2019
0600hrs 42 degrees clear and wind coming up to 18-20mph from west.
Sat on east facing ridge looking into my flooded creek timber. Where I hunt sometimes is under 10ft of water. hunted upstream and watch a beaver in creek dragging leaves and grass into a bank den for a hour. Saw no deer in bottom at all. Did happen to see two bucks when I was coming out under powerline cut in brush. Will take some says for this water to get lower. Some colder weather will help as well.
Crows chasing and harassing redtailed hawk, beaver and a huge fat raccoon which climbed up into a hollow hackberry tree.
Good Hunting
HH~
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03 Dec 19
0500, 27 degrees, zero wind, high wispy clouds/clearing
Great morning. Hunted with my good buddy. Nice 3/4 mile walk in in half dry leaves. Hunted an east facing ridge. Right at 0630 the gray squirrels were out in force. I could see them in every direction I looked. Crows were flying at 1st light. Deer had been in the area I was in under the red oaks but just not this morning.
We stayed til just after 0900 as we had other tasks to get completed to hunt further toward end of week. Good walk out over and down the ridge and thru the creek.
Good Hunting
HH~
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04 Dec 2019
30 degrees, freezing fog on river. I cant post here as I was Coyote hunting. Maybe Pappy will post on Lif is Gud or I can put it in Around the Campfire.
Good Hunting
HH~
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06 Dec 19
0600hrs cloudy and 45 degrees. Have to process a deer today. Grind burger from Big Stinky. Cant hunt every day I guess.
Go to "Big Stinky" thread on Around the Campfire to see.
Good Hunting.
HH~
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HH,
Great thread. Thanks for posting and keeping your story going. Also, thanks for your service. I've been in uniform and now serving the Army as a DA Civilian for the last 43 years. Not a Ranger though, so at least I still have my knees :) You give me hope that I can figure out tree stand hunting before it's really too late for me.
Beautiful bows too.
Ted
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06 Dec 19
Thank you Ted.
Like to get out in woods a lot but after the hunt there's chores and meat to attend to. So, yesterday was one of these days. I took and care of my deer from a couple days ago with some help. Had to take care my good friends boned out shoulders and trimmings that were in fridge.
Stopped at Food Lion and saw they had pork butt on sale so I grabbed 3ea. Headed to farm to grind deer and mix 25-30% pork in for burger and for brats making later in winter. Had some great help and after only 4-5hrs it was done.
Shared a nice looking backstrap with guys who helped me out and my buddy picked up his 20lbs of packaged burger on way home from the deer stand. I noticed legs hanging out his side by side on trailer in dark. I told him as a joke "next time your in the kitchen cutting wrapping, grinding, sealing and us fellas are hunting"!
I finished off my last Brats last week. Everyone who ate them wherever we went this past year really liked them. Great eating sausage. Just have to take them off heat earlier than pure pork brats. Like mine medium cooked. Had lots of them in hunting camp and many over fire pit at TO all year for quick lunch. Mix it up Deer burgers, then deer brats. Never get tired of them.
Good hunting
HH~
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07 Dec 2019
Looking at a pic of this little static I hunt with. Almost a year old now.
HH~
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Hedge,
Really enjoyed reading through these posts. Thanks for taking me along this hunting season. Haven't had much time myself this year so this helped fill the void. Steve
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12 Dec 19
27 degrees, clear west wind 2/3ds waxing moon
Have been out doing some management work on his hunt farm. Have not bow hunted in a few days. Been out just not with bow.
Don't worry hog hunting has not even started yet and they put some new area's into bow only in GA where I hunt. So, we are not done by a longshot for 2019-2020 season.
HH~
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16 Dec 19
Evening hunt. Getting tough, have to hunt from purty him up tree! Guns have deer really jumpy. Did have 5 doe come in and feed just out of bow range. Right at last light coyotes got to yipping. Getting ready to head out to night hunt!
Had flooding rains my area is half under water! Cooling off now. Have morning appt will hunt tomorrow night. One more harvest will top me offfor making brats in Feb.
Take out Wrecked Bow tonite.
Good Hunting
HH~
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19 Dec 2019
Not feeling to hot today or yesterday. Was not feeling to good anyhow, then had a Doc Appt and they gave me the Shingles and Flu Vac one in one arm one in other. Feel dog crap in a Dixie cup. I had Shingles already. Funny when I asked for a Vac for it 5 yrs ago the cheap Tri-Care monkeys would not give me one. Who knows with them folks.
