Trad Gang

Well it's bout time to start thinking about fall hunts so I wanted to start getting some feed back on weeks that folks might be interested in joining me back up in Bath County, Virginia for the 2nd RMR.

Uh-oh! There goes some more annual leave!  :bigsmyl:

Looks like I have one in camp... get as many days as uncle sam will give you, we are going to have some fun this year.  talked with Andy earlier today and we are planning some scouting trips already.

Where bouts is Bath County?

Long time no see.

western part of va.

Sent ya a PM!  :wavey:

Near Charlottesville?

about 1 1/2 hours west.

Bath County, better still Rough Mountain is located about 1 hour south west of Staunton Virginia off of Rt42. just outside of a little town called Millboro. if you look at a topo map the place we hunt will be found in the "Nimrod Hall" quad.  

If you think you can make the hunt post the dates that will work so we can get an idea of how many and what dates work best.

Here's last year's thread to give you insight into the area and what you're in for.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=049318;p=1

Sure brings back some good memories...

its a real, real longshot but what might be the dates you will be having this? looks like a great group of people!

Ken we have not set the dates in stone but if i had my choice i would do the week of the 18th through 25th.  several reasons: bucks are moving more, cooler days and nights and the best part the fall colors are in full swing and it's just absolutely beautiful.

Chuck any thoughts on the trip you did last year?  what about RMR, think you can swing it?

I'm not sure if I can make it.  I am limited on time off this year and not sure what is going to be going on with my life this year as my Mom was diagnosed with cancer Tuesday.  I'll see when we get closer.

I'm in...

I'm in, I'll be on vacation October 20-25.  That's also a good time because bear season is open.  :)  I'll let my friend Dave know too.  I've also got another guy hooked on recurves and he'll want to join us too.
:bigsmyl:

Chuck prayers sent for you mom.  sure hope you can make it for a day or two.

Tom & Rob glad you guys are in, i have good vibes about this year. it should be a great hunt.

Need to put in for my leave for this hunt???? Any dates set yet??? Anyone coming from Richmond Va. that wants to share a ride??

Looking forward to it, I had a blast last year!

Might try to hike in for a day too. I

I like the Idea of the first week of Bear season.

See y'all soon

O. K. then OCT.20-25....

Heck, I might be able to swing a weekend. Let me know the official dates. Sounds like an awesome campfire.

Are you boys letting in newbes? I hunted for the first time last year with and old Bear whitetail hunter but this year I have been tunning and practicing with my bear cub recurve 45# for more of a challenge. I did get a doe last year for my first harvest using the ground and stalk method and skinned it and butchered it my self. I have a little experience but not lots. The trip sounds like fun and would love to get away.

Patrick, Your welcome to join us. We had a Blast last year!

Mike & Patrick we would be glad to have you join us. I sent PM's to both of you.  

looks like the dates are going to be October 18th through October 26th.  you can join us for as much of the hunt as you are able.  

I will be headed up in the next few weeks to do some pre season scouting to see if i can't locate a few bambi's for us.  

let's get a quick list of who is going to be there..

Hi Rob,

I plan to be there for the week unless something happens to alter my schedule.  Thanks for organizing this hunt.

-Mac

Count me in for a few days. Martin may be interested also. I will let you know as soon as I know.  

Where you at Bob Where you at!!!

looking good....

got you down Mac and Ron tell them chickens to hold off on the eggs for a few days you have some hunting to do....

Rob,   Chickens are like Cows they don't stop production for the holidays or Vacations, 7 days a week most of the time... LOL  I am planning on being there atleast 3 days I hope.

WHERE YOU AT BOB WHERE YOU AT  :biglaugh:    :biglaugh:  now that brings back some memorable times like tyre checks on the way to the mountain.  (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh305/jeffburg/avatar7406_2-1.gif) ralph says hi

I may try and make it this year.

Hey Rob,
Do you think we should make a menu list?  As I remember last year on the first night everyone broke out the meal they brought and it was like a food fest.  I like your original idea of each person making a dish to feed the group for one night or one breakfast.  If we get a list of who's coming we could see who would bring what and actually have a menu for the week.

