layin on the smackdown

Been huntin since i was able to tag along...been bow hunting since 2000 (i'm 28), so 8 years...Killed a 146 gross 9 pointer first year out. passed on a 150 inch 3 1/2 year old 9 pointer i got a picture of in 07, and got him 11/4/08...he blew up into a 4 1/2 year old 178 6/8 gross with 17 scoreable points. I try real hard not to take anything less than 145 inches and younger than 3 1/2 yrs old. love waxin does too!

I shoot montec's...heard a lot of hype about the rage, but i lost a heck of an 8 pointer 4 years ago due to an expandable not expanding and i went to the montecs. Can't bring myself to use anythign else...i know its closed minded, and maybe a little ignorant, but why fix something if its not broken? In retrospect, I can't argue with the holes ive seen those rage bh's make...I too havne't had anything go more than 60 yds with the montec's.

Thanks for all the info guys! I love pulling off mid day hunts, but tomorrow, work won't let me out...i only have the morning through about 9 to hunt so i guess i will just sit it out and hope my berries don't freeze off! You all know how cold that first real cold morning is of the year; 34 feels like 9. I also have a theory regarding weather/moon phases... You just never know what might happen unless you are there... I'll keep an eye on that moon counting idea too, sounds plausable. Well, i'm goona go, moon phases don't really dictate IF i will go, they just play with my emotions and make me think entirely too deep into it! Good Quotes all around too! Good Huntin!

I have never been one to have very much success when hunting on a full moon...needless to say, right now we have almost a full moon and i am hesitant on going out in the morning tomorrow becuase of it. Can anyone steer me in the right direction with this. I have done a ton of research on this topic, and even written a paper on it in college, but i still don't have the answers i am looking for. is it worth it? I mean its always worth it, but should i anticipate morning daylight activity/feeding or should i anticipate movement to bedding areas? We have a heck of a cold one coming tonite, which makes me very excited, supposed to be 34 tonite, and i am expecting the deer to be on their feet and feeding in the morning daylight hours...ANyone have any input regarding this issue??? Thanks

Ditto on the blazers...Blazers and the whisker biscuit...as Gump would say "they are like peas and carrots..."

Hello, My name is Dan, and I'm a doe-aholic.... I love puttin the smackdown on those slickheads...They seem to eat better than any mature buck i have ever whacked too! All day baby!!! congrats

I would maybe see a beerologist before a deerologist...Sounds like you need to relax a little. its still early in the year, maybe don't go out for a week or so and see what happens. Get a buddy and a lab and go whack some doves or ducks or geese (if theyre in season) for a few days and get your mind off bowhunting. Deer have an amazing ability to drive humans insane, we have all been there. When my season starts that way or that happens to me, i hang it up for a week or so, regroup, rethink and re-execute. give the deer a victory (them 1 you 0) and start your season over. We as humans also have the ability to think irrationally when we are frustrated...Keep your head up, things will change. Try not hunting, but scouting for a few mornings or evenings around where you hunt. Maybe you can pick up on what they are doing from a roadside or hilltop..do a little glassing and that should help you,and at least give you some answers to the"where" and maybe the "why". Good Luck!

If i knew how to post it i would...but i have a few pics from my trail cam of 150+ 10 pointer eating beans at 11:00 p.m. and a 125 8pointer doing the same thing at 3:30 a.m. then does and small bucks during daylight hours in the same spot. That being said, i would go with beans until a good cold front. I am located in northwestern IL

Tows to vows.....am i kicking a dead horse???

Welcome Mr. Tink...I love your pee! I am a newbie to the forum as of 10-9-08 Here is a little tast of my resume... I hunt...................... Glad to have someone with such a decorated background, years of experience and administrative insight on the forum. I guess i will take this opportunity to thank you for all of your efforts in supporting the outdoors in so many ways. if it weren't for individuals like yourself, from the past into the present, we might not be where we are right now as outdoorsmen/women in this country. big fan of uncle Ted, and because of people like yourself and Fred Bear, we are able to say the infamous "You can't do this in France"! Love what youre doin for the troops! Good Huntin

I experienced a similar situation when i was in college, the only difference was, it was a very good friend of mine who pulled the same stunt. i had gotten permission to hunt a very nice chunk of ground from the owners by knocking on doors. Well, i took him out there because he didn't have a place to hunt but had a muzzle loader tag (he didn't have a place to hunt at school because he didn't have the balls to go asking, just kind of leached off of anyone he could). Well the following fall rolled around, and he called me and said that he had went out to the farm and put up a stand...I was fired up, bigtime! Needless to say, he went behind my back and asked permission to hunt the same property, which, i guess, is my fault because i took him out there in the first place. SO i called him up and layed into him about it because there was already my girlfriend and i plus one more bow hunter out there, and the landowners gun hunt it (its less than 100 acres mind you), and it already has enough pressure. Eventually, i got over it because there was nothing i could do about it, and i didn't think it was worth our friendship; however there was definitely a lesson to be learned there. In the future, don't take someone of that character to your favorite spot, or, lay down some serious ground rules. Good Huntin'

I want to commend you for a job well done...as you witnessed, most people would have done nothing. Where was momma doe? A fawn that young usually won't be too far away from mom unless something is wrong, or mom got dusted already. My concern would have been disease for a couple of reasons; no momma doe around, and a small 75 pound fawn getting waxed by a car should have some serious injuries unless it was just bumbed or brushed. I don't know what diseases you have around you, or if there is even a threat, but that would have been my first concern. Either way, it took a pair to do what you did. Good Job! Hats off to Ruth!

When i see major changes in deer patterns it usually revolves around weather. There are always going to be external factors, but weather is always #1 on my radar when deer movement and patterns change dramatically. You're up there a ways, so i am assuming you may have encountered a cold front which could have put the deer into a transition mode to seek out more fatty foods. Acorns are good, but corn and beans are the bread and butter in IL. Also, its understandable to be eager to see who and what you caught on your cameras, but try to look into a bigger battery pack so you aren't out there leaving scent as often. I personally like to check mine in the middle of the day (when the rut is not in swing) get in, get out, and plan your next move. you could also get so fresh deer urine and use it as a drag when checking your camera in an effort to eliminate your scent. Good Luck, hope this helps!