couesarcher

My son and I went out yesterday for his first ever archery hunt (he's 14). We got setteled in about 8 am and started glassing. It didn't take long before I had spotted a herd of Javelina. Now came the plan of attack, which way to go to get on them. The wind was great yesterday we used it to our advantage, which kept our noice and scent away for them. We got to what I thought was a ridge away from the pigs, so I deceided to drop our gear, boots and all uncessary eguipment there, we put on a pair a thick wool socks to try and protect our feet. We marked it with my gps so we could come back later. What I thought was 1 ridge away turned out to be about 5 ridges away. We finally relocated the herd and now came the point of moving in on them for a shot. It took about an hour to get in close enough for a shot. Just when you think you can take another couple steps we would spot another pig that we didn't see before. We finally got to within 18 yards on a pig, It was a down hill shot, the pig was quartering away and they had no idea we were there. What a rush. He drew back and took a couple deep breathes and let it fly. The shot was dead on, but since it was a down hill shot he did not compensate for the angle. The arrow struck about 3 inches high. Then the fun started, they are scattered like a bunch of cockroaches. He turned to me and said where did they all come from. We searched high and low but could not find his pig. We are home today because we cannot hardly walk. Our feet are so sore from walking on all those rocks and thorns that are stcuk in our feet. I figured we walked roughly 1 mile on this stalk. So I am asking for some input on what you guys wear on your feet for your stalks, whether it's deer, elk or javelina. I figure by Monday our feet should be ready to continue our hunt. We had an absolute great time on his first archery hunt, even though we did not fill his tag. The opportunity was there. Terry

I have hunted the south before, pm me and I can give you details on where to go.

I need some input on this one, I have a spot in unit 23 that I have been hunting for 3 years now. I put a camera on it 2 years ago. I have tons of pictures of deer, elk, bear, turkeys & mountain lions. I have never seen anyone in the area until now, what a huge disappointment this is turning out to be. This guy and 2 of his dogs have been walking into the area for about 8 weeks. He is like clock work, he comes by my camera every Friday morning around 6:30 to 7 am. The one thing that is a glaring problem is the amount of deer that are not coming in this year compared to last year. Last August (3rd to 13th) in a 10 day stretch i had 1200 pictures (80% of these were deer), this last weekend I retrieved my memory card (4 weeks out in the field) and there were only 562 pictures (50% of these were deer). I'm not sure if the deer are not coming in like last year due to the issue with this guy coming in every week with his dogs and leaving there scent. I am going to go up tomorrow morning and sit in my stand and see if the guy comes thru again. If he does I was going to talk with him and see if he is just out hiking or what the deal is. What's your thoughts on why the deer have fallen off coming in ? I was really hoping that this was going to be the year to fill my archery tag. Terry

WOW, Well, I guess I deserved that. I understand why I got the reaction I did after going back and reading my original comments. I guess at times when you write something down or say something and do not think things out you can come across to others as an idiot or an butt. What I was thinking and what I wrote down really didn’t match. After reading all the posts, I try and put myself in this guys shoes out walking with his dogs. Who am I to ask him to go somewhere else because I have a camera in the area and planned on hunting this particular spot? Kpinaz you are correct, I guess everyone needs a kick in the butt every once in awhile. You are absolutely correct; I'm not entitled to anything. Everyone has right to our public lands. If I offended anyone with my post I apologizes, that was not my intent. Amanda, I’m not on water, I’m sitting on a salt lick. There is water about ½ mile away. I have noticed that some deer have come in within 1 hour after he comes thru and then there are times when the deer have flat out disappeared for several days when a lion has come by. Terry

Hopefully someone can help with this question. I went up to my archery deer spot 2 weeks ago, and the bucks have already started to grow their new antlers. I had several bucks on camera, little button bucks. Granted they were just starting to poke thru. How much will the antlers grow daily and/or weekly ? I am going back up this coming weekend to change batteries out and switch my memory card out. Thanks Terry

This is absolutely hilarious, I was laughing so hard I was crying. This is what you call great entertainment. Terry

Want to get some opinions on wearing rubber boots, you always see the hunting shows where the guys are always wearing rubber boots into their treestands or hunting spots. Does wearing rubber boots actually bring you any benefit? I have a spot were I have been archery deer hunting for the last 2 years, the deer are really staring to come in on a regular basis. Are these boots going to give me an extra advantage with scent control ? Any info is appreciated. Thanks Terry

I hunted around the Queens Valley area, filled my tag the second weekend. It was a very tough hunt, lots of glassing. My son and I had 10 days in the field trying to find these little guys, guess I was lucky to find them when I did. I was in there 2 weeks before the season and found pigs both times within 10 minutes of glassing, then they just flat out disappeared. I have never seen so many quad riders, target shooting and just plain old recreational activity in the area as there was this year. I think it’s time to find a new spot, too many people for my liking. Terry

I have not expereinced any of these issues with my camera, my only issue is that I can only get 2 weeks out of my batteries. I use energizers in it. After 2 1/2 weeks the batteries go dead and it quits taking pictures. It will show the date of the last picture taken. I wish I could find a way to get more than 2 weeks of battery life. Terry

I need some advice, I was archery deer hunting this year from a ground blind that I had set up 2 months prior to the hunt and all brushed in. I placed a trail camera on the spot on Aug 3rd, I went back up on Aug 13th and to my surprise the camera showed 1200 pictures. First thing I thought of there must be a branch moving back and forth in front of the camera. When I got home and slid the memory card into the computer, WOW. Turkey, Fox, Elk, bear & Coues deer (15 different bucks). Opening day I had 1 elk & 1 doe come in, the second day nothing came in. I could not understand what was happening. On the third day I had a small 3x3 come in but hang up 20 yards out in the brush, an hour later a bigger 3x3 and a decent 3x2 came in and the same thing, they would not come in and give me an opportunity. I realized later that the wind was coming up over the saddle and heading right in the direction of the deer. I pulled the memory card on the way out Sunday, when I got home I and had more Turkey, Foxes, Bull Elk, Coues deer and a mountain lion came thru the early hours of opening day (about 4 hours before I got into my blind). I figure that is why I did not see anything the first 2 days. Every time I went back up to hunt the area (which was quite often) I would see less and less deer. I figured that I had spooked them with the pressure and scent of me being in the area. Are my assements correct about the pressure and scent and the dee leaving the area? How long will it take before they come back into the area like they were before, I plan on hunting it in January? I was thinking about placing the camera back in there in November, I also need to find another spot where the wind will not be a factor. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Terry

tjhunt2, What scent control do you use? I obviously was not set up in the right spot, I will be going back up to look for another location. This was the first time ever using the ground blind, I actually like it for all the reasons that bobbyo stated. This season I switched to dead down wind, I used the laundry soap, bath soap, deodorant and cover scent. I guess with the wind coming over the ridge and straight to the shooting lanes, I didn't give my self a chance. Terry

Yes, it's an established salt bed that I have my camera on. The last day I hunted the area I saw a tree about 30 yards away that I think might work well. The next time I go in I will have to check out this new tree. Terry

Sorry for being illerate, can some one tell me how to send a pm? Thanks Terry

Thank you

I've had my camera set up since Aug 3rd, I go out Aug 13th to get the memory card and it reads 1209 pictures. Lots of deer, Turkey and elk coming in. About 12 different bucks, ranging from little spikes to very impressive 3x3's. I go out opening morning set to see some deer, needless to say friday and Saturday I see 1 doe and a spike bull elk (this after siiting 9 hrs on Friday and 10 hrs on Saturday). Then we received and awesome thunderstorm Saturday night, get up early and back into the ground blind on Sunday, and I see 1 doe and 3 seperate bucks come in all between 7:30 and 10:30. Could not get a shot off on any of the bucks, they would not step out from behind the brush. In the 1209 pictures the bucks were there everyday that is until the forteenth. I just veiwed my memory card from the 14th till today. On the 14th at 7pm is when a mountain lion came thru and again on the 20th at 11 pm. From the 14th the deer just flat out vanashed till today, there was an occasional deer every other day but not like the first 10 day. The first 2 days I was just flat out astonished that we did not see anything My buddy seems to think it was due to the 3/4 moon and the deer where feeding at night, or can it be from the lion moving in and out of the area. Any insight would be appreciated. Terry

Need some help and advise I'm looking to upgrade my son's bow. He is 14 yrs old, 5"8" and 140 lbs. He has been shooting a kids bow that I got from a friend, he has now outgrown it (poundage wise). His draw length is 27 inches and draw weight is 50lbs. I have heard that bows with dual cams are a little tough to tune in, don't know if thats true. I have been looking at Parkers Wildfire XP or the Diamond Razors edge (this one has dual cams). If any of you guys know of any other bows to look at or have any advice I would surely appreciate it. Also what does it mean when they say they valley will change on a bow? What is the valley? Thanks Terry

Can you post pictures of the bungie strapsof the protective caps. This is always been an issue with me. Thanks Terry

Not as well as you did, we did not see anything but coyotes & 1 mule deer doe. I think I am jinked at finding pigs. We looked at a lot of country, but no luck. We had a good time, can't wait to get back out there again though. Terry

Anybody know who drives a white dodge (possible dakoda)? I saw it parked on the side of the road in unit 37b, a big coueswhitetail sign on the tail gate. I stopped to talk to them, but nobody was around. I was out and about trying to find some Javelina's with my son. Terry

Yea, thats exactly right, a brown sticker, single cab & on saturday. Any luck this past weekend? Yes, we were driving very slowly (white ford pickup). There were about 20 cows with some real small calfs in the road right about where you were paked. Terry

Went down to unit 33 with my son and daughter for their Jr. deer hunt, we had a great time. We were on to bucks both Saturday and Sunday, just couldn't get it done unitl Sunday. My daughter filled her first tag this Sunday in unit 33, we had a great weekend. Until I started to cape the shull and found about 6 larvae in the back of the mouth and in the nasal passageway. It was disgusting. Have any of you ever seen this before. I did a google search, it says they are called "nasal bots". Flys lay there eggs in or around the mouth and then the deer lick their lips and draws the eggs into the mouth. The larvae live in there until ready to hatch into fly's, they crawl out of the nose and fly away. Is this acurate? Is the meat edible? I don't know if I should toss the meat. I have taken numerous animals and never seen this. Terry

Well, I spent all day Friday and Saturday in unit 33 glassing until my eyes were bleeding, at least they felt that way by the end of the day. So I decided to do some research, I have sat at this computer for over an hour and a half trying to find a post that I read last year about this time. I tried to search for "unit 37B Javelina" and it gives me a error that some of the key words do not contain four characters, or something to that effect. Has anyone seen this error and how do you get past this? I don't remember who was involved in the topic, but it petains to unit 37B and Javelina hunting. One of the members gave some advise on a spot to start. What I do remember they said was to take the Florence / Kevlin Hwy back to the hills south of the river. They talked about they always are into pigs in this area. I have never been in that general area, is their any private property along this section that I would need to worry about? As with most mountain ranges there are always numerous trails or dirt roads that go everywhere, Is this the same for this area? Any help would greatly be appreciated, and if someone can help me understand how to retrieve info off of the search section, that would be awesome. Terry

bmf1321, If you would have read my post or maybe you need to re-read it again. I never asked for anyone to show me or tell me were to go in the unit. I asked two questions, 1) is there any private property and 2) are there numerous trails or dirt roads in the area. I don't believe thats very unreasonable to ask.

Just want some input on what everyone's own technique on stalking is. I used to use a pair of bears feet, but there were more of a pain slipping them on and off. Getting full of cactus and needles and didn't stay on very well. I've tried to sneak in with my boots, very noisy. Not much success either. I've even heard of people taking their boots off and sneaking in there socks. This sounds even more painful. I've thought about using my tennis shoes or even some type of moccasins. Just trying to improve my stalking technique and was wondering what other guys do to get in close. Thanks Terry

It is pretty clear to me after the Oct hunt that I need to invest in a spotting scope. After finding deer during my hunt either in the bottoms of the canyons or several ridges away and not being able to tell if they were either a buck or doe or how big the buck is. What kind and which one? I've always heard get the best one you can afford. I talked to my brother the other day and asked him which one he had, of course his response was swarovski. I should have know he would have said that. I guess it comes down to if swarovski or the other top brands are out of my budget what would be next in line? Or do I just save up to get the swarovski's? I have the swarovski 15x56 binos, and I think of it this way. I can see spending the money on my binos since I use them all the time, I am having troubl spending 2 grand on something that you use once in awhile. Or will the doubler be sufficient enough for what I'm trying to do? Thanks for your input Terry