Trad Gang

Alright South Carolina people. I have really been enjoying these Mississippi hunt threads the last couple couple of years, and figured I would see would we can do.

As our low country season just opened, let's start giving some feedback as to how things are going and provide plenty of pictures along the way!

I hope everyone has a safe and meaningful experience  this fall, and look forward to hearing about it!

Lean in, pick a spot, and follow through!

I'll start it off.

I have had cameras out for about two months now and things have been pretty sporadic. But for about a week now we have had consistent morning movement  from 7-8.

I have been following two specific mature bucks but they are still fairly nocturnal.

We are however seeing some cull deer in day light recently so that is primarily what I have been targeting until does come in September 15th.

Weather on the 10 day looks very hot, so I may be staying out of there for a while.

Hopefully someone else has had some success because all I have seen is a few does.

I did take an opening morning "selfie" which really is not like me but I will share anyways.

 (http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag379/cjbrewer87/Mobile%20Uploads/124B72F2-D1C9-477C-8392-2399E61FD84D_zpspgjyxlwu.jpg) (http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/cjbrewer87/media/Mobile%20Uploads/124B72F2-D1C9-477C-8392-2399E61FD84D_zpspgjyxlwu.jpg.html)

Heading out in the morning. Wish me luck.

Good luck fellas!!

Good thread Tradbrew but it might be a month or two before I get out there in this heat.    :knothead:

Hunted first 2 days of season, does, fawns and small velvet bucks, big boys not moving yet in daylight.

Yeah I typically hunt this first weekend, and then take it fairly easy until that first frost.

The two bucks I'm chasing have only showed themselves in daylight twice in the past two months I have had cameras out..

Looks like the 100 degree days we have coming up this week won't help much. I definitely won't be sitting!

I have seen a few nice velvet bucks killed my wheelie bow guys so far though.

Go get 'em...I'll be down in Nov to help out.  Got a new lease to try out near the head of the Ashley river.  

Julian...
Sharpen up some broadheads and tie up a few Redfish flies as my knee is coming along fine  :)   tippit

I had some luck the other weekend when the cold front came through, it cooled down to 85!   :goldtooth:  

  (http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/Benjy45/TradGang/DSC08598_zps9872954d.jpg) (http://s235.photobucket.com/user/Benjy45/media/TradGang/DSC08598_zps9872954d.jpg.html)

Click on the picture to see the Video
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If Jeff (Tippit) is very nice to me, I might show him where this guy is hanging out!

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Good job Benjy!

I'm back in the stand for the first time since opening weekend and wow it's humid!

I also had a scare opening weekend. I was bitten  by a deer tick that a week later left me very I'll for a week. It felt like the flu  on steroids. Lymes tests came back negiative, but have to go back in a month to get tested as it can often come back false positive. We will see! Prob just a bacterial infection from the bite so I'm told..

Good luck guys and watch out for those crawlers!

Nice shooting Benjy. A great way to start the season.   :clapper:

bretto

Congrats Benjy! Maybe the cold front this weekend will cool it down enough to get in the stand again.

Congrats Benjy. I haven't even been scouting yet, I think it's a combination of age, 2nd shift and this heat. Have planted a few food plots, it's really the first time to plant any food plots. I guess we will see how that goes. Hope to do a little scouting on Monday, supposed to be a little cooler then. Hopefully after the 15th will get after them.

I have not been hunting since shooting that deer. I have been getting ready for gator season. I have a tradgang friend that drew a tag. I went to my lease today to see if I have any pig sign. I guess the heat is not getting to the piggies!

Anyone else chasing gators?

 (http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/Benjy45/TradGang/PRMS0380_zps11355104.jpg) (http://s235.photobucket.com/user/Benjy45/media/TradGang/PRMS0380_zps11355104.jpg.html)

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I'm waiting for the 15th this month to hit Laurens County and Oct 1st to hunt the mountains.

Love these threads as it show the game opportunity in the other states.

Go them em boys I need some motivation till our season open (South MS Oct 15th).

Good luck to you TradbrewSC and I sure hope your buddy is  enjoying his BW.

Too hot for me. Here in Leesville it's not been under 90, except during a rain, for a few weeks now. Just don't like sitting in a stand or a blind and feeling sweat run down the back...

Thanks hitman! He certainly is! We spent a few hours yesterday afternoon shooting and he is shooting it well!
Thanks again!

