fly

We'll be racing in our 3rd pinewood derby today. Three years ago my sons car came in second. Last year we didn't do so well. This year he wanted the Batmobile. It was the most difficult car we have made, but I think it turned out pretty good for a dad that only has a jigsaw and sander to work with. Last year his year older sister went to the race and was updet because she couldn't make a car with dad and race. Well this year we made her a crocodile car and I'm going to make sure she at least gets to run it down the track. Pictures and racing updates later!

Flint I'd say that is one heck of a good tree to be hunting from! That last one looks like a 120's kind of deer.

Sorry it took so long to get a pic posted.

Exactly what I was thinking

Whatchu talking about Phillis!

One official outfitter in 2000. Black bear lodge in Quebec. Terrible experience that has kept me away from outfitters ever since. Poor communication and they made me feel bad for asking questions about baits getting hit, or asking to change spots after not seeing a bear at a bait 2 days in a row. They stated near 100% opportunity and 90% success. During my week at their bear camp 6 of 18 guys got a bear. Half of us didn't see a bear. The week prior one of 18 got a bear. They also did not warn me about black flies!!!!!! I hope to do a Red Stag hunt some day in New Zeland and would use an outfitter for that, but I tend to like DIY hunts much more.

Altough my dad got me into hunting, he taught me several things I realized later (on my own) were backwards or just flet out wrong. He still hunts like that and hasn't killed a deer in 5-10 years now. Still... I'm grateful he spent the time with me.

I've read several articles that indicate hunting shows are about the entertainment industry (not the hunting industry). I just got DirectTV and have been watching some shows. Some are pretty good, others not so much. I don't even remember the names, but I know what I like, and it's the real hunting as everyone has said. If I were in the business here's the show I would make: It would be centered towards the average hunter that has public ground access or possibly small (under 300 acres) of private land to hunt. 95% of hunters don't see 130+ inch deer each trip. The first segment of the show would focus on examining maps and the time spent scouting and figuring out where to hang a stand or place a blind. The second would be the hunt and shots of the animals seen and shot at. The third segment shows the tracking and recovery (if a deer was shot). If a shot was not taken then the third segment would discuss why they beilieve deer were not seen, what they would have done differently, and possibly some footage of the sunrise / birds chirping / other things that make hunting more than killing. I'd probably go bankrupt with a show like this, but this is what I would like to watch.

[quote fly you gotta get that cameraman lower to the ground. I would have guessed that deer at 140 inches.... Yea I know, it's the best one with me. My cousin's photography work! Here's one I took later.

Frank (just Frank - no middle name)

Open shot by summit (15 pounds).

People are going to tire of seeing my pictures, but here they are again for those that have not seen. Buck number 1 Buck number 2 Doe (shot last Saturday)

You are right, and that tells me that most of us feel nets are for fishing. Seems we all readily accept the B&C scoring method (as opposed to others), but don't place a lot of emphasis on the B&C minimum scores for book entry.

I've seen some big deer over the years, but I'm not sure if they were bigger than the one i took on the last day of the 07 season (171 and change).

171 and change (typical) Illinois

He's got the mount. Said the hide must have pulled away from the crease at that point and tore as it shrunk. He offered to re-cape, but i told him no. He's going to fill in the crease under the tear and then glue some hairs over the top. We'll see how it turns out. I'll post pictures.

So far the most interesting thing I've found is that only about 15% of us feel a Monsterbuck would have to score high enough to make it into the B&C record book. I would have guessed about twice that.

1969?

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately I had already harvested 2 bucks this year so a doe was all I could legally tag. My unfilled ML tag from December can be used during the late season so I decided to use it. The three does I saw were a long way off when I first spotted them. Watched them for 20 minutes as they came my way. The shot was 75 yards and that doe fell where she stood.

The good Lord blessed me with this doe this morning. The first time I have ever harvested a deer on my birthday!

Oh yea, too bad I don't have 1200.00 because that's one sweet looking gun. Too bad it doesn't come in RT.

My dad got one last month in OK. We processed it and I fried some ground meat like a hamburger a couple weeks ago. It was edible, but not as good as beef or bear. I'd say preparing it that way was about like deer.

Personally I prefer February when the temps are cold and brush is dead making walking easier, the leaves are gone allowing me to get better visualization of low areas and other land contours, and snow that allows me to find deer trails easily and there are no bugs or snakes. I'm sure you know that deer will pattern differently depending on the season. I don't scout in September (although many do) because it's too dang hot and the forest will grab you and not let go. Plus there are too many ticks and snakes! I just hunt all the time in October and consider the hunts scouting trips as well.

Did you know that most rifle scopes will work fine on a ML? The difference is that the eye relief is usually a little more and the reticle may be designed specifically for a ML. I just finished an extensive search for a scope under 100.00 and these were the top two I found. I would have went with the Nikon, but it was not in stock, so I bought the Alpha. 1. Nikon Prostaff 3X9X40 with the Nikoplex reticle on sale for $99.00 - order through Cabela's (online) http://www.cabelas.com/product/Nikon-ProStaff-Riflescope/729045.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dnikon%2Bprostaff%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=nikon+prostaff&WTz_l=Header;Search-All%20Products 2. Cabela's Alpha series 2X12X40 scope with 4 inch eye relief for 79.00 (normally priced at 150.00) - order through Cabela's (online). http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Alpha-Series-Riflescope/752230.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dalpha%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=alpha&WTz_l=Header;Search-All%20Products

Gas millage is something I wasn't thinking of. That is very important to me. My F-150 averages 14-15mpg. Pulling my trailer it only gets 10. I just checked the mpg comparison for 4X4 models (Ford, Dodge) are about the same with the bigger engine. So far I'm leaning towards Ford. The only difference I know about the Dodge outdoors model is the side compartments above the back tires.