All in favor list your name and dish to bring.
1) Va Bowbender (Rob)-  Chili, not too HOT
 (http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h21/VAbowbender/Bike/horror1.gif)

String Cutter= Chicken and tater salad.... Just need to know how many???? I got dibbs on my old tent spot ....

October 18th - 26th will be the dates.... let's get the roll call started so we can see who is in and who is out....

PaleFace is in....

I'm in for sure!!!!!

Menu
Oct.18=
Oct.19=Tommy G /Chicken & taters
Oct.20=Rob B. / chili
Oct.21=
Oct.22=
Oct.23=
Oct.24=
Oct.25=

Menu
Oct.18=Steak(venison if i'm lucky) & baked potatoes
Oct.19=Tommy G. /Chicken & taters
Oct.20=Rob B. / chili
Oct.21=
Oct.22=
Oct.23=
Oct.24=
Oct.25=

Menu
Oct.18=Steak(venison if i'm lucky) & baked potatoes
Oct.19=Tommy G. /Chicken & taters
Oct.20=Rob B. / chili
Oct.21=Ron's Venison & Eggs for breakfast and Ron's Bear Meatloaf and Pasta Salad for Supper...with Deviled eggs for hor deurves!
Oct.22=
Oct.23=
Oct.24=
Oct.25=

--------------------
Oh, I am in for a few days!!!   :saywhat:

Menu

Oct.18=Steak(venison if i'm lucky) & baked potatoes
Oct.19=Tommy G. /Chicken & taters
Oct.20=Rob B. / chili
Oct.21=Ron's Venison & Eggs for breakfast and Ron's Bear Meatloaf and Pasta Salad for Supper...with Deviled eggs for hor deurves!
Oct.22=
Oct.23=Mac/ Two-egg omlettes to order with bacon & toasted English muffins (post AM hunt)
Oct.24=
Oct.25=

I'm ready for that venison now Big Ron!!

LOL, Looking forward to hunting with you again Mac! We will eat well my friend... LOL

Come On October!!!!!!!!

Amen Ron!  It can't get here soon enough...  I'm looking forward a taste of that Canadian bear too.  Maybe you will shoot a Virginia bruin while we're there?

If my friend Dave comes, I'm sure he'll fix something tasty.  I'll get with him to find out.

Well, now we got a menu started?? I guess we need a head count so we know how much to bring... It'll be 2 in my party.. BUT EATIN FOR 4...  :campfire:

Come on guys... A fatman likes to eat...

Man, GreenButter, you scared everybody off with THAT one!

Killdeer  

I don't know where everyone has gone to Vilebeer????
I'm going to need directions again to the camp site???? Sure wish wish you was bringin pies....

No you don't. You're goimg elk hunting. No pies 'til you give me a backstrap.  :D

QuoteOriginally posted by String Cutter:
I don't know where everyone has gone to Vilebeer????
I'm going to need directions again to the camp site???? Sure wish wish you was bringin pies....

Check last years thread.  I think someone posted the link in here somewhere.

Rob all I could find is where afew of us were meeting up at the store???

QuoteOriginally posted by String Cutter:
Rob all I could find is where afew of us were meeting up at the store???

Do you have a Garmin ETex w/ MapSource software?  I can send you the maps, tracks and route to get you right to the campsite.  I saved it from last year.

Ok folks it's time for the "Roll Call".  who is in and who is a maybe?  Sorry I haven't been lurking here on TradGang much lately, just trying to get all my work done so that in two weeks I can concentrate on bowhunting.  Must have priorities and bowhunting is at the top of the list.

Remember the dates are October 18 through 26th.

i'll be hunting on rte.42 that week.probably can't camp,but i can stop by to say "hi".

I'm in Rob.  May be able to take the whole week off if things work out OK.

I plan on arriving Sunday to set up camp and get in a little scouting and hunt Monday thru Wednesday and leave Thursday midday.   :pray:

I'll be there for two nights, I just don't know which ones yet.  I'll probably have Dave with me and maybe another feller too.

sounds good!  JDC make sure you stop by camp at least one evening.  we will keep a spot for by the fire and i'm sure there will be something tasty to eat.

well i hope ya all have a good time and safe hunting.

I am a maybe. Would love to go on a real hunt with some experience guys and gals.

I'll be coming up Sunday after noon and staying til Thur.

Rob could you send me your cell#??? I'm pretty sure I can find the little store but am a little shaky after that???

I might be interested, I need more details.
Is this on public property. October or November?

its on nat. forest in oct.,john.not too far from where i live.

Got company that weekend.

We are going to Ohio that week in October, wish I could make it.

ttt

Just an FYI for you guys.  I don't know what it will be like near Rough Mountain but the National Forest near my house has no acorns.  I walked quite a bit Saturday and the week before season and I've found probably 5 acorns that were from this year.  What's odd is that my place, which is just 5 miles across the river from there has so many acorns it's a hazard to walk.  Not sure if it's elevation that had a heavy frost this spring or what but I couldn't find a good tree.  The good news is if you CAN find a bearing tree you are probably in for a good hunt.  Rob, have you been able to get any advance scouting in?

TTT  

How about a scouting report Rob????????

:pray:

I'm out. Babysetter fell through.

Springstutter is babysitting and that's all she wrote? C'mon, if I gotta work, you gotta feed me stories!

Killdeer  :coffee:

Rob (PaleFace) killed a 6pt.  Deer were seen but only one tagged.
Ron ( BigRonHuntAlot) was once again the camp chef and we all ate well, I brought venison BBQ and cole slaw.
The weather was sunny but mornings found frozen water in all containers, 29-34 degrees overnight.
I arrived Monday at 1:00 PM and stayed until Wednesday 10:30 AM.

It breaks my heart I didn't get to go.. Got any cool pics like you did last year??? Who all showed??

QuoteOriginally posted by String Cutter:
It breaks my heart I didn't get to go.. Got any cool pics like you did last year??? Who all showed??

No pictures from me but Rob will post some I'm sure.
Those that showed up:
Bob Walker
Ron
Mack
Ed
Rob
and myself
Oh, Ed did shoot a small bear out of a tree that wasn't recovered.  I don't know how I forgot to mention that previously.  Ed does have pictures too.

Finally getting a minute to post some pics and the story.

Arrived in camp Friday evening and set up most everything in the dark. (always fun)!  Hey not gonna complain though, I was back in one of my most favorite places to hunt.  This trip made 38 years that I have been wandering around this piece of National Forest.  It would be be my 21st trip bowhunting Rough Mountain.  

Saturday was used mostly to finish setting up camp and to do a little scouting.  Sunday I made my way back on the ridge that was given the name "Rob's Roost" years ago after several successful hunts. I know some of you have this special place that just seems to have the good medicine.  This one is mine and I have had the fortune of taking a lot of game up there.  
  (http://www.burnhamphotography.com/galleries/events/photos/wesgallery/autumgold1.jpg)

Any way I got my stand hung and everything ready for Monday morning. Sunday we sat around the camp fire and enjoyed old friendships and new ones.  O' and of course there were stories rolling from past hunts and good times.
  (http://www.burnhamphotography.com/galleries/events/photos/wesgallery/_rwb6968.jpg)

It was a late night, but I was pumped to finally get up on my ridge with bow in hand.  Monday's weather looked to be down right perfect. Mid 30's at days break with the highs just peeking into the 50's. The was cold when I first slid in, but soon felt warm and I drifted off to sleep with visions of that big buck dancing in my head.

Here is a picture from the site of last year's "Rough Mountain Rendezvous" camp site.  In the background is the southern end of Rough Mountain.