Went out for a woods walk with Pappy about mid day to get some air. We found this guy dead and eaten up Buzzards and Coyotes. Was a good buck. Im sure he was gun shot and died on edge of a cedar thicket. Pappy had pic on Life is Good but I will share it here as well.
Will get this last deer with bow I need for Brats soon. Have to kill some Coyotes too. We did see fresh scrapes so there are some doe getting birdy for late rut here.
Good Hunting
HH!
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year you Hunters of the Hedge. Shooting into 2020.
Shawn~
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Shawn.
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Back at you, Shawn. ho ho ho
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27 Dec 2019
Trying to nail down dates for pig hunting in Georgia and or Texas/Ark in Jan/Feb. I am purty full here in Jan 2020. Thinking I may have to push it to early Feb. Be river and creek bottom hunting mostly that time of year. Get it where the soil is soft and damp where them critters can root and feed. My friend by Texarkana says they are in the bottoms know cleaning the last of the acorns out. Told to save me a few to kill with selfbow. I bring my climber with me so I can get on them up tight.
Shawn~
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Hope you kill a few of them oinkers Shawn. Good luck man
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Happy 2020 Selfbow Men!
Shawn~
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01 Jan 2019
1400hrs Nice afternoon, wind out of SE and I have settle in up on a small ridge above my creek. Woods is damp and quiet. Sat until after last shooting light without seeing any deer movement in my section. Not unusual as there is a big winter wheat field in the next section on top of the hill. So, I know there deer are bedded right off it til almost dark to push out and feed. Had a great evening with the Wrecking Bow. On the wolk out I got right behind my place and the deer were there as I went thru my bar-way.
Shawn~
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Hunting slowed a bit so I worked on my long hunt knife for hunting in Grizz country next fall in east central Idaho.
Shawn~
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Hope you have a great 2020 Shawn
Bjrogg
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Great looking knife. My money'd still be on the griz, though. :)
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04 Jan 2019
I have to smoke some Salmon today but may hit the woods tonite. The high river has the deer right behind my place. Think I may climb up on a well used trail and see what happens.
Good hunting
Shawn~
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05 Jan
0600 30 degrees 2 mph east wind. Saw 6 deer that were feeding in corners of winter wheat field but they never came near my stand. Warmed very quickly and will get to 55 today. Wind had picked up on my way out and seem more SE at 5-10mph.
Good hunting
Shawn~
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The goal was 10,000 hits fella's during Tennessee's hunting season. Looks like we are going to get there. Getting ready to climb a tree here in an hour or so til dark up on the ridge that the hill cane thicket is on.
Good Hunting
HH~
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07 Jan 19
Running out of days here in Tennessee. Cant hunt tomorrow much in morning. will hit the creek bluff in evening!
That guy on the left won the 2019 $ with a 70" HedgeHunter SB ;) I think I got lucky on that 3Rivers/Arvin shoot down?
Thought the Hedgemen would like to see this?
Good Hunting
Shawn~
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I made Julia's bow.
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Yeah
I like it but string touches limb. For IBO shooting its a recurve not a selfbow. I did like your repair job on it.
She may have shot in recurve but since it was Arvins shootdown i dont think so. Someone should let her know before Worlds this year.
Nice bow Eric
Shawn
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So far they haven't had enough women selfbow shooters to have an IBO world women's selfbow class, Julia said there had to be at least 13. Selfbow classes are pretty liberal as far as design, one piece of unbacked wood is pretty much it in any tournament up to the nationals, I don't know about the specific IBO rules.
Julia has won the nationals at Cloverdale 2 or 3 times with that bow, it met the criteria for their selfbow class. She has also won the IBO world women's longbow class twice with a modern longbow that her husband Danny made.
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The IBO doesn't allow a recurve selfbow? ???
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who are the people in the picture?
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Maybe a good Hunt bow Eric. She blood it?
HH~
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No blood, I think she gets out the 30-30 when she gets serious about killing a deer.
The lady in the lime green tank top is Julia Norris, the lady to her left is Val Gray.
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Yes Eric
I shot with them. See them at 3D. Just wanted to know if they hunt with selfbow?
Well, deer season in Tenn is complete. Never did take number seven with a HedgeHunter. So, I guess I still have a goal in hunting here at home anyway. Was a fantastic season. Pappy and I were discussing the season and such. For a warm early season then a quick early cold snap. Was a terrific season with highs and lows. I did not hunt as many days as I do normally, that said , I had enormous success over all. Wish I had found that first buck that day and not the following morning. Still a great selfbow harvest. One I will not forget.
