Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Terry Green on September 03, 2013, 08:15:00 PM
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Bob Sarrels is already making the bows...we decided to go ahead, and the gals will get a year and 3 months worth of hunting before they go to the St Jude Auction 2015.
I started this thread as Bob wanted to post pics along as he went....
Thanks Bob!!! :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
October 2013
Hope - Michael Davenport (wapiti792)
Faith - Boyd Staley (stabow)
November
Hope - Luke Carabbia (Thump)
Faith - Colin Earles (Ceme24)
December
Hope - Larry Adams (Ladams)
Faith - Raymond Reid (modr)
January 2014
Hope - Zane Dodd (Texasrucurve81)
Faith - Caleb Hinton (Cmane07)
February
Hope - Pete O. (Mamba)
Faith - Barry Loving (bow loving man)
March
Hope - Charley Brown (Sheephunter)
Faith - David Torbert (recurve_shooter)
April
Hope - James Henry (huntnut)
Faith - Ed Frye
May
Hope - Wayne Booth (fnshtr)
Faith -??????
June
Hope - Jim Dussias (tarponnut)
Faith - Cade Cabrera
July
Hope - John Langley (South MS Bowhunter)
Faith -
August
Hope -
Faith - Timothy McKinley (chinook907)
September
Hope - Ken Gettman (Elkken)
Faith - Charles Blaylock (Bud B.)
October
Hope - Aaron McDonnel (DarkTimber)
Faith - James D Wolffe Jr (Rock 'N Bow)
November
Hope - Troy Burns(Burnsie)
Faith - Chuck Droessler (nineworlds9)
December
Hope - Paul Hentschel(Phoenixarcher)
Faith - Kenneth Adkins (threeunder)
Febuary
Hope - "akaboomer"
Faith -
March
Hope - "Fletcher"
Faith -
April
Hope - "crittergetter"
Faith- not sure yet
May
Hope - Terry Green
Faith -
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Thank you Bob!!
:clapper:
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Bob sent me a few pics and asked me to post them up for him.
He has already started construction of these beautifule bows. The risers are going to be made from Pau Ferro. Here is a pic of the block of wood he started with:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/Hope-Faithwood_zpsab928df0.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/Hope-Faithwood_zpsab928df0.jpg.html)
Bocote and black glass on the limbs with action boo cores laying on the workbench and ready to be glued up!
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/Hope-Faithlams_zps4c0ed46e.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/Hope-Faithlams_zps4c0ed46e.jpg.html)
The Bocote in the limbs is going to be awesome looking in the finished bow. Here is the first limb out of the press:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/Hope-Faithlimb_zpsc7892206.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/Hope-Faithlimb_zpsc7892206.jpg.html)
I know I, for one, can't wait to see the finished products>
Thanks for stepping up Bob!
Bisch
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Thanks for posting the pics Bisch. Not to good at that stuff. Will try to get some pics to ya as we go along. Zach and I are honored to be allowed to participate in this great thing that Trad Gang does each year. Thanks go out to Terry Green who has been wonderful to deal with.
Hope you guys have lots of fun and good hunts with these 2 bows. Looking forward to hearing some good stories and seeing some good hunt results. God bless. Bob
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Bob and Zach Make some really terrific longbows.. I'll be following this one... Way to go Sarrels Boys.!
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Those are going to be beautiful!
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Bob,
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Looking forward to watching these two gals come to life. Hope to be one of the fortunate ones to hunt with Miss Faith. Regardless, though, will watch this and the hunt thread constantly.
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Things are cranking right along on Hope and Faith. Bob sent me a few more pics to add.
The first is a set of limbs glued up and ready to shape!
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/limbs_zps5153538c.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/limbs_zps5153538c.jpg.html)
Next is a pic of all the components for the risers.
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/riserpieces_zpsc0df505b.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/riserpieces_zpsc0df505b.jpg.html)
Next is the risers glued up.
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/Riserblocks_zps21558747.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/Riserblocks_zps21558747.jpg.html)
And finally, the risers start to take shape!
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/glueduprisers_zpsa84544d7.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/glueduprisers_zpsa84544d7.jpg.html)
It won't be long now till we have pieces together with a whole bow in a pic!
Bisch
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Great news and thanks for adding the build pics Bisch!! Do you know what model Bob and Zach will be building for the auction? I have to say I've bought and sold a few bows in my short time as a traditional archer but my Sarrels Superstition will have a permanent home on the rack. Can't wait to see how they turn out and I'm looking forward to following along on their adventures!!
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Bob told me the other day these were going to be Blueridge SR's.
Bisch
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Man that wood is mighty purty! :D
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Thanks for supporting the kids. These boys are going to be real lookers!
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When can we start signing up Terry?
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Originally posted by Todd Alexander:
When can we start signing up Terry?
Hey Todd, see this thread for signing up!
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=131117#000000
Bisch
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Here is another pic of the first one put together! Zach is eying it to make sure everything is perfect!
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/bow_zps270e4014.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/bow_zps270e4014.jpg.html)
Unless Bob figures out how to post pics there will not be any more for a couple weeks. I am headed to NM on a mule deer hunt tomorrow morning at 4am.
Bisch
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Looking good!
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Great looking wood.
Would love to try one sometime.
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Y'all are moving on these quickly! Beautiful looking BRSR's that in 15 months should have quite a few stories to their credit.
Thanks Bob and Zack for fulfilling the Hope and Faith project with your fine bows.
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Zach says he can figure out how to post pics. More coming soon.
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Just got a chance to look at the pics of those beautiful bows. Very nice. Thank you Bob for stepping up to the plate for the kids!
That last pic...the background....now I know why Bob's bows are so smoooth! :bigsmyl:
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Very nice! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Most excellent! Thanx Bob
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Pic, pics, pics!!!!
We need pics!!
Whoooohooooo!!!!!!!! :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
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You could send the pics to me and I would gladly post them for ya! :goldtooth:
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I saw them at his shop this past weekend. Hope was pretty much finished up. It's going to be beautiful. The bacote has a great figure and the pau ferro is beautiful. I shot pretty much every model he has and the one that I shot the best hands down is the exact model he's using for hope and faith. I told my wife while we were there that "hopefully I'll be taking a pig with this bow", fingers crossed. Whoever does get to use them should be very pleased.
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MORE PICS!
They are coming right along!
Here they are, side by side:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/photo2_zpsd2e9e5bf.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/photo2_zpsd2e9e5bf.jpg.html)
And here is Zach shaping the limbs:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/photo5_zps1074c5eb.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/photo5_zps1074c5eb.jpg.html)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/photo6_zps9fba7b5a.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/photo6_zps9fba7b5a.jpg.html)
This is Bob holding Hope:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/photo7_zpsc464e63c.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/photo7_zpsc464e63c.jpg.html)
And a better look at Hope's riser:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/photo_zps17f6fc95.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/photo_zps17f6fc95.jpg.html)
And here is a couple pics of all the other Sarrels creations hanging on the rack at his shop:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/photo4_zps7b2622db.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/photo4_zps7b2622db.jpg.html)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/photo3_zpsc76e8aa7.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/photo3_zpsc76e8aa7.jpg.html)
Bisch
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Looking GOOD!!! Thanks to the Sarrels for their dedication and excellent craftmanship! These girls are gonna be gorgeous!
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looking good what's the draw weight?
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I think Bob said 53@28 think for Hope but not absolutely certain.
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Bob's mother-in-law passed away a few days ago. Please send up a few extra prayers for his family.
Bisch
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Prayers sent. My condolences.
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The girls are coming right along!
Here is Hope after the grip was stippled and after Zach wrote the specs on her:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/Hopestippledupandreadytofinish_zps35b328ed.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/Hopestippledupandreadytofinish_zps35b328ed.jpg.html)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/ZachjustwrotethespecsonHope_zpsa3c13217.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/ZachjustwrotethespecsonHope_zpsa3c13217.jpg.html)
And here are a couple of the stipling getting done on Faith!
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/stipplingfaith2_zps89e2e0af.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/stipplingfaith2_zps89e2e0af.jpg.html)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/stipplingfaith1_zps467d269b.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/stipplingfaith1_zps467d269b.jpg.html)
It won't be long now, till they are finished!
Bisch
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Oops, double post!
Bisch
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Wow! Lookin good.
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A little birdie told me tonight that both Hope and Faith are finished! I'm sure there will be a couple very sexy pics forthcoming in the next couple days!
Bisch
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Cool! Can't wait for the official lineup to be released. Have been having Hope and Faith withdrawl since June...lol.
My absolute favorite post to follow along with every year
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Hope and Faith are officially finished!
I told you there would be a few sexy pics coming, soooooooooooo, here they are!
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/HopeandFaith1_zps8c586017.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/HopeandFaith1_zps8c586017.jpg.html)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/HopeandFaith2_zps473746e5.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/HopeandFaith2_zps473746e5.jpg.html)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/HopeandFaith5_zpsc3851f92.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/HopeandFaith5_zpsc3851f92.jpg.html)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/HopeandFaith3_zpscb4a411d.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/HopeandFaith3_zpscb4a411d.jpg.html)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/HopeandFaith4_zpsb7635df6.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/HopeandFaith4_zpsb7635df6.jpg.html)
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/HopeandFaith6_zps19d581f0.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/HopeandFaith6_zps19d581f0.jpg.html)
Here is Zach shooting Hope:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/HopeandFaith7_zps8d4c8ad6.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/HopeandFaith7_zps8d4c8ad6.jpg.html)
And here is the results of Zach shooting Hope:
(http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss239/archeryrules/HopeandFaith8_zps0c16003f.jpg) (http://s579.photobucket.com/user/archeryrules/media/HopeandFaith8_zps0c16003f.jpg.html)
This should be a fun thread to follow for the next year!
Good luck to all you guys who get to hunt with these two!
Bisch
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:bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
Luv my Sarrels Sierra
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Ooohhh!!! They are sexy!!!
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Thanks to Bisch for posting all these pics. Bows hit the postoffice about an hour ago and are on the way to Terry in Ga. Enjoy guys. Bob and Zach
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Couple of beautiful hotrod's right there!
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Couple of real beauties!!!
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:clapper:
Beauties!
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WOW!!
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Those are real beautiful!
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Gorgeous!
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Awesome! Really "Hoping" to get one bloody...
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Amazing!
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Anyone know if the lineup has been released yet? if so where?
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Wow: those are some beautiful girls.
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Bob told me about this thread yesterday. Hope and Faith turned out beautifully. And it was very generous of Bob and Zach to donate them.
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Any word on the lineup?
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Amazing! I'll be excited to follow the stories and hopefully be able to add one of my own!
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I sure would like a chance at the right handed one. I love my Sierra.
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they look great bob, thanks to you and Zach for doing this!!
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I just talked to Terry and he said Hope and Faith should be shipped to the first guys tomorrow. He also said he will be starting a thread with the whole lists very soon. Good luck to all who get take part in this!
Bisch
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OK...just waiting on emails for addresses for Hope and Faith from the hunters for October...we got delayed buy having to wait on end caps for the heavy 6" PVC shipping tubes....should be here late today so hopefully they will go out tomorrow..and we'll expedite shipping so the hunters will still get some decent time with them.
Once they are gone, will post the list on the ORIGINAL post of THIS thread...and email the hunters for their addresses and get the list sent to the 1st hunters to add to the tube when they ship them forward.
And YES...they are Beauts!!!!
Thanks again to the Sorrels!!! :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
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Looking forward to my time with Hope this month. I have a United Bowhunters of Illinois event in a couple of weeks. Gonna show her off to the guys and hunt some turkeys and whitetails :campfire:
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Originally posted by wapiti792:
Looking forward to my time with Hope this month. I have a United Bowhunters of Illinois event in a couple of weeks. Gonna show her off to the guys and hunt some turkeys and whitetails :campfire:
Good luck with her,Mike! She is a sweet bow , for sure!
Bsich
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Terry told me I was 2nd in line for October that would be great our season starts the 15th. Will find out later today if Faith is heading my way...... :)
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Can't wait to see the lineup....hoping I get to spend time with Faith also...
Regardless though, good to have Hope and Faith to read about again.
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Break her in for me stabow!
Rumor has it she may be coming north for the Ohio rut and fall turkey season after taking care if business in Bama, but I know there is alot Terry has to work through in coordinating these bows movements.
No matter what, watching the hunts with these bows is really a bright spot for me!
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I have a spot pick out for her, a blind set up on a trail leading to a food plot will check out arrow flight soon as I get her should be here Monday or Tuesday next week. :bigsmyl:
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Go gettem guys. Hope yall have a great time with these bows. It was fun building them. Best of luck to all.
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Faith is in the house she arrived a little bit ago, she is a beauty I manage to shoot a few arrows out of her tonight without much of any adjustment and she was shooting great will try some wood arrows tomorrow and adjust the nock a little.
Thanks Bob she is a beauty :campfire: :campfire:
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Lay it on 'em Boyd!
Anxious to see the lineup for Faith.
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Terry said yesterday that Faith's (the lefty) dance card has some slots open!!!!! Come on lefties lets get those dates covered!!!
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Work in progress on original post...filling in as I get time...looks like we are going to need more left handers for sure.
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How about some St. Jude's arrows and broad heads to go hunting with the St. Jude's Miss Faith.....stabow
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/stabow/null_zps5aefacd5.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/stabow/media/null_zps5aefacd5.jpg.html)
Come on lefties lets go.
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:jumper: :jumper: :archer2:
Good luck Boyd .... can't beat that St Jude mojo
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I'd say it's game time Boyd!
Come on lefties! Time to step up!
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I got a bomb proof tube and beautiful bow in the mail over lunch. I am going to rush home and shoot this pretty girl named Hope after work. I have several days off and will be getting her into the woods Friday afternoon. Stay tuned! I am like a kid at Christmas :)
The guys at Sarrels Archery did an outstanding job. Stunning work of art that is gonna see some Illinois whitetails! Thanks so much fellas!
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Hello, Iam a leftie. How do I get on the list and whats the requirements? How does all this work?
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December 2014! Awesome!!!
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britt,
Here ya go!
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=131117#000000
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Hope Day 1
Ok I got her unpacked and home. I literally put three in the money at 20 with no adjustments. Then shot after shot where I needed. She likes 70-75 Doug Fir at 30.5 inches and an Ace Standard, 160 gr. Within an hour we were like peas and carrots.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-15.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-15.jpg.html)
*First three from 20 yards.
I had an hour and half till dark and decided to slip into some edge cover 1/4 mile from the house. I had some does there last night as I was glassing and a couple of bucks that needed a closer look. So with my ghille, my cheap stool and Hope I eased across the road and into some standing beans. I had a great wind and a place I wanted to get to. Time was short!
I no sooner sat down and a fat doe came into the field about 80 yards away. I decided to go for it and started slipping to her. Each time she put her head down to eat I moved along the field edge hugging the fencerow. I got caught by some brush sticking out in the field and waited. As I looked over the rise with my glass I saw two bucks feeding in the fence row ahead. With light getting short I backed out of the field. I circled to a field road that runs parallel to the field and made my way close to the fence row about where the bucks should have been.
I looked up to see a great 3 1/2 year old buck walking to me from the field. I looked to my right at 20 yards and there is a big ol scrape. I eased to my knees and off the road pronto. He came in facing me and started tearing the scrape up. I was kinda caught out in the open but my ghille is pretty cool...store bought but cool. As I was thinking of how to get an arrow to him or get him to turn I made a little crinkle in the leaves. Bad move...he stood and stared with me on two bad knees for a long, long time. I just didn't make eye contact. He never spooked and he never gave me an ethical shot. Quartering to was the best I had and I elected to pass. At dark he eased back to the field and I took the long way home to not spook all the deer in the field.
So, how's that for a first night with Hope? My God if they all go that way I will have a dump truck full of memories and some dead critters. Stay tuned...this is gonna be a fun month!
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-14.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-14.jpg.html)
*Beautiful.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-12.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-12.jpg.html)
*Checkering and riser gorgeous
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-13.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-13.jpg.html)
*Braced at 7 1/8.
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Great hunt Mike!
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Keep after them, Mike!
Good luck!
Bisch
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Wow Mike way to get it started.
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Our season wont start till October 15th..... :(
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Break her in Boyd. I will hunt her in Michigan and Ohio.
Here is a likely view she will see during the Michigan rut. This pic is from this AM
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zpsfce4a3ac.jpg)
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Nice :campfire: :clapper:
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(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-16.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-16.jpg.html)
Well lookie there...looks like a little red stuff on that Snag arra next to Ms Hope :)
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You didn't cut yourself on a BH did yah.... :bigsmyl:
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Day 2 Hope Sarrels
I spent the whole day yesterday itching to get back after that buck the night before. I played the scenario in my head a thousand times and each time the arrow stays on Hopes rest. The shot just wasn't there...
Yesterday over lunch my wife and I did what a lot of couples do that work together...we ate lunch :) This time though we hurried home and popped up a blind on a ridge at the bottom of the field where the buck encounter was and ate a sammich on the way back. It is just a little 10 acre woods, but deer and turkey seem to love it. My neighbor is a kind soul and understands my affliction, so it was cool! We brushed it in and got it the best we could, knowing that for a couple of weeks the deer (especially long nosed does) will avoid it. Back to work we went...
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/HopeTurkey001.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/HopeTurkey001.jpg.html)
I run a little rural health clinic and nearly jumped out of my chair when the secretary told me my last patient of day had canceled and I was done. I grabbed my hunting clothes from the tub I keep in the office and headed home. On the way there I get a call reminding me that I have a boy that wants to go with me: I had promised him last week that we would get a hunt in this week. I knew trying to put him in a ghille and ambushing the buck would be tough. With the East wind I had no stand sites for a double, so the blind it was. I knew the odds were low, but what the heck. He wanted to go and I wanted him there. He knew about Hope and was excited. He knows all about St Jude's, too. He is helping me raise money for my marathon team. My fat butt is running a half and we are raising $500 for our team for the St Jude's Marathon in December. So far he has a ton of cans to turn into cash, and as he put it, cans for kids ain't hard to do. I love that big-hearted boy!
So grabbing our gear and getting him situated in the blind took a few minutes. We hadn't even put on our war paint when I heard turkeys clucking in the field. Almost as an afterthought I mouth called a few yelps and HERE THEY CAME! I mean we just sat down, stuff everywhere on the floor of the blind, arrow still in quiver, Hope leaning against the blind...nuts! I look at Seth and he has that wide-eyed look. "Dad, they're coming!"
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/HopeTurkey012.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/HopeTurkey012.jpg.html)
* Here was our view. 2 windows only.
Instantly I grabbed Hope and found an arrow. Already we could hear leaves crinkling behind us and purrs, yelps and kee-kees. A finger over my lips for quiet and a nod by him and we were good. A few birds slipped past us right but I could hear birds to the left as well. Just then a purr to the right and right in the window steps a fat hen at 12 yards. Draw, anchor, thump from Hope...perfect.
She ran about 20 yards with wings out and I knew we were good. The other birds stood around awhile and despite the urging from my boy, I let them go. I have another tag, but why spoil perfect, right? Here is what we found...
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/HopeTurkey002.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/HopeTurkey002.jpg.html)
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So 1630: five minutes into our hunt and we are looking good. We ease out of the blind as the last of the birds are walking away. I knew the bird was down but let him trail. A few steps from the above pic and lookie here, we got a bird down! She is a beauty. Perfect fall bird :)
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/HopeTurkey003-1.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/HopeTurkey003-1.jpg.html)
*This is how we found her
The hit was right above the thighs and through the lungs. The 160 grain Ace Standard on a Doug Fir shaft by our own Snag weighing 630 gr total had passed right through. We recovered the arrow at the shot. Those fletchings are from my birds from Nebraska that Magnus hooked me up with. I think I know where my next fletch will come from :)
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/HopeTurkey011.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/HopeTurkey011.jpg.html)
*A fine bird with a fine bow
We took some photos which I will share and talked about how special this hunt was. How this bow symbolized what is good about our sport and Tradgang! We still had plenty of time so we hurried our photos and took the hen with us back to the blind. Here are a few pics:
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/HopeTurkey007.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/HopeTurkey007.jpg.html)
*Boy takes some good pics...me not so much
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/HopeTurkey006.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/HopeTurkey006.jpg.html)
*Beauty
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We got back in the blind with an hour and a half until dark. No way we weren't going to get all out of this day. We had a ball game to watch later and to an 11 year old having your team on the verge of winning a division is a big deal (Go Cards). He told me the perfect day was hunting with Hope, killing a turkey, and having his team win...well looks like it happened! We reflected on the hunt, painted our faces, and he slipped on a dark jacket to hide the blue shirt. We hadn't even done that yet! We just kept talking about Hopes turkey and looked at our pics while keeping an ever vigil for more game.
Here are a few of those:
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/HopeTurkey005.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/HopeTurkey005.jpg.html)
*Ms Hope and her first
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/HopeTurkey009.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/HopeTurkey009.jpg.html)
*An excited 11 year old
Almost at last light I look up to see a bruiser of a buck headed right to us! I elbowed Seth and he was able to see him! At 35 or so I have Hope ready. At 30 he started to angle some and then finally in range at 25 or so he drops down the hill with only his rack visible. He starts eating acorns and I just know any moment he is going to give us a shot. He walks away and we never get a shot...same buck as last night. He doesn't notice the blind and has no idea there is a man, a boy, and Hope shaking with excitement inside. He also doesn't know how close he came to getting dead two nights in a row!
With light fading we take a final pic and gather our gear. Seth tells me he is hungry and that he was afraid the buck was going to hear his stomach growl. I tell him I thought he was going to hear my heart pound...Hope stays silent and deadly :)
I remind Seth where Hope gets her name from: From Romans, "Now abideth these three, faith, Hope, and love. The greatest of these is love" Love is why we do this...and love is what I felt throwing that bird over my shoulder and walking a hungry boy back to the house to have him tell his mom and sister all about the perfect day.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/HopeTurkey013.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/HopeTurkey013.jpg.html)
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Congrats!
Tom :thumbsup:
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Awesome hunt Mike and Seth! Hope springs eternal!
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Great hunt, thanks for taking us along!
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Congrats Mike, your out of the blocks like a sprinter !! What a great tradition, the St Judes Hope and Faith bows :thumbsup:
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Great hunt Mike. That smile on Seth says a lot.