Good grief... Those hog photo's are tearing me up!. I so wish I lived in SC  :(

I sat once this weekend.  Pouring sweat...not enough wind....deer blowing at me.... sure wish I could pick my days this time of year.

Benjy- looks like the pigs found out who the "master-bater" in the area is....   :goldtooth:  

I'll be in a tree tomorrow evening for the first time. I can feel the fever rising as the nights get cooler!

Blane, I am at North Myrtle beach so I won't be available to help you tomorrow. Good luck!

Looks like it is going to cool down a bit this coming weekend! High of 80 Sat. And 74 Sun. accourding to the weather channel.

But we all know how that can change...

Anyone notice the new regs. The way I understand it, if you shoot a doe with a bow out of the archery or primitive weapons season you must use a doe tag. It has always been that if using a bow during rifle season you could shoot does and not use a tag. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Mostly referring to game zone 2

I have always hunted 3 or 6 and have always had to use tags. Unfortunately I can't help you with that, but am hoping to fill one of those Monday or Tuesday depending on what work will allow!

Had two nice nanny goats at 8 yards Saturday am on one of my little funnel areas I call the yellow brick road.

I have been seeing plenty of them the few times I have been. Hoping it stays that way after the 15th but we know how that goes..

Not much moving tonight.... 1 doe and 3 coons. Pretty surprising since the wind was perfect (you SC guys know how rare that is) and with this cooler weather.

It felt good to sit and relax for a while though.

Thats odd, I was kind of mad at myself for not going yesterday afternoon but didnt bring my stuff to the office and didnt have time to run home to get it.

Where are you hunting Blaino?

QuoteOriginally posted by MCNSC:
Anyone notice the new regs. The way I understand it, if you shoot a doe with a bow out of the archery or primitive weapons season you must use a doe tag. It has always been that if using a bow during rifle season you could shoot does and not use a tag. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Mostly referring to game zone 2

Hmmm, looks like you are correct! I also noticed that you can only shoot one antlerless deer per day now. When did they change that?

Oh wow Benjy, I didnt pay attention to the fact that you can only shoot one per day now.

Good to know, as I read through the regs the other day and didnt catch that change.

QuoteOriginally posted by TradBrewSC:
Where are you hunting Blaino?

tiny spot in White Rock.... Benjy has all the deer in the area convinced his corn is better that mine  :laughing:  

DNR has been working REALLY hard to get the deer population down for years. Now that it is close to what they want the numbers to be they are starting to tighten the regs up.

I've been three times so far I haven't heard but exactly one gunshot in the distance.

Good luck everyone!!

Great afternoon to have gone today but my wife is having surgery in the morning and she might have cussed me if I went tonight. Hopefully temp is starting to dip below 90 now. I do hunt in 100 degree weather but I sure would rather do it on a cool day.

I think the regs changed this year. I don't normally buy doe
Tags because I hunt with my bow. Guy at work was telling me about it so I got a copy and there it was. I ordered 4 doe tags.
Got to go scouting this morning, very few white oak acorns but the red oaks are loaded. Also found some muskedines will hunt them soon before they all fall. Moved a stand to a persimmon tree, should be a good spot.
Walking thru a pretty large area of pines and found a pink pocket knife. Amazing what you find sometimes.

Doe tags came in the mail today and have 3 extra bullet points:
1)Only 1 deer tag may be used in Game Zone 1 on private or WMA land
2) Only 2 tags may be used on WMAs in Game Zones 2-6. Limit 1 per day.
3) Tags may be used beginning Sept. 15 in Game Zone 3-6 and Oct. 1 in Game Zones 1-2. Limit 1 per day.

I was under the impression you have always needed doe tags gun or bow.

In 3 or 6 you have always had to but in the upstate it used to be that you didnt during archery season I think Brady.

But I have never been an upstate hunter so that was news to me this year as well!

I'll post something in November.  This KS boy refuses to share the woods with SC's giant chiggers!  They eat me alive!    :mad:    :banghead:    :banghead:

Bill

Bill have you ever tried "jungle juice"? It's a bug repellant that is 99% deet ...... It might kill ya    :scared:   but it keeps skeeter, ticks & chiggers away.

QuoteOriginally posted by Blaino:
Bill have you ever tried "jungle juice"? It's a bug repellant that is 99% deet ...... It might kill ya      :scared:     but it keeps skeeter, ticks & chiggers away.

