Trad Gang

OVER&UNDER,YAMAHRIDER,HOMEBRU,PRONGHORN23,LEFTY, NAKOHE,BRAIN FROM TULSA,AREONUT,NIGHT HAWK,BILLY,STICK-STRING.  :clapper:

OK gus if you have any questions ask them here and I will answwer them and I and maybe I will not get confussed.   :bigsmyl:

This will be my first hunting trip to Texas.  Do we need a small game license or anything else?  What are the snakes like in your area?  Will there be a place to hang and bone out animals?  I have a couple folding table that I can throw in to cut up on if not.  Looking forward to meeting anyone!
   Anything you can think of I can bring like tables, coleman lanterns, or anything?
 Thanks again Steve!  Hope your wife gets to feeling better!!

Lefty

You do need to purchase a 5 day general hunting license for a non-res - $45 from Wally World.

Any who have not hunted hogs before check out my brothers post. "Close encounters of the Swine kind". You will see what I mean when I say bust the shoulder or a good quartering away shot. These brutes are tough, but if shot correctly they do not go far. This is going to be a blast. I am looking forward to meeting everone.

Steve,

Is there room or do you allow spot and stalk or is it better to just hunt the  blinds since ther will be so many of us??

I plan on doing both(blind and spot and stalk)also I will have aleast one of my blood trailing dog for those not so perfect  shots I seem to get 1 out of 4 times.

did you mean nighthawk or nightowl haha... cause i think you sent me an email? If its mean then i will have comments to follow haha!

Not having been off pavement in the state of Texas, my questions had to do with:
rattlesnakes
chiggers
ticks

Glad to hear we may have some room to spot-n-stalk should we desire.

As Nakohe said low and way forward.  It sounds to me like his brother hit one lung...the hog ran for a while and once the blood coagulated (sealing the wound) that oinkin' critter just coughed up a pancake of blood and moved on.

Anybody going NOT hunted hogs before?  
homebru

I am excited to hunt with you guys...I will be bringing a camera to try and capture the whole event.  I am enjoy "shooting" just as much as hunting.  I really look forward to stalking as I have never done that before.    :thumbsup:

Lefty I will have plenty of tables thanks for the offer.We probably could use a few more chairs.Snakes will be out but if you pay attention you will be fine just do not get bit on the butt because I m not sucking out the venom!We will have plenty of places to hang meat.If any one wants we can take to a locker and have it cut up and shipped to you.Far as water I am trying to have running water out there if not I will have 55 gal. barrels with water There is no shower or toliet so I have some sort of crapper made(out house).I plan on having lots of targets and some aireals so if you have flu flus bring them.

Please read my post on both sites and some of your questions might be answered on one or the other.

Homebru, most snakes will avoid us. There will probably be some ticks in thick grass and chiggers, but DEET does the trick on them.

Really looking forward to this spring! What an awesome act of generosity. To say this is a great opportunity for us is a huge understatement! I know I am certainly grateful. I can't wait until May!

Can we buy the non- resident license on line?

Steve,


Just read about your wife. We will keep yall in our prayers.I'm gonna wear my snake boots, that way I'm not constantly looking down and under every bush, they just help out with the confidence factor.Again Thanks for the invite

Thanks for putting this together Steve, and I hope your wife heals fast.  Car wrecks ain't a fun pass time.

Permanone will keep the ticks and chiggers at bay, I just wonder if it works for snakes.  I will be wearing my lineman's boots.  We have plenty of snakes around here, just not the venomous varieties.

Counting the days!!!!

Dennis

Really looking forward to this myself...thnak you again for the opportunity!!  Really generous!!

In the "spirit" of trad gang...every group hunt on this site has a name...I am going with ....

"The Texas Pork Romp!!"    :thumbsup:

Stick_string where do you live.Maybe I can get you to help me get ready.

Steve,

Let me know if you need any help.  We'll pitch in when we can.

Mike and Jason

Steve71,
I live in the Keller area...let me what I can do!!   :thumbsup:  

Ben

We have only killed 4 rattlers at our place they are there but not in great numbers I very rarely where snake boots there.I am more worried about being eaten by hogs the then bit by a snake.

To be honest, I was more worried about ticks and chiggers than snakes...despite not liking snakes, I do understand they don't have a lot of interest in bothering me if I leave them alone.

Looking forward to making some pork!!!
homebru

The snakes are probally not bad because the hogs are eating them. You kill all of the hogs and the snakes will come back, Which one do you like more?

t

Steve

Does it rain much in April down there?