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AWESOME! Thank you for sharing! Just a great way to start off the hunts - a child enjoying a hunt with dad. He will never forget that day and if he wasn't before, his heart is forever touched with the spirit of charity, hope and faith!
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Way to go Mike good job :notworthy: :clapper:
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Man Mike that was fantastic....way to share the experience with your boy.
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You're a lucky man Mike! Congrats again my friend and way to start Team Yeti out this year! Almost time to start chasing deer here. :thumbsup:
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Great story. I honestly got a little tingly at that last part. Thanks Mike. Congrats !
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Great story.
Great pictures.
Wonderful lesson for all!
Thank you.
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Great hunt! Thanks for taking us along :campfire:
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Thank you everyone! It was an honor to have Hope with me. I have a plan hatched for the evening after work. I should have about 2 hours of light left...nothing like going for broke on a buck that will soon be on the move and out of my life unless he strolls by during the rut.
A word on Hope Sarrels: aside from being really pretty she is a fine shooting bow. I draw to 29.5 and the 60" is not a problem. I find the ease at which it draws feels lighter than 54# at 28. Whoever gets her next is going to have a real treat!
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Great story and pic's,just don't get any better than that,congrats and thanks for sharing. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Awsome Mike and Seth. Hope you have many more days like that.RC
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Great story and hunt Mike. Sharing it with your son does make it a perfect hunt. The turkey was just a bonus. Congratulations to you both!
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Way to go,Mikey!
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Congrats Mike!
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It looks as though the adventures of Hope and Faith are starting down the righteous path! Excellent hunt with you and your boy. I 'Hope' you success with that buck. Good luck, and thanks for sharing and starting out the bows with some good mojo.
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You had me right up to the Cards part. Then I felt a little sick to my stomach. GO BUCS!! (Next year). Congrats on a great week for you all the way around.
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You had me right up to the Cards part. Then I felt a little sick to my stomach. GO BUCS!! (Next year). Congrats on a great week for you all the way around.
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Good story, nice pics and a good hunt Mike!
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Well done buddy!! Very enjoyable to read and great pix :clapper:
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Way to go, Mike! You seem to have a thing for shooting turkeys with bows named Hope! Didn't you shoot a bird with the Hope that I have?
Congrats again,
Bisch
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Yes Bisch I sure did! It was a fall hen as well. They eat pretty good :) Matter of fact today for lunch we are having a turkey sauce picante, Kip Manual inspired, with rice and biscuits.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-20.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-20.jpg.html)
*Turkey breast from Hope
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-17.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-17.jpg.html)
*Make a roux, holy trinity of onion, pepper and celery with Hopes bird added.
I hunted last night out of a tree with Hope. We had a little six cruise us. 75% of the crops are out of the fields and the nice relaxed bachelor groups are busted up into bucks with their own agenda. Lots of solos now. Seeing some field edge scrapes and some frustration rubs. I might get a little rut activity before Ms Hope has to leave.
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Looks good Mike! Wish I was there for that.
Boyd,
Are you hunting tomorrow?
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That does look good would like the reciepe.
Yes will be out after them in the morning.... :)
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Good hunting Stabow! Will get a recipe up on the cooking tab and add a link here.
Go get 'em Faith!
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Good luck, Boyd!
Bisch
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Thanks guys its almost game time heading out the door in about 10 min...... :)
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Go get um Boyd
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Started off good this morning had 2 does and 3 fawns came in around 7 o clock and hung around for about 15 min then nothing else showed up. Went out this afternoon to my ladder stand had a single deer pass by out of range but it was on the path going to my lock on which I will be in tomorrow afternoon, I have a doctors app. in the morning.....stabow
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/stabow/null_zps4b5c6ae5.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/stabow/media/null_zps4b5c6ae5.jpg.html)
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Got a hunt Sunday in with my little girl. She wanted her turn with Hope and I thought mojo wise, why not! We got there plenty early and the food plot of sunflowers, wheat and Austrian peas look great.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-22.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-22.jpg.html)
*The princess enjoying some music.
We got all set up and I figured we could get a turkey to come to this great looking field at least. I brought along a mouth call and did some subtle yelps and kee kees. Well wouldn't you know out of the right corner of the blind I see a bird slipping out of the creek. Just when I thought we were golden a huge hawk swooped in and nearly grabbed a young poult. All hades broke loose and the long story short, no bird. We spent the rest of the afternoon talking and one of us slept.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-25.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-25.jpg.html)
I did see a coyote while she was sleeping and tried to mouth squeak him to me. No dice. He and the blind were not fans of each other. I kept my windows in but he still took issue with it. Wiley suckers!
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-23.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-23.jpg.html)
*Grounder 350 view
I feel certain that once all of the crops are out of the field this will be a good spot. Keeping the doe family group near here happy will hopefully insure a buck later in the month for Ms Hope.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-26.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-26.jpg.html)
*Future hotspot
At nights end I snapped a pic of Ms Hope and a certain little girl and I scampered off to home for some supper. We didn't get into a shot for Ms Hope and the hawk and coyote might have messed up our chances but we had fun. Time spent with a healthy child knowing there are others in Memphis that appreciate and need our help make hunting with Hope a joy and a privilege!
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/image-24.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/image-24.jpg.html)
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Very nice Mike :notworthy: :notworthy: :clapper:
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Awesome Mike! That is what it is all about!
Can't wait to hear more from you and Boyd!
Bisch
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Great Stuff so far. Congrats Mike and Seth!
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Just a quick update with Hope...we are still hitting it hard. Had a shot at a nice doe last night but it was ruined by coyotes. I made a shot that was just a little back, not guts but most likely one lung and liver. She ran into the thickest piece I own. By the time I got back to her one hour later all I had left was a head and neck! I have a real coyote problem that will need solving before next fall. She went about 175 yards with great blood. I know better than to leave a deer over night here but one hour is crazy!
I did get in a hunt over the weekend with my son. I took a page out of Gurus book and used a ladder stand with 2 sections instead of three. I put him in the ladder and used my lone wolf hang on above him. The set worked and will work again. We will try it again this weekend. I am hoping with the cooler temps and the prerut in full swing we will get a shot at a buck before Ms Hope leaves us.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/ballgame004.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/ballgame004.jpg.html)
*leafy suit plus kindle and a 3 hour sit for a figidty boy
I will keep you guys updated on her. I have 4 days off in the next 7 and the scrape lines are getting hit hard. I am seeing more bucks in daylight hours and feel like it is just a matter of time before we get another opportunity!
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Keep after them Mike. No luck with Faith yet yesterday afternoon the deer came out and never came torwads my ground blind so I hung a climber in the area they went lol tonight they came out and went straight towards my blind go figure........ :)
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Keep after 'em guys!
Bisch
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Mike: congratulations to you and your son on those fine birds. Looks like ill be up next and I hope to carry on the tradition you have already started with that fine little bow.
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Originally posted by stabow:
Keep after them Mike. No luck with Faith yet yesterday afternoon the deer came out and never came torwads my ground blind so I hung a climber in the area they went lol tonight they came out and went straight towards my blind go figure........ :)
Sounds like Faith is just playing hard to get... :campfire:
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Well I am mailing out Ms Hope today. Hunted hard over the weekend and squeezed in one final hunt to see if my little guy could help with the mojo. We hunted hard and for a kid of 11 he sits still pretty good! We just couldn't convince a buck to come play Saturday.
Friday afternoon I got to watch a great 3 1/2 year old 8 point do his thing: scraping, rubbing and and then snort wheezing at a little spike that was under my stand. Just when I think Ms Hope is gonna get her buck and start to draw, the little spike blew! He had been run off by the bigger buck but had slipped into my back door. The big 8 eased off and stood forever. I nearly had him come back to a wheeze but he caught me drawing, turning to me and offering a crappy look. I let down and the gig was up.
I am mailing her off a couple days early. I won't get back into the woods until the weekend and I had a good run with her. I killed a beautiful hen turkey, killed a doe that the yotes robbed from me, and had an encounter with two really good bucks. We had a full 3 weeks! More importantly I got to hunt with Hope and had my children with me. She represents Hope for a lot of great kids that will grow to be as healthy as my two children. Good luck with her to the rest of the hunters and many thanks to Terry and Tradgang for entrusting me her. Also thank you Sarrels Archery for stepping up for this great cause!
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I sent Faith off today also . Really great shooting bow I enjoyed my time with her good luck to everyone that's in line to hunt with her this year.........stabow
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Terry, and others
Since this will be my first dance with Hope, I looked to see if there were any special rules/ instructions that detail Hope and Faiths use and could not find any.
I assume that once on the list the bow will be shipped out to next on the list as chosen for each month. And that it will be each persons responsibility to pay shipping to the next guy/gal on the list, is there any other code of conduct?
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“Hope” has arrived, and I’m off work tomorrow. Let me get rid of these ghost and goblins’ that are running up and down my street, looking for candy, and I’ll feel you in on the details
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The door bell rings and when I open the door there’s a new mail person holding a 6” by 3’ p.v.c tube. She has me sign for it and then says “I just got to know what you have in this” So I tell her about Trad gang and hope and faith along with the St.judes action and she gets all excited and says she has a replica Lords Of The Rings bow And would love to see Hope .Twenty min later I catch her before she leaves for another street and she gets to hold Hope. Then she handed it back to me and says “that’s the coolest thing I’ve ever delivered.
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First shot from 15yrds, Hope is ready to go hunting in the morning.
(http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx186/longbow69/DSC07174_zps43e19b00.jpg) (http://s754.photobucket.com/user/longbow69/media/DSC07174_zps43e19b00.jpg.html)
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How about that Hope and Faith are both in Ohio .... :)
Good luck fellows.........stabow
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Thank you Boyd.
Faith is in Ohio...have a busy weekend with the kids but will match her up with some arrows get some pictures and am taking Monday off work......
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Beautiful bow!! Very nice grip. Incredibly smooth out to my 30" draw and VERY quiet.
Can't wait to hunt her. Maybe Sunday, definitely Monday.
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zps77b2d46a.jpg)
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zpsccff1b84.jpg)
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zps1943a748.jpg)
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I Took Hope hunting this morning down south on some public land.
Today was the first day of small game and the state released around a 100 pheasants and the bird hunters were all over those fields. I set up a few ridges over at the bottom of a saddle.
At 7:00am a large doe came running down off the ridge on a trail around 15 yards out in front of me, she was running at full speed right past me and over the next ridge.
Around 8:00 an 8pt buck in the 130 range came busting down the same trail as he entered my first shooting lane I whistled at him, I then barked at him just before he entered my second shooting lane.
That stopped him 15yards out and standing behind cover, only shot was his head or his neck.
He looked right through me kneeling their in my plaid shirt , just when I thought he was going to step out a volley of shots rang out up the ridge, and he was off. Man this stuff is fun.
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Go get 'em ceme and thunp!
Good luck, guys!
Bisch
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Took Hope out this past Saturday evening, No luck think I’ll give it a try in the morning before work.
(http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx186/longbow69/DSC07177_zps5ec78d31.jpg) (http://s754.photobucket.com/user/longbow69/media/DSC07177_zps5ec78d31.jpg.html)
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Great stories so far guys! I can't wait to get my chance with Hope. I've got a while to wait still (Dec., 2014), so keep the mojo alive, and good luck to everyone before me.
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Great picture thump!
Ended up staying home with a sick child today. Trying to hit work hard the next couple of days so I can put together a 3-4 day hunt this weekend.
Wind looks better for later in the week. Today would've been a tougher hunt.
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Keep after it guys
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Had a decent day today. Most of the leaves have fallen in the large trees so my birds moved. I didn't see anything in the morning.
I still hunted part of the property I had not been on in a while and found a bunch of rubs.
I spent the afternoon doing something I don't often do - I sat on the ground and not in a tree.
I had a blast. Saw 5 deer and called a little 3pt in with a grunt call. I thought he might run from it but he pinpointed me from 70yards out and came within 10 yards of me. He spent 15 minutes trying to figure me out and what grunted. He never offered a shot. I am kind of glad because I have no deer in the freezer and I would've taken it.
Don't worry about the bow quiver. It's an EFA. It won't leave any mark, not even a smudge. They are very gentle on bows.
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zps375c269c.jpg)
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zpsba67fb9e.jpg)
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Good luck Colin,I’m packed and leaving for a 5 day hunt in southern Ohio, and Hope is coming along.
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Well, I have had Faith out a few more times but I am just not serving her well. It seems this season isn't mine. The wind has done me in a couple of times. It swings 180 after setting up and doesn't seem to watch the weather forecasts.
Tonight was done in by someone target shooting a variety of guns a few hundred yards from me.
I will keep plugging away! I really do like this bow
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Good luck guys!
Bisch
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Y'all in Ohio may be a little ahead of us up here in northern Michigan, but the rut is really just starting to heat up good. When a different weather system blows in, I think everyone should have some descent action. Keep at it, and good luck!
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Any news?
And Colin, congrats to your son on his deer!
Bisch
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Modr has agreed to let me hunt Faith through this weekend. They are moving around more again now and I will be able to put some decent time in the woods with her.
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I took hope out tonight, l had to get out of my stand at sunset due to it being youth gun season, and after I lowered my bow to the ground a doe came walking by. Looks like I’ll be shipping the bow out to Ladams this week
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Thump,
I hate to make this worse but Ohio changed rules this year. You can hunt until 30 min after official sunset in gun season.
You should verify on ODNR website but that's the way I read it.
It's been tough in some parts of ohio this year for sure
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Just got word that hope is headed my way,
I cant wait, I will be headed out to the lease as soon as she arrives, I will keep everyone updated.
Larry
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19 degrees here this morning at sunrise. No wind. The good thing about weather like this is you can see and hear for a mile. The bad news is deer hear better than we do and see movement pretty well. I was busted by a doe that I didn't know was there when I tried to reposition my cold and sore leg.
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zps2f511237.jpg)
I love looking at tracks in the snow.
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zpscf73dcda.jpg)
I followed this one to here. Looks like the work of more than a couple dirty birds!
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zps9cbf7c0e.jpg)
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Good luck with Hope Larry!
Colin, that snow is beautiful, but I'm glad it is up there and not down here in TX! It looks COLD!!!!
Bisch
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Good luck Larry
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Well, today could've been better but I still have zero complaints as it was really a great day spent bowhunting!
It was a very special hunt. I happen to be the proud owner of Faith 2013. So, I scrounged up another lefty (Magnus) and we had an All Faith hunt today!
He hunted 2014 and I hunted 2013. It was significantly warmer today Bisch - started out at 22. We got in right at the start of hunting time, and I had just got done setting up when a buck came in. I was literally lacing my boots after putting my heavy socks on and he came in. I had trouble finding a spot this AM and unfortunately I crossed his path which stopped him from hitting my shooting lane. He was within 5 yards at one point though.
We also saw over a dozen turkey and I saw a total of 6 deer...here's a couple of pics:
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zps68f43d74.jpg) (http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/ceme24/media/null_zps68f43d74.jpg.html)
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zpsab6f755e.jpg) (http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/ceme24/media/null_zpsab6f755e.jpg.html)
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In the afternoon I had a very nice Ohio buck come within shooting range, but on the wrong side of me!!! He was the largest buck I have had within bow range in my life. I spooked him as I tried to turn - he had VERY good hearing. I don't think he ever saw me. I will let Matt pick up the story from here as I spooked him Matt's way. All totaled I saw 4 bucks and 2 doe along with quite a bit of turkeys seen and even more heard.
In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures of the girls. I will packaging Faith 2014 up and sending her on to Modr...I had a GREAT time with her! Thank you for the opportunity. I wish I would've sealed the deal though.
Faith 2013 meets Faith 2014 afield:
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zps786c33f2.jpg) (http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/ceme24/media/null_zps786c33f2.jpg.html)
(http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa337/ceme24/null_zps19432af0.jpg) (http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/ceme24/media/null_zps19432af0.jpg.html)
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Sounds like great day in the woods to me, Colin!
Can't wait to hear the rest from Matt!
Btw, 22 is WAY to cold for me!
Bisch
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You wouldn't notice it Bisch. It's a dry cold!
HA - the largest fallacy of the southwest (for a midwest corn boy who hunts in 19 degrees)
Anyway, the cold keeps them moving.
Honestly though I was colder in the afternoon when it was 37. I didn't layer properly or take care of my feet properly and I became more cold. I was personally warmer at 22.
Or maybe I was just shivering with buck fever when that big Ohio buck came through.
He was limping pretty badly too. I didn't mention that but he had some type of injury. He was still chasing a doe though and could get up and go when he needed to.
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Faith is on her way east. Good luck Ray!!
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Very nice pictures.......stabow
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Faith, just arrived in New Jersey, what a beautiful bow the Sarrels brought to life. I'd like to thank Terry for the oppritunity to hunt with this bow. Going to get it set up, maybe take it for a walk in the Jersey woods this evening.
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Hope just arrived in Texas, Man is she sweet looking, I hope the ice thaws enough to get on the roads before the weekendhopefully pics and a stories will follow.
Larry
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Took Faith out for a little shooting session, found she like axis 400's and Wensel heads. Decided to take her for a little walk in the rain, went behind the house and set up in one of my favorite evening stands. No deer sighted but had a good time. Will get back at it in the morning.
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Larry: good luck with Hope, glade to see it made it to you safely.
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Good luck Larry. Stay warm out there in Odessalate. Mm. I mean Odessa. Shoot em down the middl
Bob
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Took hope to the woods this weekend but didnt have any shot opertunities,
When I left the house I grabbed an assortment of arrows,as luck would have it the best shooting arrows were 4 fletched bamboo shafts with zepher heads. one minor tweek and they shoot like darts.
Awsome bow Bob
I will try again this weekend.
Thanks Larry
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Keep after 'em, guys!
Good luck!
Bisch
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Have some snow in New Jersey, were in the middle of our firearm season. Took Faith out this evening, had a doe and yearling come by, decided not to shoot, a short time later a one horn three pointer came by,turned my foot to get into shooting position,foot slipped on the stand causing a slight noise, buck took one bound and was in the brush. Very enjoyable evening, will get back at them shortly.
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Sounds like a good hunt Ray! Good luck!
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We have 6/7" of new snow that fell last night.Faith and I are on our way to a stand just below our driveway, deer should be moving this evening. Will let you know the outcome later.
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Didn't get another chance to get out with Faith, she is on the way to Caleb,in.MS. Terry Thanks again for the oppritunity to hunt with Faith. Good luck Caleb.
Ray
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What's up with Hope and Faith these days?
Bisch
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Well I had hope in the woods alot but was unable to harvest an animal but she and I killed alot of stumps and cactus pads while walking to and from hunting spots.
I will be sending her on her next journey sometime today,
Bob built an nice bow that shoots great,and it was a pleasure to be able to participate in this passaround I hope the rest of you guys have better luck than I did.
Zane I will call you for the address, Good luck
By the way guys I will be a strong bidder for this bow when the time comes
Larry Adams
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Zane, we need to go an a pig hunt this month! I can bring my "Hope" from 2011 and you can hunt with this years Hope!
Sorry you did not connect Larry, but you got to play with a really nice bow for a bit!
Bisch
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Worked out pretty good I played with a nice bow for a month and big Jim says my new Buff will ship today.Its been like Christmas all month,
But on a serious note guys, It was a real Honor to be included in this, I have put my name in the hat for several years,I guess the starts were lined up this year....
Thanks
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Hey Larry, can't wait for her to arrive. If I'm able to land something we can at least say TX was involved!
Bisch, lets do it. Hogs haven been slim since deer season opened around here. I have a nice doe picked out for doe/spike season in January. "Hoping" to make it happen.
I'll keep everyone posted!
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Zane
UPS just picked her up,
Good luck
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I took a few pics of Hope in west texas.
A couple of her waiting in the woods and a coupler of her in some camp action.
Sweet Sweet Bow
(http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/Ladams/20131208_110533_resized_1.jpg) (http://s588.photobucket.com/user/Ladams/media/20131208_110533_resized_1.jpg.html)
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Thanks Larry. I got the tracking and says she should be here tomorrow! Like I was saying earlier in the thread, my wife and I saw the bow in the process of being made when we stopped by Bob's shop. I was impressed then so I'm sure I'll only be more impressed seeing the finished product. Hopefully I'll get into some action with it.
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Well I was moments away from heading out for the night and morning hunt when UPS showed up
(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/zanespurs/59F5919B-448E-4447-BADB-227F0997354F.jpg) (http://s664.photobucket.com/user/zanespurs/media/59F5919B-448E-4447-BADB-227F0997354F.jpg.html)
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Got her strungup and several rounds of arrows through. Left the other bow at home and headed to the country. Just got to the stand for the evening hunt. I'll keep you posted......
(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/zanespurs/72ECAAEE-8586-4BE1-B6C7-218ABEBB2ED8.jpg) (http://s664.photobucket.com/user/zanespurs/media/72ECAAEE-8586-4BE1-B6C7-218ABEBB2ED8.jpg.html)
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Good luck, Zane!
Bisch
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Beautiful night out there. Saw two doe and a buck heading my way but just have changed course somewhere along the way. I did have a boar come in after dark though. Had my head lamp on him, 15 yard broadside shot. I usually shoot a 56" out of that ground blind and the top limb of hope hit the top of the blind and my arrow sailed over him. Oh well, back at it in the morning.
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Six days have passed. Any Faithful or Hopeful reports?
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I'm taking Hope out tomorrow for my last shot at a doe or spike this season. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Hopefully (no pun intended) I'll have something in range.
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Originally posted by TexasStick81:
I'm taking Hope out tomorrow for my last shot at a doe or spike this season. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Hopefully (no pun intended) I'll have something in range.
The word and pics I got say Zane has a story to tell!
Bisch
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It'll be a bit before I can post the pics and tell the story but here's this to hold you over....
(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/zanespurs/Hope%202014/39F56EDF-9FF8-41F9-9FEE-75485DDC7E13.jpg) (http://s664.photobucket.com/user/zanespurs/media/Hope%202014/39F56EDF-9FF8-41F9-9FEE-75485DDC7E13.jpg.html)
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:campfire: :coffee:
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:campfire:
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Definitely a nice addition to the Hope/Faith journey! Fitting that this occur in Texas.
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Okay, finally a chance to sit down. The story really starts last weekend. As I mentioned previously, the bow arrived minutes before I was walking out the door. I didn't expect it to make it in until after the weekend. I put it together, ran a few arrows through it and took it out.
I have a stand several hundered yards from a fence line and a wheat field on the other side. It's a great travel channel from their bedding area to several food sources. I also have a feeder set up there as well. I had been saving this stand for Hope. I've had 7-10 doe within 5-15 yards viturally every time I've sat this stand. I also had two nice 8 points within 3 yards the weekend before! I just knew it would be perfect. Well, the racoons managed to tear up the cage on the feeder and emptied the entire thing. The wind was very high and I had a feeling they might not be just traveling through with the feeder out of commission, so I high tailed it a ground blind I built right on the edge of a field.
An hour before dark I saw two doe and what looked to be a nice buck coming down a fence line headed my direction. It was the last weekend to shoot a buck so I was pretty excited. They disappeared into the brushline (as they normally do) but for whatever reason they never came out. As I was getting ready to call it a night, something starting growling and snorting downwind. I knew it was a lone boar letting anyone know he was coming in. Come in he did, running off several racoons. He was a good medium sized black boar, probably 200+. I flipped my headlight on and let him adjust to the light for a bit. Everything settled and he gave me a 17 yard broadside shot. I had been rehearsing my shot mentally for 2 hours now (as my last shot on a deer several weeks prior went awry). I drew, anchored, and the arrow was away.....
Unfortunately, as the arrow was about to leave the bow the top limb hit the top of the ground blind (I usually shoot my 56" out of this blind and I guess the extra 2" made the difference). The sound of the "ding" and my arrow soaring over his back left a sick feeling in my gut. I hoped he might come back in but no luck.
I sat the next morning at the stand I previously mentioned but the wind was very high and not much was moving. Late morning I see the herd of doe move into the wheat field several hundred yards off. I know that all I have to do is wait for them to move back to their bedding area for them to walk right past me. And then all hell broke loose, they start running every where and I can't figure out what has them so spooked. Then I see a jeep driving across the field! I guess the land owners decided to go for a joy ride and blow my entire morning.
The weekend wasn't a total loss, I did manage to make a head shot on this guy on my walk out. A little Texas dillo for Hope. More to come....
(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/zanespurs/Hope%202014/B7241DAE-5A5B-405C-ACEC-AF014D2A7122.jpg) (http://s664.photobucket.com/user/zanespurs/media/Hope%202014/B7241DAE-5A5B-405C-ACEC-AF014D2A7122.jpg.html)
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I'll be traveling all week starting Tuesday so the plan was to wait till I get back to try and take a doe during the extended doe season. I happened to look at the Texas parks and wildlife page Friday and saw that the season ends on the 19th so if I didn't get out yesterday then it wasn't going to happen. So my lovely wife was kind enough to let me out for about the third weekend in a row.
The weather had been rainy here for two days prior but the weather cleared just in time. It did hear up though and it was nearly 70 degrees when I got there. I thought I'd taken care of the primary stand and the wind was perfect for it. After the 1/2 mile hike there I was saddened to see the racoon had emptied it again (I'm going to get him soon btw). So I started hiking to another seldom hunted stand off a creek. We call this stand the triangle because the creek bends around it to make a traigle. The wind was absolutely wrong but it was now or never so I climbed up in the 12' tripod. It was a beautiful afternoon at least.
The creek:
(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/zanespurs/Hope%202014/DAAFF885-2286-4EA6-BE20-9B675FF7DF49.jpg) (http://s664.photobucket.com/user/zanespurs/media/Hope%202014/DAAFF885-2286-4EA6-BE20-9B675FF7DF49.jpg.html)
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:campfire: :archer:
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Zane, call me! I can tell you haw to solve your problem with the coons!
Congrats again, my friend!
Bisch
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So where was I, I settled in for the afternoon hunt with Hope along for the ride
(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/zanespurs/Hope%202014/95A07265-A6EA-42BC-9730-510B72ABD7A4.jpg) (http://s664.photobucket.com/user/zanespurs/media/Hope%202014/95A07265-A6EA-42BC-9730-510B72ABD7A4.jpg.html)
I hadn't sat in this stand yet (typically my brother-in-law hunts this spot) so I had no idea where they might be coming from. I expected that they'd be moving along the edge of the creek but couldn't be sure. The red birds were everywhere which was nice to see but they were making tons of noise in the leaves so I couldn't really get the jump on anything coming in.
As the day was drawing near an end I was starting to feel discouraged. There have been so many opportunities over the season to take a doe (or buck) but I've been holding off till Hope showed up and now I was worried it was all for not. Then I heard some movement in the leaves. I wasn't too hopeful because I'd been hearing that all afternoon long, getting excited, only to see a bird. This time it was different. A doe was coming along the edge of the creek and I thought she'd be heading right into a shooting lane. The downside was that happened to be downwind. She was by herself and having not sat in that stand before I was unsure just how big she was. She was healthy but I wanted to make sure she wasn't too small.
After considering it, I decided to take the shot. I had been rehearsing just this shot in my mind the entire time. I drew back and picked a spot behind her shoulder. Away the arrow went.
I was pleased to see it land exactly where I was aiming. I was very surprised by the crack of my 200g VPA hitting bone really hard. So hard in fact it nocked her completely off her feet on to her side. There appeared to be about 11-12 inches of penetration. She was unable to get up. I climbed down and placed a second shot through her rib cage between her legs and she expired very quickly.
(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/zanespurs/Hope%202014/7D2590CE-35BF-4C18-BE1B-F0DC1F94D0E2.jpg) (http://s664.photobucket.com/user/zanespurs/media/Hope%202014/7D2590CE-35BF-4C18-BE1B-F0DC1F94D0E2.jpg.html)
She was quartering away further than I realized and it drove into her offside shoulder. My concern about her size was relieved when I approached her. She was a nice healthy mature doe. A blessing of an afternoon and Hope did her job well.
(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv2/zanespurs/Hope%202014/18148C49-DC20-4E5F-B8BD-98BC622981B2.jpg) (http://s664.photobucket.com/user/zanespurs/media/Hope%202014/18148C49-DC20-4E5F-B8BD-98BC622981B2.jpg.html)
I don't know that I'll really be able to get out with her again before I have to ship her off but maybe Bisch and I can take his Hope and the one I'm using out for some Texas hogs.
I was by myself so no hero pics, sorry
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Nice going Zane!
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EXCELLENT!!!! :clapper: :clapper:
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Great job Zane.....
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:thumbsup:
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:notworthy:
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Well done!
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Any word on what the girls have been up to?
Bisch
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I know Faith is headed to Texas!!!! :jumper: :jumper:
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Ok, just got in from a trip out Florida way for business and Faith was waiting on me! Got her opened up and put together and will be shooting her pretty quick and off to chase hogs for 4 days starting tomorrow! I've got Faith in Faith!
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Tell us what she likes shot out of her for you Barry :)
Gotta start thinking about what I'm going to shoot from her in Sept ;)
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Bud I'm shooting some 60-65 lb woodies that are 30.5" long with 145 2 blade steel force saber cut broadheads and have a four fletch pattern on them!!!!
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You draw her pretty long though, right?
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Originally posted by Bob Sarrels:
Thanks to Bisch for posting all these pics. Bows hit the post office about an hour ago and are on the way to Terry in Ga. Enjoy guys. Bob and Zach
I just went back and re-read pages 1-4.
And we ALL thank YOU Bob and Zach. Looking back at their creation is astounding as to the attention to detail you both provided in these bows.
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Yes Bud at least 29.5"
Faith and I had a fun but disappointing day today as we explored my favorite public land hunting spot! This spot has always produced hogs for me but this year it is obvious Faith and I will be seeking pork elsewhere! More to come ... Gotta eat some food!
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Well Faith and I arrived in the morning with high expectations and began the walk in to figure out exactly where the hogs where staying and how best to stalk them and then leave some bait for them...
On our intitial walk we began seeing things like this...
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And we walked some more and saw some more things like this...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/Bowlovingman/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpse81024c6.jpg)
and a little longer into our walk we saw this...
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It was beginning to feel like we were hunting the wrong species this time around!!! We kept pressing on and I worked my way over to where the old waller used to be and my eyes got this peeking through the bush...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v612/Bowlovingman/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps12f07553.jpg)
The shine is still on the horns and it caught my eye as we passed through. Obviously a kill that was not found...
We went on through the day walking the complete section and said to report there was no sign of hogs anywhere!!!! I did come across an old hog playtoy that I had made and left there so I picked it up and Faith and I called it a day early!
We did see lots of whitetail deer and had a great time just being out....
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Nice walk Barry. You gonna keep that skull? Hopefully so and the wardens will leave you alone if you do.
Any evidence of what weapon might have been used to shoot it?
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Bud,sorry regs wont let us take things off public land...No idea on the weapon but this particular place is mostly archery hunting.
Today with Faith was quite COLD and frustrating! I called my friend who has a nice ranch 45 min from home and he said to have at it with Faith and chasing the hogs...
So we got off to a late start thanks to a flat front tire on my pickup! When we finally got to the ranch I had made up my mind how I wanted to hunt today but decided to check his BIG feeder before I set off for the creek and some spot and stalking. Well when I drove down the hill and rounded the corner to his big feeder, there were 5 black hogs eating from it. They took off when they heard my truck! I drove a hundred of so yards down the road and then parked and got dressed for the cold and grabbed Faith and took off on a spot and stalk for those 5 hogs....
We traveled up and down and up and down and then I smelled it...I kept walking right into the smell and sure enough we were gaining on them. A fresh spot of pee!!! We finally saw them and stalked to within about 30 yards in a draw but the wind betrayed us at the last few yards and those hogs took off in a run!!! Well we let them go and made the long walk back towards the truck and set up to watch the feeder for a while and see what else came in....
I was covered up with Mule Deer. They were everywhere! I knew our scent control was good because I had one doe almost walk right in our set up.... Unfortunately no more hogs showed up today but we had a blast! Did I mention how cold it was? I got home and hugged the bride and she said," Man you are cold, did you not have your heater on?" I replied, "Sure did the whole 45 minute drive!" So I have settled in by the fire, Faith on the rack, devising a plan for tomorrow...
Sorry no pics today, the phone was low on battery!
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Sounds like a great time, keep us posted. And take good care of that bow I will have Faith in August.
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Good going guys. Keep the stories and pics coming. Feel like I am there with you
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Well call me a whimp or whatever but it is 6 degrees outside and the wind blowing 20mph with snow falling. Needless to say Faith and I are holding tight to the house and enjoying the fire! We pack our bags tonight and head for the Mountains in the morning, who knows what we will get into up there!!!
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Woohoo hope arrived today and pictures don't do her justice. I think there is going to be a battle next St Jude's auction over her. I didn't have work today so I was lucky enough to be here when FedEx delivered. Within an hour I had her strung up and shooting in the basement. I usually can't shoot a longbow but she feels real good in my hand and the arrows hit where I was hoping. Kevin aka KWC stopped by on his way home from work and also got some shooting in. He agreed she is really nice. Unfortunately deer season just closed but I am going to try to get out tomorrow for squirrel. Next weekend she will get to meet Shawn and the gang in Selkirk. Hopefully we will get a lot of shots at bunnies! Will check in tomorrow night and tell of our adventures. Thanks Terry and Curt for getting me on the list.
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Pete, glad she made the trek safely. I was honored to have had her for January and to be a part of this experience. There is a great sense of community on this site and the Hope and Faith pass around is such a cool part of it. I'll be following the thread and hoping you guys have continued success with them.
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Well I took hope out for a bit this afternoon. I still have my double bull set up and wanted to check on it. I was also hoping to see one of the dozen squirrels that has been hanging around all January. On the walk in we saw one squirrel, the shot looked right there but no blood was drawn. We sat for about an hour and a half but only saw sparrows. I took a couple of pics but will wait for help posting pics. I really can't get over the riser on this bow, it is really beautiful. Boy does this bow feel good in your hand.
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It's great to read the updates. It can be a tough time of year to hunt. Good luck!
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I haven't been able to hunt with hope since Friday, but we did get some target shooting in. Both Homer and I had a great time shooting her Saturday evening. We both struggle shooting longbows but not this one. This is one fine shooting bow. Hopefully she slays many rabbits this weekend. She will get to meet plenty of the gang.
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Awesome looking bow does not shoot like a long bow shoots like a recurve like Pete said had a great time shooting her in the basement can't wait to see Pete kill a few bunnies with her this weekend
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Glad you guys are enjoying the bow. Good huntin, Bob
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We sure are Bob. You guys really did a beautiful job. Everyone I show the bow is just wowed. Right now hope should be getting ready for a workout. The Joan Leonard Memorial Bunny hunt s kicking off. Unfortunately I have to plow this afternoon so I sent Hope up to Selkirk with Kevin "KWC" and I think Shawn is taking her out today. I have to wait until tomorrow. Will give you guys updates if I get them.
Pete
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List on pg. 1 is updated with the new hunter for the given months.
We still need a lefty for July, and a righty for August :readit:
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There's gotta be some hog hunters down south that can take hope or faith for a ride! We don't have anything open 'cept varmints around here during that time.
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Many thanks to Bob and Zach for generously donating these two amazing-looking bows. I can't wait for May to come along so that I can hunt spring turkey with Hope!
Also, thank you TradGang for making this possible. You have created an extraordinary community, that goes way beyond this website, and I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of it!
David
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Well I had a great time with hope. I got to take her out for squirell once. We didn't connect but it was fun. I did get her to Shawn Leonard's for the JLMBH and she did great. Saturday she was carried by a solider and on Sunday I hunted with her. We got a bunny! I sent her out early to get tuned in for a trip down south I think. Right now she is in transit to Colorado. Thanks Mr Sarrels for the opportunity to shoot such a beautiful bow. Curt has some pics, he should post them soon.
Pete
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You got a bunny, and no pic in this thread?
Come on, we need to see!
Congrats,
Bisch
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Yes I got a bunny but I don't know how to post pics. I emailed them to curt he will post them for me.
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Charley brown keep an eye out for hope she should be there today.
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Peter,
She arrived today. Luckily my wife was home while I was at work. The conversation between her and the mailman went something like this:
MM: I have a package for you that looks like an atomic warhead, sound like something that should be at your house?
Wife: Probably a bow for my hunsband if I was to guess.
(Returns with pipe)
Wife: Never seen one packaged like that. Looks like a warhead....
MM: Strangest. Package: Ever.
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Yeah pretty good packing container. I'M glad you got her yesterday. I hope she does well in Texas. Good luck. Pete
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Thanks Pete! And thanks to everyone involved with this project, from the bowyers to the members and Terry and Curt. Thank you for letting me be a participant in this endeavor, I am grateful. Got some arrows tuned up for Hope for the hunt. Broadheads sharp and anticipation running strong!
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Good luck, sheephunter!
Bisch
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Thanks Bisch! Will try not to let you guys down. Why is your name not on the list Bisch?
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Originally posted by sheephunter:
Thanks Bisch! Will try not to let you guys down. Why is your name not on the list Bisch?
I already own a Blueridge long riser. It is my #1 go-to bow. This one would be about 60# at my DL and I am just too much of a wimp to handle that!
Bisch
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I guess I draw about the same length as you (29.5" area). It sure zips an arrow for sure! And great looking to boot! Would have been neat to have this on that pheasant hunt. Oh well, guess I will just have to shoot a hog with it! :D
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Left Colorado last night and drove to Amarillo, got a couple hours of sleep and going to head towards the ranch with Hope in company. Lord bring us hogs!
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Good luck, Charley!
Bisch
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Good luck charley have fun
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I picked up Ms. Faith in the "warhead" this morning. (Good description of the packaging sheephunter) She actually arrived Monday, but I wasn't home then and wasn't able to get by the PO yesterday.
I'll break her out and start shooting this afternoon, then check out a couple of areas with good hog sign to see if I can arrange a meeting between Ms. Faith and Ms. Piggy!
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I'm confused???? I thought sheephunter had Hope?
Either way, good luck with her recurve_shooter!
Bisch
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Hope came thru!Will try and get some pics loaded tomorrow!
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Originally posted by sheephunter:
Hope came thru!Will try and get some pics loaded tomorrow!
I "Hope" there is a bit more of a story to go along with the pics!
Bisch
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Originally posted by Bisch:
[QB] I'm confused???? I thought sheephunter had Hope?
He does, I was just referring to his description from an earlier post about the package looking like it might contain an atomic warhead :D
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There is a lot more to come but today was a little on the hectic side to say the least. Will try like heck in this weekend (work tomorrow) to get the story and pics up.
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Charley and I scooted out from Colorado Springs at the bright and early time of about 9pm on the 28th and with heavy eyelids and anxious hearts, grabbed a few hours of much needed rest before continuing on to our destination. We'd each packed four bows (including Hope) and associated accoutrements, ice chests, targets, plenty of drinking water and enough food to last in case we had to stay until, say...spring.
We were both new to the wild hog hunting scenario so it took us a full day and a half to really get a decent feel for the best way to get within bow range of these extremely skittish little boogers. They were a challenge for sure!
Since we both like the spot-n-stalk over sit and wait (sitting still isn't our strong suit) we took our host's advice and did out best. Working the wind was definitely a must and extra dicey in the cedar and mesquite tangles that enveloped this area.
Early morning would find us slowly working the bedding and nesting areas, and found this to be very productive. We got into hogs each morning without fail, but getting closer than about 50 yards without being busted was tricky. I sure won't take their eyesight for granted again. They can pick up on the slightest movement especially in close.
On day two of our hunt we'd headed back into a grass flat bordered by a two track on one side and a staging area on the other overlooking a canyon leading to the Brazos. We'd found hogs there day one but didn't have a good plan. This morning, we did. Slowly still-hunting into the area we spotted movement upwind about 80 yards through the tangle. At about 40 yards, we split up and each went around a large juniper and cedar break between us and at least two adult hogs. As luck would have it, they apparently saw Charley's movement through the trees and from their beds got up to look his direction. That gave me the diversion I needed to make my way to a pocket about 12 yards from their bed, up under a very large cedar. As they stood and started to move away from Charley, I was able to slip my 620 grain arrow tipped with a Simmons head into the first pig from a hard quartering away shot. The arrow hit a little back from what I'd hoped, but the angle put it just a little back of the last rib, stopped by the shoulder on the far side. The sow instantly disappeared into the brush.
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As I moved up to the point of the hit to mark the spot, a few small piglets squirted out of a large "mouse nest" about the size of a picnic table. They too disappeared into the brush. This little comic entertainment was followed immediately by some of the nastiest growling I'd ever heard in the bow woods. Their momma, a large black sow, was the only one who didn't run far. She stood her ground and let us know in now uncertain terms that she did not wish us to venture any further. We took the clue as Charley exclaimed "I....think we'd better back out and give her some time."
So we did just that, but not before we heard the sounds of a clearly struggling hog. I was sure it was a fatal hit, but had a few moments later that made me nervous.
After about 45 minutes, we came back to the spot and started our recovery search. My pig did not bleed a drop! The downward angle of the shot and the fact that the arrow was stopped by the offhand shoulder made for a tough search. You couldn't really follow track because the area looked like a chicken yard! We kind of took a grid-search approach and after about 20 minutes were rewarded with the sight of my pig laying in some cactus under another cedar. It was a beautiful sight!
My Black Canyon 58# take-down longbow launched the arrow wonderfully. I couldn't believe the penetration. It traversed almost the entire length of the hog with only a few inches of shaft left still sticking out.
After taking a moment to thank the Creator for this wonderful wild bounty and some subsequent photos, we dragged her about 1/4 mile to a deer stand we could access by another small two track. It was a great feeling to return to camp with some great pork to put in the freezer.
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After bullcalf's hog, we had quite a few run ins with other pigs, failed opportunities, missed shots and a lot of fun. Brings me to the last day with Hope. I found Hope to be exceptionally beautiful, light in the hand, very fast and shot where I was looking. The stippling on the grip was new and interesting. The grip is very similar to my Black Canyon so the learning curve was very short. Hope is great in every which way, I was hoping she would make the difference in my luck with the pigs.
Again, fast forward to the last day. The morning was interesting. Hope lead me and bullcalf (J.D.) right into the middle of a sounder of pigs about 10 adults and 20 piglets strong. How they did not wind us is beyond me. One smaller sow was feeding thru the middle of a juniper heading towards J.D. and would end up broadside to me at ten yards. I came to full draw as she came out and quartered away. She spotted the movement and took off but only went a short distance to the rest of the herd and resumed feeding. The visual acuity of hogs at our short bow ranges for movement is exceptional, though at a distance of over 50-100 yards becomes lacking.
We moved up on the herd again, and I had no shot opportunities and J.D. was waiting for a shot on a large blonde boar. They finally busted when I tried to reposition and the jig was up. A couple of more glimpses of hogs for the rest of the morning was about it. The evening hunt would turn out to be my eleventh hour connection....
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The evening came around and we where headed back to the north end of the property where we had been getting into hogs each evening. I would be hunting a pond that the hogs had recently been using just before dark. I spread some corn around and backed off while J.D. headed to another section about a mile away. For two hours sparrows, cardinals, and blue jays kept me company, but with the cold wind blowing they were not moving much. Finally, just before the sun went down, two does appeared above the pond. As I watched the two does watch me, I heard some pig sequels from the pond, time to move! I swung to the downwind bank of the pond and spotted eight adults hogs at the pond and a lot of piglets heading in to join in on the fun. The two biggest pigs were a black boar and a white/black calico sow happened to be closest to the south bank. I moved around to the south bank and came up over the top. Hope felt good in my hands and I felt confident with her there. The calico hog was the closest and as she turned quartering away, I drew, picked a spot and released. At the sound of the shot she lurched forward and the arrow smacked her in the left side femur. That broke her down and she was spinning in circles. I drew another arrow and shot as she was turning in front of me. The arrow took her length wise on her right side. Unfortunately and unbeknownst to me was that the second arrow did not enter the inside of the rib cage. She moved off to the left of me about forty yards but was unable to make it up the bank to the junipers. The other hogs had run off in the other direction by this time.
From on top of the bank, I could see copious amounts of blood on the ground and every time she stood I saw blood pump profusely from the struck leg. With the large amounts of visible blood and the sow finally laying down and had put her head down, I figured it would only be a matter of time before she succumbed to the wounds. I backed off to call J.D.. From what I had heard, hogs don't bleed much and I figured she would be dead by the time J.D. picked me up.
As darkness finally arrived and J.D. arrived to help with the hog, we found she still had some life left in her. A final arrow from Hope into the shoulder and she was down for good! My first hog and with Hope to boot! I am certain to my core that between the Blessings from our Lord and Savior and the mojo from Hope played a major part in the taking of my hog in the eleventh hour. Thanks to the Sarrel family for building a fantastic, beautiful bow and also to all involved on tradgang for letting me be a part of something much bigger than me. J.D. cleaned up the picture of the hog a bit as she had a lot of blood on her.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/P1010104_zps25ee212e.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/P1010104_zps25ee212e.jpg.html)
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Awesome stuff!!! Congrats Charlie!!!!!! :clapper:
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Cool story!
Congrats to both of y'all!
Bisch
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Did someone say what all the wood is?
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awesome Charley! Great pics and story.
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It was a pleasure having you and JD down here at the ranch Charlie .I hope to see you guys back down here again next year. -- Jay
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Originally posted by THEFOREVERMAN:
Did someone say what all the wood is?
Pau Ferro and Bocote. You can see pictures of the build-along on the first 2-3 pages of this thread.
I'm practicing with Miss Faith now, and hope to get a hog with her by the end of the month.
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Jay, we enjoyed that hunt more than we can express. Really great accommodations and care. Now that we kind of have a "lay of the land" and learned a lot about their daily habits, hopefully we can come back and stick a few more. Thank you again for all you did for us. You're operation is top-shelf, Pard. JD
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Jay, thank you so much for your help and hospitality. I had a blast and learned a lot and can't wait for my next trip back! Just wish I had another chance to take Hope with me! Her mojo came thru!
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Here is a small update on Faith. David (recurve_shooter) sent her to me over the weekend and she arrived today. Beautiful bow and shoots wonderfully with my Alaskan Grizzlies with 125gn tips with a total of 610gn. Turkey season starts the 12th I'm hopping to get one with her. More to follow.
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Good luck, Ed!
Bisch
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Go get 'em Tracy!!!
Lots of luck.
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I would imagine Tracy should have gotten Hope by now? Maybe he can keep the mojo going with Hope!
Charley
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I posted on the other thread the other day. She made it here and I've got my arrows figured out
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zps41a8d12e.jpg)
Nice shooting bow and I should be able to get out and chase some turkeys around this week. :D
Tracy
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Go get-um bud!!
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Good luck K.S.TRAPPER!
Bisch
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HELP. Does anyone know Todd Alexander? He is next on the list for Faith and do to unexpected travel plans I have to leave and would like to get Faith to him. I have sent several messages and emails with no response. If anyone knows his address please message or email me. [email protected]
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If anyone reads this and can get either Terry or Curt to message me as I do not know where to send Faith. I have sent several emails and messages to Todd with no response. I am not in the VA right now and will have my wife ship to wherever it needs to go. Need help with this. HELP PLEASE
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ed, send a pm to Guru, he will help you out!
Tracy, any updates?
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Dang it this is happening way to much with these bows!!!!!
I dont have an address for Todd....I'll start a thread to see if anyone can Take Miss faith for May.
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Thanks curt.
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Hope scored a gobbler today in Kansas story tonight!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zps41027edb.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zpsf04464f4.jpg)
Got to get her packed up and shipped to the next hunter for May while she's hot!
Tracy
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Awesome, Tracy!
Congrats!
Bisch
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Congrats Tracy...
I've got a couple more picked out for her here in WV! Looking forward to the story.
:thumbsup: :clapper:
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Good job Tracy!!
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Congrats Tracy! :thumbsup:
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Thanks guys and Wayne the bow is on its way to you. I mailed it this morning and it says Saturday for a receiving day. Good luck!!!
One more pick when the sun popped out. Lol!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zpsff52dca4.jpg)
Tracy
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Awesome hunting! Nice birds!
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Picked up Ms. Hope this morning from the post office. Sure is pretty. Feels real good in the hand. Hope (no pun intended) to shoot her this evening.
I've had a jinx on me with turkeys... hoping that all changes in the coming days!
I'll do my best to keep the mojo going.
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Good luck Wayne .... :thumbsup:
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Thanks elkken.
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Good luck fnshtr!
Bisch
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Thanks Bisch...
I was sick two days this week and didn't get out with her until today. I was curious... but will have no problem shooting her out of my Primos GroundMax blind.
Pretty dead out today... no gobbling at all. Still enjoyed the morning.
(http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/fnshtr/hopehang_zps31386ed7.jpg) (http://s429.photobucket.com/user/fnshtr/media/hopehang_zps31386ed7.jpg.html)
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Hope Wayne is having some luck with Hope! :bigsmyl:
Tracy
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I've had some close calls... but no shots taken yet. Worked a longbeard for 2 hours Tuesday morning, he hung up at 50 yards. Don't know if he could see my dekes or not. Had 7 jakes in to about 25 yards yesterday, but no shot.
Love to shoot Hope while coming out of the woods. Real pleasure to shoot.
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:campfire:
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After reading Curt's (Guru) post about needing someone to use Miss Faith for the month of May I contacted Guru about trying it out. Only problem is everything is out of season this late in May. My quarry was going to have to be some of the Mississippi River Carp, Gar, and Buffalo toward the end of May. I also planned on seeing if I could connect with some of the jumping Silver Carp in the Illinois River.
Well all plans do not work out as we plan. Two days before Faith arrived I was admitted to the Hospital due to medical problems. So the chances of using Miss Faith for bow fishing look slim.
I will say one of the first things I asked my wife to do after being released from the hospital was to bring the package up from the basement. It has been many years since I shot a longbow. I have shot recurves for 25 of my 30 years with traditional equipment.
So for many days while I sat on the recliner with my leg propped up on pillows I held and admired the workmanship of this bow. The wood grain on the limbs is fantastic. The grip although somewhat smaller than I like, it still felt good in the hand and looked good. It is absolute torture to want to shoot something so bad and not be able to do so.
After a week and half I was given the OK to go to the range and shoot a little but was warned not to overdo it. The first couple shots did not hit close to where I was looking. I then slowed down and concentrated more. Then after about 5 more shots it was apparent my recurve arrows spine was to stiff for the longbow since they all hit to the right about 4 inches.
I found the 23/64 tapered cedar shafts I had recently made shot well from Miss Faith and I was having a good group at 15 yards. I was really impressed at how easy it was to pull and hold the 60" bow at anchor. I was also pleased it shot the arrows with some authority.
Unfortunately I was only able to take her Bow fishing once and shot 5 Buffalo fish and 1 Gar. Attached is a photo of the biggest Buffalo at 17.5 lb.
(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii185/bofish-il/175lbBuffaloampGar_zpsfb84f2ea.jpg) (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/bofish-il/media/175lbBuffaloampGar_zpsfb84f2ea.jpg.html)
I could not walk the local range due to a bum leg for their 50 - 3D target shoot. I did however shoot Miss Faith at the standing Elk from 20 yards and had a decent group with the 5 arrows. I just wish I could have put her on some more action.
(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii185/bofish-il/missFaith2_zpsf1180b65.jpg) (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/bofish-il/media/missFaith2_zpsf1180b65.jpg.html)
Early next week I will ship her on to the June Shooter.
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Congrats bofish-il!!
While I did not take a turkey with Ms. Hope, it wasn't her fault. Had lots of fun with her. My 400 spined carbons were a little stiff for her.
Real nice bow... thoroughly enjoyed her.
Big thanks to Tradgang and Bob Sarrels for the opportunity.
Also want to thank Nittany Rider as he was supposed to have her for May but wasn't able to take her due to a physical problem. (Hope you are much better now).
Hope is on her way to Jim Dussias (tarpon nut). Good luck Jim!
Wayne (fnshtr)
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Bofish-Il
What are the specs on your tapered cedars? Length, Point weight? Your draw length? I may order up a set from Wapiti since you got yours flying so well. Nice group!!
I have Faith in Sept...our deer opener is the second Sat in Sept and I'll be recently RETIRED!!
:campfire:
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Bud all I can tell you is, I had a bunch of POC cedars that I had spined around 60 to 65 lbs. before I tapered them. I never checked the spine after I tapered them. They had been laying around for a year or more but were cut to 28.5 inches with a 160 gr. point. 4 fletch My draw is 27"
Good Luck with Miss Faith
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That's good. I have quite a selection of woodies ;)
Thank you.
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I received Miss faith from Elmer last week. Didn't get to do anything with her for a couple days.
When I did finally get to handle her a bit it was easy to see she was a fine weapon!
Smooth, and FAST!!!
So with some time today, I finally got the chance to catch up a bit...
One thing I really needed to do was get caught up on our Miss Faith story.
I'll get right to it....
Last Saturday I ran my first ever Spartan race. So needless to say I was starting to get pretty sore Sunday morning when it was time to get up and go hit the river.
Cade had had a big day as well Saturday and decided to pass on Sunday...Big Mistake!!
It turned out to be one of my best ever bowfishing outings....I hit the spawn perfect!
A few teaser pix and a video I threw together quick...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/june8th005.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/june8th006.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/june8th008.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/june8th010.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/june8th016.JPG)
Here's the video...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRGNdfkpqj0
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Nice video Guru. I like the lead in and the way you made it. I didn't realize you shot left handed also. I bet all those rocks are hard on tips especially on misses.
You know you could of showed a few misses to make the rest of us feel good.
If you don't mind me asking what type of camera did you use to video this. Was it mounted on your hat or what? Good Job.
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Is August still open for Faith?
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Congrats bowfish-IL and Curt!
Bisch
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X2 what Bisch said!
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Originally posted by Soonerlongbow:
Is August still open for Faith?
Page one shows chinook907 has it for Aug.
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Yes I'm signed up for the Faith bow in August. Anyone know who has Faith in July ? Page 1 shows it as no one; if so I'd take her a little early just for more practice time.
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Hope makes meat in South Mississippi!
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-36.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-36.jpg.html)
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Hope arrived in the little town of Vancleave, MS yesterday Friday the 11th.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file.jpg.html)
I quickly unpacked her and inspected her for battle scars she might have received prior to her deployment in the South.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-3.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-3.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-4.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-4.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-5.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-5.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-6.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-6.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-8.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-8.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-9.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-9.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-10.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-10.jpg.html)
Nothing that needed any immediate medical attention so we strung her up and shot the back yard range.
She is approximately 58# at my draw length of 29+"
and is really smooth, quick and hard hitting!
After adjusting the adjustable noc point that someone had tied on (worked great) to work with my 3 under release I was amazed that it was only 1/4" to 5/16" above square.
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I had previously called members of the Frog Relocation Operation Group (F.R.O.G) team to notify them that Hope would be arriving today for her Search and Destroy mission with the team for the remainder of this month.
Kirk
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Shooting%20with%20Dad%20and%20Kirk/6da30637-cbc1-4a91-a975-13f6470c8a89.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Shooting%20with%20Dad%20and%20Kirk/6da30637-cbc1-4a91-a975-13f6470c8a89.jpg.html)
and myself
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/dff9e82e-8cae-4f58-be5a-b375b2fd7119.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/dff9e82e-8cae-4f58-be5a-b375b2fd7119.jpg.html)
Would be the only ones able to go on the mission as "SNIPER" Pascagoula Archer would be tied up on more mundane operations such as "work".
Me and Possum Head discussed the possibility of having to cut Sniper loose if this was to continue.
But for now we would enjoy the company of Miss Hope.
The operation would be a night time clandestine at the Pascagoula River WMA and the mission would be of standard fare for the F.R.O.G.team, relocate frogs to our freezers.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-12.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-12.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-11.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-11.jpg.html)
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Upon arriving at the ops site we took a few minutes acquainting our selves with Hope as the last rays of sunlight settled into darkness.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-13.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-13.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-14.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-14.jpg.html)
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Cool deal!
Congrats on the frog legs!
Bisch
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We entered into the pitch of dark at 2030 and would not see the path to the vehicle till 0001 of the 12th.
Would like to have said I took 9 and Possum 10 shots and we had 19 total frogs but alas it was not to be.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-22.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-22.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-19.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-19.jpg.html)
We did get 19 total but had more than 19 shots doing it :knothead:
It was an extremely fun night with several shot opportunities and the usual crazy night of adventure that only a Southern swamp can give.
Now for some pic's of some of Miss Hopes spoils along with Kirks (Possum Head) recurve.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-17.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-17.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-23.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-23.jpg.html)
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(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-34.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-34.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-32.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-32.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-28.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Hope%202014%20frogging/file-28.jpg.html)
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The F.R.O.G team will try and get together maybe next weekend when all of us can be a part of the fun. Till then Team Captain and Supreme Leader out!
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A most-excellent outing FROG-master!
:saywhat:
Keep the wind in your face!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
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Congrats! You and Hope did good.
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Congrats on the Frogs Boys!
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Congrats!!!
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I'm glad y'all had a good time without me , but you cant cut me loose that easy ... I cant wait to shoot me a frog with Hope ...
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Sniper you need to be on call this weekend as I'm hearing Boggy II is on the Mission Directors desk :readit: .
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The F.R.O.G Team met up for another mission last night with the team consisting of "Sniper" Pascagoula Archer and Warren the team Logistic expert, and myself.
The intent was to get Hope into some Hot action, The results were NOT good :(
I had thought with the recent absenteeism of "Sniper" on some crucial mission that another chance at redeeming one self would be something a warrior would jump at. But Noooo not Sniper, you would have thought he would make a better showing :saywhat:
And Warren, Warren wasn't any better in fact I don't think he even cut a frogs hair!
Just to show you the extent of the absolutely worst night in the swamp, I have for evidence exhibit A below...
Click the link to You Tube
http://youtu.be/hbOFwKUCybY
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Well me and Possum Head took Hope out one last time trying to redeem the good reputation of the F.R.O.G team. Whereas the last adventured seemed to almost completely ruin our good name.
With Sniper off his game and Warren not any better,we surely had seen better results. And to be fair Sniper is a lefty and was somewhat handicapped, shooting Hope, but if anybody could have got it done it would have been him.
I'll post the results from tonight trip later tomorrow after church, although not any of the large frogs the POW's are soaking now on Ice :bigsmyl:
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As soon as my very slow DSL uploads the last video I'm posting the F.R.O.G Teams last trip out with hope. The video will be a Tribute to Hope and Sarrells Archery if you will allow.
Different members of the team combined for 3 outings to provide enough pictures and some film clips to make a short video.
This is new ground for me and I used my smart phone for all media, so not the highest quality but seemed to come out ok to me. Let me know what you think once posted, Team Captain and Supreme Leader of the F.R.O.G team out!
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Well after 3 day of trying to get this to load and re-doing it several time I've finally got it loaded :knothead: :banghead:
The quality doesn't appear to be the same as the movie on my laptop so I'm hoping that it is just the slow connection speed that's making it seem fuzzy.
Well let me know what you think and it has been a blast with Hope!
Click on the link to You Tube and turn the volume up, enjoy.
http://youtu.be/T1KHlI7nSgs
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Hmm. How did I miss it that I said Faith the lefty? Meant Hope the "Normal" side. Oh well.
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Well my wife called at work Thursday afternoon and said I had a package from New York. She said "yes" when I asked if it looked like a big capsule, so I told her it must be the Faith bow. She had moved the package to the garage for when I got home, but its a better pic on the front steps where the mail man left it.
.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2656_zps3b2ba744.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2656_zps3b2ba744.jpg.html)
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I've got her for the month of August and hope to find some shooting with it in the mountains nearby, probably late this week. In the meantime I'll be stumpin' and target shooting with the bow.
With relatives in town and all that entails I didn't get to shoot it until this afternoon. A svelte, beautiful little bow, I put enough arrows thru her to know that we'll get along just fine.
Thanks again to the Sarrels and for this opportunity from Admin.
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Good luck with Faith, chinook907!
Bisch
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Black bear look out!!!
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Wiating patiently to read about your adventures with Faith Chinook!
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Tim any stories yet? :campfire:
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Thanks for thinking of me guys.
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Have done some stumping with the Faith bow and also some gear prep.
.
I may be needing my one-man tent so I set it up on the deck to air it out and make sure all the pieces were still there. Packs down real small.
.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2669_zpseb4e80bf.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2669_zpseb4e80bf.jpg.html)
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It's a tiny little thing and weighs less than 3 pounds.
.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2667_zpsa192248b.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2667_zpsa192248b.jpg.html)
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I was surprised to find that the shock-cords within both tent poles had fatigued and no longer stretched back. It's still workable but I'll get some shock-cord and replace the old ones.
.
It's something I should have checked out before, but I've had a lot of life going on lately and its been enough just to be prepared for the next day.
.
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Lots of good stumpin' around the house. The tall grasses are just another thing to thread an arrow through.
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You might be able to see my fletching low and left of the little spruce near the center ?
.
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2663_zpsc6ae39f4.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2663_zpsc6ae39f4.jpg.html)
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You can see it now.
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2664_zpsab3ddf24.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2664_zpsab3ddf24.jpg.html)
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And another stump and arrow from my vantage.
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2659_zpsfe03c23f.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2659_zpsfe03c23f.jpg.html)
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Zoomed in now.
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2661_zps181894dc.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2661_zps181894dc.jpg.html)
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I'm thrilled how well the bow shoots for me and I have a lot of confidence with it already. Can't wait to get up above tree line with a little piece of Texas.
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Until then :campfire:
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Goo luck!!!
Hope to see Faith lying on a bear soon
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What'r you shootin' out of her Tim?
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Alaskans and a 200gr head. The arrows I shoot out of my widow work pretty well
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Hope arrived in the Pacific Northwest today ... arrived in a bomb proof container that weighed about 30 pounds ...
changed the shelf material to new Velcro and put a seal skin side plate on her ... I was a bit concerned about the 54#'s as I have been going down in weight the past few years, I was pleasantly surprised at her smoothness to my 28" draw and had no issues shooting about 70 arrows out in the back yard. She shoots good and I like the feel of the grip in my hand even though I am a high wrist guy.
I'll keep you posted on our progress and take some pics too !
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Ken,
Your right whoever put that "Time Capsule" together sure didn't won't any chance of damage.
But I would suggest that a 4" PVC pipe would have been just as good as the present 6" and saved on shipping cost.
Since I was shipping out to Ken early and no one had Hope for August I went with normal ground shipment to save $$$ and it still cost $38 with insurance for $500.
It would have run about $50 for priority.
Ok done venting :readit:
Go get them Ken!
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Yes John ... I ship a lot of bows and stuff trading on the classifieds and maybe that packaging could have been a bit different, but it is going LOTS of miles to complete the full journey and better safe than sorry I guess.
I sure did have fun this afternoon shooting Hope ... not sure what arrows ect I will go with yet but working on it :archer2:
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When Hope was delivered to my house... I thought someone had delivered a bomb!
I really enjoyed shooting Hope and wish you all the luck in the world. Very nice bow!
Yeah... go get them Ken!
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I just noticed that no one is signing the Hope bow when they are done ... I do believe the last time I had a Hope bow, a year or so ago, we all signed it ... :dunno: :dunno:
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Is 7 1/8 about right for brace height ... ??
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Originally posted by elkken:
I just noticed that no one is signing the Hope bow when they are done ... I do believe the last time I had a Hope bow, a year or so ago, we all signed it ... :dunno: :dunno:
I kmow you signed the Stalker from 2011-2012! I did too. It is mine now.
Good luck with the Sarrels!
Bisch
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That Stalker was a great bow too ! I shot a turkey with it and a bunch of 3D targets at our annual "Rock Shoot" that the Traditional Bowhunters of Washington puts on each April.
I think I'll sign the Sarrels before it leaves Washington.
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(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020370_zps3826ebda.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020370_zps3826ebda.jpg.html)
I settled on CE 250's … BH's yet to be decided, changed the string out for a skinny string I had on my 60" 54# Tree Stick and the bow went dead silent. I am going to end up using my St Judes string from Lefties R Us auction winnings … Allen is making it now :thumbsup: thank you Allen
I also added on a GN quiver
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Well I made it into the mountains finally a few days ago.
The Sarrel's Faith bow sure looks good in the rocks.
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2676crpd_zpsf1b17c97.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2676crpd_zpsf1b17c97.jpg.html)
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And I guess the model is the Blueridge so I felt I should take a pic of it up high in the crow and blue berries.
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2675_zpseb3ec9e2.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2675_zpseb3ec9e2.jpg.html)
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Spotted a decent bear early on, but he was in a loud spot. Decided to leave him be, and look for him later in the day; maybe he'd be in a quieter stalking location.
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Never saw him again after I walked away from him though :knothead: . But here he is then:
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2671_zps70af884d.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2671_zps70af884d.jpg.html)
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And another of him, just above the brush line.
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2670_zps9279149f.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2670_zps9279149f.jpg.html)
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The little black spot in the middle of the pic in the green circular opening is a toad of a bear that I saw briefly before he disappeared into the spruce for the rest of the day. Had a lot better view of him thru my 10x binos.
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2673_zps01b36768.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2673_zps01b36768.jpg.html)
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Tim,
Excellence pic's of Faith! Looking for some Red to go along with the Blue berries.
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Saw two other bears several miles away at the end of the day, they may as well have been in Australia for the little daylight I had left and the miles I had on my legs. They were just little spots even in my binos.
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That was it for critter action. It will haunt me that I couldn't get out more with the Faith bow but I'm very thankful for the time I had with it.
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As of today it is in the mail to Bud B and I must say that the critters on the East Coast will be living dangerously !
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It did rain a bit in the middle of things the other day but the scenery afterwards more than made up for it. Thanks again to the Sarrels tribe for some time with one of their creations.
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/IMG_2680_zps5ab9b725.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/IMG_2680_zps5ab9b725.jpg.html)
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That last pic is amazing! You're so very lucky to actually be there and witness that beauty with your own eyes.
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Originally posted by Pheonixarcher:
That last pic is amazing! You're so very lucky to actually be there and witness that beauty with your own eyes.
What he said!!!!!!
That looks like an awesome place to hang out in the woods!
Bisch
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I just arrived home to find a torpedo next to the door. My wife had to sign for it. Faith is now in NC! I'll open her in the AM.
I understand what folks are saying about the package and shipping now, Tim. OUCH! Shipping from AK is a booger!!
Will post more tomorrow.
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I grabbed a single Surewood Douglas Fir arrow 60/65 from the arrow crock and went to the deer target. 190 up front.
After just a few minutes the green disc (a large pool noodle slice) was getting hit regularly from 15 yards. I think I have found the arrow combo for her. Magnus made'em for me a few years ago to my specs, and no, I am not a Green Bay Packers fan. I just like the colors. I came back inside on this shot.
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/101_8899.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/101_8899.jpg.html)
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/101_8901.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/101_8901.jpg.html)
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Whip would be proud of your color choice :bigsmyl: Don't those Sarrels shoot sweet ... I am still dinking around with arrow combos, I thought I had it then changed to some newly fletched Bemin MFX Classics that shoot real nice too ... plus I do have some 60/65's I got from Papa Frank I may have to try too :dunno: :dunno: I head out Suday for a few days dove hunting, with my shot gun, and then on to deer and then maybe elk the next few weeks. Elk closes the 14th ... my new Titanium ankle is coming along nicely so I hope I will at least get to scare something. My distance will be limited but I know a few honey holes if the weather and the rut cooperate.
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You Boys need to get something red on those arrows to break up all those "Cheezy" colors :readit:
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Sept 13th opens NC's season. An agonizing wait...tick-tock.....
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Cheezy colors .... I'm still try'n to get the FROG goo off Hope, red is on the way be patient. I'll smear some huckleberry blood on an arrow before October gets here,
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Originally posted by elkken:
Cheezy colors .... I'm still try'n to get the FROG goo off Hope, red is on the way be patient. I'll smear some huckleberry blood on an arrow before October gets here,
Bwahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!
Nice one, Ken!
Bisch
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3LBFVJeSkw
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I have Hope all packed up and we head out in about two hours to go dove hunting for two days, deer hunting for four or five days and finish up with elk for four or five days ... I will be taking lots of pics :archer2:
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Good luck, ken!
Bisch
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Bud stopped by tonight and brought Faith with him. She is a really nice shooting bow. I really love the small grip on her. I really hope Bud gets a deer early with her. I would love to try and get one with her too.
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Still tinkering with Faith. I made up some 60/65 cedars with some 125gr points. I'm going to try 145gr next on them.
I called Bob and we had a brief but nice chat about Faith. He recommended an 8" brace.
Bob makes a nice bow for sure. And Bob seems like a fella I could hang around with easily. Good thing for ya Bob that I don't live near you. I'd be a pest around the shop, I'm sure. Thanks for taking time to talk with me.
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/101_9182.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/101_9182.jpg.html)
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Good luck Bud! Awesome video Curt :thumbsup:
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Was thinking about hitting Waccamaw, Damon. But not in this ungodly heat!!
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I have returned from my adventure with Hope … things did not turn out quite as planned but then life is like a box of chocolates isn't it ….
First stop was dove hunting and I had some flu flu's all ready, but it turned out we would be hunting a sunflower field and I am sure my arrows would never have been seen again. Shot gunning was good, in fact the best we had in 20 years or more. Most of our wheat fields in our old dove hunting spots are now apple orchards or vineyards. This was a brand new discovery and it was awesome, we did have to pay a trespass fee but it was well worth the fun.
I had a full ankle replacement surgery in May and knew this entire outing might be a bit much for me, I had the other one done last year and it is doing great and had no issues this trip. On the first morning going to my spot in the dark carrying my shot gun, bucket to sit on, and a mojo dove decoy I managed to trip about 20 times between rows and drainage ruts to turn my new ankle pretty good. Loss of range of motion is the biggest draw back to my new ankle and your balance takes a while to return. That said we shot our ten dove limit each day in less than two hours, but I was limping pretty good the last morning.
I took the next day off and visited a friend in Spokane before I headed north to scare some deer.
But first in honor of the FROG team I wanted to post my first photo. This was taken in the Cascade Mountains in big timber at 3500-4000 feet elevation.
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020442_zpsac9c2e6c.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020442_zpsac9c2e6c.jpg.html)
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(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020420_zps3ce0a1c2.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020420_zps3ce0a1c2.jpg.html)
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020423_zps849d12b8.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020423_zps849d12b8.jpg.html)
I saw lots of deer in the area I was hunting, unfortunately they were all young bucks and does and fawns. Temps were in the 80's and none of the bucks had been shedding velvet yet. This area is a 4 point minimum each side or 8pt eastern count.
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(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020424_zps73ded9db.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020424_zps73ded9db.jpg.html)
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020421_zps27ffe8c0.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020421_zps27ffe8c0.jpg.html)
In the three days I hunted deer I saw upwards of 50 deer and not one legal buck. I decided to pack up and head to the Cascades looking for elk. My ankle was still a bit tender and I needed a break so I went an visited another friend in Deer Park WA and spent the night. We walked the woods around his place the next morning, saw a few deer and some fun tracks in the mud.
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020425_zps5dd749ad.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020425_zps5dd749ad.jpg.html)
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020426_zpse97478a3.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020426_zpse97478a3.jpg.html)
The bear track was going one way and the turkey track the other way in the same mud puddle.
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(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020427_zps7aca8960.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020427_zps7aca8960.jpg.html)
Hope leaning on my tent at elk camp …. temps were in the low 80's and the full moon was coming on strong. Tough conditions for elk hunting but great for camping. The elevation here is about 3500-4000 feet with some peaks higher, I believe you can get upwards of 6000 in the highest elevations. I would have to look at some of my maps.
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(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020436_zpsf572cea3.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020436_zpsf572cea3.jpg.html)
Some of the surrounding countryside. High meadows, low meadows, lakes and ponds with a mix of old growth fir and reprod that is approximately 35 years old. Last year I bugled a nice 5x5 in the big timber at the edge of that lake.
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020440_zps372e557c.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020440_zps372e557c.jpg.html)
Hope leaning on a BIG fir ….
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(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020437_zps792c9466.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020437_zps792c9466.jpg.html)
There was plenty of prime stump shooting in this part of the country. Especially in the big timber, the reprod is way too thick for any kind of fun .. it's like hand to hand combat in there.
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(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020444_zps3edf53da.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020444_zps3edf53da.jpg.html)
Some very nice stands of BIG timber to hunt, unfortunately in comes in pockets unlike the good old days in the 1980's when it went forever. If you fly over the Cascades it looks like a big checker board of clear cutting and timber stands. Some of that was due to who owned what and also logging regulations. I shot my very first bull elk in this timber patch back in 1985, a very nice 6x6. He was down in a dry creek bed rubbing a small spruce when I spotted him. I figured if he walked away from me I would bugle to him, but as luck would have it he walked right to me and I shot him at 12 yards… Some times it's better to be lucky than good :thumbsup:
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(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020446_zps64acbb48.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020446_zps64acbb48.jpg.html)
Fresh rubs were hard to find and usually this area has LOTS of them. May be the heat and also I was having trouble covering much ground I was just hitting my honey holes. Here is Hope sniffing an old rub … she really did want to hunt something bigger than a frog :biglaugh:
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(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020447_zpsb472f590.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1020447_zpsb472f590.jpg.html)
The view from camp …. It was with a heavy heart that I had to pack up and head home, my new ankle will be ready in the late season or perhaps not until next year and then we'll give'm heck once again.
I want to thank Sarrel's Archery for their generous donation of this years St Jude pass around bows. Hope was just awesome to shoot, a true stump killer. I'm going to get Hope off early to Dark Timber so he can have extra time with her and shoot something tastier that a stump perhaps :jumper: :jumper: :archer2:
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Wish you would have connected Ken, but it looks like you had a great time in the woods anyway!
Good luck to Dark Timber!
Bisch
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Great pic's and story Ken...and what was that little green and yellow thing in the first picture?
A "Mountain Toad" perhaps??? :readit:
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:notworthy: :notworthy: very good John
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Opening morning here in NC. Just woke up and checked the RADAR. Thunderstorms and rain. Maybe this evening I can finally get out with Faith. No scenery like Ken's here in NC, but I promise pics when we do finally get out.
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The kind of red I do not want to see.
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/NewBitmapImage4.png) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/NewBitmapImage4.png.html)
:(
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This afternoon turned out nice, but muggy. I sat 'til dark with nothing seen.
Wish the season started yesterday. Look at the timestamp.
Sunset tonight was 19:29.
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/HUNT0229.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/HUNT0229.jpg.html)
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Well I should be receiving Hope from Ken in the next day or two. My plan was to hunt with her in October for bears here in Arkansas but Ken was able to send her out a little early and it looks like she will be here before I leave on my elk hunt this Thursday. Hopefully I can get her tuned up quick enough to take to Colorado and get some elk hunting done with her as well.
I started running a couple of baits last Sunday Sept 7th. We can't legally start baiting until Sept 1st and I had family commitments on Labor Day so the 7th was the earlist I could get out. My son and I ran the baits yesterday and a bear had hit one of them within 5 hours of us putting it out. Here are a couple of pics from one of the baits.
(http://i.imgur.com/90QBegr.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/4oVAHx4.jpg)
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Sat Saturday eve, Sunday eve, and this morning. A squirrel, rabbit, and songbirds were my entertainers. No deer seen yet.
Chores now await :(
Will be back out this evening.
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Go get'm Aaron .... :jumper: :jumper:
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Got Faith out yesterday evening. Had a doe and fawn blow into my area. Literally. After situated for about 1/2 an hour a fawn comes storming in at a full run and slams on the brakes about 30 yards out.Mom follows about 2-3 seconds later. She appears to scold the fawn as if to say, "Look here son, running blind into a new area can be deadly. Lets back out and look somewhere else."
And they did.
About 1/2 hour before sunset a flock of blackbirds came to visit for about 15 minutes. Anything that would have come into the area was probably running from the squawking invasion on all eardrums withing 100 yards. They started a rainfall of acorns that beat me and the ladder stand up pretty good. Wasn't pooped on though. That's good.
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Keep at it guys! Wish we were huntin' here in VA now.
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Good luck, guys!
Bisch
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Headn' out again this evening. The area I'm in is not conducive to good pics. It's so thick and congested. Hopefully some good news tonight.
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Skunked again. Nothing but a lone squirrel.
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(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/PICT1483.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/PICT1483.jpg.html)
Gotta get some rest. More tomorrow. A tad blurry. Sorry.
This one's a bit better.
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/PICT1488.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/PICT1488.jpg.html)
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Awesome!
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I have hunted with Faith every day since our season started on the 13th. I found out two days ago that the 20 acres I've hunted for years is now up for sale, and has sold for all intents and purposes, but closing will be next year, so I can hunt out this season. I have sat mornings and evenings.
So far, before yesterday, I had only seen two deer with Faith in hand. Yesterday I climbed a moderate sized oak on my father's land in Rockingham County. It borders Virginia. If you heard in the news, it's near where the coal ash pond spilled into the Dan River. Anyway, I climbed the oak with my new Ol Man climber. It's a great stand and super lightweight compared to the steel one I had been using. I climbed only about 15 feet up and got settled around 4pm. At about 6:30 I saw coming up the ridge a small buck. My dad had said he'd seen a pair of small bucks hanging around and asked I not shoot them. He wanted to see, if they survived the season, if they'd stay nearby until next year. He wanted to see what they'd become in one year's time. The little buck came by to my right and came within about 20 yards or so, but never came closer. He moved on.
More time passed and it was getting closer to sunset. My vision begins to sorely suffer as darkness comes. I guess all those years staring at an in-car computer at night in my past profession took its toll, as has aging. I had resolved my fate to not seeing anything this sitting. After the buck passed and things were looking like they were I sat back down. I had misjudged the tree size and set my climber too small. Both the platform and seat sections were tilted back towards the trunk of the tree. I was leaning back. It was unstable feeling, but, it was securely locked in, so no wiggle in it helped me decide to leave it when I first got situated. I hadn't been sat down for 10 minutes after the buck passed by when I heard two distinct footsteps behind me. I peered slowly over my right shoulder and here she came. I confirmed it wasn't the small buck, or his twin, and then the heart began its thing. Racing. When first seeing a deer that may potentially become a harvest opportunity, my heart takes off. It takes about two or three minutes to settle down and then I'm good until just before deciding to shoot. She came right down the trail I had sat watching. She meandered around but was so close I did not have a chance to stand back up. She fed around. And she stared at the blob connected to the tree. She seemed confused, or curious, but never spooked. She was cautious and as she fed. She always checked on the blob in the tree. I figured she was too wary and I'd have to let her pass. I've shot at alert deer before. I have been eight yards from a feeding doe with head down and she ducked a perfectly placed arrow. I need to make sure of the shot, if taken. I waited for her to settle. After about 10 more minutes of cat and mouse stare downs, she did. While seated and waiting for a good shot opportunity she fed semi-nervously, as all good deer do. Always looking up and around. Off in the distance some guys were playing horseshoe. My father's land is surrounded by farms and houses. Noises are a regular part of this area. The deer seem used to it somewhat, but each sound they hear gets acknowledgement and inspection. An acorn fell on a tin roof nearby. The ring it made sent her off about five yards. She was now situated far enough away for me to attempt to stand up. I did. As I did, the mesh seat on the Ol Man creaked like my bones do at times. 230lbs causing nylon to slide on aluminum has to make some sound, right? Ironically, as alert as she had been, she never looked up at the sound. She was about 15 yards away. I got into my stance and was at the ready. As if a string brought her back, she meandered around and came to within 10 yards of the tree I had climbed and she was on my right side. Perfect for a lefty. She continued browsing. I waited for her to turn her head away. She finally did. With her head to the ground and away she was broadside with her left side to me. Remember how I told you about my heart's reaction to seeing deer and then how it reacts to the decision to shoot? Well, the race was on again and seemed acutely audible. I raised Faith, drew, and as I hit anchor the arrow was gone and through her in an instant. I got a glimpse of arrow flight but never saw it hit her it was gone so fast. I heard hair cut, but not bones hit. I immediately thought DOUBLE LUNG! She never reacted until after the arrow was through her and deep into the ground. She sprang into flight and dashed downhill still in my view. She ran heartily down the swag and up the opposite hill and turned to loop back downhill to her right. At the bottom of the swag once more she turned again to go uphill and as she crested the hillside I saw her running broadside to me, right to left. As she topped the hillcrest and went out of sight I heard what I thought was a crash and then maybe some possible thrashing. Was she already down? My ears told me yes, my disbelief at the quickness of the shot sequence and run told me maybe.
I climbed down as quickly as I could, determined to find the arrow to confirm the hit. It "looked" like it was a double lung. Entry high. Exit midway. Daylight was dimming the woods now. I went to where she stood and didn't see my arrow. I got worried. Had I missed? I didn't think so. I kept looking. Nearly buried in leaves at a slight angle into the ground I saw the brightly redded fletching. LUNG! I made my way back to my truck to get the necessary gear for a good tracking. I figured the time it took me to get the gear for recovery it would give her the time she needed. I went back to the arrow and tried finding a blood trail. I did find a sparse one, but seeing as I saw her crest the nearby hill, I went to there to try to pick it up. About 80 yards from the treestand at the hillcrest where I last saw her I found no blood, but it was not necessary. Just over the hill in a small patch of sapling poplars, as if enshrined, she lie still in the middle of them. I thanked God for the clean shot, quick kill, and success of having a little Faith. And I thanked her.
She was down in roughly 10 seconds after the shot. The high entry and mid level exit allowed for her body to encase most of the blood loss. Upon examination afterwards, I was able to confirm the double lung pass through. No ribs were hit. The broadhead was vertical on entry and exit, and it missed ribs on both sides.
Bob Sarrels and his son make a mighty fine bow. Thank you Sarrels Archery. And thank you to all who make the Hope and Faith journeys possible each year.
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/PICT1484.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/PICT1484.jpg.html)
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/PICT1485.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/PICT1485.jpg.html)
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/PICT1486.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/PICT1486.jpg.html)
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AWESOME.
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Fantastic - congrats!
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Way to go, Bud!
Congrats!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Bisch
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Great going Charles, at first I was going to ask you why I was seeing a broken upper limb on Faith in that first Pic :bigsmyl:
Did you shoot her with those "Cheezy" Arras? They do look better with some red mixed in :thumbsup:
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Congrats Bud!
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Not the "Cheezy" arrows. I ended up getting some 3555 GT camo blems from Big Jim at 30.5 bop. They flew the absolute best of all my arrows. 145gr Simmons Sharks. Factory insert.
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Way to go Brother Bud. :thumbsup:
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:thumbsup: There is nothing like faith! Congrats
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Great job! Thanks for breaking her in for my hunts next month.
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Nice shoot'n Charles :archer2:
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Congrats on a fine doe! :thumbsup:
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Congrats Bud! Great shot! Tom
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Congrats On your Miss Faith Doe :thumbsup:
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Good one, Bud. This success will help bring more money for St. Judes. A bow with mojo, for sure.
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Outstanding! Congrats! I am looking forward to my turn with Hope this December. I'm saving a stand just for her.
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After getting the doe I dropped Faith off with a lefty friend who's a tradganger. He had some excitement with Faith, but not any hero pics to post.
I had her last night for a sit, but only one squirrel meandered by. The woods are full of oaks dropping acorns, so the deer have plenty of areas to browse. Unfortunately not near me though.
Here's a cell pic of Faith and the same arrow and broadhead that took the doe.
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/0927141715.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/0927141715.jpg.html)
One more sit tonight and I'll send her off tomorrow morning :(
Hopefully she'll get some meat in NY :)
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I certainly do hope she will get meat for me. I can hardly wait. Just 3 more days until my season starts.
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My last sit with Faith. Not much excitement. I had a pair of gray fox come in and hang out for a long time. They must have been circling the block. They came through four times. Each time from the same direction. Going in circles, I guess, and circles, and circles...
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f94/Equismith/0928141640.jpg) (http://s45.photobucket.com/user/Equismith/media/0928141640.jpg.html)
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Faith shipped this morning.
Good luck in NY James!!
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Congrats Bud!
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James is likely in the woods today. I think today is the NY opener. Tracking shows Faith should be delivered today. Man I'm excited for him and all the Hope and Faith hunters :)
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I'm at work right now, but I'm leaving early to hunt this afternoon. Hopefully the weather will clear up. The anticipation is killing me!
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My wife informed me that Faith has been delivered! I hope I can get her tuned before I head out this afternoon.
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Opened up the package. I'm in awe with the beauty of this bow. The weather is being uncooperative, so its off to the shooting range to shoot her. If everything looks good I will be hunting her in the morning. Wish me luck!
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Go get'em James!!
:thumbsup: :archer2:
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Took her out this morning, and again this afternoon. Saw about 3 or 4 does this evening but they were all just out of range. I'll try again this weekend.
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Good luck James
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Good luck Rock 'N Bow!
Bisch
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I received Hope the day before leaving on my Elk hunt in Colorado. Unfortunately with all the last minute things I had to take care of at work and with all the packing I had to do, one day just wasn't enough time for me to tune her the way I wanted and get comfortable enough with her to feel confident hunting elk with her. I decided it would be best to just wait and use her in October for bears and deer like originally planned. I did take her with me to Colorado as my backup bow but she stayed tucked away in the case.
I returned from Colorado on Saturday September 28th and our bear season opened on Wednesday October 1st. I was worried that during the 10 days I was gone elk hunting the bears would clean out the bait and abandon it but I didn't really have any other options. I made a quick trip to rebait and check the cameras on September 29th. Here are a few pictures of the bears that were hitting the bait.
(http://i.imgur.com/mfIkGkq.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/AAluqH9.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Ug8eexs.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/r6dDn6W.jpg)
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I hope they stayed for you Dark Timber! I just got back from Ark and did not see a single bear! The acorns were falling and the bears completely abandoned the baits my buddy had set out.
Waiting for a good ending for you and Hope!
Bisch
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I've been busy with work but I'm heading to the woods again tomorrow morning. I feel the weather will cooperate and luck will be with me this time. Hopefully tomorrow is the day.
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I brought Faith to the archery range tonight to maintain my shooting. She is tuned up and ready to go. Arrow Dynamics Traditional with 250gr points at 20 yards: (http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r698/JimWolffe/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/1016486_743320185739518_1290308481763523133_n.jpg) (http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/JimWolffe/media/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/1016486_743320185739518_1290308481763523133_n.jpg.html) I'm confident I will be ready if a shot presents itself.
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I had to work the morning of opening day,October 1st, but was able to leave about 2:00 in the afternoon to hunt the afternoon. Normally missing the morning hunt wouldn't have bothered me as typically all bear activity I've seen has been late in the afternoon but I had an unusual amount of morning activity this year.
As I made the hour drive to my bear hunting location I glanced down at the thermometer on my truck and it read 89 degrees, not exactly prime hunting weather. Still, I was going hunting and anticipation was high. I pulled into my hunting location and quickly got my gear ready.
(http://i.imgur.com/buRjHic.jpg)
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Wow, that really is warm for hunting bears. How did you make out? Here in upstate New York, our Adirondack bruns are out forging for hard and soft mast to put on fat to hold them over through our long winters. They don't like the warm weather but they do like to eat so they are out and about even on the warmer days. I think late afternoon hunts are prime time as the day begins to cool down some. Keep us posted & shoot a big one.
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Numerous times in the past I've had bears on the bait when I showed up so I slowly staked my way into my stand location. As the bait barrel came into view my anticipation for the hunt faded quickly. The barrel was still upright and obviously hadn't been touched since I re-filled it 2 days ago. Every other time I'd filled it this year it had been hit within 3 hours of me leaving.
Still, I hoped for the best and quickly attached my climber to the tree and got into position, sweating profusly the whole time. As I got settled in I could hear acorns falling from the trees around me and knew from past experience my hunt was over. I sat until dark but as expected, the bears didn't show. I came back the early the next morning again hoping to see a tipped over barrel as I approached but again, it hadn't been touched. I sat until about 10:00 and again nothing showed.
I plan on going back this weekend and seeing if the bears have gotten back on the bait, if not I'll take Hope next week after deer.
Here are a couple of pics of Hope in the tree.
(http://i.imgur.com/uFd34U6.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ra8siEU.jpg)
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Man, I sure was hoping for a different ending! As I said above, we experienced the same thing. The acorns just turned them off like there was never any there.
Good luck for the rest of your time with Hope!
Bisch
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Aaron,
Great pictures, brings back good memory of my time in Arkansas, and I still have a boy who lives there (Conway).
Much like down here on the Gulf Coast Hot and Humid during the early seasons.
Hope the deer cooperate better.
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Bisch...I was hoping for a different ending too! It's really hard to compete with acorns even when you keep bait out continuously, when you let it run dry and they move on it's usually game over but it was a risk I had to take if I wanted to elk hunt this year.
John...my bear hunting spot is only about a 30 min drive from Conway.
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I took Faith out Thursday morning. I had a small 6 pointer about 25 yards behind my stand, but couldn't get a shot. (http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r698/JimWolffe/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/1606923_744435165628020_160867911229356216_n.jpg) (http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/JimWolffe/media/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/1606923_744435165628020_160867911229356216_n.jpg.html) I returned later for an afternoon and evening hunt. Several does passed by to my right but were too far. It was still good to know there are plenty of deer to see while on stand. I will try again this Thursday. The weather report calls for rain, but I will be out regardless. (http://i1362.photobucket.com/albums/r698/JimWolffe/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/10369881_744435052294698_5052900634551265138_n.jpg) (http://s1362.photobucket.com/user/JimWolffe/media/Facebook/Mobile%20Uploads/10369881_744435052294698_5052900634551265138_n.jpg.html)
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Good luck guys! Hope and Faith need a little more mojo for the kids next year.
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Any updates?
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Still no luck. It always seems to pour on my day off. I'm going out again tomorrow but once again it is supposed to rain all day. I hope I catch a break.
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I got ran out of the woods last week in a downpour. I know the feeling.
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It rained all day yesterday, but still went out in the afternoon. All I saw was a DEC officer as I was leaving. He did compliment Faith and thought she was a beautiful bow. Just a few more days with her then off to Florida.
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I was able to get some time in the treestand with Hope this weekend chasing deer. The weather forecast was extremely warm (highs around 85 both days) but it was going to be my last chance to hunt with Hope so I decided to make the best of it. I headed down to the cabin late Friday night after my son's soccer game.
The wind was going to be out of the SW so I decided to hunt a pinch point between two sloughs not far from the river that would be perfect for a Southerly wind. I had motor troubles with the boat Saturday morning and by the time I could figure out the problem (bad gas)and drive all the way in to town to get fresh gas it was about 9:00 am. I decided to go hang my stand so I wouldn't have to do it in the heat of the day that afternoon.
The parking spot
(http://i.imgur.com/kahfSmb.jpg)
Here's a pic of Hope and my stand on the way to hang it. That's the river in the background
(http://i.imgur.com/5jyxf0k.jpg)
This is at my stand location. That's one end of the slough beyond Hope.
(http://i.imgur.com/aDFC8tp.jpg)
Another pic at my stand location. The trail comes off that point just to the right of my steps
(http://i.imgur.com/6g6Zpff.jpg)
As I got close to my stand the ground was covered in acorns and fresh track were everywhere. I didn't walk over to the main trail but I could see it was getting pounded. I hung my stand quickly and backed out.
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:campfire:
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Around 2:30 that afternoon I quickly parked the boat, gathered my gear and slipped in toward my stand. Even with the short 1/4 mile walk from the river I was sweating by the time I reached my stand. I climbed up quickly and pulled up Hope. As I settled in I glanced up and noticed a nice bonus, a Persimmon tree right in front of me was loaded. I could also see the main trail was covered in tracks.
Persimmon Tree
(http://i.imgur.com/rzvm1KV.jpg)
A zoomed in shot of the main trail
(http://i.imgur.com/j3pVIJA.jpg)
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I turned my thermacell on as the mosquitoes were awful and settled in. After a few hours of waiting I heard splashing in the slough to my right. I knew a deer was more likely to come around the end than go through the slough so I was curious what was causing the noise.
The slough
(http://i.imgur.com/a3fhsT4.jpg)
After a few minutes the noise was coming closer and finally I could make out the cause. An otter was zig zagging his way down the narrow slough pushing any fish that were left in it from the yearly floods to one end where he could easily trap them against the bank and catch them. It was pretty neat to see I wasn't the only one out hunting.
A pic of the otter. That's him near the middle of the picture in the water right above the bank
(http://i.imgur.com/I3apIUt.jpg)
Other than a few coons that came to the persimmon tree that was all the action I saw Saturday afternoon
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Sunday morning I pulled the boat back up to my familiar parking spot, quickly tied it and made my way toward my stand about 45 minutes before shooting light. I expected the deer to be moving through pretty early on their way back to bed because of the heat and I wanted to give everything a chance to settle down well before they arrived. I settled into my stand and enjoyed the sounds of the night while I waited on the sun to rise.
As the sun came up and it became light enough to shoot my anticipation was high. The wind was suppose to be out of the SW which would be a perfect crosswind but it was almost perfectly calm at daylight. I worried that with no wind pushing my scent away it would settle and give me away. I hoped the wind would pick up a little and sat back hoping for the best
Hope in the tree
(http://i.imgur.com/thkVQqF.jpg)
As the minutes slipped by and no deer showed up my anticipation and my alertness slowly faded away. My mind began to drift and I started thinking about my upcoming hunt in Kansas which was only two weeks away. I started thinking about all the stuff I needed to do before I left and decided I needed to make a list so I didn't forget anything. It was getting late enough now that my confidence in seeing a deer was getting pretty low anyway. I pulled my phone out and stared typing a "To Do" list looking up and scanning the woods ever so often.
After getting a few lines typed I glanced behind me and saw the rear end of a deer no more than 25 yds away and headed toward me on the main trail. As his head cleared a tree and I could see he was a nice 8pt, not huge but probably 16" wide and plenty big for my first buck tag. Unfortunately, he had slipped in without making a sound and caught me with my pants down. I slowly slipped the phone back in my pocket and stood up slowly. I managed to get in position to shoot without him seeing me and he was now about 20 yds shielded by brush and heading my way. I needed about 5 more yards before he came into an opening where I could shoot. As he moved forward I started putting tension on the string then just as his head came into the opening he locked up and threw his head in the air. I knew my fears about the wind were proving true and as quickly as he appeared, he turned and bounded away.
Here is the opening the buck was walking into. His head was just behing the right fork of the closest tree when he winded me
(http://i.imgur.com/B5aA6pz.jpg)
A few minutes later I heard more deer coming from the same direction. 4 does appeared on the same trail. I had a doe tag to fill too so I readied myself for the shot. Unfortuanely this was an instant replay of what had just happened with the buck, they got to within 20 yds when one of them picked up my scent and blew out.
Unfortunately that was all the action I saw that morning. I pulled my stand, walked back to the boat and motored back toward the cabin.
A pic of the river on my way back. The cabin is just around that far bend
(http://i.imgur.com/qdcNBCC.jpg)
Here's one of the cabin
(http://i.imgur.com/YBiyeqm.jpg)
Unfortuantely that would end my time hunting with Hope. I wasn't able to take any animals with her but I sure had a good time trying and really enjoyed shooting her. She is a sweet shooter for sure. Thank you to the Sarrels for donating her and giving us the opportunity to hunt with her and for the money it will eventually provide for St Jude.
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Looks like a neat place you get to hunt, Aaron!
Good luck in KS!
Bisch
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Hope arrived yesterday, I got her put together and strung up last night while sitting around the house waiting for trick or treaters and visiting with my son who was home from college for the weekend. First impression is wow! - the bocote on the limbs is beautiful, the stippling on the grip is very nice. My wife is really impressed with it. Planning on shooting her first thing this morning when it gets light and have her ready to hunt for the afternoon. I'm going to hit it hard the rest of the weekend, things are heating up around here. Next couple weeks ought to be prime time. I have some time scheduled off work the next few weeks, plus the weekends, so I hope to give Hope a good shot at something while she's with me.
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Good luck, Burnsie!
Bisch
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Go get some meat Burnsie, Hope was tired of Seafood while I had her :p
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Faith seems to be stuck in the mail. RockNBow sent her out last week right on time and she shoulda been here Monday...but USPS seems to want to hold on to her a little longer LOL. Hopefully today! Fingers crossed!
Upon receipt my first order of business will be a photo spread and review. Then out for hunting hopefully Friday or Sunday!
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Hope shooters...
I'll have her in December, and was wondering what arrows have been shooting well out of her? I draw 28", and normally shoot 51# bows, so I may short draw her a tad. Especially with all my winter gear on. So, if anyone has any recommendations, I'd appreciate it. The less time I have to spend tuning, the more time I'll have hunting. Thanks.
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Work has had me tied up this week, so im just getting around to reporting on my weekend with Hope. I had high hopes for the weekend, but I totally forgot that November 1 was the opener for pheasant season in Illinois and the Public land I hunt got hit real hard with hunters. This has actually work to my advantage in the past when deer were pushed my way, but such was not the case this time. Sunday morning was was a brisk 22 degrees and I was out before light. I really felt things would be moving, no wind and it just had that deer feel to it. It was a beatiful morning though, I took a few shots of my area.
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/lgcburns/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/C0A01AFD-1120-4CF1-AD36-091B0470CF79.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/lgcburns/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/C0A01AFD-1120-4CF1-AD36-091B0470CF79.jpg.html)
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/lgcburns/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/B0FD0DC2-D718-4408-8AF0-F5E80C0D5F28.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/lgcburns/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/B0FD0DC2-D718-4408-8AF0-F5E80C0D5F28.jpg.html)
I was a little more hopeful, when I looked from my stand I saw this fresh rub no more than 8-10 yds away.
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/lgcburns/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/BFEC9CA1-7D34-4073-8445-BD2BBF323257.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/lgcburns/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/BFEC9CA1-7D34-4073-8445-BD2BBF323257.jpg.html)
The evening hunt was super windy, so I stayed on the ground. Had a visit from this little guy.
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/lgcburns/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/1FD9212A-C75A-4F55-B664-818D26A0C7B0.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/lgcburns/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/1FD9212A-C75A-4F55-B664-818D26A0C7B0.jpg.html)
I have half a day off Friday (tomorrow)and all weekend to hit it hard. I've got to maximize my time in the woods now, it's on!
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Good luck, Burnsie!
Bisch
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Go get'm Burnsie :archer2:
Pheonixarcher ...I was shooting Easton Axis 500's with 100 grain inserts and Robin Buck broadheads that weighed approx. 175grns with glue in inserts, they were cut at 29 1/2 "
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Faith arrived in FL today, finally!! No fault of RockNBow, parcel post takes longer than priority but not this long! USPS dropped the ball on this one. Gonna pick her up from the PO on Monday. That's November 11th. Sheesh. Does this mean I don't have to mail her out priority until first week of December eh Ken?? ;)
Stay tuned for a full bow review on Pow Wow with lots of nice pics. Then time for some hunting!
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I'm glad she finally made it! I've been a nervous wreck.
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Thanks elkken, I'm shooting axis 500's out of my current bow, close to those specs. Hopefully I won't have to tinker too much. Good luck Burnsie and nineworlds!
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Chuck,
You take your time and put some mojo on Faith. Majority of my time hunting will be the last half of the month.
Saving a tag for her.
Its ML season here and then gun for 2 weeks. Spent time scouting a bit this morning. We had a great acorn crop, but they are about gone or rotten and deer are starting to show back up in the fields. Checked out one of my favorite places here on the family place and have a ground blind almost complete that will be perfect for our prevailing west wind. Will try to put some pics up later so you can see what you'll be sending her off to.
Good luck bro!
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Thanks Ken,
I picked her (Faith) up from the PO this morning fellas.
Jeez Louise on the packaging tube!!! A little overkill I think. 4" thin wall tubing would have been plenty I'm sure. At least its safe! No wonder Rock N' Bow shipped her 'parcel post'! LOL. Shipping this 'bomb casing' is gonna be hefty done Priority insured.
Anyway, got her unpacked at home and on the rack. She's obviously seen some use, which is the whole idea! Hehe. Very handsome bow. I like the grip already. Great contour and nice lower wrist. Stippling is a plus. Mass weight is nice, middle of the road. I'm not a big fan of the fade into the riser limb butts with super thin edges or the felt padding between the riser and limbs, but that's just me. The woods are excellent and the limb tips are very nicely sculpted spear points. The fit/finish is handsome and its well made. Its a hunters bow. I would be proud to own one. If I had to compare it to other bowyers' work I would put it in the same company as Bigfoot, Black Creek, or Dryad Designs, leaning more toward Dryad as far as what it reminds me of most.
I plan on a nice photo spread and more in depth review once I get a chance to shoot it.
I am excited to shoot it/ practice with it soon! Going to take her hunting Friday!
***Update this evening:
She's a shooter! Less than 15 minutes after I went outside this eve I had the brace tuned to 7.25", nock point to my liking, and a full length Centershot 400 with 50g insert and 125g shooting laser beams at 22yd. Very fast flat shooter. Very quiet bow, I'd say near as quiet as one of my Slammers. Heart and double lung shots on my target at 22yd piece of cake. She'll hunt!
She definitely reminds me most of a Black Creek Siren or Dryad Orion.
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I'm heading out tomorrow before first light with Faith, going to hunt dawn to about 2-3pm. Wish me luck. I'm loving shooting this bow, 100% a shooter.
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Nock 'em dead nineworlds9!
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Today's hunt will have to get pushed to tomorrow or Sunday
:(
Woke up early this a.m. and our daughters respiratory/cold issues got a little worse (whole family has been battling bronchitis over past three weeks) so I got elected to keep her home from school and let her rest.
Bummer but I enjoy being a dad, so the critters will have to wait another day or two.
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Well, once again work did not allow me to do any hunting this past week, although I was able to slip out for a half day on Friday (11/14/14).
I have been kind of feeling bad that I probably haven't been giving Hope the time and attention she deserves, but my last two outings have been real fun and have my energy level high.
On Friday's hunt I got in the woods about 1:00. I tried a new area on the public ground I hunt, I decided to stay on the ground because I did not want to spend a lot of my limited time locating a suitable tree and getting everything set up. Once in the woods I quickly spotted a promising natural hide where two large trees had fallen over in a criss-cross fashion, making a little triangle I could hide in. A few trimmed branches and I was good to go. It was chilly, but I had dressed for the weather, so I settled in. I grunted and bleated every 20 minutes or so. Finally around 4:30 I heard a couple footsteps behind me that sounded different from the squirrels that had been annoying me all afternoon (did I mention, I hate squirrels). I slowly peered behind me and there stood a nice doe only 5-6 yds away. I must have been day dreaming because I don't know how she strolled up that close without noticing her. It was brushy behind me, she was looking right at me, and I would have had to do a full 180 get into a position to shoot, so that wasn't going to happen. She knew something was up, but wasn't able to figure me out in my full leafy suite and head net. For a second it looked like she was going to turn around and head back the way she came, but then she decided to keep heading the direction I originally hoped for when picking the spot. She walked around the end of the two large root balls of the fallen trees, which gave me a few seconds to position my feet and get ready for her to clear the other side. But instead of coming directly out the other side, she veered to her left away from me. She eventually veered back to the right in front of me, but by this time she was 20-25 yds out. That is pretty much out to my max comfort zone, but the distance wasn't what kept me from shooting, it was the fading light. I was well within legal shooting time, but I swear my eyes have totally went to heck the past 5 years or so when it comes to dim light conditions. The more I tried to focus on a spot the fuzzier the picture got. I had to look away a couple times and blink to clear my vision, but when I tried to focus again my eyes would water and blurr up. Needless to say I never got comfortable enough to take a shot and she walked. This is unfortunate, because on the public ground I hunt you are required to shoot a doe before taking a buck. This has burnt me in the past when I had to pass on nice bucks because I had not taken a doe yet.
I wanted to spend as much time as possible in the woods over the weekend because next weekend is the first 3 day gun season for Illinois and archery is not allowed. The bigger reason was that my prime rut time was quickly fading and this would be my best chance with the cold weather. A friend of mine texted me a pic of a bruiser 8 point he picked up midday on Friday. He had been sitting a lot that week and told me the deer were on the MOVE! His best action was happening between 10:00 and 2:00. I decided to do an all dayer if needed, but was defintely going to be in the woods during the 10-2 timeframe. I was in the woods at first light, my encounter with the doe the evening before convinced me to stay on the ground again. I found another broken over tree and hunkered in the notch it created. I felt good about the spot because it was right at a pinch point between two larger sections of woods and there were several well used trails. It was a balmy 15 degrees and I was beginning to wonder how long I was going to be able to stay put. Around 8:45 I spotted a deer coming towards me down the trail, I stooped behind my stump and got ready. As it came closer I could see it was a nice heavy bodied buck, but had a tall straggley fork horn rack, possibly a 6 point. I'm not a horn hunter, so he was defintely a shooter to me, but there was that pesky doe thing that was coming back to bite me again. But this is where things got fun. As I stooped behind the tree stump/log the buck continued to walk straight towards me and was eventually directly on the the other side of my blind 2-3 yards away. I tried to keep my face behind the jagged pieces that stuck up from the log so I didn't make eye contact with him. He then walked around the stump to my left and passed by me at 4-5 feet! I was totally exposed and he never made me out or spooked - the leafy suite really did its job. He just continued to stroll on by out of site. I sat back, and whispered to myself "now that was cool!" It really makes you feel like a predator when you can pull something like that off. A lot different than being 15-20 feet up in a treestand.
So, Hope and I haven't made meat yet, but those two close encounters really made my season, I'm going to be doing the ground thing a lot more in the future, really exciting! I have some family stuff this morning, but will be out all Sunday afternoon. We are suppose to get some snow, so maybe that will keep them moving?
I pic of the blind the buck passed by. He walked right next to the small tree on the left, I was in the bare dirt spot.
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/lgcburns/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/45B8AF1A-6FE0-46DD-8DA6-3F724A5DB79D.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/lgcburns/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-11/45B8AF1A-6FE0-46DD-8DA6-3F724A5DB79D.jpg.html)
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Now that's hunting, Burnsie! That forkie buck will make it to gun season and never know how close he was to a bowhunter who knew how to hide.
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I finally got Faith out hunting for the first time this morning, right before first light. Traveled the logging road parallel to the river at my favorite local WMA and then stalked my chosen habitat transition- a pine/brush "bedding area" that borders a hardwood swamp/flood plain that leads to the river. Weather was great and I felt good. All I ended up seeing was squirrels.
Here's a pic of the swampy woods/ flood plain area:
(http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s631/nineworlds9/67BC7514-A641-45FC-A7D6-EE713BAD074B.jpg) (http://s1309.photobucket.com/user/nineworlds9/media/67BC7514-A641-45FC-A7D6-EE713BAD074B.jpg.html)
Its a great area with a big watering hole right where the pines/ brushy 'bedding area' meet it. Lots of tracks by the hole. Its also same area I put that awesome stalk on that big deer back in July.
Found a decent trail of this poop this morning after the sun came up. It was fresh, still glistening. Whatever it was I think I just missed it. Looks like hog or deer.
(http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s631/nineworlds9/0A81088C-ACC3-4DA7-BC42-5CC6E9E02270.jpg) (http://s1309.photobucket.com/user/nineworlds9/media/0A81088C-ACC3-4DA7-BC42-5CC6E9E02270.jpg.html)
(http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s631/nineworlds9/B85D40B9-F276-46E6-BF87-C13BAA3AC35D.jpg) (http://s1309.photobucket.com/user/nineworlds9/media/B85D40B9-F276-46E6-BF87-C13BAA3AC35D.jpg.html)
Got to hunt to 10am when I had to cut it short due to wife trying to sabotage my hunt via cell phone with BS drama she invents out of thin air. She does it all the time even when I schedule my hunting days a solid week in advance. I even rescheduled today from Friday. No respect. Sometimes being married sucks royally. Oh well. Shoulda left the phone in the car or grown thicker skin. Gonna hit the National Forest sometime during the week. Better luck next time.
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Keep at'em Burnsie and Chuck!
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Heading out now to a spot I like in the National Forest. Its been cold enough there should be some day activity.
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Well,
I hit my chosen area of the Apalachicola National Forest around 1030 am. Hunted along the Ochlockonee river within about 200yds of the river for several hours, playing the air currents and just trying to move slow and quiet and spot some game. It was cool out all day and sunny, and we have had freezing temps the last few nights. Good stuff.
I had to settle for a middle of the day hunt simply due to work/family logistics.
Anyway, I walked for a while, and finally decided to set up my chair right on the border between the dry swamp area bordering the river and the oak/ palmetto hammock that paralleled it inland. I found a nice clearing with some pines and oaks and lots of acorns on the ground. I setup the chair and figured I might see something heading toward the river as the day went on.
I'm sorry to say I didn't end up seeing any deer or pigs. Lots of squirrels of course. Lots of bird activity, including a really neat Owl "sonata" LOL.
But toward the end of my allotted time I did score my FIRST traditional kill!! Actually my first kill with ANY kind of bow!
Thanks Faith!!
First trad kill ever! First kill with any kind of bow for that matter. And the best part is I did it with Sarrels' Miss Faith 2014!
I have been on TG for over 2 years now, learning, buying and selling all kinds of bows, shooting all the time at home, attending 3D shoots, getting out into the woods now for my third season. I have seen lots of critters in the last few years, gotten pretty close to some. Deer, hogs, coons, skunks, etc.
I have learned A LOT watching animals from a distance, up close, and of course getting busted plenty of times.
Well, I wish I could say I popped the cork on a deer or hog for #1, but instead it was a big plump female raccoon! LOL.
I only had time today for a middle of the day hunt. I went to a spot that I like in the Apalachicola National Forest that runs along the Ochlockonee River.
Got out there at a late 1030am and planned to hunt to about 4. Not ideal, but hey, in two years I have seen a bunch of animals in the middle of the day. We have been having cold weather so I figured odds were good.
I still hunted along the river for several hours. Saw plenty of squirrels of course. Lots of bird activity, including a pretty comical 'owl sonata'. I moved slowly and spent a lot of time stopped, just scanning the distance always searching for the faintest sign of movement.
(http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s631/nineworlds9/FD3D8A50-EB70-4B5A-9E1E-FAC4A33D42C9.jpg) (http://s1309.photobucket.com/user/nineworlds9/media/FD3D8A50-EB70-4B5A-9E1E-FAC4A33D42C9.jpg.html)
Well, that didn't yield any results, and I was frustrated because I wasn't finding much ground sign either...so I found a nice spot to sit, right east of an oxbow in the river...the area where I decided to sit was just outside the bow, meaning anything that was heading away from the river would likely pass somewhere north or south of my location.