  (http://www.burnhamphotography.com/galleries/nature/photos/landscapes/_rwb6960.jpg)

Great stuff!  Sure am looking forward to "the rest of the story"

:campfire:

the alarm on my cell phone went off at 5:00am. I could see the glow from a lantern in the cook tent. we were all pumped to get in the woods.  i grabbed a few snacks, a couple bottles of water for my pack and fired up my truck. the cab of pick up had just started to warm up by the time i reached my parking spot and with a few minutes to spare i decided to sit there and warm up a little before making the mile hike up to the top of my ridge.  

I have walked up this ridge so many times in the past that I can just about do it blind folded in the dark. the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten up as i reached the tree where my stand hung.

since this was actually the first time hunting on my own this season it took me a few minutes to get everything situated. By the time the woods began to lighten up i was ready. there is something magical about the morning woods as it wakes up. can't think of anything i enjoy more and this morning was no disappointment. it was a perfect morning. cool, bright, zero wind and the birds were bringing the ridge to life.

I could go on about how the morning went and describe a wonderful day in the woods, but it wasn't to be a long hunt.  30 minutes after getting settled just as the sun was peeking over short mountain i heard the faint steps of an animal approaching.  like a ghost he all of a sudden was there looking in my direction.  talk about the ticker thumping, man my heart was about to jump out of the tree and leave me hanging.  i took a few deep breaths and regained my composure.  

at first it looked like he was going to walk across in front of me and then at the last second he turned back to his left.  at this point i knew i would need to stand in order to get a shot, so as soon as his head was behind a tree i stood up.

relax, breath he doesn't have a clue your there i thought to myself. he continued on his path and it looked as though he was not going to get any closer.  he was at my max range. take the shot now or it will be a missed opportunity. slowly i brought the bow up finding my sight picture and hitting my anchor the arrow was gone.

everything went into fast motion as he bolted back in the direction from which he had came and then the woods were quiet. Wow! talk about things happening quickly. I had been in my stand for about 40 minutes total.  

Knowing the buck was out of sight i climbed on down to take a look.  couldn't find my arrow, but there was plenty of blood and it was bright red.  i looked around for about 10 minutes for my arrow and then took up the blood trail.  the buck had turned once over the crest of the ridge and ran side hill for about 30 yards before turning straight down hill. when i say down hill i mean almost cliff straight down.  it was so steep that i had to actually slid on my butt to follow the blood trail. he had gone only about 15 yards before falling and then sliding another 20 yards before crashing into a small tree where he stopped.

wrapping my hands around his antlers and patting his big body brought back some fond memories of many great times i had had on this ridge and of the deer that i had taken as well as the ones that got away.  he was lucky #7 from my ridge, or i guess i was lucky.  he wasn't so lucky on this day.  

the drag to the bottom was nothing more than a push from around the tree and then a long 75 yard slide to the bottom of the draw. from there it was about 500 yards of labor to get him back out to the train tracks at which point i decided i was going to go get some help for the rest of the work.  
  (http://www.burnhamphotography.com/galleries/events/photos/wesgallery/rmrbuck08w.jpg)

i offered up my ridge to the rest but had no takers so i decided to give the ridge a break and go out and hunt a little with my camera.  here are some pics of the surrounding area....

  (http://www.burnhamphotography.com/galleries/events/photos/wesgallery/_rwb7029s.jpg)

  (http://www.burnhamphotography.com/galleries/events/photos/wesgallery/_rwb6962w.jpg)

  (http://www.burnhamphotography.com/galleries/events/photos/wesgallery/_rwb7196s.jpg)

Nice buck Rob..  Great pictures.  Congrats...  Jeff  :archer:

I feel like I missed Christmas... Had been looking forward to it all year..
Congrats on a beautiful animal. Really nice pics.

NICE Photos and Wonderful Story, Rob! Hey, you should seriously consider taking up photography as a living.  :)  You are THAT good.

I wouldn't go that far???   :biglaugh:

Man you have a beautiful hunting ground!

OK, I might just have to move!  These pics are amazing!

Thanks for sharing....good stuff!

hey congrats rob on an awesome buck.  :clapper: