fly

Yep, happens eventually. Glad to hear you don't take it lightly. What I do that helps is try to think of what I did wrong (sometimes it's a good shot and you still don't find it) and then try to correct it. I know I'm very selective now on evening hunts with minutes before darkness. I avoid marginal shots.

Bowhunt long enough and it happens. It's always a shame. Not sure about the temps in NC, but if it's anything like IL the temps are way to warm to think about table fare. Probably not much of a help, but I'm glad to hear you don't take it lightly. I know a lot of people that wouldn't be concerned at all about shooting a doe and not recovering her.

logging does impact deer mvt. from my experience. Anything out of the ordinary. I'm sure logging crews move around a lot.

The mount makes the tines look longer. Nice choice.

If you ever decide to go up to 25 feet or more you'll likely need to make some adjustments. Practice at the heigth you'll be shooting at and you can't go wrong. I was on my roof last night shooting. I only have one tree in the back yard and I can only get a 20 yard shot from it. My roof gives me a 30 yard shot. My neighbors think I'm crazy.

I know some of you are sick of all the deer scoring hype, but I sure think it's fun. I'm still waiting on the taxi to get this buck back for an official score. I harvested it this year. Well, January 17th which was the last day of the 07 season in IL. So what do you all think?????

If he was bow shot I'd say you got a P&Y there. About 130 net score I'd say. Short tines, but 10 of em and nice spread.

P&Y Typical Whitetail: 125 net score after deductions. P&Y Non-Typical Whitetail: 155 net score after deductions. http://www.pope-young.org/minimum-scores_charts.asp B&C Typical Whitetail: Awards (160) All-Time (170) net score. B&C Non-Typical Whitetail Awards (185) All-Time (195) net. Trophies that meet the Awards minimum but not the All-Time minimum will be listed in the Awards book. Trophies that meet the All-Time minimum will be listed in both the Awards book, as well as "Records of North American Big Game." http://www.boone-crockett.org/bgRecords/records_minimums.asp?area=bgRecords&ID=416327E9&se=1&te=1 No high fence animals accepted. 100% fair chase If more than 65% bow let off is used an "*" shows up in the record book.

Hey Tim, I just finished watching you in MB 14. You probably know, but the clip starts out stating you are hunting Montana, but in the segment you state you were in IL. Looks like IL. My question is: That great 8-point you shot (awesome shot BTW) was shown to score 125 P&Y. Was this the net score after deductions or the gross score? On earlier MB videos the bucks harvested had the gross score displayed on the screen. Then the words gross score went away and just a score appeared as in your hunt in MB 14. I have asked this question before but no one knew for sure. This question is what brought me into the forums some time ago and now I will finally have an answer. Oh yea, if you get a chance to talk with someone who deals with or makes decisions in regards to MB video bonus stuff see how they would feel about adding antler score sheets. It might be a sales booster for RT? Thanks Tim.

You got a great shot of the sunset there Kathleen. Glad you all had such a great time.

I'll be praying as well.

Missed this the first time around. Very nice writing Steve. First time I've heard of the shadow shield. Pretty cool. Congrats on your pronghorn.

If your parents called and cancelled your loans I'd say they must have been able to do so. I doubt the financial aid department would make a mistake like that. If so there are other student loans you (any student assuming they are 18) can get that your parents can't touch. It sounds like you need to consider why they don't want you to get any loans?? None of my business, but perhaps your parents?? From your message it sounds like your parents are not helping with your tuition. If you need student loans take them knowing you'll have to pay them back. It's not uncommon for todays graduates to have $20,000.00 or more in student loans. The money is well worth it if it means you'll have a job you will be happy with. I teach a lot of young adults who come to my office with issues much the same as yours. I tell them they need to concentarte on their priorities and remember they'll be living with their decisions. You know what you can handle and what you can't. As you get older you may get married and have kids. Going to school then will probably not be any easier than it now. Good luck!

That's a great buck rut or not! You going to have him mounted and/or scored for P&Y?

Gross: about 100" (he's short and thin), but the width is decent.

You may just have a B&C there. I hope to even see a deer like that this year!

Ask the landowner of the farm you do have permission to hunt on about the neighbor. Is he approachable or not. If it is posted and there might be a problem I'd ask the neighbor first before I shot the deer. If you shoot one and then ask and he says no, man what a loss. If you ask up front you will know to avoid the bordering area because that deer will likely (9/10 times) run to the neighbors cover once he's shot. One other idea: If you can get high (25 feet or more) you might be able to get that buck to walk right under you (or close enough) for a straight down spine shot. I did it twice last year with 2 does and they went a total of zero yards from the shot spot. Just remember to have the right set up to penetrate the spine and get the heart/lungs on the way down. If you don't get enough penetration you may have to send a fnishing arrow to the paralyzed deer or get down and finish it another way. Good luck!

That's one healthy looking deer. Great coat. 125"

This is what worked for me: Right click on the signature and click "save picture as". Then save it on your computer somewhere where you can find it. I saved it as a JPEG (image file). Then open your profile and click User CP (user control panel). Under settings and options click edit signature. Scroll down until you see the signature picture area. Go to the upload section: Option 2 - Upload Image From Your Computer Browse your computer and upload the signature wherever you saved it at. Then click Insert Signature Picture and finally save the signature. >Frank

As a kid and even now as an adult I've never found the passion for fishing in IL like I have for deer hunting. That is until I vent on vacation to Colorado with my family. Me and my wife learned to fly fish for trout and were hooked for life. To me there's just something different about fly fishing for wild trout. I'd say it's almost magical to me. I was wondering if this feeling was unique to me (and my wife) or if anyone else felt this way???

Hey Eric, if you ever get a chance to visit Utah fishing the Provo would be well worth the effort. It's great for shorter trips because it is easily accessible. A highway runs along the entire river and there are several areas to pull over, walk a short distance and start fishing. I ran into a few others fishing in the evening on the weekend, but I hear you're pretty much to yourself during the weekdays. >Frank (Fred works too), just don't call me late for fly fishing.

Thanks to Van & Vermonthunter. The signature looks better than anything I could come up with. I need to learn to do that one day. I've been trying to add it to my signature. After I post this I'll know if I did it right. Oh yea, looks good!

Painful Decission Well, I have some bad/good news to share. My department chair (boss) just asked if I could teach a nursing clnical rotation at a St. Louis hospital from mid-October till early December. Earlier I mentioned I had a work friendly schedule, well this would spoil that. However, the overload pay would help fix my financial problems. I have a step-daughter needing braces this spring and I had no way of paying for it since my dental insurance doesn't cover (at least not much). There are some other issues the money would help with that I will not go into because my wife would kill me. Let's just say she's not the most conscientious spender. I guess I have to place my families financial needs above my hunting needs, but dang man! What a tough decission.... Well as I'm writing this my secreatary just brought in the contract and I went ahead and signed. Now I have to make early October count! Why can't Illinois open in September!!!! I'm going to practice every night until Oct. 1st so when that 1st opportunity presents I'll make it count. Hey if Randy can do it....

No need for mock scrapes where I hunt. The real thing always show up in the general area I hunt. I know of a hunter that used them last year and had no luck.

I sent Nadine (moon) a pm requesting a signature this morning. I'll let you all know when I hear back.