No sir, the rest of the story is I'm a sweat hog. If the temp is in the 60s, or higher, by the time I walk to where I'm going to hunt, climb the tree and sit down I'm wet from head to foot, my clothing gains about 5# from the perspiration and I'm having no fun.     :(    And the sweat shorts out the batteries in my hearing aids to boot.

Bill

Well it looks like the earlier weekend forecast has changed yet again and is going to be a little warmer than previously expected.

Im going to go check all my cameras this afternoon for any daylight buck activity to determine whether or not i'll be in the woods this weekend.

If not i'll just be cheering on the gamecocks and waiting to chase a doe next week!

No wind to speak of this weekend so I'll sit it out.  Looking foward to watching GA whoop up on the Coots.   :thumbsup:

DuckButt, It is going to be a tough game!

I think I am going to try and hop in the stand in the morning and see what happens..

I checked my cameras last night and still just have young bucks and does walking in daylight, but who knows.

You Cant kill um on the couch!

Headed to the coast to go Gator Hunting tomorrow. Looks like we will be dodging thunderstorms all weekend...

Choot um Benjy!

Looks like a little cool front end of next week, making plans to get out on stand then.

:thumbsup:

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Benjy failed to mention he was escorting an Ohioan on the gator hunt tonight...7' gator

Good work, fellas!    :thumbsup:

Atta boy Colin!!!

Good job guys!

Tomorrow... Deer!  :bigsmyl:

Posted before I read page 4, well done on the gator!

I won't be able to make it for the next few days but hoping to get in the stand Thursday!

Colin , congrats on the gator, that's cool. Season opens tomorrow but won't be able to go, hope to be there Tuesday morning. I will be hunting with a TD longbow that I built this spring.

Colin , congrats on the gator, that's cool. Season opens tomorrow but won't be able to go, hope to be there Tuesday morning. I will be hunting with a TD longbow that I built this spring.

No nanny harvests yesterday??

was off yesterday and hunted. saw 3 does in the morning and 3 does in the evening. no shots taken. my son passed on a 5 pt in the evening.

I got a gator 3 years ago, that was a fun hunt. I went deer huntin this morning and say a doe. She wouldn't present a shot.

I spent Monday and Tuesday at Manchester State Forest looking to put some pork on the table. That was orders from my wife! I expected to see a few people during the bow season but I had thousands of acres of beautiful swamp land all to my self. Yes that's  right I was alone!!! I got on pigs both days and was inside 20 yards 3 different times without getting a shot.
It was hard to explain to my wife how I was close to pigs but didn't shoot   :banghead:    :banghead:    :banghead:   Looking back I feel sad other didn't show up to experience the beauty and solitude our swaps can offer.

Very cool, Colin. Well done!

Blaino, Have'nt been to Manchester in years, and my duck club is right down the road in Rimini.

Not a bad idea! Where you hunting the archery only grounds?

QuoteOriginally posted by TradBrewSC:
Blaino, Have'nt been to Manchester in years, and my duck club is right down the road in Rimini.

Not a bad idea! Where you hunting the archery only grounds?

No. They have cut/thinned a lot of that part.  I drive all the way to the back and then from there it's another 40+ min. walk to start to find good pig sign. Most people won't put that much effort into chasing a pig.  I love wondering around, stump shooting a little, and half lost looking for pigs. It would be better if I was more successful at the pig killing part!

I'd be happy to get together and chase some pigs.

Sounds like a good time, as I just live in Irmo.

Give me a shout the next time you go and i'll try and make it happen.

I'll PM my info.

I'm headed to Manchester soon, just got to figure out a good time to go.  Last time I was there, a few years ago, we parked near a house of obviously anti-hunting folks. They purposely started riding dirt bikes and shooting off firecrackers.  

My buddy and I were hiking a good ways in to hunt, but the thought of them messing with his truck cut our hunt short. Sure enough, we walked back to the truck just in time to catch a man and woman poking around his vehicle. They didn't see us until we snuck right up on them. They were contemplating cutting a couple of his tires. When the guy pulled out his pocket knife, I yelled at them from about 30 yards away. I had my bow, but my buddy had his rifle.

They jumped out of their skins and took off running. We called the Sheriff's office about what had happened, and they were supposed to send some deputies over. We waited for over an hour and nobody showed up. We moved to a different spot.

I'm definitely going back, not in that particular spot, though. I think I will set up a game camera to watch my truck, just in case.

Blaine, I know what you mean about wive's questioning us. I took my wife on a deer hunt last season, and she couldn't figure out why I wasn't shooting at one of the several does in front of us. I asked her how far she thought they were, and she says "Twenty yards". It was more like 75.