Usually doesn't rain much in April but we do get the occasional Tornado and thunderstorm.  Should bring your raingear.  We usually don't hunt in the rain here, we wait for it too stop.

Mike

Thanks Mike!  I will pack it along.

I'm hoping the fuel stop in Eastland won't mind my truck sitting there for a couple days.
My first hog hunt will be a blast with the "Gang".
Thanks Steve and Family.

Billy,

Heck I think theres a McDonalds there too.  You got a place to sleep (gas station) and exotic dining.

LOL

Mike

TTT

Hey Aeronut,
If your passin thru Tulsa and would like to throw in with me, I'd enjoy the company.

Hey guys everyone might want want to practice your close shots too  5 to 10 yds.IS IT APRIL YET!!

I am getting tired of hog hunting,  I been hunting them every night in my sleep.  IS IT APRIL YET!!!

10 yards??  You shoot that far away?    :bigsmyl:  

I am a ground hunter and that is my usual range I try to get at when I hunt deer.  It's gonna be fun trying it with hogs.

Dennis

Can't wait!!  Starting to pick up a few things and trying to decide what gear to take for sure.

Howdy all...bout time I chimed in.

I'll be shooting my 55# Savage Flatbow by Vintage Archery.

I can bring two folding style camp chairs and am working on a cot. I can also bring my double bull blind if that sounds good.

Here's few questions..

Whats a good camo color for the area? I hunt mostly spring turkeys and fall deer so most of my camo is dark. I do have some light colored predator camo used for pronghorns out west.

Is the camp in cell phone range? To call out or receive calls..

Any flint knappers in the group?

Hmm I think that's about all I can think of for now...


-

Any camo pattern will do the hogs don't care!lol
There is cell phone coverage.I will have my laptop so we can pst some pictures here.

Steve

Is there any way you could post some pics of some of the hogs we might be chasin'???  And maybe some of the terrain we will be huntin'?

Sure would make the days go by slower...  :biglaugh:  

Thanks
Jake

I will work on that.I do not know how to post pics but I will try. My brother is going to email me some pics from ou trail cam.

Steve
Just email them to me and I will post them for ya.  

Thanks Bro.

Jake

Steve,

Whenever I try to send you a PM, nothing seems to happen, which is probably why I seem to have missed out on the hunting plans. Could you send me your email address at allandevore@gmail.com so I can make sure I am communicating with you without having to post it here where most people don't want it cluttering up the threads?

Thanks,
Allan

Steve,

I can help out there, if ya like.  Steve, Jason and I are headed to a hog hunt tomorrow afternoon.

Hope to have bloody pics to show.


Mike

If all gos well we should have several dead hogs by this time tomorrow.I can not wait to see how my new DRYAD bow preforms on big stinky hogs.Mike thank you and Jason for letting me spend time with yall at your shop.

Well the high winds kept us out of the pig woods last night.  We are headed out this afternoon to see if we can find a couple of the stinky buggers.

LOL

Mike

Good luck guys!

We want all the details,  Pics, distance of shots, size of hogs, how much fun you had and of course which one you put my name on! LOL

Have a great time!!!

Well actually we are going to a different property closer to home.  It's a couple hours out to the other place.

But we will have details and I'm packing my camera.

Mike

ttt

ttt


Is it April yet????

You guys are lucky...we gotta wait an extra month!

bump

Exotic food?!?
They got them little jumpin' beans at that Mickey D's??
Freight's movin' steadier, how 'bout them hawgs...??

My broadheads are freshly sharpened, and ready to go!!!!!

IS it April yet?

STEVE & GROUP,

I just had an OH.... S_ H _ T moment yesterday when my wife advised me that our 18 year-old's graduation is on 5/16( I AM IN MAY GROUP) .  

Just wanted to see if perhaps anyone in this APR group wanted to swap for May??  If not I know Allan Devore wanted in for May and he can have my spot if you'd like to give it to him?

Man on man, I was so looking forward to this hunt!

I hate it when that happens. I hope that somebody in April will be able to trade with you.

I have a daughter graduating in may also but my wife told me my daughters graduation isn't until the 29th. I understand how important family stuff is, so I'll trade with you so you can attend your son/daughters graduation

Joe,

To say that you completely made my day would be an understatement!  This is a very kind gesture and if you are completely cool with the May hunt, I will graciously accept your offer.  The dates are set for April 24-26th right?

