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So... If the farm one hunts has awesome bucks with massive antlers the best thing (management wise) would be to harvest younger does and leave the older does?

If you do change to mechanical 2 blade I hear good things about the Rage and from experience I use the Gator XP. Used the original Gator for years, the Gator XP is even better. http://bowhunting.net/NewProducts/2004/Barry-GaterXP.html I was going to link you to Bass Pro since the gator XP is a Bass Pro exclussive, but guess what... They no longer carry it! Looks like you can still order them from... http://www.rockymtbroadheads.com/broadhead_order.html

:oops: Let's see if I can recover myself... (Dang! just spilled some hot cocoa trying to type this) I shot a box of 20 through it in spring 08 in a t-shirt and had a nice bruise. Growing up in IL has meant a lot of 12 guage slugs so bruising I'm used to. I had/have the RUM sighted in at 50 and 100 yards, but not any further. My main concern is money. At 60+ dollars for a box of 20 I can't afford to wonder if I flinched a little or if I need to put another click on my scope. I'm planning another bear hunt in spring 2010 and need to be able to make a shot over a bait at 50 yards as well as on the next mountain 400 yards away. I'm going to spend the cash and go to a 600 yard range and get it dialed in for long ranges which is why I'm considering buying a sled.

Yea sandbags wouldn't be much of a help on recoil. Those of you that use lead sleds what kind works well?

Deer genes come from ma and pa. Do the genes associated with antler growth come more from pa than ma? Good question I don't know. (I would think it would be both equally). I haven't seen any male fawns in the fall with enough antler growth to make a decision that he would never be a 130/140/or 1-whatever deer. I'd almost say one couldn't do it with 1.5 year old either. Many things can lead to poor antler growth and perhaps a spike at 1.5 years old could be a 140 by 5.5 years old. Since bucks leave mom after a year it's hard to know who a 1.5 or older bucks mom is. Therfore shooting the doe that produced a buck (that will never make book) is hard to identify. I believe this is why management areas cull bucks and not does.

Thanks all, it's going on.

Thinking about getting a lead sled, but perhaps sand bags are just as good? What would you recommend? I'm shooting a 300 RUM.

Ok smack I'll up the ante... 160 & 1/16 :clown: Hope you get a chance to connect "danthehunter"!

I have the older open shot by Summit. I really like it, but the platform is a bit short. The new open shot has a seat that folds up against the tree providing more room on the platform. I'd highly recommend the new model.

What he said.

As long as place my deer slugs where they are supposed to be they work. :clown: I'd say any grunt call would work. I use the Drury growler. I don't growl, just grunt. I like it because I can make pop sounds the best with it. I also have had success with HS doe estrus wafers.

Way to go Bob! Watching the head gear grow in the early days is pretty fun here on the forums. Making 8-point goes pretty fast for most. After that it can take a while for new antler growth.

Lot of posts on deer meat and spoil time, but don't recall anything on bear. Too bad about the meat loss. Were you able to save the hide?

Looks like an 8-point from the picture. Don't think he'll make 160. Looks like he'll go 150-155 Gross to me. 4.5 years or older.

Thanks for sharing Kathleen!

Can't see the right G-4 making him a 10 but if it's there I'd say he might go high 130's. Looks like 4.5 years old to me.

Got the new Cabela's archery catalog and noticed the small Epic video recorder. It's runs only $154.99 which makes me wonder about the quality. Anyone have any experience using one? Sure would be easier than using my Sony handy cam.

When ya get that good ya gotta start shooting different dots every time. Those deer are in your freezer and they don't even know it yet.

First place I'd look would be the Western part in the corner near the "C" north of the clover.

Aug. 1st, been that way for a while.

I'll see some big deer at the campus where I work every fall. Fun to watch but that's as far as it goes. I'll see big deer on the farms around my house, but gaining permission to hunt them is as difficult as changing a game preserve into public hunting.

I the she looks just fine in the Cardinal Red!:clown: Glad things are looking up for ya.

:gunsmilie:

Agree.

Good looking taxi work there. Good luck turning your garage into a man room! Your new addition sure spruces the place up.:clown: