Adjam5

Prayers coming your way. Have faith and it will all work out. The Lord does work in mysterious ways.

I hear ya Ruth...I am dealing with post Texas depression. I had a week in the sun at least. You need a break, no doubt. You have been workin' your tail off and the cold and snow kind of puts dampers on everything. Good luck looking for sheds and turkey season will be here before you know it.

That dog could not have a better more loving owner;). He is getting HUGE! Enjoy him.

Jeff, still thinking about you and your family. Hang in there best you can. Memories are forever.

The crossbow does NOT have the range that many think it has. That has never been part of my anti crossgun statements in archery season. The range or lack there of. The muzzleloader is considered a primitive weapon. My point was, a smokepole is not considered a firearm. I was being facetious when I entered it into the discussion. Come on...still no one touched on the fact that it is point and shoot, no drawing back , no letting down, a safety on it, a magnified scope, shoulder fired(more steady). You can rest it on a rail. As long as you cock the crossbow when the animal is in your presence, like the ARCHER does. I have no issues with it. Would you rack your slide or work your lever with a deer in 30 yards? Point and shoot. A handgun is limited to 40-50 yards, range is not the issue. Pre cocked shoulder fired, magnified scoped weapon. LIKE A GUN. Projectile is NOT the issue. There are guns that shoot arrows, so thats that. Crossbows are loud and some are heavy. That is a disadvantage, no doubt. But if the archer does NOT take the shot they have to let down. The archer needs to resist the draw weight regardless of let off. It cannot be held indefinitely. The crossbow can be fired of a rest, not like the archer who needs to hold and draw. Those are my points.

The movement associated with a cross bow is NO WHERE near the movement of a archer. A Archer has the bow pulling back towards the riser regardless of let off. The crossgun has that won, hands down. What about if the crossbow hunter does not take the shot? The safety is switched on and the weapon is ready to go again. The Archer needs to let down, 2X times the movement...What bow has a magnified scope on it? Muzzleloaders are not considered firearms either. At least not by the ATFE, if they were, you would have to fill out a 4473 to buy one. More similarity to a firearm than a bow. The projectile is a bolt, not a arrow which limits is range, like handgun. Pre cocked, like a gun, scope mounted, like a gun,shoulder fired weapon...like a gun is shot with a minimum of movement, not even close to the archer.

No one has touched on the fact that the crossgun is not drawn in the presence of the animal. That is a MAJOR factor. Would you rack your slide or pump your shotgun or crank your lever with the deer at 30 yards? I think not. That point should not be ignored. To me that puts it in the pre cocked( like a rifle) scoped(like a rifle) shoulder fired( like a rifle)category. The range is greater with recurves, longbow and compounds. That is not an issue to me. I feel there will not be new hunters, just crossover gun hunters who will call themselves archers. There are guns that can shoot arrows, is that archery? I am NOT saying crossguns should'nt be allowed, just put it in firearms season. Let Vets hunt with whatever and wherever they want. Lesson the qualifications for a modified crossgun permit in NY for hurt or older archers. A crossgun can be put down and picked up years later to have it hit the bullesye when fired. Can you do that with a recurve,longbow or compound? When you get home from the pro shop with your BOW all set up, you still need to practice to find out where you will hit. My Marlin/Winchesters have not been adjusted in the 25 years I have been shooting them. My Mathews sight gets adjusted annually and it takes me a week or more to get back where I am, ruining fletching from close shots in the target every archery season. That applies to people who do not shoot year round. Why stop at crossguns? Lets have a Atlatl season, spear season and even a rock season. Those are primitive weapons...right? Who is to say I cannot hunt with them? I am all for new hunters getting into and staying in the game. But there needs to be standards and minimums.

Most know, I was off in the Hill country of Texas for the last week or so. The flight there was a horror with delays and the flight home was just as worse:rolleyes:. I was visiting with my friend Herbie who has a ranch in Harper,Tx. The Kerrville/Ingram area. He has high fence in almost the whole ranch property, but there are a few spots where the fence is low and he gets free ranging whitetail and Axis from time to time. Herbie has a buffalo and 2 cows. I had a 200 amp service to do for my friend and then it was play time! I found out how hard it was to dig in that Coliche to bury conduits. Very hard rock that comprised almost everywhere on the ground. I have no idea where to begin...My friend Herbie said...when you were a teenager and having a ball, the time flew in a blink of an eye. That time was a blur, glad I have the pics to savor the moments. Those Texans have everything down to a science. The first few days consisted of work...hard work. I have never seen ground that was soo hard to dig. A power pole needed to be moved, it was; by the power co and when that happened, then our work began. We had to trench to bury a few conduits for the house and a sub panel. We needed a pic axe just to break the surface and lots of chopping and digging in what I am told, Coliche. Super hard rock formation that does not break like dirt/soil. Blisters for a few days from digging. We got it done and play time was on its way. Being from NY I have never hunted over feeders and this was a whole new experience. We filled a few feeders up with corn and alfalfa hay set the timers and waited a few days. The 1st day on stand there were like 10 deer that came running to the feeder. Mixed bunch of whitetail and axis. I took a 130 yard shot at a doe axis and missed, over her back. I could give excuses, but I missed, plain and simple. We came back the next day in the am to Herbies Honey Hole he calls it and the feeder went off 15 minutes after we sat down. The breakfast bell rang, and the deer came out of the woodwork. 20-25 deer all at once. Makes a hard situation to shoot just one without taking other deer with a pass through. Never had that problem here in NY. That many deer vacuumed up the feed in no time. Then they all disappeared. Herbie said lets walk to the other feeder, it will go off in a few minutes. We go there and the deer just changed restaurants. They were now there. Hard to get a shot...They ate and left. We walked back to the 1st feeder and there was a lone axis still hanging around. It was a buck, but a small one. I would have liked to taken a larger deer, but a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush. I was using Herbies 25-06 Encore and it is a tack driver. I took aim and bang. It did the kick and went about 20 yards and dropped. My 1st axis on the ground. We took the deer to www.rhodestaxidermy.com and they took care of the rest. I am having the hide tanned and the meat was cut up. What a bunch of guys at Rhodes taxidermy. That true Texas hospitality wherever I went. That is really what makes the Lone Star state stand out. The people in it and VERY proud Texas patriots everywhere you go. Herbie bought a table at this store called Gibsons, and as I was taking it out to the truck, and I had 2 different strangers offer to help me. That does NOT happen in NY where I'm from, unless they want to get close to lift your wallet. The food was incredible, Herbies cooking and the local food houses. We had Axis chilli, bison sirloin, frito pie, TexMex just to name some food. Most mornings we were treated to a good whitetail buck that came over the low fence portions of Herbies ranch. The buffalo almost always chased off the buck. It got cold in the Hill country, not NY cold, but it hit 30* some morings, but within a hour, the temps climbed to 40, then 50 and it hit 75 on some days. I found a Axis antler shed at Herbies also. He has most of his land high fenced, but there are portions that many animals can jump and get under and leave when they want. I also found some flint knappings from the Indians that inhabited the area a LONG time ago. You can tell these chipped flint pieces were altered by humans from the opposite and symmetrical chips on them. I have never seen so many deer. I mean even in town, there were deer everywhere. Many ranches had complete high fence operations with all kinds of exotic animals. Black buck, red stag, elk, axis, goats, sheep, Sika and fallow. These animals are considered NON native speciaes and can be taken year round without limit. I am told that the Kerrville area is THE place in Tx where there is the largest population of free ranging axis deer and I saw that 1st hand. My buddy and I made it over to Tinks home for a few hours, but that will be in another post. What a guy Tink is. I was contacted by DoubleA on this board and we spent a bit on the phone having some laughs. We were unable to get together, but I feel like I know that man after a phone call. Another great Texas gentleman for sure;). OK time for a few pics. Axis shed where it lay Bucks friend Herbie has shot this past season on his ranch Remember the post of hidden messages in Realtree camo? I found them on my shirt. Herbies Tatonka and cattle. A sunset. That hard Coliche that was allover. Herbie had this dug for a future pond. We saw 2 BIG fires off in the distance on a few other ranches. There is a burn ban out there due to everything being so dry. It is good to have a large water source for your land and your neighbors if they need it. My 1st Axis deer. Free ranging and that means a lot to me. I did not shoot this buck on Herbies place. He has a Honey Hole in Kerrville that he took me to. Axis was a possibility on Herbies ranch, but not as many as where he took me to hunt. Flint knappings that I found and one that was given to me. I took more still pics with my vid cam, but my pc won't load them for some reason. I'll figure it out and post them soon.

Hope you get better soon ans all this is in the past. Praying for your quick recovery.

That is very cool Kyle...exciting times for sure. How has Jens asthma been doing? Been thinking about you guys.

Eric, I would LOVE to have you and your Dad do a turkey hunt with us this spring. My son Joe and your Dad I know, talk...Stay in touch lets see if we can work something out.

How come I had to be away for Mr judo chop:D to come log on? Mike, glad your back and your fan base is STILL strong. At my home/mind anyway:D. Cool you go to go to the Super Bowl. I am Mr Crow killer back in NY( in Kerrville,Tx right now:)). Shoot'em, shoot 'em shoot 'em:p

This is the second time I have been here and I am in LOVE with this hunter friendly, gun friendly and overall friendly state. I am in the Kerrville,Harper,Ingram area and while I am identified as a Northerner, as soon as I open my mouth:D(can't help where I was born), they still are friendly and so very nice here. I have taken some cool pics. Luke...I have some cool stuff with cool history too:cool:. Oh yeah...I was at The Tink masters ranch...Yeah that's right...Tink himself, Camp Verde;). I wish I knew this man in his prime. He has forgot things I will never learn. He is DA MAN! Tink is the definition of a gentleman folks. Way cool.For this Yankee...WAY COOL:) Did I say way cool. I also was contacted by Double A...voice mails missed, but returned. I hope to meet you Charlie... and No..I am NOT in the Mafia..Mothers And Fathers Italian Association:D. Thanks for calling me. I shot my 1st Axis, 1st time hunting over bait. 1st time I had 2 people offer to help me carry a big table at Gibsons in Kerrville, from people I don't know...For me...that was strange. No one helps where I'm from, unless there is a ulterior motive:rolleyes:. Part of why this place is great. The Axis was young, but free ranging. To me, that means a world. More pics and stories when I get home. I miss fast net and my pc. A Lone Star will be mounted at my deer camp in tribute. Miss Y'all. Anthony

Guess who has been wearing his George Straight San Antone Cowboy hat...ding ding ding.... Me! Man I love this place...Texas is soo hunter and gun friendly beyond belief, makes me dislike NY even more. My wife needs to become a cowgirl:p. We filled feeders today, feeding deer is foreign to me ,being from NY, where you can't feed ; hung out at Rhodes Taxidermy for a while, man that guy does AWESOME work. I looked hard for imperfections... could not find them on the MANY showroom and customer mounts. Give him a look. www.rhodestaxidermy.com A gentleman to the umteenth degree, like MANY on this board , my net family;). Will post pics if I get a chance and thank you for all the well wishes on my trip. I am diggin' Texas BIG TIME. Hope to shoot something soon. I'll let y'all know when I do. Anthony

I'm off for San Antone in the morning. I have a 6:30am flight. I hope I have no issues with the storm coming here:rolleyes:. So to make sure I can get to the airport, I am headed down to the city and, sleeping in Da Bronx:D tonight at my parents home. They live about 5 miles from the airport. My Dad is taking me there and keeping my car at his house until I get back. Ohh, I soo need this time out of NY... I might be able to get online down there. I have a electric service to do for my friend, plus some other electric work. My friend and I are hoping to squeeze in a few hunts too while I am down there(fingers crossed). He has a spot for Axis deer and Javelina. Sounds like a good trade to me:). Those geese better stay out of the way of my plane. Talk to everyone soon.

No, sometimes I think about reloading, so I can shoot more:p

As they say in NY, Kathleen when ever Mtn Lion sightings pop up. They would have found tracks/ killed carcass' and or scat for the confirmation of a such a sighting. Where is the closest area, where confirmed big cats can get there? Cats are not swimmers. It does not seem the DNR is too concerned about it. Can you shoot it if you see it?

Good Luck in PA. I too wish NY would relax on the qualifications also just a bit for hurt or older archers.

Leave it to BHO to get involved with soemthing he knows nothing about. Just to stop something Bush did. Halting the harvest of wolves:mad:. Got this e mail the other day forwarded from a friend of a friend. "First two wolves of the first five wolves (shot legally) near Pinedale and Big Piney, Wyoming after the season for wolves was opened up. I would venture to say they are 'just a little bit bigger' than the local coyotes! These were caught, with two others, in a calving pen, killing livestock.....not eating the livestock, just killing it. I'm thinkin' my 340 Weatherby isn't too much gun for one of these critters..... fortunately the wolves I saw on Wanda's place weren't near this size...... they were 3x the size of our coyotes though.....these guys have been eating really well! Actually, eating TOO WELL! It's no wonder the elk and moose calves only have a 20% chance of making it to 6 months old in the Yellowstone area with these big boys around! Amazingly, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has requested anyone catching a wolf or wolverine in a leg hold trap to "please try to release it alive"....... that could be a pretty good trick! I was expecting much smaller wolves to be in the 'not safe for wolves zone' ...... wonder how big the wolves are that ran these two out of the 'safe zone'? Don 't think I want to snowshoe or cross country ski in Wyoming anymore........ expect to see these critters in Colorado pretty soon.....coming to a favorite deer or elk haunt near you!"

Yeah folks, I'd love to know that bucks age... What a whopper! Cool pics for sure. Funny though, how when a good buck is found, the e mails are endless on where it originated. Wish it was from my neck of the woods!

Luke, I picked up a very inexpensive arrow cutter on E bay a while back, 2 years maybe. I think I paid like $55. The guys makes it himself. The saw is factory made, but he mounts the saw to platform he makes himself out of bent aluminum on a brake. The high speed saw can be gotten at Northern tool for $19.99. It is a mini hi speed chop saw. The vise clamp on the saw holds the arrow straight. The cuts are clean and square. Comes with a extra cutting wheel also. Between myself and Joe alone, it gets a good work out a few times a year, plus all the arrows we cut for friends. We buy raw shafts here and fletch ourselves.

Have a safe trip Randy and I know you will WOW those folks just like you WOW us.

Blazing Saddles (anything Mel Brooks) Godfather 1&2 Rio Bravo Sgt. York

Can't ya hear it now Steve... Vhere are your Paaaaypers!

We have to take care of OUR troops and Tink, you are doing just that. Bless you my good man...Bless you.