Rather than finish my final preps to leave for Ky, I thought I would start a new thread...prolong this whole adventure if you will.
This is something that I should have started some time ago, but as things often do, I always seemed to have something else to do.
In about an hour, I will be heading to Ky to meet up with Friend, and Shed Hunter and others but I don't know there TG names.
I will be hoping to have encounters with many Kentucky deer and hoping to find a dumb buck...and maybe a dumb doe too. I know this is a tall order but I have been a good boy...mostly and love to open my Christmas presents early...like late Oct-early Nov.
Friend has been giving me the play by play of his farm and how the deer activity has been. I am truly excited.
I will be spending my time on the ground as my hip recovery is not quite complete...we'll see what happens as I'm feeling pretty spry and feel good enough to climb a ladder if need be.
Joining me on this hunt will be a friend from Michigan that many may know. I don't know his screen name but we hang out and shoot together at many events. His name is Steve Brady and he is married to the Rhino Bag lady seen set up at many trad events selling her fantastic cases and bags.
Steve is the guy that stands there and watches her work while he counts how much money she's taken in so he can buy more trad stuff :pray:
I'm sure you'll hear back from me soon.
Thanks, bigjim
Get a big one!
Good luck, Jim!
Bisch
Good luck kill a monster!
Good Luck! :archer:
:wavey:
We'll be watching.
You are heading to the "promised land"...my home state. Be safe and good hunting sir
Good luck Big Jim, looking forward to a good hunting story when you get back.
Good Luck, GO BIG JIM
best of luck!
Are you there let :dunno:
Are you there let :dunno:
Good luck!
On the way, 537 miles. I did not realize that over half way to Kentucky is still in Georgia for me. I make this drive many times throughout the year to go to events but this is the first one that I've driven alone in quite some time. Have already exhausted two very large cups of coffee. Might not be enough.
Thank you for wishing me good luck, I'll try not to disappoint. Big Jim
On the way, 537 miles. I did not realize that over half way to Kentucky is still in Georgia for me. I make this drive many times throughout the year to go to events but this is the first one that I've driven alone in quite some time. Have already exhausted two very large cups of coffee. Might not be enough.
Thank you for wishing me good luck, I'll try not to disappoint. Big Jim
go get em Jim , good luck
Good luck Jim, and I hope your hip continues to get better. Let somebody else drag out the big one.
Good luck, go get that buck! And coffee is the most important meal of the day!..
Travel safe.
Amazing, standstill traffic in Atlanta, North Georgia, and now Nashville.
This is a good sign though...trials and tribulation is often a precursor to success.
Of course just going is a success. Not just looking for the icing on the cake.
Bigjim
don't worry PDK, I'll let someone else drag the deer.I'm milking this hip recovery thing for all its worth
2 coffee in 537 miles?? Man you get good mileage!
Good luck Jim! Have a blast!
What part of Ky? Your not hunting in my stand are you?
Good Luck Big Guy, hope you shoot a Big one!
Good luck! Hope the deer are on their feet for you guys.
Good Luck Jim, Hopefully Steve will do your cookin.
Made it in fine and they were all waiting on me with a fine supper cooked by friend (scott sanders). After eats, we planned and chatted....oops, here comes a buck! Gotta go.
Bigjim
Have a good hunt , good luck guys....
,,,Sam,,,
Good luck! Look forward to the story from this one!!
Best of luck Jim! Knock a big one down!!
Ok, going to need to get hearing aids. Was sure I heard a grunt behind the blind, but no such luck.
Anyway, it's early. The property is beautiful and I'm sure the deer think so too.
Bigjim
Where in KY ya goin?
Weather not the best, but still seeing deer. Liking what it looks like.
Good luck Big Jim!
F-Manny
I think when the rain stops we will start seeing more deer again.
Well Large, ever since Chuck Evans came across and dispatched a blind deer, a couple of weeks ago, there is indeed hope for us all. Good luck my friend.
I wish I was there with ya BigJim. Being stuck here at work todayand tomorrow isnt as fun as being out there in inthe stand. At least ill be back out there with yall Thursday and Friday. Hope yall get a big one soon.
If I were you Jim, I would have waited two more weeks at least. This moon and transition has them locked down pretty tight during shooting hours.
Look who stopped by my stand Sunday morning, but I was day late. I told BigJim if he didn't offer me a shot I would send the buck his direction. (http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h415/mshepherd1/WGI_0010.1_zpskzgirh6p.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/mshepherd1/media/WGI_0010.1_zpskzgirh6p.jpg.html)
Good luck Big Jim shoot a big one and be safe.
Best of luck to all. Above all, stay safe and enjoy.
Good luck!!! Y'all be safe. :archer:
Good luck Jim...Looking forward to hearing more of your hunt...
Well there gas been rain... no hunt last night and no deer yesterday in the morning. I had two buttons at 10 yards or less this morning.
Weather is improving and I expect the sightings will too.
TJ, in two weeks I'll be in KS. Can't be in two spots at the same time.
I'm really liking this multi state deer hunt thing.
If I add another state each year, I might be able to take the months of October and November off one day :) I like the sound of that
what part of the state you hunting ? Im headed to LBL on Monday nov2. will hunt there all week. If your close by, drop in and visit with us at Energy Lake Campground.
Randy, I'm over by Sebree. Wish I could come and hang out with you, but I offered to do a mini archery seminar for the Kiwanis club hunting education day on Saturday.
Then it's back to work until I leave for Kansas.
Got picked off by a bunch of turkeys today...actually was playing on my phone and looked up to find 30 plus birds as close as 6 yards. Too late to make a move but I tried anyway.
Just a couple close encounters with a pair of twin buttons tonight. They are tempting me but going to give the the free pass. There's still three hunts left and anything could happen. Expecting outstanding weather tomorrow.
Bigjim
Good luck Jim, Hopefully the better weather has them moving.
Good luck and dont overdo it on that hip...
Good luck Big Jim. Gotta love late October, never know what's gonna walk by your stand on a doe quest.
You gotta love deer camp!!!!!
Best of luck, shoot straight and God bless,
Rodd
Things are really heating up in central KY!!! Lots of activity and great bucks are being killed.
Good luck on your hunt Jim....
I made it home last night after a wonderful week of KY deer hunting. It was a great time even though I was unable to harvest a deer...If I rated all my hunts by the harvest, I would just have to quit hunting.
Thursday morning the weather was beautiful but the deer activity hadn't responded.
I did spook a deer that was sizeable in mass, but can't give any other details. It came out to eat in the food plot in front of my ground blind while in the gray light but didn't like something so it left rather quickly.
Thursday night is another story though. I spotted two bucks chasing a doe..in the distance and my buddy steave made a non lethal hit on a buck doing the same.
Friday morning had the most activity of my week but everything was on edge. No less than six deer within 40 yards but not all visible. Steve also saw several Friday morning.
All in all, hospitality was awesome as was comeraderie. The deer did exactaly what deer do...keep a hunter on his toes.
We left Ky with the desire to stay a few more days and tentative plans for the next trip.
Thursday evening I leave for KS with my boys and Preacher. None of them have ever been and they are even more excited than I am ..if that is possible.
I'm going to have to figure out how to get off from the first of September until the end of January so I can properly take care of this hunting itch thing. :)
BigJim
Work really does get in the way of the hunting whole hunting experience :banghead: Best wishes in KS and keep us posted.
QuoteOriginally posted by BigJim:
so I can properly take care of this hunting itch thing. :)BigJim
I hear they make a medicine for that... :eek: :bigsmyl:
The honor of sharing camp with Big Jim and Steve Brady descriptively was a Booner in and of itself. The team shared the similar sentiment.
We enjoyed a memorable experience along with mischievous and endearing camaraderie even though deer activity shut down the first 3 1/2 days. The deer activity, just now, is starting to heat up.
I personally, spent hundreds of hours this year prepping this property for high quality deer and increased numbers of turkey. Note: the Stickbow Team: MedicareBH, Stump and Big Bear Adair have also, provided considerable support. Tom Lutz 'Medicare BH' and longtime close friend and vastly experienced hunter has been an invaluable mentor. The property was already publicized in the local paper as the premier spot in Webster county. Working diligently with the Wildlife biologist actually in the field and an avid bowhunter himself, has offered numerous avenues for continued enhancement. The team has already capitalized by implementing several big projects and we are visually reaping the rewards. There are two more big projects. One of the projects is currently in the works and the feasibility of the second will be further assessed this winter. Note: The Wildlife Biologist has cautioned more than once that much more enhancing, then we will then be approaching the point of marginal utility. His genuine interest lies in working a property with such a vast amount of opportunities that may produce real gains and the already existing varied terrains and attractive natural forage.
Even though being surrounded by abundant and varied crops, the harvesting equipment levels of efficiency today still leads me to believe that once all projects are complete, we may still be eaten out by early winter.
Have taken passes on 8 bucks, one 3 1/2 yr old 8 point that will likely not get a second pass and a nice 3 1/2 yr old 9 point ...having been restricted to ground blind setups...is most encouraging for this time of the season. I have intentionally avoided the large 8 point setup since enduring his pass with considerable restraint... Have filmed him a dozen times at that location... Next year will be his year provided he survives. Have seen three well over 150 but not within range.
Plan to start attempting to harvest does after Thanksgiving...have released one arrow this season on a turkey with a successful mark. Also, plan to hunt piggies again in March.
Big Jim has been a valued friend for many years. I have never even owned one of his coveted bows, however I sincerely plan to. How one responds and reacts to life's challenges truly reveals who we are. I have observed and communicated with him for many years. The company he keeps; notably Steve Brady and Preacher Dan and now having hunted with him twice has built a corner stone that I am honored to stand upon.
Deer activity on sudden rise...Stump saw 16 last evening...got busted once...was gifted another fine shot opportunity, which unfortunately, was unable to capitalize on....also, had a beast at 30 yards.
Anticipation is also on the rise.
Jim I understand while you were there Bigfoot sightings were on a rise. Did you have anything to do with that?
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h415/mshepherd1/2015-10-28%2015.39.06_zps36qaer97.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/mshepherd1/media/2015-10-28%2015.39.06_zps36qaer97.jpg.html) Speaking of Bigfoot. Look what I caught on my trail cam!
Well deserved rest after a long days hunt.
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h415/mshepherd1/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151028_211452_zpsodckphaf.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/mshepherd1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151028_211452_zpsodckphaf.jpg.html)
BigJim giving us lesson on shooting (http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h415/mshepherd1/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151029_141308_zpsr3dfodwd.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/mshepherd1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151029_141308_zpsr3dfodwd.jpg.html) .
BigJim giving us lesson on shooting (http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h415/mshepherd1/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151029_141308_zpsr3dfodwd.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/mshepherd1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151029_141308_zpsr3dfodwd.jpg.html) .
Scott trying to shoot BigJim's 150lb Thunderchild. It looks easy doesnt it? What you dont see are very small cables pulling the bow in different directions. (http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h415/mshepherd1/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151029_140749_zpsg0wc1ecv.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/mshepherd1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-10/20151029_140749_zpsg0wc1ecv.jpg.html)
Pictured left to right then front is- BigJim as himself, Northwoods Hunter aka Steve Brady, Friend aka Colonel (Scott) Sanders, and me shed hunter aka Stump ( Mike Shepherd). Not pictured is Tom Lutz because he was behind the camera. Also BigBear (Tony) Adair wasnt with us that day. Hopefully some others have photosto share (http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h415/mshepherd1/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-11/IMG_4572_zpsgq4uwbco.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/mshepherd1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-11/IMG_4572_zpsgq4uwbco.jpg.html)
I just wanna say thanks to BigJim and Steve for coming us and hunting with us. I had a blast and there for sure wasnt a dull moment. I really liked the fellowship and the stories. I cant wait to do it again.
Just wanted to say thanks to Scott and the gang for the invite to Kentucky. Had a great time and made some new friends. They have a premier hunting area there. Wish my shot on the buck Thursday would have been better. Despite coughing and hacking all week I still seen a lot of deer. Also Thanks to Scott, Mike, and Tom for helping me figuring out the whole shot thing. I had a lot of fun with Big Jim, Tony, Mike, and Tom. What a great experience.