Several hours went by. I grew a little antsy. But I forced myself to stay quiet and still, seated on my chair surrounded by some palmettos and saplings.
It was getting close to being time to head back to the car.
Finally after lots of false alarm racket from the danged squirrels I heard some more purposeful movement coming from the river's direction. I listened intently and prayed it would be a pig, as I had heard some sloshing sounds coming from the direction of an islet to the north of the oxbow.
Then I spotted movement and a glimpse of fur through the brush. Still wasn't sure what I was about to see...
Then out crept two big fat raccoons! LOL. Not quite what I was hoping for, but I was ready to play ball. I had not ever taken a raccoon, had passed on several on prior hunts, and decided today was gonna be the day. I have always wanted to try the meat also.
They were headed in a zig zag line pretty much right for me.
I already had an arrow on the string, so I waited until they were looking away and stood up silently and 'made ready'.
There were lots of trees of all sizes interspersed between them and I...it was going to very likely be a shot where I could not hesitate and had to make sure I didn't hit a sapling or tree.
Once they got within 10-12 yds I decided it was going to happen. I chose the larger of the two of them as my target and silently whispered to myself 'it's time'.
For whatever reason they were now really making a beeline for me. I had to move to my left to keep the shot clear and I raised up my bow.
That's when my target, the big one, must have just spotted my slightest movement...I tried to time it for when it was looking away but the big coon must have just caught me!
No worries! What the coon did next proved to be its undoing! In anticipation of having to flee whatever it thought it just saw it sprang and hugged the base of a tree directly in front of me..
This provided a picture perfect broadside shot.
I picked a spot, came to full draw, and let it fly...visualizing the arrow hitting its mark, which it did.
It is a fascinating sound when a sharp broadhead tipped arrow hits where its supposed to on an animal.
That raccoon acted like it had just been tazed. It bolted up the tree, and I could clearly see that my arrow had perfectly transected its rib cage right behind the elbow and come out the other side...it was likely a double lung pass through but the arrow got stuck on the fletching inside its chest cavity. This was worrisome as it was more or less partially plugging the hole!!
(http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s631/nineworlds9/70357925-39A7-46C7-A259-3ED6DDE45F1A.jpg) (http://s1309.photobucket.com/user/nineworlds9/media/70357925-39A7-46C7-A259-3ED6DDE45F1A.jpg.html)
No worries, I could already hear the blood dripping down. I looked at the ground at the base of the tree and sure enough bright red blood was steadily raining down. The coon had frantically climbed as high up into the slender tree as it could..it made it up about 15 feet. With my arrow still sticking completely out one side!! It gnawed and bit at the arrow, finally chewing through the carbon shaft partially, as I could see the arrow flop down where it had been biting at it.
(http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s631/nineworlds9/55C2A11F-52BF-41CF-A85C-D2AA941234FF.jpg) (http://s1309.photobucket.com/user/nineworlds9/media/55C2A11F-52BF-41CF-A85C-D2AA941234FF.jpg.html)
By this time I already had a second arrow on the string, and was waiting to see what would happen. The blood that was accumulating on the ground said the wound was mortal, but the coon's behavior said it wasn't going down fast or easy.
Meanwhile the second raccoon was mightily confused by this whole sequence of events, and went ahead and climbed the tree right next to my target's. It climbed up to where my coon was hanging on for dear life to investigate. It managed to cross a branch and make it to where the dying raccoon was hanging on. At this point I contemplated taking the second one, but it was a very high angle shot, and I didn't to risk either pinning that one to the tree 15ft up, or pinning them both with the same arrow!
I started moving around the tree, assessing what I might do, and trying to wait out the one I shot.
After about 10 minutes from the initial shot it finally lost its hold and fell down from the canopy.
It was still alive at this point, and limped away dragging my broken arrow hanging out of one side of its chest. Again, all the bright red blood had me shaking my head that this animal was still not ready to give up. I started moving toward it, with plans to go for a second arrow. It noticed me and went for the next nearest tree once more. It passed through some underbrush, and must have lost the long part of my arrow with the broadhead there, cause it emerged and I noticed the arrow was gone, either that or the arrow broke when it fell and I just didn't notice it missing then. I saw it start to climb and move around the backside of the tree... I moved swiftly and smoothly around the tree knowing I would want to take any immediate opportunity to put it down with a second arrow if necessary. I spotted more blood on the ground.
All the blood aside, I knew it was the fletched end of my arrow that was delaying the process.
As I came around the tree, to my surprise it had a hollow in it, and the mortally wounded raccoon had crawled inside to take refuge about 7 feet above the ground.
(http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s631/nineworlds9/0F793C31-5187-4677-A33E-80464DBB8647.jpg) (http://s1309.photobucket.com/user/nineworlds9/media/0F793C31-5187-4677-A33E-80464DBB8647.jpg.html)
I did not want it to die up in the hollow, so I did the only thing I could think to do, not having a ladder on hand...I reached up with my second arrow and poked it!
This elicited a snarl that actually surprised the heck out of me! Wow! Talk about PO'd! Sounded more like a lion than a raccoon! LOL!!
This did the trick though. The coon crawled up out of the hollow, now about 10 feet up. I moved into position for another broadside shot, and planned angle wise so I didn't have to shoot straight up and might actually recover my arrow.
I got it lined up and once again picked a spot and drew back, knowing the shot would be true. Perfect hit! Right behind the elbow into the chest cavity and this time a total pass through like butter. My arrow lodged tip first in a smaller tree behind where I shot. I would retrieve it by knocking it down later.
1-2 more minutes and the tough coon fell down to the ground. Dead.
The second raccoon was long gone by now.
I gutted the dispatched coon and examined the inside of the chest cavity. My fletching had indeed partially plugged the first hit, massive as the blood loss was to my eyes on the ground, there was even more blood flooded inside the body cavity. The heart was also lacerated. This was perhaps from the second arrow? Can't be sure.
Anyway, even though I left the woods today with "only" a raccoon, to me it was absolutely exhilarating and a total synthesis of everything I have been working hard on for the last few years...my shooting, my fieldcraft, etc.
I'm raring to go now. Just put a deer or pig in front of me! I will get the job done so help me!
This big ol' raccoon is now on ice, waiting to be skinned out and cooked at the station tomorrow. Parboil it and then slow bake it with some Sweet Baby Ray's ;)
I will tan the hide, flesh out the skull etc also.
Faith was a joy to carry and shoot today. I plan on a review of this Sarrels bow soon, probably tomorrow. I was shooting full length Beman Centershot 400s with 3x5 shields, 50g insert and 125g Magnus Stingers. The first arrow was a 2 blade Stinger, the second arrow a 4 blade Stinger. I think the 4 blade really did the trick on the second shot.
(http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s631/nineworlds9/9F3262B0-2EE7-4799-8BD4-50CF0DC23A67.jpg) (http://s1309.photobucket.com/user/nineworlds9/media/9F3262B0-2EE7-4799-8BD4-50CF0DC23A67.jpg.html)
(http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s631/nineworlds9/8E3AC244-2EF2-4942-A4DC-E8423229F5AC.jpg) (http://s1309.photobucket.com/user/nineworlds9/media/8E3AC244-2EF2-4942-A4DC-E8423229F5AC.jpg.html)
(http://i1309.photobucket.com/albums/s631/nineworlds9/7803F675-03DB-4210-94EA-1F39EF41BAB4.jpg) (http://s1309.photobucket.com/user/nineworlds9/media/7803F675-03DB-4210-94EA-1F39EF41BAB4.jpg.html)
Here she is, big female coon:
I am going write about it now on Pow Wow under "Chuck's First Trad Kill". More pics and story there:
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=141132
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Congrats!
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Bandit Mojo for Faith!!!!
Awesome!!!!
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Congrats again. Chuck!
Way to get it done!
Bisch
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Too cool! This is an awesome idea, and an awesome thread. One of these years I'm going to get in on this!
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Well, Hope is on her way to Pheonixarcher in Michigan, hopefully he has better luck with her than I did. After our first gun season (no archery allowed)I was able to take her out on one last hunt Thanksgiving day.
My Father-in-laws land adjoins a section of Public land that I have never hunted before, so I decided to still hunt/explore the area, making a huge circle and eventually arriving at the backside of his house just in time for a late afternoon Thanksgiving dinner. It was cold and windy, with a fresh skiff of snow and I was hoping to see some fresh sign. No significant sign in the fresh snow, but I did find several nice rubs and scrapes - defintely worth taking another look in the future.
Hope is a great bow, Mr Sarrels did himself proud, once she is done with her journeys it should bring some much needed funds to St. Judes.
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Well, the PO tried to deliver Hope yesterday, but I wasn't home. So I had just enough time to pick up the package before work, but I haven't opened it yet. It's going to be a long night! Lol.
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Good luck with her, Paul!
Bisch
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Aside from a bit of shooting in the basement, I haven't had much time to tune Hope. I was finally able to commit some time to her today. I ran out of light before I could confirm broadhead flight, but my bare shafts are flying good and in the same group as fletched arrows. I don't expect any surprises.
I like the grip and the way the bow shoots for me. I've been pretty consistent given my limited time with her. With any luck, I'll get Hope in the woods tomarrow.
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Faith is on her way to Ken priority mail, got to keep her an extra week since I got her late and Ken was going to be busy this week. Loved shooting her and had a blast snagging that coon. The Blueridge SR is a wonderful shooting 3pc longbow. Going to post my review soon.
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Just picked Faith up and am leaving for the weekend with family.
Hope to shoot her some Sunday. Then, will start having time to hint next Friday.
Thanks Chuck!
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Good luck, Ken!
Bisch
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Keep the lefty mojo goin Ken!
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I wish I had better news to report, but the hunting has been a little slow for me. My hunting time has been limited as of late, and the weather, for this time of year up here, has made things rather difficult. I have one stand in particular, that has proven itself for the late season over the years, that has been unproductive, do to the lack of snow and cold weather. I'm hoping next week, the weather will be a bit more cooperative, as I have saved an antlerless tag (and still have a buck tag) and this particular stand, in an effort to show Hope a good time.
None of my other stands, or late season areas are showing much sign either. So, I'm really depending on the weather right now. Not the smartest of moves I'm sure, but with my limited time to get out, it's all I got right now.
On the plus side, Hope has been very easy to get along with. The grip fits my style of shooting well, and the stipling is great. I'm not much a fan of checkering, so I was a bit apprehensive of the stipling, but I'm finding I like it more and more.
Broadheads are flying true and to the mark. I'll try and remember to get a few pics the next time I get her out.
Good luck with Faith Ken!
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Well, I finally got to spend a bit of time with Faith this afternoon.
What a sweet bow! It has to be one of the smoothest drawing bows I've ever shot. It feels no where near 54#@28".
After setting my nock point, I took 5 AD Trad Lite arrows with 200 gr. points outside to give her a whirl.
Here are my first 5 shots with Faith at 17 yards.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Faith%202014/813ABA4B-92B8-4463-8221-FF4BBDA93728_zpsncp4nmjc.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Faith%202014/813ABA4B-92B8-4463-8221-FF4BBDA93728_zpsncp4nmjc.jpg.html)
I believe Faith and I are going to get along very nicely...lol.
My plans are to hunt some tomorrow.
Have to work Sun through Tue. Hopefully will get out some more starting Christmas day. Will have the rest of the month off to hunt.
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Good luck Ken!!!
Bisch
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Awesome Ken! I told you she was a shooter! Yup didnt feel near 54#. I will either try and bid on that bow during St. Jude's or I will plan on having an SR from Sarrels direct at some point. Just an awesome no-frills hybrid longbow. My review will be posted to Pow Wow soon.
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Chuck,
Matter of fact, I've been thinking the same thing. I've talked with Bob already. This bow just points so naturally for me, hard to explain, but only word I have is natural.
My first sit was uneventful with Faith. No more opportunity to hunt until tomorrow.
Virginia's "Big 3" (deer, bear, turkeys) are open now, along with all small game. So, if weather holds out, should be a good week.
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Sorry guys. Weather has sucked here last 3 days.
Hope to get out this evening.
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Spent the day out with Faith. Really gotten to where I like this bow.
Hit the old family place a little late this morning. We've had pretty well 3 days of continuous rain, been difficult to get decent weather to hunt.
Drove to the west end of the property and packed up for the trip in.
Here's the trail heading up the hill from where I parked.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Faith%202014/UpwardPath_zps989b290e.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Faith%202014/UpwardPath_zps989b290e.jpg.html)
There used to be an old one room school building right where I took this photo from. I can barely remember it. It was torn down in the late 70's.
On the walk up the hill, Faith and I found a couple of rubs. Figured I'd snap a pic of her beside one of them.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Faith%202014/Faithandarub_zpsd3eb6198.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Faith%202014/Faithandarub_zpsd3eb6198.jpg.html)
Wind was virtually dead calm this morning when I woke up. There was heavy overcast and temps in the 30's. Now, while walking in, overcast is lessening a bit. Breeze from the north is picking up and more steady.
Here's a pic at the top of the hill as the path flattens out. This is an old strip mine. this block of our place is about 35 acres.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Faith%202014/OnTop_zps09280968.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Faith%202014/OnTop_zps09280968.jpg.html)
Got settled into my stand. Here's a panoramic shot of what I'm watching.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Faith%202014/Faithpano3_zpsb702a0c8.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Faith%202014/Faithpano3_zpsb702a0c8.jpg.html)
The north wind is a deal breaker for my current favorite stand here, so I tucked into some brush in the edge of a pine patch overlooking the field. I've seen a lot of deer here throughout the years. Just a couple of weeks ago, I had 9 does walk into it. I was now set up just 20 yards from their entry point. Their normal travel would bring them by me at anywhere from 9 to 20 yards.
Me and Faith just hangin' out. Waitin on some action.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Faith%202014/FaithandKen_zps4e579960.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Faith%202014/FaithandKen_zps4e579960.jpg.html)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Faith%202014/FaithReady_zps240b5d5a.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Faith%202014/FaithReady_zps240b5d5a.jpg.html)
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Faith%202014/FaithNocked_zps336fd5f3.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Faith%202014/FaithNocked_zps336fd5f3.jpg.html)
After shooting Faith for a while, I settled on Victory V-Force HV shafts with 100 gr inserts and 175 grain VPA Terminators. This setup is just a little lighter than I usually like (486 gr), but this bow absolutely shoots these like a lazer beam.
Unfortunately had nothing show in the field. Will be heading back tomorrow, probably head to a different place altogether.
One last pic of Faith I took on the way in with an old stump and my Arrowmaster.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Faith%202014/FatithandStump_zpsdb97186e.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Faith%202014/FatithandStump_zpsdb97186e.jpg.html)
Hopefully things turn out a bit better tomorrow. Time is winding down.
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Looks like a cool place to hunt Ken!
What kind of feathers are those on your arrows? That is a cool looking pattern.
I spent the day at Mr. Sarrels shop today. He replaced a limb tip I broke on my Blueridge.
Good luck with Faith!
Bisch
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Thanks Bisch.
Those are TrueFlight Camo Feathers from 3 Rivers.
Here's the link:
http://www.3riversarchery.com/TrueFlight+Shield+cut+Camo+Feathers_i03L1X_baseitem.html
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Any More updates or are we done???
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Well, my time with Faith was up a couple of days ago and deer season ended Saturday.
No blood on the ground for me, but have to say I've swapped emails with Bob about this bow. Seriously tempted to order one. It is just one of those bows that hits where I look and points so naturally.
I made a couple of last ditch tries, but, to be honest, didn't see a single deer while hunting with her. Am at a loss as our place is usually thick with'em in late season.
I also spent another day overlooking the same field from the above report.
Here's the last pic of my time with her. What a great bow! Bob has got a truly great design with the Blue Ridge S/R. Its smooth, fast, quiet, accurate, and handles like a 1pc longbow.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Faith%202014/C0A854C9-903A-4600-AEAB-17A5E7D0FEA0_zpsnqcyufoy.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Faith%202014/C0A854C9-903A-4600-AEAB-17A5E7D0FEA0_zpsnqcyufoy.jpg.html)
So, as of now, we've got her packed up and ready to go. Waiting to hear what the plans are for her next and will send her on her way in that bomb proof shipping setup Chuck was talking about...LOL.
Think this may be the safest way I've seen one packed.
(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n15/ken613/Faith%202014/1F2E09F4-F217-4A51-85C9-C40745864F9B_zpsu9cl7xud.jpg) (http://s108.photobucket.com/user/ken613/media/Faith%202014/1F2E09F4-F217-4A51-85C9-C40745864F9B_zpsu9cl7xud.jpg.html)
Again, thanks to the TG crew for allowing me to spend time with a fantastic rendition of Faith and thanks to Bob Sarrels for stepping up and putting forth 2 beauties.
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OK, what's up with Hope and Faith these days?
Bisch
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Ken...did ya'll ever find another hunter for Faith for Jan?
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No luck here Terry.
I'm pretty well out of time to hunt, so will send her where ever I need to.
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Same story here. Just awaiting further instructions. I hope to give a summary of my time with Hope in the next few days.
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If nobody is signed up, I would love to shoot Faith or Hope and show one of them the ridges of western North Carolina , maybe introduce them to a wiley coyote. We've been thick with black bears and racoons with the warm weather recently, but they are just the entertainment.
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My deer season runs through February. I have some tags left and the deer are starting to hit my honeysuckle. I could show Hope a good time if she doesn't have a date.
Chris
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Hope arrived today. What a beauty! I will try to get a few arrows through it tomorrow and pray the rain holds off for Sunday afternoon.
Chris
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Good luck Chris! I hope you have a little better luck with her than I had.
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Chris (akaboomer) did some maintenance on my pickup today and after he got done we stepped out back of the brake shop and shot a couple arrows. Yep, he has a target handy at work too. I can now say that I shot it. Its really a nice bow.
I can also say that if a deer gets too close he'll end up on the table. Chris can really shoot it. I was shooting a the center of the bag and he was shooting at my arrow holes and nearly hittin em.
I snapped a picture of Chris.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7360/16446631525_2c8d9988c7_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r4khyv)
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Good luck, Chris!
Bisch
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Looking good Chris! Make some meat!
I sure did like that grip. A lot.
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Good luck Chris ... your looking pretty serious in that picture ! Go get'm :archer2:
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I have been out trying to get it done. The deer have not cooperated, yet. Too bad turkeys are off the menu. The acorn crop was the biggest I have ever seen here and there are plenty that are still good. The problem with that is that the deer don't have to move much. They have been hitting other food sources some but it's been the worst season I have even had. I have a little more time to get it done and I will post the picture of the adventures, with or without a dead critter.
Chris
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Any update/pictures of the gals?
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Who ever has Faith...send it to me...I'll hunt left handed...just can't let her sit around waiting for a date.
Thanks.
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I have been having technical issues, but I do have some picture of my time with Hope. Unfortunately, no deer were taken. Poor weather and conditions plagued my hunting time for February. Hope should have arrived with the next fellow today. If I can get the technical issues worked out pics coming soon.
Chris
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Looks like Faith and Hope went to Panama City Beach for spring break and decided not to come back. They better get their butts on a bus or they'll miss turkey hunting season.
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Hope is on her way to Texas and should land tomorrow or Tuesday. I picked her up on my way out of town heading to Texas for some pig hunting. There wasn't any time to do any tuning and being sick for the first half of the hunt, I didn't get to take her hunting.I did take her to the range a couple of times and I can vouch that Bob Sarrells makes a really nice shooting bow. Hope has excellent manners, very good performance and is wonderfully crafted. I plan on participating in her auction.
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Fletcher, who did you send Hope to? Just wondering if it is anyone close to me?
Bisch
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That would be me! :wavey: hope arrived about 45 minutes ago! Got her strung up and flung a few arras and all I can say is WOW!!! I just thought my bows felt good! This baby feels good and is dead in the hand. I had to get one of mine out and shoot them side by side and I can say without a doubt my bow has more handshock! I guess it's back to the drawing board! Lol. I have just the place to take her this weekend and introduce her to a couple of big ole boars!
I did notice a little bit of a clanking sound upon release. Do I need to tighten the bolts a little more? I was careful to not over thighten.
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Good luck Crittergetter Hope is a fine bow :campfire:
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You can re-check the bolts and make sure the thin pad material is still in place and didn't fall off in the shipping sleeve. It might also be the arrow striking the riser, usually a sign of a too stiff spine.
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Pad material is still in place and arrows a good. Maybe just a little weak if anything. I'm going to try some wax on the pins and see if that helps.
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Hope and I began our little romance last night. I took her by the hand and led her to a place I've prepared just for her! I've been hog hunting this property for a couple of years now and everytime I get a big boar coming in the ranch hand, my wife and kids or my brother in law end up shoot it with a rifle. Lol. I had a spot picked out on the side of a ridge line that the deer and hogs travel and I didn't tell anyone about it. So I put up a feeder and stand about a month ago and asked everyone to stay away from it! Including the ranch hand! I've only hunted it one time before last night. I checked the forecast and had a perfect wind so me and hope got all dressed up and got in stand about an hour before dark. I placed my stand in a big cedar. I love hunting in a cedar! Lots of cover on the sides ( there is a trail about 5yrds directly behind hope and my pack) (http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k359/crittergetter76/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/D5AC4A53-F763-44EC-BBB9-EB531D029E58_zpsxvzwgd3q.jpg) (http://s324.photobucket.com/user/crittergetter76/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/D5AC4A53-F763-44EC-BBB9-EB531D029E58_zpsxvzwgd3q.jpg.html) and background and plenty of limbs to hang things from , thermacell and ect.. Anyways we got all settled in and began our wait. Wind was perfect, temps were comfortable and there isn't anyplace I would have rather been! (http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k359/crittergetter76/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/695D4147-9C5D-4E33-B5A9-ACDC89F55582_zps0kysurmt.jpg) (http://s324.photobucket.com/user/crittergetter76/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/695D4147-9C5D-4E33-B5A9-ACDC89F55582_zps0kysurmt.jpg.html) (http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k359/crittergetter76/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/05A791C1-10F2-4D5C-9429-671B8B55C383_zpsxvxohfs3.jpg) (http://s324.photobucket.com/user/crittergetter76/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/05A791C1-10F2-4D5C-9429-671B8B55C383_zpsxvxohfs3.jpg.html) (http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k359/crittergetter76/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/780E81C3-8C85-4818-9AB7-BA18A213CB23_zpsqt07zukb.jpg) (http://s324.photobucket.com/user/crittergetter76/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/780E81C3-8C85-4818-9AB7-BA18A213CB23_zpsqt07zukb.jpg.html) (http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k359/crittergetter76/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/BC327223-2316-4933-BA8B-1EA85B098F77_zpsvkaeh5hu.jpg) (http://s324.photobucket.com/user/crittergetter76/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/BC327223-2316-4933-BA8B-1EA85B098F77_zpsvkaeh5hu.jpg.html)
Daylight faded into dark with nothing coming in. So I began to txt my wife and ask what's for supper. :biglaugh: . I told her I was going to wait a few more min before getting down. As I began to pack up my gear I heard something approaching and sure enough it was a lone hog. I assume a boar since it was alone but really not sure. It was to dark to tell. I wasn't useing my feeder light because these hogs have been hunted and won't usually commit to a feeder if the lights on. Even though they say they can't see the light. They know something isn't right. So I sat and watched ( a black blob) and listened to him eat corn for about 10-15 min. I began to worry the wind would swirl and he would smell me so I reached over and snapped a limb on the cedar. He jumped a little and moved off about 10 yrds and stood there for a few min trying to figure out what was going on. After about 5 min or so he decided he didn't like what was going on and headed down the hill and I heard him cross the creek. I guess it worked, he left without without really being spooked and he didn't smell me. So I packed up and headed for the truck. I really hope to get a couple more hunts in this week before the gathering next week!
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Any word on Faith??
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Nice-looking set-up, crittergetter!
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I sent Faith to Terry a few weeks ago.
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:thumbsup:
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Good luck with Hope, Randy!
Bisch
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The bomb-proof PVC container was delivered today! It was near dark when I got home but I got Faith assembled and we threw a few Beman ICS Hunter 340's at my bear-vandalized bag target. I gave the string a few more twists and I think she will like a bit higher brace and a bit heavier arrows, both from a noise level and arrow flight standpoint. I think I will try some mid-day turkey-lurkey; things been slow here first thing in the morning . I can GUARANTEE Faith will never see prettier hunting days...the dogwoods, Carolina Silverbell and the dwarf irises are in full bloom on the ridges. I'll take some pics tomorrow.
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Good luck with Faith, mangonboat!
Bisch
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Faith accompanied me on a most excellent "run and gun" adventure early this morning but I was out-witted by two toms who zigged when I zagged and an hour later they zagged when I zigged...never got closer than 50 yards. But we had a great sneaky ramble over the ridges and found their "turkey trail" from their roost on the lee side of the ridge ( at least this morning with a 25 mph wind out of the north ) up over the saddle and down the other side to the struttin grounds and sunlit slopes. Probably just as well...I shot a few arrows on the walk home and the ones I grabbed this morning were a bit light in the spine.
Sarrel's Blue Ridge is such a sweet little hunting bow. 60" and light in hand ( about half the weight of most of my other bows) , perfect for creeping through the understory and briar thickets, which we did this morning.
Faith's bark is a bit loud and a bit sharp to my ears. I'm going to add some cat whiskers tonight and see whether that makes a difference, and I'll post some pics tonight. I forgot the camera this morning.
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Good luck Mark!
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After comparing notes with Randy "Crittergitter" who has Hope right now, I put enough twists in the string to get the brace height just over 8" and Faith lost a lot of the sharp report on release. She also seems to like a bit heavier arrow, shooting tonight with Gold Tip Trad 5575's. Hopefully the rain will be light and we can sneak out early in the morning and get close to some turkeys.
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Faith and I snuck out for some turkey-lurking this morning . I thought I had a good set up but the wind was blowing hard and variable and the gobbling I heard was well below us, on property I don't have permission to hunt. Tried a few soft purring clucks in case there were some silent toms closer to my position near the ridgetop, but the only response I got was from a pileated woodpecker. So no hero shots, but I did pose Faith for a couple glamour shots in a bed of dwarf irises about 10 yards from my set up this morning. Who knows...maybe she like doing girly things now and then.
(http://i.imgur.com/2YjRxIe.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/j5j66RN.jpg)
No hunting for me this evening...taking my bride of 27 years out for our anniversary.
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:thumbsup:
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Faith and I have been sitting early mornings, but hearing gobbling only from far below in the valley. These two hens scratched their VERY leisurely way past me just 20 yards below me while I ate my lunch.. just making sport of me! A little while later I drove to work and found a big ole tom out in the middle of a horse pasture about 1/4 mile west and 400 feet below me, in the bottom of the cove, showing off for three hens. I had hoped to try some runnin' the ridges to get ahead of something today ( we have Sunday hunting with bows ,only, on private property, only) but I've got a major project at work Monday and not likely to get Faith back in the woods until mid-week. You NC Mountain bowhunters keep after 'em in the meantime!
(http://i.imgur.com/7nF7Rlu.jpg)
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I think somebody put up a "Turkey Sanctuary" sign on my property! Haven't gotten withing range of a tom, but these two hens are starting to hack me off! These photos taken at under 10 yards. I think they must be laying their eggs up high on the sunny side of the ridge and hanging out together until they are done laying and start sitting. One of their girlfriends I see every now and then has a bit of a beard, but I know she's a bearded lady so I'm not going to shoot at her, either, even though it would be legal. Faith is frustrated.
(http://i.imgur.com/cRJ8JpQ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/RiIp91L.jpg)
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Ah, but you are in the woods and seeing feathers! Thanks for the updates!
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Keep after them, mangonboat!
I understand Hope has a good story to tell!!!!!
Bisch
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As a matter of fact she does! But I better tell the story so she doesn't tell everyone about how fast my heart was beating and how bad I was shaking and how I almost messed the whole thing up! After the gathering last week I almost didn't go hunt last night but after my wife said I should go because I only have Hope for a few more days I headed out the door around 6:20. I climbed up in the same stand as my previous post around 6:40.my feeder had already gone off but I wasn't worried about it. The trail cam pics show that the hogs usually don't come by till right at dark or a little after. With a storm front approaching my hopes that something would move a little early was high. Once again I didn't hang my feeder light because these hogs have been hunted and usually won't commit to the feeder if anything is out of the norm. So I sat and enjoined the cool breeze which was perfect most of the time with an occasional errant swirl. I watched the doves, cardinals, blue jays, and squirrels take turns running each other away to take their turn at the free golden bounty! I sat there just enjoying the evening contemplating on what to do about the coons that seem to get the most of what is meant for the deer and hogs! As the light started to fade I txt my wife and told her that if something didn't come in soon I would be coming home earlier than normal as I was concerned of shooting something late with the storms coming. As last light came I was mentally getting ready to start packing up. I say mentally because I have to make myself quit or I would have stayed until I got wet! Lol,
Then I hear the slightest noise to my left and not very far away. I thought "Oh great, another dang bait stealing coon". Next thing I know I see a hog step out on the trail to my left at 5 yrds. This sucker snuck to within 5 yrds of me and I never knew he was there. Always amazes me how quiet they can be when they have to! Anyways, I was already standing because I was about to pack it in so I eased Hope off the hook she was hanging on and got ready. I couldn't shoot because of a few limbs from the cedar tree I was in but all he had to do was take two steps and he was mine. Well, he just stood there staring at my feeder and smelling the wind for a min which seemed like forever then he turned and headed back the way he came! Crap!! I thought he was gone. After another minute long eternity he comes out at 15 yrds to the left of my feeder and I guess he was convinced all was safe because he walked straight in and started eating. It also amazes me how they can always be broadside to everything except you!! I watch him eat for a few minutes and everytime he moves he always stops head on! One time he turns broadside and I start to draw and he starts walking to the opposite side of the feeder and I almost let one fly but it didn't feel right so I let down. This goes on for several minutes and all I can do is pray the wind holds! He finally walks back to the left side of the feeder and I know he's going to have to turn around to face the feeder to eat so I put some tension on the string. Sure enough he turns to face the feeder and stops broadside. He's about 9 yrds, head down, wind is in my favor, and I start to draw. I honestly do not remember coming to full draw. All I see is the soft spot above his elbow and the next thing I know the woods erupt with a loud grunt and string is coming out of my tracker so fast I was scared it was going to break off. After what seamed like forever it starts to slow down, then it's slowly but steadily coming out. Then it stops!! Then It starts going slow again. Then it stops again. Then it goes slow again. The next time it stops it doesn't move. I keep thinking the worst like maybe the arrow pulled out! I give him a few min and I call my wife and ask her to bring my spot light. After she arrives we start the tracking job. We slowly follow the string while constantly searching ahead as far as we an see! All I can say is thank God (and Chad Orde) for my string tracker. Due to the down hill angle and the lack of penatration I only found 8 drops of blood in about 250 yrds! At the end of the string I was extatic! He was much bigger than I thought!
Therefore I had to recruit my brother to help with the drag! We had to drag him about 150 yrds to get close enough to load him in my truck. That was tough! As I pulled into my drive way it started to rain! For once everything went right. But that's why we do what we do. All the times we fail are washed away by each success!
(http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k359/crittergetter76/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/C868321A-558F-439F-8DC1-01EABD085F67_zpscjfo3lfw.jpg) (http://s324.photobucket.com/user/crittergetter76/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/C868321A-558F-439F-8DC1-01EABD085F67_zpscjfo3lfw.jpg.html) (http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k359/crittergetter76/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/7FF052B7-5D50-46C9-A2F2-19BFEA393398_zpsh7ssanu0.jpg) (http://s324.photobucket.com/user/crittergetter76/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/7FF052B7-5D50-46C9-A2F2-19BFEA393398_zpsh7ssanu0.jpg.html) (http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k359/crittergetter76/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/EF159E25-7F0B-4696-B70C-C5275158A1BF_zpskalrjhpr.jpg) (http://s324.photobucket.com/user/crittergetter76/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/EF159E25-7F0B-4696-B70C-C5275158A1BF_zpskalrjhpr.jpg.html) (http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k359/crittergetter76/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/C4B6E9C7-88D8-4AA2-B62F-694D5C7D7410_zpscqbeoarg.jpg) (http://s324.photobucket.com/user/crittergetter76/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/C4B6E9C7-88D8-4AA2-B62F-694D5C7D7410_zpscqbeoarg.jpg.html) (http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k359/crittergetter76/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/2BDBF8DF-9EEA-408A-8386-0A1BCF334FB6_zpsjyeljuhf.jpg) (http://s324.photobucket.com/user/crittergetter76/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-04/2BDBF8DF-9EEA-408A-8386-0A1BCF334FB6_zpsjyeljuhf.jpg.html)
272#
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Good Gracious what a hog! Great Job on getting Hope some fresh meat Randy.
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Holy Moly!! Nice hog! You cant argue with mojo and you were smart to wait for the shot to unfold. You clearly took maximum advantage when the ideal opportunity presented itself. What a beast.
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Awesome tale and a great hog! I hunt just about everything with the string tracker now. I am convinced that a fair number of dead animals are lost due to poor blood trails in situations just like you described!
Congrats on putting a little more mojo into Hope!
Bisch
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Thx guys! Bisch, I couldn't agree more and I am 100 percent sold on string trackers now! I will have one on my bow everytime I'm on stand! I don't doubt my woodsmanship but Why not give myself and the animal every chance of recovery possible! I honestly believe I would have never recovered this hog without it!!
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That hog is epic!
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Slacker Update: I have been in court since Monday and Faith has been scratching at the door since Sunday. I walked out to get the paper this morning at daybreak and a hen was poking around NEXT TO MY CAR. She stood there and eyed me as I walked past her, 12 feet away, and walked down to get the paper. Faith and I gotta get some respect!! Does it count if I whack a turkey with Faith rather than shoot an arrow off her??
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Faith and I set up on the top of a saddle just below the Blue Ridge Parkway, hoping to inspire a tom to move across the saddle. I was hoping for some "Blue Ridge" mojo , but the closest gobbling was about 300 yards to the north, above the saddle and that boy just wouldn't move...I'm not sure he came down out of his roost tree before I headed in. One shot from a 12 gauge ended the gobbling I heard maybe a half mile below me.
When I came in I grabbed another "Faith", the 2009-10 Dryad Orion, and we all went down to the shooting lane ,an old logging road that is all tore up along the edges from scratching by my new best friends, two hens that must be laying or nesting nearby . Especially by comparison, the Sarrels Blue Ridge Semi Recurve is so smooth to draw, never a hint of stacking at my 28.5" draw. I generally don't care for a stippled or checkered grip, because I have always held my bow very lightly, almost with an open hand, but I wear a camo mechanics' glove on my bow hand when I'm hunting and I think the stippling and the cushioned palm of the glove work really well together to keep the bow right where you want it without having to squeeze the grip. The winning bidder at the auction is going to want to hunt this bow a lot!
Tons of gobbling after sunset last night, so maybe I'll get into the right place at the right time later this week and put a little more mojo on her.
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Keep at it Mark! It only takes one time for everything to be right and you never know when that'll be!!
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Tried a different ridge but not a gobble to be heard this morning, nearby or far away. Weird. Walked into a young male black bear that is becoming a little too familiar in the area, he stopped to look at me for a few moments from about 15 yards away, peed to mark his territory then moved on. The biggest excitement was when a bluejay that snuck in let go with a whistle about 10 feet behind me...like a short blast from a steam whistle!
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The turkey season ended Saturday on a gobble=free note. Lots of crows and songbirds on a gorgeous morning but no gobbling. I heard a lot of coyote howling Friday night and maybe the smart birds figured it was a good time to/keep quiet. So no turkey blood on Faith....maybe some frogs or fisg bwteen now and the auction.
Big high and bid often...this is a sweet shooter.
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Good luck with the frogs and fish, Mark.
I met Randy last week and now have Hope in my possession. I will do my best to get after hogs with her at least once this week. I'll report any hunts and share some pics as well.
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Congrats on the whopper hog ... don't forget to sign the bow before you send it on :thumbsup:
Hope is a fine bow
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I've had Hope for about a week and a half and have not had an opportunity to hunt with her yet. I finally unpacked her tonight and got her set-up to shoot. Beautiful bow!
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/Hope_zps0o9mtyt7.jpg) (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/Hackbow/media/Hope_zps0o9mtyt7.jpg.html)
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She is about 10# lighter at my draw than my recurve, so I was a little worried about arrow spine and flight. My fears were quickly put to rest after my first shot using the heaviest points I could dig up.
First shot ~11 yds
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/first%20shot_zpsazo0nmu3.jpg) (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/Hackbow/media/first%20shot_zpsazo0nmu3.jpg.html)
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My fancy target system moved a bit until I finally anchored it down better. The first group wasn't bad except for the one flyer. Hope did her job, I simply failed to execute mine on that shot.
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/first%20group_zpsugygrhva.jpg) (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/Hackbow/media/first%20group_zpsugygrhva.jpg.html)
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Arrows are still a tad stiff but I started holding just a little right. The fourth group showed some improvement at ~ 16 yds.
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/fourth%20group_zpsjdcv7nur.jpg) (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/Hackbow/media/fourth%20group_zpsjdcv7nur.jpg.html)
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Final group of the night at 20 yds. I am very pleased after this initial, short workout. You can see the majority of my shots were left, so I still have some work to do.
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/last%20group_zpsyy6tpybo.jpg) (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/Hackbow/media/last%20group_zpsyy6tpybo.jpg.html)
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After I put everything up for the night, I was chatting on the phone with my son and realized I had never shot this style of bow other than one shot here and there at 3D's and while target practicing on group hunts. Never really felt the need to put the Hummingbird down.
I am now second-guessing myself. I really enjoy shooting Hope and if she were 8-12# heavier, I'd be bidding on her in the auction. I'm thinking that taking a turn with her this month is gonna end up costing me some more money down the road. My first impressions are all positive.
I'll shoot her a bit more the next few days and hope to get after hogs one evening this week and again on the weekend. I'll report back here with details of our excursions.
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Lookin good Darren! Let me know when your headed out and I'll try to go with ya. I'll have my swap bow done this week and maybe I can bring it on it's maiden hunt! Or would that be wrong? :dunno: lol
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Good luck, Hackbow!
Bisch
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My first hunt with Hope is in the books. Like most of my hunts, I end up eating store-bought food. I was out in the backyard grilling okra (my favorite way of many to eat it). We live in a small tract home neighborhood in suburbia and there are very few mature trees, so we almost never see squirrels.
Well, I'm sitting on the patio enjoying the evening when a tree rat decides to walk our fence. I rush in the house and get Hope, but the little sucker decided to hit the neighbors roof and I lost it from there.
Back to the okra. Both Hope and I are ready for the squirrel to come back when I see a little movement under one of our bushes. It's one of the rabbits that's been chomping on my wife's flowers. I think he could sense my bloodlust because under the fence he went, into the front yard.
I decided to make my move and headed around the house. Lo and behold, he was stretched out in the neighbors front yard acting as if he owned the place. Not wanting to look any more redneck than I already do, I didn't take a shot there. Instead, I made a wide arc around to the sidewalk and herded ol' Bugs between the houses. He stopped right in front of the neighbors' air conditioning unit. Not exactly the shot I wanted!
I'm in the middle of replacing the fence in the backyard so I knew the rabbit had an easy path to some safer shooting space and my neighbor across the alley was mowing, so I gently pushed that little flower muncher and just as planned, he turned the corner past the garage and into my backyard. When I stealthily crept around the back, I saw that he had taken a broadside stance about 10 yds away and I could let the arrow fly without fear of hitting a fence, car, air conditioner, kid or siding. I brought Hope up to shooting position and with a steely gaze and a cold heart let the tension on the string propel my arrow toward the bunny's left eye as I didn't want some flopping, bleeding, screaming rabbit to draw anymore attention than what I may already have done. Most of the neighbors think I'm nuts already.
I swear one of the fletches scraped that sucker's nose as the arrow buried into the muddy, rain-soaked soil without so much as a drop of blood on it. The rabbit beat a hasty retreat through the alley and I returned to the grill to find my okra charred.
Squirrels - 1, Rabbits - 1, Hackbow - 0. Game on!
Randy, If we don't get a big storm I think I'll head over tomorrow for an evening hunt. I'll shoot you a text as well. And if you bring your swap bow, I won't tell.....for a price. :p
Bisch, thanks! As you can see I need all the luck I can get.
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That's what I call a suburban adventure! Those head shots are tricky. Keep after 'em!
I mangaged to take a big chunk out of my left index finger so Faith is getting an unplanned break while I shoot righty until the stitches are out and a bit of therapy.
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It is 4:26 am here in TX. Hope and I are headed out the door for our first run at pigs together. I'll report back later today.
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Good luck,
Hope need a few more "blood baths" to get all of that frog lime off her fine lines :biglaugh:
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I'm glad Hope and Faith are still getting a workout this close to the auction! Good times. Both those bows are superb weapons. The big question is, who's gonna bid??? I'm already feeling nostalgic about the bow (Faith) that brought me my first trad kill this past season...
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Sorry, I'm a day late on the hunt report.
I headed back to the swamp and scene of the East TX Hog Hunt from last month. We had identified couple areas that held more hogs and I was hoping they were still there and undisturbed. If any of you read about our hunt you know it was wet. Well.....all it has done in the month since then is rain, so there was a new level of wetness. Within 2 minutes of leaving the truck I was already walking in water over my knees. And to add to that unpleasant surprise, as I was pushing through that deep hole and the thick grasses and other plants in the water, a 2+' cottonmouth swims away from me just under the surface of the water.
:scared: :scared: :scared:
I don't really mind being out there with them, but this one caught me a bit off guard. My progress was a little slow for the next 30 minutes as I scanned every leaf, stick and blade of grass in front of me.
Finally, my fears eased and I was able to start hoofing it to the far end of the WMA. I had my Thermacell on and for extra protection I lit up one of my personal skeeter/woman repellants.
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/meandhope_zps6qnv5htz.jpg) (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/Hackbow/media/meandhope_zps6qnv5htz.jpg.html)
I saw a nutria in the slough behind me in the above picture. I don't believe they are legal to kill on this WMA, so it would have been safe if I had gotten close enough for a shot. I did try to get close enough for a picure, but it busted me at about 40 yds.
The fresh sign was incredible when I reached my intended destination. One open area was similar to walking across a freshly plowed field. I wasn't able to find any hogs though and eventually had to head to the truck. As I was slogging my way back, I noticed a funny looking log on the edge of another slough. I reached for my phone/camera to take a picture of the greyish log, but it decided that 15 yds was too close and it made it's way into the water.
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/gator_zpsijnrt8q5.jpg) (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/Hackbow/media/gator_zpsijnrt8q5.jpg.html)
It was probably between 6 and 7' long and pretty anti-social.
Besides enjoying the day hunting instead of working, I was blessed to have come upon a little easy-picking sustenance. These blackberries are just hitting their prime and were very sweet. I ate my fill.
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/2626c0cf-5ae0-4749-b201-b96b4843717a_zpsjgoleath.jpg) (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/Hackbow/media/2626c0cf-5ae0-4749-b201-b96b4843717a_zpsjgoleath.jpg.html)
I made it home, dried out and my wife and I had dinner. Afterward, we went out to enjoy the evening on the patio and the thought of getting a rabbit with Hope returned. Except, I don't think I will pursue the yard rabbits anymore. We literally had four rabbits running around us last night with no care at all. Two of them came up onto the patio and one of them brushed against my wife's leg. It was a little crazy.
For now the yard bunnies are safe - not much adventure in killing, or hunting skill required to shoot one of these. This guy liked hanging out by my cheapo target. It has obviously watched me target practice and is unconcerned.
(http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll296/Hackbow/backyard%20bunny_zpsycfnfjjy.jpg) (http://s291.photobucket.com/user/Hackbow/media/backyard%20bunny_zpsycfnfjjy.jpg.html)
I will try to get back out after something with Hope and will keep you all informed.
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"Wabbits is sooooo stupid" Yosemite Sam
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I wish Faith good future adventures.
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Hope made it home today. I met Darren early this morning before work and just got home. Ran straight in the house, put her together and slung a few arras! It's amazing how much better I shoot this bow than my others! I guess the saying is true, " the bow picks you!"
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Good on you Critter! I know I sure enjoyed my time with Hope. I too shot that bow much better than others I own. I hope the mojo will be strong and last for many years to come for the two of you.
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Good Stuff all around....Great thread. Gotta cut if loose from featured and move a copy to classics.
Thanks All!!!