fly

Got some nice G-2's there. Great looking mount.

Totes, duffles, half of my gun cabinet, a metal rolling clothes hanging thing-ama-bob, and some hooks screwed into the rafters for me. All in the basement near or under the stairs (after this coming weekend).

A hardy welcome Eric.

I hunt the Trail of Tears State Forest as well as the Shawnee National Forest near Ware IL. Been deer hunting down there for over 20 years now. I've been through the refuge many times. Figuring out the rut has always been a guessing game for us at deer camp. Everyone generally has a little different take on it. I just didn't see much rutting activity at all this year likely because I didn't see as many deer. What rutting activity I did see was primarily opening day of the shotgun season and a couple weeks prior.

I'm not an advocate of medication use in children with behavior problems except as a last resort (and even then with a great deal of reluctance). All medications can come with adverse effects. I like what others have said about talking with the teacher and possibly even your daughter and discussing why she does not follow the no talking rule. A solution could be as simple as a seat change in class. Taking away toys or TV may also work. Good luck!

Just checked and Thursday the high is going to be 10 and down to 5 degrees by 6pm. Just happens to be my last day of the season to bow hunt for a buck this season. High winds out of the north won't help me in my stand either. Time to toughen up and tie up good to a strong tree.

No chasing in my area (northwestern part of southern IL). I'll be in Southern IL (Union county) Saturday for the antlerless only season so I'll know (may know) more then. Generally the chasing is over by December 1st. The rut was late, but I'm not thinking it was this late. Could be those does were not bread in November thus the chasing.

Looking real good!

That's a lot of land you have to work with there! Mornings: I'd be in the East Hardwoods back where no other hunters have been (or at least the least likely). Looks like you might have deer moving north to cover in the mornings from the fields south of the far East portion of the hardwoods. Afternoons: I'd be close to the blue dot. Figure out the cover the deer come from (tracks, sightings) and hunt 30-50 yards in that cover. You might just catch one skirting the edges of the field prior to losing last light.

Doubt they'd end up serving much jail time over it even though they should. I sure would like to see them lose their snowmobiles, drivers license, hunting/fishing/trapping license (if they have one), along with a fine big enough to bail out Fanny and Freddie.

Ya know the most likely person to do something like that is someone who knew the stuff was there. That's really too bad. I have one last chance (Thursday) to get a buck. Friday is the last day of the archery season, but I have to work so Thursday is it. Pretty cool it worked out to be on my birthday. Last year I shot my biggest buck on the last day at last light. Hopefully I can have a repeat of last season. Saturday will be my last hunt of the season. It's an antlerless only weekend, but I'm excited to take my new ML in the field for the first time. I have brought down one stand I had up through the season. Most of my stands are just trees that I use my climber on with cut shooting lanes. That way I never worry about my stands and ladders being stolen.

Yet one more reason to take a kid hunting! I'm happy for you an Aaron!

Same here.

It's a start anyway. The rack on my desk will be on the wall next fall.

Congratulations on your doe Kirk! I know what you mean about finding a hot spot and then losing it. Glad you were able to get 8 years and some big deer! I wish you luck finding new hunting ground.

What? No mention of hot chocolate hatred?

My cousin works in investments a lot. He's been telling me to invest in gold as well. To tell ya the truth I'm not sure what to do. I know if I had some money I'd be considering buying large tracts of hunting land. In IL prices are starting to drop significantly. I'd say it'll be another year before they bottom out (depending on how the economy as a whole does).

I never actually saw them, perhaps the gobbler was on the roost the whole time.

"Infected birds should be isolated or culled to remove the source of the virus." I'd say put the poor thing out of it's missery if you see it again. Spring bugs (the transmission vector) are just a few months away.

Hope things go well for Kathleen's neighbor. I've worked in the St. Louis Hospitals and the cancer treatment facilities are top notch. Hang in there Kathleen! Prayers sent.

Gotta love those extra touches that make work seem a little funner.

I've heard of second (late season) ruts, sounds like you stumbled upon one. Must have not been bread in November.

I was bow hunting deer yesterday and as I walked in several birds were roosted above me and flew as I crunched around in the dark. At sun up there must have been a half dozen more clucking away in nearby trees. Then the gobblers (at least 2) chimed in. This went on for about a half hour. Then the hens flew down and they left. About an hour later here they come again. More clucking from the hens and gobbling from the toms. I usually don't hear that much talking in April let alone January! When do toms generally start gobbling? Strangest thing... I spotted those hens a week ago (about 12) and every one had a beard dragging the ground!

Just posted this on another thread, here it is again. I used a Cabela's plaque and kit for about 30-40 bucks.

Posted this earlier announcing my new "Man Room" Notice the fan on the wall. I know nothing about taxidermy and I did that by following the simple instructions from a 30-40 dollar kit from Cabelas. Came with the wood plaque. Very easy to do! I'm not knocking the taxidermists here but this is a do it yourselfer. Borax was what I rubbed the skin with. It never has smelled after 2-3 years now. I like it just as much as my first one that I had a taxidermist do for me for tripple the cost.