fly

Not a lot of activity in the Xbow room, but thanks for your estimates. I too was fooled by the trail cam pics. I had placed this buck in the 130's as you all did but when I put the tape to him I only came up with 123 Gross 121 Net. I was shocked. Short brow tines hurt the score -or- I'm terrible with the tape (LOL). However, he was the first buck I have ever put on a hit list that I actually harvested so he'll get a place above the TV. I'm pretty sure i have a video of this buck from last year. I'll post a pic of him from 2013 as the last pic and you can let me know what you think. If it is the same deer he didn't grow much - a little wider and a little longer, but not much. As an 8 I doubt this deer ever would have made it out of the 130's. I'll get the teeth back in a couple weeks and I'll know the age. May be 4.5 - but I'm still thinking 3.5. I'll take this deer and my 12 point to the Deer expo next month and get an official score. Gives me a reason to go to to the expo.

He is an 8 point and his inside spread was right at 16 inches. I'll give this another day or so then post the close -up pic. I was curious to see what others identified him as from the trail cam pics.

I have 2 ground blinds that I purchased to take my kids gun hunting when they were younger. Now that they are older I never even brought my blinds out of the basement this year. From my experience deer will get used to a blind and walk close to it, but it takes a couple weeks. In addition, when I zip down the windows they get more weary of the black triangles. They sure are nice when it's 15 degrees and windy or 35 and raining though. The biggest disadvantage I find is that it limits my visibility. To stay hidden the back windows need to stay shut and deer seem to come in from where you least expect them to a lot. I like the 360 degree view a tree stand affords as well as the elevated position. I just enjoy hunting from tree stands a lot more than ground blinds which motivates me to stay in the woods longer.

Despite EHD taking a toll on the mature bucks the good Lord has blessed me with a fantastic season of which I am very grateful. I was fortunate enough to put a good shot on a buck that had made my hit list. Prior to posting the harvest pic and score I came up with I wanted to see what you all age and score this buck at based on the trail cam pics I had of him from July and November. So let's hear your estimates...

Happy New Year Hoosier and the rest of our team. I harvested one of my target bucks here on the private ground I hunt in IL. I'm thinking he's a 3.5 year old 8-pointer. I'll post some pics in the crossbow room. Unfortunately he will not add to our score. My season is about over now. I am taking the crossbow to KY next weekend for a final hunt of the year. I'll be looking to take a doe to fill my last tag. Best of luck to all still in the hunt!

Welcome Jason - I'm from IL and we have some big whitetails around here. Not sure about SC - was there in the 80's at Fort Jackson for basic, but never got off the base. Tim is right about stand height (you might catch him laying the smack down on a RT Monster buck video if you catch the right one. He's a great resource and forum friend. Stand height can help with getting your scent up and out of the reach of a deers nostrils and if you don't have a lot of branches or leaves to provide cover height will help you remain undetected. When determining height only go as high as you are comfortable and always use a safety harness. Tree stands are the number one cause of hunting related accidents. Some tree stands have ladders an only go 12-20 feet. Climbing stands are dependent on the branches that get in the way while rapid rails and a hang on stand allow you to go up just about any tree as high as you like. My lowest stand is 16 feet and I use old Christmas trees tied around it to provide cover. My highest is 35 feet because its the only tree big enough and is at the bottom of a ravine. I had it at 20 feet but the deer were walking the sides of the hill and my stand (while 20 feet high) was only 10 feet above the deers eye level. At 35 feet I am now 25 feet above their eye level and they don't pick me out or scent me as much. It's rare that I get a stand right the first time I set it up.

Oh I'm so glad it got to you in time Vicky. Hope you had a Great Christmas!

Thanks to Vicky (doog3) for the Awesome RT hangers! They will be put to good use! Hope you get my gift to you today!

First I've heard of a safety course for crossbows. I suppose they added it to the regular safety classes but not for those of us with a license. I allowed my 12 year old son to use the muzzleloader and shotgun in the stand on his own, but insist on being next to him with the crossbow. I love the double safety and forearm guard on my Tenpoint, but still feel it's to high a risk for a non-experienced user or kid to lose a thumb without supervision. This year he got to hunt alone and in a tree stand. Maybe next year I'll add the crossbow.

Time life treasury of Christmas - includes 2 CD's. Includes most of the classics. I start playing it as soon as the first deer goes down. This year I started paying it in September!

Ha! I figured it was okay, but after speaking with Bob we decided not to apply for spring 2016. It wasn't just that we couldn't get you Steve, it was also the fact that the application process is not convenient. Applying 18 months in advance is a very long time and making non-residents purchase a hunting license just to apply for a "maybe" tag makes it less attractive. However, I hope that one day I can check out that island way in the back that holds that 8 foot black bear weighing in at 800lbs! Maybe spring 2017!

You can do it Hoosier! If not we lose. Nothing like a little pressure. LOL Went out today and had a fawn walk in from her bedding area after hearing me climb up into the stand. Guess she was curious. Got some decent bucks on cam, but haven't seen a good one in a while now.

Three nice bucks in one season! That's pretty cool. Al, are you mounting any of these deer?

Tough luck Hoosier - what is a "qualifying" score according to the outfitter? This past weekend was a bust for us in KY. I saw a lot of does young and mature, but I was only mature buck hunting. My 12 year old son saw a 4 point on the last evening at 10 yards but as instructed let him walk. He didn't pull the trigger all year but stuck with it till the end. I'm proud of him. It's easy to hunt when you're seeing a lot of deer and getting a lot of action - not so much when the hunting is tough. If the conditions are right and I'm seeing more does on camera I may take him out for a crossbow hunt here in IL. Crossbow time from here on out for me.

Today at 5pm is the last day to apply for Alaska permits. I've been trying to reach Steve B but no luck. If anyone has his contact info please let him know he has a PM. Colorado Bob, sent you one too.

Sounds like an awesome day of hunting!

Bob, I messaged Steve - but never heard back. I sent another one today as I think the deadline is tomorrow at midnight. I don't have his number or I would call - what do you want to do?

Houston Oilers will triumph over the LA Rams.

Hoosier, I had a buck with a group of does in early January a few years ago. Would not leave them after grunting. As a last resort I snort wheezed (no call just my mouth). It worked! Got a 135 inch 10 point thanks to a snort wheeze. Headed to KY this weekend for one last try to get my son a deer (doe or 8point and bigger) with the ML. I'll be hunting too but not for does. Then it's back to IL to finish up with the crossbow. I generally have decent luck in the late season on the farm I hunt in IL. I'll be using the thermacell prfolex battery heated insoles and the gerbing battery heated gloves to keep warm this year.

I'm still at it MUD, I'll give up in mid-January. Taking my son out to KY this weekend for ML then it's all Crossbow.

That's fine with me Bob. Ill ask Steve.

I've always like the Steelers. As a kid I liked Swan and Bradshaw. Then the Rams came to St. Louis and I tried to like them. They even won the Super Bowl one year with Warner. Now, i just can't get into it like I used to. Now baseball is something I can get into! Anyway, I'll root for whatever team the RT forum members like. Go Broncos! Go Steelers!

I love fly fishing - been to CO a few times. Nothing real big, but a lot of Brook trout in the RMNP. Nice looking fish you get there!

Good deal Luke! Ill be looking for a fat old doe as well.

Looks like team 5 has stolen our 1st place lead. Hope you get a 30 pointer Hoosier and close the door. Still chasing some 8's and 9's but nothing that will count for an upgrade. Hunting in AM with crossbow and then to KY for our last hunt with the ML. Hunting gets tough now - time to suck it up and finish strong.