St. Jude's Solana Ranch Hunt Officially Underway!!

[IB]

HAY there was some folks I recognized        

That Rob guy could really really EAT. And about yer eatin????  HOW WAS IT          

[Guru]

A dried up hog wallow....
 

You can see in this pic where the hogs used the trees to rub against....
 


We were having a great time and Terry and I were getting our moneys worth......no time for sleep. It seemed there was always a blood trail to help out with in between hunts. I usually got back to camp just in time to grab a quick shower and get right back out to hunt in the afternoon....I was glad to help out and I was lovin' every second of this hunt!!

 Got to spend a lot of time with some real special folks......

[Guru]

Vance the eatin' was top notch!! Everything,and I mean everything was awesome!

[Terry Green]

Yes,....we have plenty of hogs in GA...but I'm telling ya, and others will also tell ya, there is something about Solana Ranch that calls you back!!!

[Guru]

No doubt about it....I can't stop thinking about going back!!

I remember,about 2 days into the hunt, saying to Terry, Matt, and Joel...."I can see how this place gets into your blood".....It really is a spacial place! Throw in a bunch of good 'ol trad gangers and it's just unforgettable.....

The bunkhouse......
 

The pavilion and practice area.....
 

Terry, big Bob Walker behind him and David walking to his rig....
 

Another good stand,but this afternoon was slow for nearly everyone......
 
 

[robtattoo]

Looks like young Bobby's making good inroads into that six-pack!  

[NoCams]

Bill "Bootstrap" Turner,
Yep, Don told me about several of the stands. I can only imagine the one that he told me about that was out on a limb with nothing around, kinda floating in space. Said he was hanging on with his toenails and if he had a tail like a monkey he would have wrapped it around the limb too !

nocams

[Terry Green]

Speaking of David.....He shot a hog the last evening we were there, and came and got us....we'll he went looking for his hog after we'd all left.....and he found it.

Now, see about two years ago Joel and I got him out there on the 3-D deer with a longbow, and he got the bug a bit....Joel sent him an old bear recurve, and I sent him some arrows.  David got to practicing in the off season, and got a few does the next year, and this year as well.....and he got this boar on our hunt with that old Bear recurve...and a Wensel 'Woodchopper' as he likes to ball them....

Congrats David, you are very deserving of this hero pic for all you did for us, and have done in years past....let's hear it for David Shepard!!!

                   

 

[Guru]

Well alright!!!      

 I know I've talked about how funny he is,but he's much more.  He's an excellent hunter and has many yrs of experience that he uses and passes on to his hunters.....he's just a great all around "guide" and a better person!

[Guru]

I guess I'm the only one that took a lot of pix.....

 Nobody else has more pix?


 Terry working on the nock fit on another arrow for his quiver after shooting his doe that morning.....
 

 Don re-loading arrows and sharpening some bh's....I believe this was the night he got Terry going about "aiming methods"....that was a hoot!
 

Another group shot.....
 

Terry and Tippit having a laugh......
 

A couple pix for my dad to enjoy.....Courtesy of either Terry or Bob...nothing like the smell of a cigar to remind my of playing golf with dad...something I need to do more of...back stps of the bunk house...
 

front door....
 

till later......

We need some stories fellas......

[tippit]

Guru,  I think Terry was laughing about my Boston Airport Camo Bag...no one suspects your a hunter with an orange flower duffel  :eek:  When Joel & Matt picked me up at the airport, their first comment was "you must feel pretty secure with your manhood totin' a bag like that!"  The big plus is No One even tries to pick it up and walk off with it    Doc

[Guru]

That's right,I remember getting in on the laughs about that!      

I sure hope you can make it next year....

[Huntrdfk]

Curt's right, there has to be more stories to go along with this one, just has to be.....    


David

[pseman]

Words can't express how envious I am of you guys. Looks like one awesome trip.  

[Guru]

Second to last morning I got dropped off in the dark,but I was ready this time so I wouldn't spook anything that came in quickly. Within minutes I could hear something walking in. Against the back round of light colored dead grass I could barely see some deer moving in. But it would be at least another half hour before it would even be close enough to consider a shot. As it got lighter,thru my bino's I could see it was several does,a small big, and a slightly "rutty" 8 pt....he was playing "ring around the rosy" with one of the does as they alternated eating and chasing. He wasn't a monster by any means,but from what I could tell a good representation of a Solana buck. I dearly wanted to have a TX buck to go along with my hog. So I decided to try for him. It was getting close to shooting light and I prepared for my shot...then the feeder went off, and everything scattered. But quickly started coming back,and were soon all around my shooting lane again. It seemed like deer where coming out of the woodwork now. All the deer that were under me before and then some with more coming. I'd stood,had my hand slid up into the grip of "Timex" and my superglove tipped finger hooked on the string. All the deer were feeding contently,with more coming.....I wasas relaxed as I could be given the circumstances, just waiting for the 8 pt to get 'right'.........

 

 

[Huntrdfk]

AARRRGGHHH.....    


David

[el cazador]

Okay y'all... I held off checking this thread thinking I'd get to read it in one sitting! LOL! In true TG style I see I'll have to keep coming back!

Congrats to all of you for a time well spent together, and for the successful kills.

Curt, A special congrats to you on your Texas boar.  I got a good chuckle about your comment on the feeder going off and you jumping.  I've been there...done that, too many times!

Now... let's get on with the story telling!

Thanks for taking the time to share!

[Ted Fry]

Looks like a load of fun guys , wish I could have been both places at the same time.

[Lewis Brookshire III]

Can someone give me some more info about these arrows posted on page two? Who made the wraps and what color/brand feathers are those? Got a closer pic of the wraps on the right in red??

I have been looking for some REAL bright arrow wrap/feather combo and these are great!

 

[tippit]

Those are Terry's arrows with Trad Gang wraps.  You see a deer or hog runnin' with one of those and ya'll know it ain't goin' far