Time for hogs in the wrap around season or maybe I go hunt some Axis or Ram in Texas on my favorite Army NG Post. Fair chase, no fences. Since I'm headed that way might as well. Not enough time in the year it seems.
I hope you SB hunters and others enjoyed Whitetail season with me.
Good hunting
Shawn~
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16 Jan 20
OK so it may get cold here in a few days. So, the next hunting will be myself out with a selfbow with judos and a BH looking for sheds. Here where the weather turns from real warm to cold the whitetails antlers will pop off. Not sure why but its true.
So, a horn hunt is in order soon.
Good Hunting
Shawn~
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Big medicine is complete. 51@27” about 16yr old stave outta a 60-70 yr old tree. Elk rig for next season. Shoots 650 POc hard. Shot a frozen block target at 20yds with BH and had 10” penetrAtion. Should make a great meat shooter.
Shawn~
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The selfbow finals Hunters men from 2019 made to the IBO Flyer for 2020.
Some hope for us Selfbows guys yet!
Look in upper left corner those are the Final Sunday crew for the IBO Trad World Finals for 2019.
HH~
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The goat target on upper left with all the arrows in it. Here's the deal on that.
Levy Bryant runs this shoot "last man standing" at 2019 IBO Trad Worlds. Targets are out in open, unknown distance. On that goat. . . . I saw him walk out and do something at the butt of animal. I had heard in other shoots he would put a mark and if you got a hit you'd win $. Anywho's, I could not see anything but I shot for the rump and as you can see there were still lots of folks still in shoot. You had to hit 8 ring to keep going in the event or buy your way back in. Well, I was shooting SB and this was a 27yd shot or so. I shot for rump. They pulled all those arrows and Levy was holding my wood shaft and says "whose Arrow is this"? I replied "Mine" and he handed me $150 cash. I gave him $20 to stay in competition.
I was last Selfbow Standing.
Good Hunting
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Yep sorry to say the season is over for another year but I have enjoyed this thread even though I knew pretty much what was going to be on it, ;) :) good shooting Shawn, great year. :)
Pappy
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ABout sharing the hunt and piling up burger for brats I guess.
It's wrap around season now. The Hunt never ends, does it?. We hunt for bow wood, squirrels, mushrooms, peace of mind, etc, etc. Hogs are up next.
Thinking of carrying on my selfbow to Hawaii soon as well. State deer bow area opens Feb 1st. Killing a Axis in the Mts of Lanaii would be the crown jewel of selfbow hunting. I have only killed them with a wheel bow and came very close with recurve several times. To many eye's and noses and killer hunt ending thermal wind drifts. That was in in 19-forgotton now. Love to back with some moccasins, charcol camo, lion cloth and a selfbow. Some big bucks there but crazy steep and lava rock slice you up like a cheese grater.
Yep, I guess the thread will keep on dripping on.
HH~
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Was a tuff day for me yesterday. Thought I would get up early and go out after Coyotes. Great morning. 33 degrees with almost no wind. I was lucky by sticking it an extra 15min or so and was able to take one out at long range. That's the 16th taken off this property that parallels where ai hunt between to party's of hunters. Have to get this management done here as there are just way to many yotes here.
Good thing was I saw 16 good healthy deer with plenty young deer. Two bucks were still actively chasing doe as well with hard horn. Which surprised me a bit. Also, saw a woodcock fly by a daybreak and some Canada's go by.
Good Hunting
Shawn~
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Well,
Feb is usually Hog hunting for me but had to put it off for a bit. Did get 800 plus brats made over 3 days of working on them. Finished up mine and Mark B's yesterday. A small run of 20lbs or so. In that amount it goes very fast. Think we did about 180-190lbs for Pappy/Beau and myself, 90lbs apiece.
Was good because we some colder weather and it was a good time to get it all done.
Think Greg has a purty good pile to get done as of yet as well.
Few more days and will be moving hunting grounds to a more southern location. Least I will have Cajun deer Brats in my Iron skillet with my breakfast eggs!
Shawn~
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Went down and helped Greg B prep 65lbs of deer for Brats. He will stuff them Monday. The lng prep and mix part is complete.
Guess the work from the hunt seaon continues. We did throw a few patties un the fry pan to test a 10lb mix. They were outstanding. Greg will have fine eating.
HH~
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This bow went to Gil 50@27. Tillered 1/4" positive on lower limb and FD about the same maybe 3/8ths. Hunting weight bow. Limbs really work welll together. I burnished the heck outta this one and then hand rubbed oil in. He is shooting it in some more before I re-weigh and put the HH stamp on it.
Be a Killah I think.
Shawn~
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Life Juice of the Hawaiian Hunter Gatherer.
HH
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Here are to HH bows during 7-8MAR TBOF State championship. One of these took SB high score in their field. Good stuff.
Shawn~
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Been off the mainland for a bit. Was at the cabin on the west end of Oahu. Got to shoot with my old hunting buddy from Lanaii for a day. We did not hunt with all the fuss about the China Virus. Should have brought the bows to the river mouth here in the picture as there was a nice school of Papio feeding right at the mouth.
Photo of Cabin with the pig and goat country up high in background and then the other view looking toward New Zealand 5000 NM away. Guys were hunting pigs and deer season was open on Lanaii. Wish I had another week to go archery hunt there.
Hawaiian TP. We ran out.
HH~
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The new 2020 hunt bow is about complete. Been shooting it in and tweeking the sight window. This was a belly split off a very large Hedge Apple. I got it from D'Wayne and Jamie at Buck Hollow as a gift payback for a stave I gave D'wayne made his Mojo bow out of. This is that very heavy dense dark orange wood. Added a little Shadua to the handle.
Hits hard for a 46@28" 70" been shooting 200-250 grn broadheads on a 30" 23/64ths shafts running 650grns.
The neat thing on this hunter is that the lower limb is 3 rings down from the upper. You can see in the picture of the grip area the rings.
This happen because the lower limb has a big V trench (concave, more like a Vee) area where the upper limb ring was compromised so bad in the lower limb I had to keep going till I found a solid one.
Shawn~
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Aloha, nice looking bow man. That's my style hunting bow right there. Simple and straight.
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Looks like life could be worse, Shawn. I like the green tp. I think I'm going to be glad I never cleaned out my corn patch, before this is all over...
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Think im gonna go put 25 young squirrels in the ice box.
Oh, that new Hunt Rig has Gaboon tips and hand rubbed wax and oil funish. Probably the best shooting selfbow i have ever scratched out with heavy arrows. Just a laser.
HH~
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Took the new 70" Hunter out on the 25 Target practice range with a 600grn 30" arrow today with Pappy and Bart. Shot OK for first ten. After I settled in with I did light it up on the last 15. Dont think I shot any 8's. All good realistic shots on deer sized targets 13-24yds I figged. Bow just really heavy dense wood and very solid in follow thru. Arrow just never moves left or right much point of aim. Going to love seeing the first ACE 160 or 200grn arrow dissappear into hair.
HH~
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Two Hedge-Hunters and a Pappy Hunter.
Shawn~
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Be Turkey time soon. Have a nice 190grn BH set up 50lb spine shafts off my wrecking bow that's going to get a workout. Still have my hunt clothes in deer shed hanging with the SB horde. Prolly work on my ghillie net and get it spruced up a bit. Have 3-4 nice gobs roosting right behind me in big sycamores hanging over river.
Ticks are out here already with this warm weather. What else is new!
Gobble Gobble
Good Hunting Selfbow Men
HH~
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Wrecked be out soon.
HH~
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Looking forward to the damage "Wreck" does soon! Our season starts next Saturday. Be out after them also.
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Thinking of taking out the HHB 66" since it has a camo backing shoots good with a set of 60yr old PO shafts I put together recently. Some old horns from Ontario Border that reside on Pappys shed now.
HH~
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Split some yella wood Saturday and scraped a bunch too.
Little snow in elk bow camp. Got out and humped some of my Ballistic Armor Plates and a ruck full of bricks this morning. Got to stay ready for the hugh country come OCT.
HH~
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Had a good walk about with ruck this morning. Made a big circle up on a ridge that follows river with a good look out to wheat fields. saw several nice groupd of turkeys blowd up with hens. No deer but plenty sign. Found some nice old Osage trees and bunch of nice HHB. When I cut back up the hill ran into a nice group of 8-10 hens and two big toms. Not the birds there use to be in here but good to see some birds left.
Good morning.
HH~
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Made a new folder on my computer for Photo's. Was thinking what to call it?
So "Wuhan Days" it is.
HH~
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More Wuhan Days
Opening morning of Turkey season. Nice 60 degrees, no bugs yet partly cloudy. Was don in river bottom in a hasty ground Ghillie net blind. Took the HHB 66" 44@28 deer killer. Made some arrows out of 60yr old shafts 30" put some old 90grn slotted 2 blades with a 100grn woody weight under it. Shoot very well.
