fly

I heard he gave up Forum Hopping and Duck Hunting for Christmas shopping.

Good luck! It will be hard to find. Looks like there are some out there though. Some sources indicate that many 1200 and 1300 barrels work for both guns. This is the best I could find and they are sold out currently. Winchester Model 1300, 22", 20ga. Rifled Deer Barrel(Matte Finish)

Shot a button earlier this season and a group of does came by and blew at the dead dear they walked past. I have had bucks blow at me, but generally they just turn and run. In addition to the wind you also have to plan your approach to the stand. Deer can smell your trail for several hours. The only thing I spray down anymore is my feet and lower legs. Still, this only helps a little. Ideally you want to walk into a stand from an area the deer will not come from. Use a creek bed or harvested field. You leave more scent walking through tall grass.

Congrats on more freezer fill Hoosier and Muff on the 6 point! I have 3 new shooters on trail cam since the crops are gone.

The news media sure played it for all they could. In my opinion they do more harm than anti's.

I'm headed to Idaho (DIY) in early June for my every two year bear hunt. Been out there in 08, 10, and 12. I didn't get one in 08, got two in 2010, and one in 2012. Went with an outfitter (Black Bear Lodge) in Quebec back in 2000, worst hunting trip I have ever been on.

That's a dandy! Congrats to your brother!

Starting over...again Yea, it's not cool to let someone in without talking with you first. Sounds like you need to get the situation set in stone or vacate. I had a similar situation and before putting my time and effort into the land spoke with the landowner to get things straight. The terms were not fair not were they to my liking so i never hunted the land or put any effort into it. Good luck!

Thanks again to everyone for the kind words. Wooly - I guess I need to turn in my orange Tough Mudder Head Band! (LOL). Bob - Best of luck to you and your family in Ohio!

Congratulations!

Wow! Heck of a buck you got there - Congratulations!

Very nice! Congratulations!

That is one awesome buck right there! Congratulations!

Thanks everyone.

I'll do my best to put what this past weekend means to me into words and pictures. Friday was the IL opener for me, my 11 year old son, and my dad. We headed down to the Shawnee National Forest to set up Deer Camp as is our family tradition for nearly 40 years. Last year the three of us scored a blank while my son and I didn't even see a deer, therefore things could only improve. My son was a real go getter - getting up at 4:30am and hitting the timber by 5am for a 45 minute hike in the dark. The Shawnee is a beautiful forest with mature hardwoods, hidden ponds, and steep bluffs. Friday morning was rainy, cold, and zero deer activity. We drove into town for a hot breakfast and then hiked to a new spot for the evening hunt. At 3:30pm we had not even finished setting up when I explained to my son where I figured the deer would come from. Maybe 2 minutes later - here he comes - a six pointer headed down the trail right for us. As he passed behind a few giant trees we were hidden so I told my son to get ready. He aimed his open sighted 20 gauge and as soon as the buck cleared the trees at 30-40 yards the deer saw us and stopped broadside! The buck stretched his head up to get a better look - I whispered take your shot because he's about to run. BOOM! The deer jumped and ran up the hill. I grabbed my ML and could see the buck limping as he ran to the top of the hill. We walked to the top quickly and I spotted him lying down on the side of the next hill. Trying to do the ethical thing and finish him I aimed and shot my scoped muzzeloader. The 70-80 yard shot did not reach its mark. Instead the deer got up and continued to run up and then over the next hill. This hill was not your normal hill. It was more like an extremely steep small mountain that goes down to a marsh. While the view was amazing following the deer down with an hour of daylight left was ill advised. Instead we looked for blood. It didn't take long to find the blood trail and with it pieces of gut matter. We called it a day and headed for camp. My son was sad, and kept apologizing for making a less than ideal shot. I did my best to lessen the effect, but I don't think it helped any. The next day brought sunshine and cold temperatures. The three of us hiked to the top of what we now call 6-point mountain and began the search for the deer. My dad stayed at the top with my son as I had to use my rock climbing skills to climb down some areas of the cliff. One I got to the bottom it only took me 15-20 minutes of searching before I found my sons first buck! I immediately thanked the Good Lord and had to figure out a way to get my son down the mountain to see his buck. Finally I found a way safe enough and will always remember his smile and watching him run once he spotted it. I had to skin and butcher the buck where he died as dragging / hoisting the deer up the mountainside wasn't going to happen. The picture below doesn't do it justice, but it's the best I have. We also took the skull and antlers for a camo dipped European mount. Saturday night was the opposite of Friday night. Camp was filled with laughs, snacks, and even a dance off between my son and my dad (LOL). I gotta hand it to my old man - at 70 years old he's still got it! Sunday morning my son and I slept in while my dad hunted on the hill right behind camp. After a couple hours he returned out of breath and out of shotgun shells. Yep, he shot all 5 of the shells he brought and came back to camp to get more. Finding only 2 additional shells he opted to use my sons gun. He wasn't sure if the deer was hit, only that it was staying put in one spot near the bottom of a box canyon. The plan was for my son and I to climb to the top and wait while my dad walked up the valley. This way if my dad scared it up the hill I would be there to meet it. Well, instead my son and I spooked it down to him. BOOM! BOOM! My dad now had his buck. My dad did shoot the deer earlier - but it wasn't a fatal wound as the bullet only hit the 8-pointers right antler. Since the deer drive worked opposite than we intended the buck was only a couple hundred yards from camp and an easy drag. Although I didn't harvest a deer, this was my favorite deer camp to date. I have no doubt that the memories from this past weekend will outlive me - and my friends, this is what it is all about!

Congrats Wooly! Great looking buck and your pics are fantastic! My son got his first buck this past weekend and my dad got a nice buck too! Pics and story in the Deer Hunting Room for anyone interested.

Saw 7 this morning. One nice buck chasing - out of bow range though. Passed on some smaller bucks and a doe with fawns. Although I had good action this morning I've had enough of the public ground. Dang dogs running deer through the woods screwed up the evening hunt and had enough wading through waist deep canal water and nearly getting stuck in the mud. Back to private ground till the shotgun opener Friday. I hope the rain stays away.

Team 7 - Team Pile Driver The new public area Im hunting is bizzare! I have to wear waders to get across a canal. I've NEVER wore waders while hunting - as if my pack wasn't heavy enough! My knee boots barely made it Friday night and with rain all day today I'm sure it will be deeper. The rut is about over - shotgun season starts Friday, but it's all about my 11 year old son and deer camp. He'll have to score before I get a chance. However, I spent 5 hours and multiple puncture wounds putting a double man 16 foot stand in a perfect spot by my self! The spot sets up perfect but ive avoided it for years because the only suitable tree is a giant locust tree on private ground I hunt. My son is tired of blinds and wants to get in a tree. The things we do for out kids!

Thanks guys! I've been hunting all week and just now catching up on our teams efforts. Congrats to rhine and Wooley - Great Deer Boys! Been seeing a lot of 130-140 bucks, but all either running does and wouldn't stop for an ethical shot or just out of range. I never quit till the last day of the season. I have another public draw area to hunt starting Friday. We'll see what happens.

Randy, I went through the big D (not Dallas- LOL) a couple years ago. It went as well as a D can go I suppose. No lawyers, and no custody issues. Heck she recently stopped the vegetarian nonsense, started eating deer meat, and we even date on occasion. Anyway, glad glad you're killing big deer again - and YES - Tom was just saying how much bigger the bucks are in Ohio and that everyone needs to hunt there and thin them out!

The landowner I have permission to hunt a section of his farm places burlap over the fence and sits behind it in a chair. I personally would rather use natural things as opposed to burlap. I only like gun hunting from a blind - deer never seem to come closer than 50 yards even when it is brushed in. Natural camo (as you mention) is the way to go if you want them in close.

5 points My new Mathews performed well. I'm hunting a special public draw area that requires an antlerless deer to be harvested prior to an antlered deer. Took this button to full the requirement. 5 more to the board, but I'm hopeful for an upgrade before its over.

2013-2014 rt deer contest photo entry Team 7 fly 11/10/2013 button buck - 5 points

Not mine, but what a great buck My buddy may have pics from years back when he was a year or two old but nothing recent. Another land owner (100's of acres on the other side of the 10 acres) doesn't recognize the buck either.

Buck down!! (pics) Great job Ruth!