I will also check with our host to make sure this is o.k. with him too.

Besides, now I can shoot Lefty's ACS!  I will look forward to meeting everyone and if anyone is coming through the Little Rock area, let me hear from you if you want to drive over to TX together??

My cell is 901 619-8377 & God bless you brother!

your welcome   :thumbsup:    :campfire:

Still excited!!

Well dang Ben you should be excited.  Your new bow will be ready on Friday for you too pick up.

Mike

Good luck guys!!!  If anyone is leaving from the Austin area, let me know and I'll give you a raw texas chert point to give those hogs a run for their money. In the raw form, I think it'll be hard enough to get through those tough little guys.  Only stipulation is that if you get one with it, you gotta send me a pic.  Would love to see one of my points in action.

Rick

Barry,
 That is awesome!  Looking forward to meeting you!  I will bring my A&H plus I have an extra set of limbs I just picked up from OL, so you can try of a 64" and 66" ACS CX.  
Chris

Is it April yet?

You guys going in May can't hog the 1st page of PowWow!!!  We want some of the action!!  :biglaugh:

Anyone need a cot...I have access to an extra one..

Todd,

I was going to buy one from Wally World this week, but if the extra cott is available and no one else needs it, I would like to use it.

Thanks

I'm getting excited....will be a long drive but worth the effort.  Looking forward to spending some time with the 'gangers.  How 'bout kids?
homebru

Barry you bet you got it...was going to buy one too but am borrowing two from a buddy.

Thanks Todd. Look forward to meeting you and everyone else in our group!

Won't be long now.

Hey Steve, hows things going man, hope all is well and look forward to getting down there!

Jake

Guys I gotta back out  :mad:  

I've pulled two loads in 2 weeks..Gonna have to run when I can get freight.

So....you guys shoot one for those of us
that won't
be able to..  :wavey:    :thumbsup:

Billy

That is certainly bad news Bro!  Wish you all the best!

I will do my best to shoot one in your place.

Jake

Sorry you can't make it too. Tough job times create tough times all around. Hopefully you can make up for it when times pick up.

Has anyone here on this thread corresponded with steve71 recently?    :readit:

ttt

I spoke with Steve about 1 1/2 weeks ago, and he was doing fine.  He had a few poblems that life threw at him, but was doing ok, and said a hog hunt was just we he needed to get him mind off things.  

Jake

I sure hope that all is well!

I have e-mailed him a couple of times with no response.

I am going to have to back out of this hunt. With my new job, I will be at work when it is going on.

Sorry to hear that Don.  So far, all of my weekend events have avoided the hunt weekend and I'm still in 'GO' mode.

Dennis

Sorry to hear that too. This is my second year of having weekends off in the last 16 years. I definetely planned around this weekend.

Hopefully everythings ok with Steve since no one has heard from him.

QuoteOriginally posted by Nakohe:
I am going to have to back out of this hunt. With my new job, I will be at work when it is going on.

I am so sorry honey-  work is affecting your hunting, but it is what we have to do  :)   Love you

Billy and Donald, sorry ya'll won't be able to make it.  Take care.

Has anyone heard from Steve recently?  He is not answering PM's or e-mails and everyone I have talked to say the same thing, that they have been able to get a hold of him for a while now.  Does anyone know if something is wrong or not and if the hunt is still going to happen?

Lefty,

I am sceptical about this hunt happening. Steve's lack of response to anyone is a bit confusing and rather rude. I would have probably backed out even if I was going to be off. JMHO

Donald

I noticed he did post a comment on the May hunt thread on the 15 th, but everyone I have contaced has not had e-mails or pm's answered.

I agree Donald.  Too bad.  I was looking forward to meeting all you guys.  
 Congrats on the new job though!!  Take care and maybe sometime in the future, we wil get a chance to share a campfire.

i had an email exchange with steve a few weeks back, and since then he hasn't answered emails and phone calls.  he did say that his daughter was in a serious accident about a month ago, but time marches on and commitments and responsibilities to all do so as well.  a little communicating goes a loooong way.

i just left him voice mail.  i'll report back here on this tomorrow ....

QuoteOriginally posted by Rob DiStefano:
Has anyone here on this thread corresponded with steve71 recently?     :readit:  

Last call....

I jsut spoke with Steve.  He just got out of the hospital.  Got stompped by a cow and chipped some vertibrae and broke some ribs.

He's going to get on here tonight.

Mike

Oh I knew there had a be a "good" reason why we was not being more responsive. I sure hope that he is feeling better.

Thanks for the call Wingnut!

That's good that someone finally heard from him.  Unfortunately with all of the unanswered questions and doubts, I had cancelled my vacation time today and the arrangements I had to make, to cover my time off.  So I will not be going, even if it is still on.  
 I hope that if it does go on, that you all have a good time and that this is what you were all told it would be.

Thanks Wingnut for the heads up!  

I hope all is well with Steve and Family, he sure has had his share of problems lately!

I will wait to hear from him to make any further decisions. Steve call me if you get a chance, let me know how you are feeling!

Jake

my conversation with Steve today including his saying that the hog hunts were still a go.  His ability to go chase em will be diminished.

Mike

Wow, I am hoping that Steve has a quick recovery.

Chris, man I am sorry you had to cancel!  I think that you are the third thus far, of our group.

I am still looking forward to this trip!

Jake, please cross-pollinate your conversation with Steve, if you don't mind.

Steve,
Certainly hope the best for you and your family. I feel for you as I injured my back several years ago as well.  Try your best to keep positive and keep as active as possible.  
As for the hog hunts,  you can only do what you can do.  You and your family come first. If it seems too stressful we will understand, for those that don't so be it.
Take Care!!
Barry

Hope you heal quick Steve.  I've been on the losing end of cow and horse battles but not to the extent of hospital visits.

Dennis

Unfortunately I'm cancelling and won't be going.

Thank you for the opportunity and offer Steve. I hope this gives someone enough time to fill my spot.

ttt

Is this hunt still on?

I have decided to cancel out on this one as well.  

Best of luck to Steve and the rest of the bunch.

QuoteOriginally posted by buckster:

Jake, please cross-pollinate your conversation with Steve, if you don't mind.

I sure will if he ever returns my calls and emails...

So...what is the plan...it would appear as though everyone has canceled...for the most part.

So far I am still planning on going.

Dennis

Will Steve be in condition to go?

TTT for any news.  

Yalls April hunt is the week after next aint it?

I haven't canceled, but it all depends on Steve's condition.  It's more important for him to heal than to re-injure himself setting up tents and such.
homebru

I don't know about the hunt. The guy hasn't been on in forever or answered any private messages or emails. I'd say that speaks volumes about the hunts.

H'mmm  :saywhat:

Steve Rattan, aka "Steve71", has been banned from Trad Gang.

1. He failed repeatedly to make good on a swap deal with another Trad Gang member who is now out of a real good bow.

2. He set up this here "hunt" and got a lotta good members involved that have now wasted both time and money.

I'm sorry to all involved that this person used you all, and Trad Gang, for his personal gain.

Weatherford isn't that big and there are lots of members nearby..let me/us know if there is anything we can do to help the guy that got ripped off.

I like to thank Trad Gang Administration for taking these steps. I would also like to say sorry to those that may have real loses (paid airline tickets, bow and such).  It really would have been fun to meet and hunt with all of you.

ttt

I got a call from the guy that was missing his bow saying that a check was on the way.

Steve has flat disappeared from here.  We haven't seen or heard from him since my last post about the call I got.

Unfortunately I may be out a bow also.  He made a down payment and I let him take it home with a promise of final payment the next week.  Well live and learn.

Mike

real sorry to hear that, mike.  i apologize to you and all the other trad gang members that have been hoodwinked by steve - i feel bad that trad gang was the vehicle for his deception.

NOT the sites fault Rob, unfortunately the trag archery world isn't immune to the real world. The day has passed when a person could take someone on his word.

Just like I told a guy I bought a bow from, I wrote him a check and he took it and said thank you. I questioned him about not wanting to see any id. Told him to write down my license number date of birth and all that. He looked at me kind of strange and I told him that buisness is buisness and if a guy is put off by having to show id, then you don't want to do buisness with them

Thanks for the post Rob!
Agree with Nighthawk, definitely not the fault of this great site!  I am sorry for those that lost bows and hope that you all recover.  
 I am also sorry that I didn't get to spend time around the camp fire with the fine folks that had planned to attend.  
 On the positive side, I now have a good pair of snake boots all broke in and ready for a real pig hunt!
 Take care all and I hope that our paths will cross in the near future.

I hope everyone that lost merchandise files a police report. People like Steve should be behind bars

QuoteOriginally posted by yamaharider:
I like to thank Trad Gang Administration for taking these steps. I would also like to say sorry to those that may have real loses (paid airline tickets, bow and such).  It really would have been fun to meet and hunt with all of you.

I agree 100%!  

I hope everyone can make the best of any plans or items they already have that were for this hunt.

Thanks to TG as well for keeping an close eye on these type of things.

Jake

It's turkey season in Oklahoma and the fish are biting.  If anyone has days off and was traveling anyway, I'd be game for trying to make it right.  Got a great idea for a gang turkey hunt.

Brian

Note to all TG members with plans to travel to Texas and hunt on this deal.

I've been watching this develop & hate to see you guys getting burned by someone in Texas...I'm going to assume that he's not a Texan!    ;)  

Anyhow, I have a small place in East Texas (about 2 hours east of Dallas) that I lease just for hog hunting, my gate is open to any of you guys for these dates. It's only about 200 acres or so, primitive camping, no electricity or water...but we're set-up for 4-5 bowhunters & we gots some hogs!

  (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/tinman5575/6ldppittsburghotlinks.jpg)

Feel free to contact me if this offer will help any of you involved with this bogus hunt to not lose valueable vacation time or travel expenses and salvage this hunt for you.

Ain't it funny how when something bad likes this happens it makes the cream come to the top?  :thumbsup:  to the guys who are trying to salvage this.

All the Texicans that I've met have been upstanding folk!! I'd definatly say steve71 wasn't a texan..just a crook

I've met Tinman....Good guy. Kudos to you on your offer.
I still have a bow he loaned me...    ;)  

I'm moving. I'm going to have to mail it to you now. My wife packed it up already and it's in storage.     :banghead:

Thanks bunches for the generous offer Joey.  I'll definitely think on this one.

Dennis

Its about a 3 hour drive but if anyone wants to look into granger lake I might be able to head out that saturday with yah and show you a good area...
East texas is hard to beat though, beautiful land

Guys,
I'm the one who was burned by Steve Rattan for a beautiful Thunderhorn Coupstick and 9 2219's.  I tried getting satisfaction on this trade deal for over 2 months. He was suppose to send a Wall Tent which never came.  About the only thing that I did get was a lot of excuses as to why he could not ship it. These all delt with injuries [3] to he, his wife, and daughter [all at different times and under different circumstances]along with a death in the family also in this 2 month period.
About the worst luck I have ever heard of, [3 spinal injuries and a death] all in the same family in less than a 2 month period.

I finally enlisted help from Bob Walker, Terry, and Rob here on TG.  

I tried to handle it descretely here on TG as I did not want to do anything that would jeaopardize your hunts.

After pressure by the moderators, several voicemails to Steve, [as he would not take my calls], and numereous un-answered PM's and Emails.  I finally did post about it on S/B.  At that point, which was over 2 weeks ago, he did email to say he was putting a check in the mail the following AM.  Well, I'm still waiting but sure not "Holding My Breath"!  It's a good thing, as it's already been over 2 weeks since he made me that promise.

I'm just posting so as to give you some background on doing business with Steve, Also, to caution you all as far as any future  transactions you may enter into with him.   :mad:      :wavey:

I was in for the May hunt.  Luckily for me I live in Ft Worth so I didn't purchase any tickets or spend any money I wouldn't have otherwise spent.  I'm sorry for those of you who did and for those of you who will miss out on an opportunity to hunt hogs for the first time.  I hope you find a way to get at some hogs soon and don't let this get you down.

Good job TT for your offer. I'd love to help these folks too if I can. A group hunt on public land doesn't sound half bad either. I know of a bowhunting only near DeCatur that has plenty of turkeys. Hogs too I think though I've not been. My family lives in Garland. PM me and let's get on the phone to see what we can do.

Sorry about any of you guys who lost property or money in all this or messed up your schedules. I was fortunate enough to have Steve fail to answer my PMs early on, so I did not get on the list and eventually decided I didn't want to be on it. So my "bad luck" ended up working in my favor. Hopefully we can all get together some other time and have a good hunt with someone who is reputable. It seemed too good to be true that someone was having a problem with "too many hogs" and was willing to have everyone show up and hunt for free. Of course, when it looks to good to be true, it probably isn't -- a lesson we learn once again. I hate it that this had to happen in a great group like TradGang. At least the bad apple has been thrown out of the barrel!

Allan

Hey guys,
To bad this hunt had to end like this.  Raw deal.  I wish I could have you all come down and hunt my little place, but I have yet to get something there myself.  Be blessed...still hope to hunt with you guys in the future.

Ben