After the deer wandered off, I walked out and showed her what my effective range on a whitetail was. She couldn't believe it had to be so close. "No wonder you don't get many."

She later told me she saw me hit my rinehart target from that far away all the time. I had to explain to her that just because you can hit something that far away, doesn't mean you should shoot at a live animal at that distance.

Should be a nice weekend to sit!

good luck guys.

Have not been out yet. School is back in and I've been tide up after work.  Will try it in the morning.  God bless all and have a great morning in the trees.

Windy and swirling. Have only seen two coons but the temp sure is nice!

0 for 3 so far. Stuck a hog but couldn't find it. Missed a second hog. Shot over the back of a buck.
Man this stuff is fun. Found out the chiggers/red bugs and ticks are very attracted to me. I'm like a magnet.

While in a ground blind on opening morning I had a nice 8 pt catch me it stiff-leg away with no chance for a shot.
Killed a nice sow Tuesday evening from a different ground blind.  Hunting on the Clark's Hill  lake from the boat Wed eve I shot a huge buck at 12 yds but I pulled the shot about 8 inches to the right and hit the shoulder blade and got very little penetration. That one hurt!
 Shot at a spooky 4 pt  friday morning and he ducked the arrow and I just nicked his back.  Getting plenty of action just need someone to shoot for me!

Well, finally saw some deer this evening. Hunted Tuesday and Thursday mornings without seeing anything. Hunted some red oaks this evening. Missed a doe, had another come to the oaks but no shot. Had a small buck coming but it got too late. Had a couple more come in after dark, had to sit a while for them to leave.
Rod, Good to see you posting

I am headed out to my honey hole this afternoon. The white oaks are starting to fall and I did supplement the area with some "yellow" acorns so we'll see what shows up.

Anyone else going today?

I'll be on the other side of 26 from ya Benjy. Have the pocket tracker on stand by!

I'll be on the other side of 26 from ya Benjy. Have the pocket tracker on stand by!

Ok, I have him loaded in the truck!

 (http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/Benjy45/DSC08564_zpsc9f906b6.jpg) (http://s235.photobucket.com/user/Benjy45/media/DSC08564_zpsc9f906b6.jpg.html)

Guess what I did tonight!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfLIz8mVIT0

Nice Benjy! That appeared to be a good heart shot, how far did she go?

I was only able to go Saturday am, but was able to put up another great stand after I sat, and freshen up the rest of mine.

Ready for something to start to happen!

QuoteOriginally posted by Benjy:
Ok, I have him loaded in the truck!

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What a stud!!!

Nice shootin on the doe.
Good luck in Ohio.

She went about 75 yards, The broad head put 2 deep slices in the bottom of her heart

Blaine, You should see him drive the 4 wheeler up into the truck!

I could not convince my wife to bring "Joey" to the woods, this was a perfect blood trail for him to follow. She said she had a "head ache" Well, I have heard that before!    :dunno:

Good shooting Benjy!

Good video. Never seen a blue lighted nock.  Looked like a high speed chase for a second.  Good shot. Congrats.

The blue nock is a Nockturnal. They are my favorites.

Here is a picture of my doe.

 (http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/Benjy45/TradGang/DSC08680_zpsc0c25862.jpg) (http://s235.photobucket.com/user/Benjy45/media/TradGang/DSC08680_zpsc0c25862.jpg.html)

Nice doe!

Little windy but think ill give it a go this afternoon.

Great job, Benjy.  The weather IS improving.  I might try to get out there later this week.  Benjy, are you through gator hunting.  Helped my buddy get a big one on Sunday in the zone South of here.
Good luck, all.

Julian ,yep, I am done with the gators this year. Colin was the only friend that drew a tag this year. We were down in the Ashepoo River dodging thunderstorms and rain so when a 7 footer presented himself Colin decided to shoot him. Excellent size to eat and enough hide to make some cool leather stuff.

I will holler at you when things cool off so you can come over to my lease and hunt with me. We have pigs, deer and a million raccoons!

Everyone planning on getting into the woods this weekend?

Curious if anyone is starting to see any pre rut activity??

I'm heading to the McCormack area today for my first hunt of the year. Hopefully I'll have a pic to add to this thread on Sunday evening.

Good Luck!

Hey guys, I'm loving this thread and I'm coming down to visit and do a little hunting myself. I bought my annual hunting license and big game license online like I always do. All good there.