Got in early had reconned the spot yesterday birds were in the area. Had Toms on every side of me gobbling off roost out of big sycamores. saw my first birds on ground about 0730, group of jakes and one hen. They passed by feeding and poking along creek. Had a hen come by later very close later. Fox squirrels, deer and wood ducks rounded out the morning
Had some kids go right by me on the way to the Stripe hole. So, that ended the hunt. Hope the kids get a mess of white bass!
HH~
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Wuhan Days continued. Looks like we be in them for some time to come?
Got plenty gardening to get to and hunting.
HH~
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Went out early. Got set up in a holler off a hilltop green field. Had deer go by coming off wheat at 0620hrs. Heard some birds way off on roost. Then, moved and followed creek and saw a group of hens. No Gobs on them.
Circled back North and saw a good groups in middle of pasture. Toms were working a bunch of hens. Great almost full moon morning and nice sunrise.
Good Hunting
HH~
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More Wuhan Days.
Out Turkey hunting yesterday. No bird but did walk out with a nice small diameter hedge apple. Then, I did a belly split off of a belly split. Yeah, you dont get billets like these from a double belly split very often. So, was pleased with them. about as clean as I've ever seen from Tenn yella wood.
Good Hunting
HH~
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Hedge, you remind me a lot of a hunting buddy of mine. dont know why, you just do.
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(-_) :-D Likes to eat red meat rare, he does?
Shawn~
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the main way he eats it is jerky but when he makes a steak he doesn't go for well done. he sometimes does some special cut or something (I dont know) but he makes a dip and cuts slices of raw meat and you dip it in the sauce or mix and eat it raw. i think it has to be super fresh or something.
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i think he puts the meat first in some sorta stuff, something very acidic that probably kills all the bacteria.
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Prolly does. Well Dun is for Englishman.
The Native Amercan and Atilla bloodline in me likes it warm and bleeding.
HH~
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Just came back from a Hedge cut in the woods. Got about 1000lbs of yella wood. Some nice snake lumber too. Not bad for three hours work. Stuff boogered in deep. Had to rope some trees to get them down. Hard to get at. Worth it none the less. Not like last summers haul but sap was down so it'll do for a spring haul.
Get pics up soon.
HH~
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Split some fresh Hedge today and maybe get to work on my "Wuhan Cure" bow? Got to get the yella wood staved out first. Have a wicked line of storms come thru last nite, cool now. Woulda been a great morning to hunt birds but have to these logs off this trailer.
HH~
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Wuhan Days chugging along. Bart on his new bow looking rather nice. The wood we cut yesterday.
HH~
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Happy Easter Brothers of the Hedge
Shawn~
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Got rained out again for turkey this morning. So, it was bow scraping time.
Bart on his Wuhan Days bow.
Then, I have the Wuhan Cure out to 22"
HH~
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The Wuhan Cure could not shake the china virus. One last heat treat to take some deflex outta upper limb and it succumbed. Was Ky wood. Should have left it be.
HH~
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More Clarks-Vegas lockdown work getting done.
HH
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Bart working on a new hunting SB.
HH~
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Sat 02 May 2020
Well it was Classic weekend and we had a guddun under blue skies. Think Pappy said most of what we got into. Shot a round or two on one of the best practice courses I have ever seen (dan makes a good one). Not shooting thru knot holes or under over brush. Just real good hunting shots to 30yds.
He put a 150yd shot at the end across lower parking area, target is a 12'wide x 18" tall SMALL. I had shot it once or twice before with different bow and arrows. I had pulled a carbon from Barts quiver out to shoot it as I did not think these 600grn wood arrows could make the flight. Pappy shamed me into shooting my woods. Turned out ok.
Was a good all round weekend. Not as good as it would have been without the Virus but good none the less.
HH~
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Some more from the farm. Turkey hunting is over and been cutting some wood, in the garden and building bows and shooting a bunch.
Getting ready to make some bamboo backed bows. Cut and planed some boo and took some belly sections out of some questionable osage for cores and bellies. Should be able to get on those after awhile.
Weather here finally turned off warm now. Last week had coldest morning in over 100yrs for the date. Lucky had all my warm garden stuff out of the ground in trays and medium cups so I could bring in garage and shed.
Going to shoot Buck Hollow this morning with selfbow. Be good to see those fellas across the Cumberland River.
The top pic Barst bow came out very very nice. Good piece of Hedge Apple or 6 trs old. he built a 64" NTN 51@26" . Nice cast and good early string weight. Going to make a nice hunting rig for the fall.
HH~
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Just got back from Buck Hollow 3D shoot. Packed house for a one day shoot! Had 100 folks by 12:00hrs. Great day nicely layed out and awesome 80 breezy weather. Good folks and good piece of ground for a shoot.
HH~
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Memorial Day !!
HH~
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Fawns are dropping here. Baby turkey and fawns running abouts. Still have not had a day above 85-86 degrees. I have yet to water my garden at all. Plenty showers evry other day or periods of rain. It is green as I have seen it, plenty under brush, thistle, milkweed, goldenrod, blackberrys, wild grass all thick and lush good for hiding baby deer! Good signs for the herd come fall.
Have a few mineral lick sites and the doe have really eaten them up. They really lick the mineral when lactating. Not much here for them as far as natural mineral licks like out west.
All good signs for low mortality if we do not get drought conditions in July August.
HH~
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Out today running two track. Checking stand locations and how deer are using licks and looking for fawns.
Deer in underbrush all over. Got tobacco in above me and late beans will go it after wheat comes out i. A couple weeks.
Lots of rain early this year and plenty cover growing and its lush. Should be a really good fall unless we get a late summer dry spell.
Turkeys were out as well. Was unusually cool and low low humidity. Good day in the brush.
HH~
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Had a set of really nice billets that were from a very skinny stave after busting a bunch wood. Clean not a pin in it. Had em up in my shed. thinned em down and put them back up there. Then,few months ago jointed them together and back up in shed.
Grabbed it down a couple days ago and scraped on it a little. Flipped it, and it took heat very well and evenly. Think i's 67" if I remember right 65"GTG and its 49@28". Cut sight window out and shot it split finger off just wood on wood to see where shelf and widow needed tuning but it was shooting so well I will leave it be. With a tiller string it was grouping 6-8" @ 28yds for the dozen or so arrows I shot.
Need to get some tips on and finish up and seal. This rig may be able to run with my 68" Timber Rattler static? Time will tell.
Was going to gift this away but at this weight and length it may come with me in a tree come September 2020.
Hedge~
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Getting ready for the Howard Hill then the IBO at Twin Oaks. Gonna be a heck of a July shooting self bows. That'll take us thru July really then, heck itll be September and back on the stand again.
From all the fawns I have been seeing its looks like a great year for whitetail deer. Just hope we dont get a big drought in July-Sept with a blue tounge outbreak. Barring that we are in good shape.
Hedge~
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Went out back last nite to shoot a few arrows. After shooting a few groups I looked in in a bald spot of grass and there's a 5ft Rat/Chicken Snake on ground. Walked close to have look at him and he looked nice. I touched him with my bow tip and he did not move. Then, again and no movement. I thought "he's dead"? Nice big healthy looking snake and looks like he just shed with bright color.
So he either got hit in road or someone threw him over my back fence near garden?? Either way he is on a board now. I dont kill these snakes as they are good to have around. Couple years ago Ray and caught a huge female about 7-8ft. We let her go and got her off the grass where he was mowing.
HH~
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Got some cool weather coming in today. Say goodbye to 90's for a week or so. Garden is really liking this humid weather with showers every other day or so. I will say in another week my earthen crock will be full of kraut with a stone on top of it. Kohlrabi is a couple weeks away from coming out.
still picking lettuce by the buckets some has bolted already but I stagger planted it so I will have some for a good bit yet.
Strawed in al my tomatoes to keep hot sun off ground near them. Melons and squash are behind after our May 4th freeze here llots of folks lost all their warm weather plants. Lucky I was hesitent to put mine out after a April 15th frost. I still had mine in 16oz cups and had been moving them in and out every day. It paid off as I did not loose anything. Since I plant mine from seed I keep from years prior it would not have been a big loss.
Few more weeks and I will start my fall plantings from seed, collards, winer squash, broccolis, cualiflower, might put some beans in who knows? Got to get all my canning food put up before I head for the high country to chase elk, deer and bear. I think its gonna be a early winter in the Mts. Snowed yesterday in Rockies!
Hedge~
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Been shooting the Wrecking Bow this week a bunch. This little bow shoots great with a 580grn arrow. Just look at a spot out to about 27 yds and it drops right in. Billet bow from two not so choice pieces of wood. It need a bunch of strong heated suggestion to do what I was telling it to do. Sure has come around to shooting now.
HH~
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I made my latest bow from miss matched billets, really mismatched. Like you I had to spend a bunch of time to get both limbs to have the same return rate. The bow came out to be one of my best shooters so far.
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Yep
I dont like to thin my joints to much. I leave meat!
Some folks mow em down and hide them under grip material. Thinning and Hiding a joint is Asking for trouble. Guys tell me “ i like to look at that dovetail”.
Love it Eric.
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Out in the hollers yesterday shooting selfbows with the fellas. No often we have a group of all SB guys or gals. Great morning round under the cool tree cover and very low humidity. Some rather good shooting happening as well.
I did have a slow mover up by one of my stands. Had very interesting Glyphs on his shell.
Hedge
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15 June 2020
Not the biggest ive seen here but he was 55" after clean up and good color. Cant figger how he died? Strage indeed. Folks here dont generally kill these snakes and old time folks use to love to keep em in ad around house when they plank or dirt floor to keep mice voles rats and such from gettting to numerous.
MAPA
HH~
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Been cool here of late. Deer piling into late beans just up. Saw a bunch last few days.
Cut my cabbages today. Made 10lbs of German kraut the old way in crock. Should be ready in 3-4 weeks. Be around 6-7 qts I figger.
Funny i see on net people say "why grow tomatoes when you can buy a whole stem of them for $3" . Guess they have not looked at the price of canned tomato products at Piggly Wiggly lately! Really all canned goods prices, heck all grocery prices!!
HH~
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Well
the mystery of the the expired Chicken snake by the back by garden is, well, still a mystery but he will live now hanging on to this hunk of Hedge Apple, Likely gently rocking to and fro in a cool November wind off a branch 18ft up in the same area he used to sun himself.
Hedge~
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Need a grip. Any idea's? I got beaver tail its hunts purty well. Was trying to think what else will fare well in wet cool weather. If I hade some small shark or dog fish skin I would use it.
HH~
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20 June 20
Be a good day I recon. Was out on some new ground yesterday cutting wood and moving stands and taking down stands from leaseers on next farm over that decided they would just hunt this farm as well. Place has a big ridge that's runs NE to SW with the main creek that drains the area running at base. Deer really using this ridge to stay out the open corn fields. Going to be a very good selfbow hunting spot.
Will go it today and start piling up these gun stands that been out on this land for awhile see if the owners come and get them? Some how I think they won't.
Found a nice Mulberry on edge of beanfield, a bunch actually but only one had some good bow wood in it. So, it came back with me.
Good Hunting
HH~
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21 June 2020
Long day in Northern Hemisphere and Fathers day here in the land of the Free and Home of the Brave. Well, was purty warm yesterday in the woods. four big ladder stands down and up on this farm a friend hunts and tends. Really nice piece of ground lots of deer and turkey. Has two large cedar thickets, think that area was old over grown tobacca land. Just a real good area but it was logged about 40 years ago and has almost zero white oak, few reds and corn on 70% of it. That corn will still be up come middle of October I'm sure. Be tough early bow season.
Clearing one stand location we dropped a good winged elm. I took a 80" log back to the house with me. Gotta sharpen a small saw so I can kerf some staves out of it. I know I'm not splitting that. I noticed now all over for last couple years the Sassafras trees are all dying off from something??? Big mature trees and small trees. Very strange.
HH~
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22June 2020
Out with my ruck walking this morning and coming up the hill these were in the road right in front of me. Guess this gob still after these year old hens. Nice bird. The ruck is filling up with bricks and my body armor plates. Time to switch to my big large ruck soon and really get the suk factor up in this nice summer training weather. Still cool this morning though. We rarely ever get above 95 here. I here every year why folks up north cant come shoot 3D in summer down to TENN. Then I look at the weather in Boston, Ma or NJ , CT and its 102, 105 every summer for a week or two.
HH~
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23 June
Split some Mulberry and Elm staves yesterday. Here's Bart splitting out this winded elm after I kerfed it. In quarters now need to saw it into 8ths and peel /seal.
One of my Rangers buds from 19 Forgotton in service sent this pic in a store in a small town in Utah other day. This Bull was 431" net! Just sitting on the wall in a little place. Not even with a cape on it.
Finish peeling some wood today and put it up in barn. Should have about 100 staves and who knows how many billets put up. Keep from going on Wood Welfare or worse have to "buy some" !
HH~
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Shot the Howard hill Classic this weekend. Nice couple days warm on Friday , Sat was cooler and breezy.
Me and Terry Harris and selfbow award form last years shoot.
HH~
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More from the Howard Hill last week and before the start of the IBO at Twin Oaks.
Two good weeks in Archery. Sherry M won the Top shot shoot off. Gils wife. I did not get a picture with her HH selfbow which she shot.
Good time at Tannehill, AL hunting the wood and $. Hedge bows took all awards! 1st 2nd 3rd in selfbow
MEN’S SELF BOW ~ Gil Magallanes 134 * Mark Bartosch 130 * Zachary Bartosch 89
HH~
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The Tennessee Girl on the left took third in the VT class at the Twin Oaks IBO Worlds 2020 as well. Sistah of the Hedge!
HH~
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Four Hedgehunter selfbows in the top 15 at IBO Trad Worlds 16-19 July.
Then week earlier at Howard Hill Classic they won all selfbow awards. Good shooting Braddah’s and Sistah's of the Hedge!
Shawn~
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Got the wonky character HH getting ready to be shot in. its 50-55lbs, 67" GTG right now. Needs a good home and patch of deer woods to shine. Bottom limb was a bear to get bending, lots of wavy grain.
Shawn
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Switch to broad heads yesterday. Bart and I were shooting and doing some testing on his bows. I grabbed my 67 NTN Static and a set of 60yrold shafts with 190grn BH's on them. Told here's a cold shot with 600rgns of two bladed death at 30yds. Pulled a deep mediterranean hold just a wee bit high and let it go. It twisted thru the heavy southern humid air with those 5.5" wild turkey fletch and struck deep into the foam about 2' high of the mark.
I asked Bart "think this one is ready for that big non typical in that corner of the bean field we been seeing"? He just smiled.
H`
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The better of the two 5x4's harvested at my place last fall 19-20 season. Was in river cane in November checking doe.
Shawn~
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Cut thru my hunt beans on friends farm on way home today with wife. There were 8 bucks in beans four P & Y's and the giant double beamer. I had to drop mamma off at house I drover back as they were moving to bed. Had feeling this season was going to be a year for good antler growth and large bodied deer. Lots rain, cool temps, easy winter and a ton of early food.
Shawn~
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Since my Buck Holler bow chit the bed right before opening round of the Howard Hill Classic it was time for a new target model.
I got a gifted a a box from from Arvin right before the IBO Trad's Shoot. Open the box and a nice Arvin selfbow with a stave inside. Will shoot his bow this weekend in BH shoot in IN . Took the stave and made a super Arvin Killer 68" 40@28" pyramid. It got named Selfbow Sacrilege when the fellers seen it. Has a very large riser with thumb rest. Just the riser may weigh a pound? Rest of it it is typical Arvin pyramid. Shoots like a scalded Ape.
Thanks Arvin!
Everyone's hunting fer something.
Shawn
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Getting close fella's.
Almost time for a 2020 thread. Lots of rain here all season. Corn will come out early here and late beans will be king. Will get a an acre or two of winter wheat in this creek bed corner of this corn field soon as it comes out. Been a lunch box for deer come Nov and Dec.
Only thing that could really foul things up is if every red oak is heavy with acorns. That will make deer just hang off those stands and not move a great deal. On other hand, a early cold snap could negate this!
Going to have to hit it hard early season this year as I am out to High Country for 3 weeks later on.
Have made about 15 -20 selfbows this year and some need a good blooding. By me or their gifted owners.
Shawn~
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Guess its time to start getting my gear ready for my trod out west. Hoping for snow in high country! I will get a week or so deer hunting here in Tenn before I go. Take some fresh whitetail straps with me for in camp.
Guys are taking some nice deer in KY with these really cool mornings we been having this weekend. Saw a couple dandy bucks harvested.
Good Hunting
Shawn~
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Been awhile since I did a R&D boo backed hunting bow. Hewed a core out of a stave by hand then, squared it and planed one side. Had a double tapered hickory lam made for core and a bacote power lam I made out of some scrap wood. 67.5", 1.25' core. Took the core and heat treated on 66" R & D caul and lamed it up two days ago. Reflex is 4" and deflex is 2". Looking at some scraps now for a riser. Maybe some shadua I have somewhere abouts?
Should be short enough for tree satnd and send an 575-600grn arrow 150fps without much trouble.
Good Hunting
Shawn~
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Floor tiller this Hunt Rocket and glued up a handle for it. Also made some Osage and zebra wood tips wedges for it. Will pit those on before final tiller. Should have this in the hunt woods by the opening day here. A friend is sending me some tanned elk hide so maybe I will find a way to use it on this bow.
Good Hunting
Shawn~
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Well folks. Almost time to migrate to the new hunt season 20-21.
Like my pic folder for 2020 im thinkin the thread will have the same name. Wont be year of the cat, dragon, tiger or bat.
Stay tuned we’ll have plenty stories heat ache and harvests.
Good Hunting
Hedge~
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Hoped for 30K but fell short.
HH~