I do have a question is about these individual anterless tags. I bought two of them and they show up on my printoff as A and B. Should have I gotten some tags to attach to the animals or a logbook to fill out?

Any pointers would be appreciated!
Thom

sticksnstones, I would imagine that you will be gettting your tags in the mail, as we do use a physical tag.

Generally on in state they will send them to you in the mail within a week, so I would imagine that they would do the same for you.

Where will you be hunting??

I'll be in zone 6 hunting hogs, just thought it would be nice to have a doe tag in case that opportunity presented itself like it has in past years.

I'll get on the horn with SC DNR and see if I can get a replacement over the counter at a licensing agent or something like that.
Thanks!
Thom

Anyone do anything this weekend?

I hunted all weekend and have every little deer movement.

I was hunting a friends farm in Lugoff where I really dont have them patterned, but was still very suprised with how little movement we witnessed.

Got pics of a mature 8pt with a doe in the corn for 25 minutes in daylight couple days ago so she must have be in heat. It happens earlier hear on the coast. Scrapes have been showing up for 2 weeks. Acorns are dropping also.

Looks like a cold front next weekend lows in 50's, wooohoo.

Lots of acorns dropping in McCormick Co along with lots of persimmons. The food plots looked good, the weather was cool and overcast. Everything perfect except there was very little deer movement. I saw 2 together Friday evening about 100 yards away but that is all.

Same here seeing very little movement and that has been right at dark. The few I have saw were all in acorns.

I haven't been out in a little while..... Life need to get out of the way of deer season!
Went Sunday to sweeten up my mid week spot and I also had white oaks starting to drop and fresh deer dropping within 15 steps of my stand.
I'll sit on Wednesday if the wind is right.

Hey Thom- I also hunt in zone 6 right between Bamberg and Barnwell counties. If you're hunting close to there I'd like to catch up with you. Bring one of your JET bow for me to drool over!

Hunted this flat Saturday and it looked promising.

These were all over the ground.  Had three come in from the river bottom but didn't offer a shot.

Lets try this again.
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Three does and several grunts were made from the river bottom.  Believe it was a buck.  The does kept looking back into the riverbottom.

Good stuff!

Finally sat this morning.  Temp was around 60 so I enjoyed it even though I didn't see any deer.  Hope to get back out this weekend as it looks like we might actually get a breeze on Saturday.

Good luck, Sandlappers.

Benjy,
Good shooting.  Your freezer is getting full!

Saw 5 this morning. Only 4 left now  Shot her at about 7 yards. Zwickey Eskimo 2 blade 51@29 "persimmon oak" black widow. About 75 yard recovery.  
(http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae73/rodmartin62/c43ad18bf0c734c60a4884b25b1085a4_zps2869f08e.jpg)

Great shot Rod!

Good job!

I had a rough night last night.. Shot a nice doe a little high but know I got lung. She ran into an over grown field and was never able to find her..

 (http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag379/cjbrewer87/Mobile%20Uploads/C966296A-B132-4467-9183-50C568DCC4CD_zps0k7mwbct.jpg) (http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/cjbrewer87/media/Mobile%20Uploads/C966296A-B132-4467-9183-50C568DCC4CD_zps0k7mwbct.jpg.html)

This was my view from last night. She ran straight out after I shot her. I got a pass through and found pink blood right where I shot her and that was it for blood. I watched her until about 100 yards out in the field where it gets head high and lost sight. I searched for two hours out there and never found anymore blood or her. But at the same time she could have been two feet from me and I wouldn't be able to see her.

Frustrating to say the least for my first shot of the season..

Trad brew that wont be the last time that happens.  It's just part of bowhunting.  I dont care how good you shoot youre gonna lose one every now and then. Keep your head up and keep on shooting..

Oh Believe me, I have had it happen quite a few times, but was hoping for some loins this weekend!

Hopefully we will be able to make that happen this weekend!

Weather is going to be nice.. Might be just what we need to get the rut started!

Calling for 46 degrees on the coast Saturday night, and no more darn light east wind. I know where I will be Saturday eve and Sunday am.

I had a great couple sits in SC and didn't even take a shot. Weather was beautiful, the game I saw was out of range but inspiring, everything about it was perfect. You're some lucky folks in that area!

I'll be back down and try again in December when it's WAY too cold for hunting up here  :)

Blaine, I'll bring some JETs anytime you want to shoot them! I have a 51# and a 75# right now, my wife has a 41# leftie too. I only took my 85# Northern Mist last week as I thought I might bump into a really big hog. Who would've guessed I'd see a few!

I better get to unpacking some wet gear before mildew sets in. Congrats to those who've punched tags and good luck for the rest of you still in the game!
Thom

Congrats guys! Should be real nice in the morning!

Congrats Rod, Nice Doe.


Bummer Brew, keep after them.

I had swirling winds this morning.  Didn't see a thing.  Going back this afternoon.

Well done fellas.

Good shooting Rod! Look forward to seeing more of your post!

Been a tough season for me so far.  It seems like I can only see deer driving to and from hunting.  Did a little scouting and changed a few of my sets up and saw where a few buck were starting to paw the dirt a little!

Nice doe Rod!  Congrats!

Thanks.  I shot a real nice buck hunting Clark Hill from the boat.  I was using my ground hunting bow which is only 45 pounds so I can draw and hold when they go behind a tree.  Well this time I climbed and a big buck comes in to some red oaks just before dark and gives me a broadside shot at 12 yards and I pull the shot about 8 inches right over into the shoulder blade. CRACK!  He runs off with the arrow sticking way too far out and then stops, whirls, and the arrow flips out.  I go down and find that I only got 3 inches of penetration!!  The broadhead even came off of the steel adapter.  200 grain Zwickey 4 blade and .500 easton light speed carbon.  You know back when I used to shoot aluminum and wood I never had penetration problems even with as low as 50 pounds. So this week I've been shooting my 60 pound Hatfield takedown and some swaged 2018s with zwickey 2 blades.  I'm gonna break on thru to the other side!!  Im actually shooting better too with the heavier bow. I'm looking for a 70 pound Hatfield to practice with so the 60 will feel light when I'm hunting with it from the stand on those cold mornings.  When I was in my 20s I use to shoot as much as 83 pounds!    I've made a pledge to  kill one with a 70 pounder by the end of the season.  Its time for me to step up and be a man!!  Tired of shooting sissy bows. :-)

not one Sand dune archers of Myrtle beach hunting this year ?

I have been in the woods some but have not dropped the string on anything. I have started seeing some good buck movement in the daylight hours and just recently saw a real nice buck at 11:15 in the morning. 12 yrds away but no shot. The best thing I have seen so far this year out of my tree stand is no coyotes.

Sure there are Bill, not dropped the hammer on one...yet.

I've been scouting out some new area (at least for me) in Abbeville County. Found a real promising spot, lots of hog and deer sign.

Looper.
I live in Calhoun Falls about 15 miles west of Abbeville over near. Lake Russell.  Lots of good hunting around here but not nearly as good as it used to be.  The hogs are almost everywhere now and sometimes cause a problem but. I like having them around. Something else to shoot at!  Once the guns start the hogs tend to stay away from the open areas during the day and give the deer a chance to feed.  Hopefully while. I'm there. :-)
What property do you hunt in Abbeville?

My wife and I drove through Calhoun Falls this past weekend. I've been scouting around in the WMA land near Parson's Mtn. I've got a couple of good spots located so far.

I used to hunt a lot down here, 25 years ago. It's hard to believe how much WMA land is gone.

I've been hunting a friends property on Hwy 81 near Willington. I'll be going back the weekend after next.
Two weeks ago there was lots of soft and hard mast, good food plots but very little movement.

To Looper, Rod, and the rest of you guy"s. Monty Browning is speaking at Good Hope church in Iva on October 18th. They are having a low country boil and tickets are only $5.00. I'm not trying to hi-jack this thread,  just wanted you guy's to know that Monty will be local to you that night. Monty Browning and low country boil for $5.00 is a lot of bang for your buck. Monty's book is getting real close to being finished and I hope to have one in my hand by the end of hunting season. Rod, I've hunted Russell since 1986. I'm the guy that used to have the archery range and shop on Greg Shoals rd.

WAC thats big news!   Thanks so much.  I do remember you. Came by there and spoke with you once.  I live on the road that goes into the old Mohawk carpet plant. It closed down in sept 2011.  Sure is quiet out here now.

I haven't been hunting much. Went last Monday saw 6 only had a shot at one. A pretty 6 pt but knew he was looking at something else. He left and 4 does came in but did not offer a shot. Then another buck came in but followed the does. Walked around a little seeing lots of rubs and scrapes now
WAC I sent you a PM about the MB thing

I might have to go to that thing in Iva. Anybody else planning on going? Is it at the Presbyterian Church?

Rod, I do remember you from several meetings. I think the last time we spoke was at a shoot in North Carolina. I had the "WAC" booth set up and was displaying a bunch of Atlatls and primitive weapons. Looper, Monty Browning is speaking on Oct 18th at 6:00pm at Good Hope Baptist Church In Iva. It is at 221 Good hope church rd directly behind Crescent High School on 81. You can see the church behind the high school off of 81. Tickets are only $5.00 and can be bought on-line at "goodhopemen.eventbrite.com. I would love to have you guy's come out. I could put together a Trad gang table up front with Monty. He is coming to the church as my guest. Monty is just coming off of his latest trip to Alaska and he should have some new tales to tell.

I'm guessing this is a men's only event, or can we bring our wives?

 (http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag379/cjbrewer87/Mobile%20Uploads/B035E1C3-6065-4125-BED3-FDC246C7A952_zpsnimoahds.jpg) (http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/cjbrewer87/media/Mobile%20Uploads/B035E1C3-6065-4125-BED3-FDC246C7A952_zpsnimoahds.jpg.html)

Hunting buddies first trad kill this am. Cull deer cow horn.
That was the only deer he saw and I watched a year and half year old 4 pnt all morning about 500 yards away from where he was hunting.

All in Hopkins SC.

Hey Looper and the rest of you guy's, by all means bring your wives if you want to. My wife will be there and I have several couples coming that are old friends on Monty.

Trad brew I could use that deer in the trophy spike contest!  Thats a nice one. Tell him congratulations.

Haha. Yeah he thought it was a little bigger/older but that deer still would have never been anything. Judging by his teeth he was around 2-1/2.

Has anyone else been doing anything?

The bucks are really starting to chase in lugoff and Hopkins where I hunt.

I killed a small doe Tuesday eve. Missed a young buck friday morning at 13 yds!!  I've been shooting high lately so I decided to aim a little lower and the arrow just grazed his brisket. Oh well maybe next time.
  My son saw a huge buck Saturday morning but it smelled him and turned around before he could get a shot. We've seen lots of rubs and scrapes but no chasing.

A friend took a 175#, 8pt in McCormick Co. on the farm I hunted a few weeks ago. I'm going back next weekend.

I made it to the woods Sunday afternoon. I had made up my mind that I was going to wait on a buck but this 70lb young tender doe came in and all I could think about were those tasty back straps!

Well, I was in the need for some roast and I saw this recipe in the Recipes/Grilling/ Barbecuing/Smokers forum.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=000636

I would have another video but on a recent trip I had my camera in my bag with some scent killer spray and the top came loose and soaked my camera    :banghead:  what an idiot!

I guess I was concentrating more on grilling the loins than I was the shot. I hit her toward the back of the ribs. I just sat quietly and listened to her run off. After about 15 minutes I hear another deer coming. It was a young little 4 point. I just watched him until he finally left about 30 minutes after dark.

I climbed out of my stand checked my arrow (confirmed I hit her back) and went to the truck. I waited for a total of about 2 hours.  I was sure that I had taken out the diaphragm and either a lung and or the liver. I had no choice but to follow up on the shot or loose her to the coyotes or the heat.

After about 50 yards I found the trail she left out on with plenty of blood to follow, some dark and some brighter with bubbles like I had a lung. 75 yards down the trail I spot her laying there with her head down. I sneak up on her but she is already dead.

It will not be long and I will have my grilled loins    :D

Benjy,

You are stacking them like chord wood.  I spent the entire weekend with my 11 year old in the tree.  He missed a 10 point with a rifle on Sat and we were both heart broken.  Good lessons learned for him, though.

Keep it up!

QuoteOriginally posted by Duckbutt:
Benjy,

You are stacking them like chord wood.  I spent the entire weekend with my 11 year old in the tree.  He missed a 10 point with a rifle on Sat and we were both heart broken.  Good lessons learned for him, though.

Keep it up!

That stinks! Would that have been his first?

Nah...he's killed a couple.  He saw the horns on this one, though, and lost his cool.

I know that feeling, as they say "been there, done that" and I will probably do it again!

Everyone must have taken a little time off from hunting with the past warm up....

I sure did.

Sat on Friday morning and had a small (90lbs maybe) cow horn come my tree and stop at 5 yards. Much to my suprise I let him walk.  At about 10 I had a pretty little basket rack 6pt come in to around 12 yards. He got a pass also.

I said before the year started that I wouldn't shoot any small bucks off of this paticular property.  It was really hard with an empty freezer and my wife wasn't impressed with my QDM.

Oaks are droppong, bucks are starting to get heated up and the weather is cooling off!!!!

Well I finally took a day off.. I've been sitting all day. Have had one doe come through but hoping this guy rolls through to check his scrapes

 (http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag379/cjbrewer87/Mobile%20Uploads/3048517A-711E-4FCC-BBBD-25F02DEBD3FB_zpsrwo2yvk8.jpg) (http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/cjbrewer87/media/Mobile%20Uploads/3048517A-711E-4FCC-BBBD-25F02DEBD3FB_zpsrwo2yvk8.jpg.html)

 (http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b161/DWB123/fc9cf457-96b0-4d26-8640-8bf716cf9c67_zpsce542d2e.jpg) (http://s19.photobucket.com/user/DWB123/media/fc9cf457-96b0-4d26-8640-8bf716cf9c67_zpsce542d2e.jpg.html)  
Shot this doe Thursday on an afternoon hunt.  Hoots recurve, CE arrows, and Tigersharks.  Four came in at 5 after 7, walking up a bench coming out of the river bottom headed to the oak flat above.  The same flat I posted earlier in the season.

Nice doe! Congrats, I'm going after them in the am.

Well, I was holding out for a nice buck this afternoon... I watched 10 doe and fawns for over an hour, no boys showed up.

I like shooting "Nannys" so I am going into withdrawal!     :smileystooges:

Yeah I here they were moving well yesterday afternoon. I went yesterday monring and saw one doe, but unfortunately my honey-do list was too long to get back out there in the afternoon.

With this time change its going to be even harder to get out there during the week. May have to be a weekend warrior for the rest of the season.

Well, I went back this afternoon. My daughter was here from college, on Fall break. I asked if she wanted to go hunting and she said yes but she just wanted to sit with me so off we went. She wanted to take some pictures and video so we were after mature doe or buck...

This was a cool picture from the view in her ladder stand.

 (http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/Benjy45/Benjy_zpse0ab7118.jpg) (http://s235.photobucket.com/user/Benjy45/media/Benjy_zpse0ab7118.jpg.html)

Here are the results from a little later on.

 (http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/Benjy45/Doe_zps7044dd1c.jpg) (http://s235.photobucket.com/user/Benjy45/media/Doe_zps7044dd1c.jpg.html)

This is #4 this year with the same grizzly Instinct 3 blade head! I have a new favorite!!!

Anybody doing any good?

I've been spending my time relearning the WMA land in Abbeville County. I've been slowly walking creek/river bottoms. Practically every place with water on it has pig sign. I did get within 100 yards or so of a bunch of hogs, but the swirling winds did me in.

I had a nice spot last week with a lot of deer sign. The only thing was that I was pretty close to the horse trail that meanders through. People on horseback generally aren't a problem, but the two doofuses on mountain bikes were. I heard them yelling to each other from 1/4 mile away.

I ran into them on the way out. They were turned around and, instead of sitting next to each other and having a quiet conversation, they were about 100 yards apart and yelling about which way to go.

I pointed them the way out and politely asked if they could keep the noise down. I told them they had every right to ride around, and I wasn't telling them not to, but that there was no reason for them to be so loud. Fortunately, they were very apologetic. It never even occurred to them that there might be hunters around.

One of them told me I ought to go hunt up near the trail head. They saw a "really big deer with big horns" running along the trail ahead of them.

At any rate, I haven't found a "honey hole" yet. Lot's of well used game trails, and I've got several bedding areas defined. I did get to talk to one of the Forest Service guys, and he pointed me to a couple of areas I haven't explored yet.

Well I've shot some dirt. As mad as I was at missing I should eaten the dirt.

Congrats Benjy!

I got out early in September and seen a doe with a fawn but they were out of range. Been a few more times with no luck.

Looper what part of Abbeville WMA you hunting? I live up near honea path and have been wanting to hunt the WMA but keep putting it off.

I'm hunting pretty much all over the Long Cane District. I'm mostly concentrating around the Bradley area. I found a creek bottom with plenty of fresh hog and deer sign. Haven't connected yet, though. I think I found turkey central. The other evening, I bumped what seemed like 30 birds off the roost.

Anytime you want to go, just let me know. I keep my schedule pretty flexible this time of year.