gotcoues

I think your way off Bob, I'm going to have to go with TAM on this one. The list of plausible thefts would go on forever if your theory had any truth to it. Bottom line, a thief is a big ol' POS. I hope I never feel the pain of a stolen cam. Already felt that pain with a brand new treestand. Justin

I pulled my cudde off a dirt tank because of the long weekend and then had hunters walk in while on stand. I'm thinking I made the right call (only able to hunt one day). What kind of person does it take to steal? I don't assume crack addicts are hanging out in the sticks. Why would a hunter steal from another hunter. In a past discussion, people talked about hikers, hunters, and or tree huggers. Who's responsible for all these thefts. I can't believe a hunter would steal, but honestly they have the most access to cams. I going to assume the thiefs are among us. Can't wait til somebody gets caught and identified. Has it happened yet to anyone's knowledge?

I was in my stand last weekend and several different coues were milling around just a couple feet from where I had walked in. I was in deer all morning until ten. Five bucks and two does, the funny thing is the only deer to spook and not finish coming in, were the ones who didn't cross my entrance trail. Go figure! I think scent in the air is more alarming than scent left on the ground. Good luck

If your sitting a stand or blind or glassing for that matter, the thermocell unit works. I was turned on to the thermocell while hunting in Florida. They wouldn't let me leave the bunk house without one. They're flat out fantastic. You can see the little buggers, they just stay out of your "zone"

Does anyone else think there is any truth to a coues being less likely to jump or run at the sound of the bow going off if he has made you? I had two bucks feeding at 60 yards and waited to see if they'd get any closer. Upon believing they were not, I released my arrow and the buck jumped and ran (took a bound) and was around ten feet away when my arrow (appearing to be traveling at 10 feet a second) hit the ground. I feel they were semi on alert maybe because they detected my scent? I just feel if I would have gotten their attention and he was looking at me, he may not have jumped the string? What do you guys think? I'm really hoping I get some input on this subject. Gongrats to all the sucessful archery hunters so far!!!

I want to respond to your statement, "I think your gonna know it." Your right and I'm pretty sure they were feeling something wasn't right. Going on alert often and looking around. They just didn't seem comfortable and when I let my arrow go, they freaked! It was humbling to watch, ha ha. Oh yeah I'm only pushing 272 fps, they must have had way too much time to react. Okay, so lets ask this question. How many guys have shot whitetail that had already made them and they let you release and connect. Who out there has had a whitetail jump the string and what were the circumstances. All info is greatly apreciated. And on your scientific statements, I agree I would rather take my chances at a shorter distance on them jumping than a longer shot. I'm still wondering if the shot is out past a certain distance what to do? They are far too crafty for me!

Wow, that's an impressive string of archery animals!!!! My daughter (15) and I sat for the weekend and we had two small bucks coming for our salt, she was ready, standing waiting for them to come the rest of the way in and at forty or so yards I think they winded us and left the same way they came. I can't wait for my kids to enjoy some of the sucess you've had! Keep up the good work, your setting a wonderful example for other younsters, you should be very proud!!!

In my experience with my cams, the traffic slows down for sure during the wet season. I have one tank in particular I've been watching that still has decent traffic, but the general area has really good drainage. I think if they have to trip over natural water to get to the water hole, don't hold your breath while on stand. You'll surely pass out and dangle in your harness. Ha Ha

One last trip out to woods this past weekend before the hunt starts. My friend Harvey and I both have promising set ups that I truly plan on taking advantage of for the early archery season. I will be perched at a height of about fifthteen feet in a double treestand (part of the time spent hunting with my awesome daughter). In years past the stars just haven't been aligned for me to take my first coues with a bow. I'm optimistic the time has come, my personal goal is to log at least 40 hours in my stand in pursuit of my first archery coues. Good luck to all, especially my daughter!!! A.K.A. The mini-huntress

Hey, thanks everyone!!! I'm so pumped, that's for sure. I can't stop thinking about this weekend, time has suddenly slowed down for some reason. Wonder why? ha ha Hi Tracy, I'm sure you and your Dad are getting pumped for his hunt as well. Looking forward to seeing you in Oct., hope you can make it.

Please ignore my post about leaving a name and number on your/my equipment. That's what I get for thinking again

Ouch!!! It seems some people are just rotten by nature, one these days a camera thief is going to get caught. Somehow, Somewhere, that's the story I look foward to reading.

My hunting bud and I have moultrie, wildview and cuddeback cameras. By far the cuddeback cams smoke the others. Those Wal-mart moultrie suck IMO. The wildview was a cheapy and performed decent, especially for the price. It was under a hundred bucks, but no security features or time/date. When we purchased the cuddebacks they were very pricey, think they've come down a lot with some newer models. The cuddebacks have superior trigger speed compared to the other two and mine can be left for three months and have taken over 1500 hundred pics on one set of batterys. I've had pics taken of deer over 20 yards away. I like to place the camera very low (12 to 16 in. off ground) and keep the sensor beam as level as possible. I enjoy getting all wildlife, even the small stuff. I think keeping them low avoids detection as well. WARNING: Scouting cameras may be addictive and habit forming. Please consult your significant other before using.

I lost a tree stand during the 04 Archery bull hunt, at first I thought it was someone that didn't want me to hunt "their" waterhole. I didn't end up hunting at that paticular spot and everthing worked out for the best on my hunt. When I draw my next bull tag (G & F promised me one next year in 9) I will put a note with a number on any stand/blind I leave and welcome a rotation or just work with someone if they call. I think you should leave your number and hope that guy calls you. Tensions can run high for access to water for the archery bull hunts, so be the bigger person and try to work it out. Everyone of us has room for improvement I would imagine, obviously this guy does. I do think signs (with phone numbers) are a great way to communicate with other hunters in high pressure areas.

I would try to keep that one in the family! You and your son should both go after him and pray someone is lucky enough to harvest him. What a great deer! I have quite a few big bucks on cams and have never gotten one of them. Good luck to both of you!

That is a beautiful buck and a very nice job on the mounting. Chuck mounted a couple deer for my friend and I, he did a flawless job on ours as well. Like Tony asked, when did you kill that buck? Curious, because Chuck took a full 3 years to do our deer and the promise was 18 mo.. Because of this we won't go back, but he does beatiful work. Nice job on that archery buck!!!!

My family and I are headed up to 8 for three days this weekend. I am looking for best set ups for my fourteen year old daughter rather than what could be the best areas. We will hunt water and try calling, but the water holes that I would choose for her need to be smaller in diameter and have adequate cover to build a blind around fairly close to the water. I want her set up to be 20 to 25 yards. If anyone can think of some mudholes or smaller tanks this would be great advice for me to get started wilth. Trick tanks would probalbly be the way to go for her, the shot could be more isolated. Shes been shooting daily and I'm very proud of her overall effort and entusiasm. Can't wait till Friday!!!! Good luck to all the tag holders this year, I can't wait for the sucussful hunters to post pics.

This is her first elk tag and she's really exicited about the hunt. I'm sure I'll end up driving a lot of the unit and probably find some set ups I will be quite happy with. I do have two different blinds, thank you for the generous off though.

My daughter has drawn an archery bull tag and we are already in preparation for her hunt. She is very petite and at fourteen only weighs about seventy pounds. She has been shooting for about 6 years and is a very good shot at shorter distances. We have already started a workout routine I believe will help to improve her draw weight on her bow which is currently set at 42 or 43 pounds. Her bow goes to 50 but she is maxed out at her current bow weight. I believe she can get a little stronger before the hunt, but I want her to be able to shoot from a sitting position incase we sit water in a blind, which will probably put us back to what she is now. Her arrow speed is currently 162 FPS and the Kinetic energy is too dismal to talk about. I checked into a brand new bow and the arrow speed change was only about 18 FPS, not enough in my opinion to spend $400 to $500 dollars. I'm definitely looking for opinions and possibly some reassuring stories of successful bowhunters shooting less than 50 lb set ups. For anyone who is wondering her max shot would be 30 yards or less. I feel confidant she can make a good shot at this distance. I would like her to have a great experience with the best oppurtunity to harvest an animal.

Thanks for all of your input everyone. To answer one question my daughter's draw length is 22 and I'm sure thats a big factor in the slower arrow speed. I will definately check into those broadheads though, we were going to try some sonics which are cut on impact very small three bladed broadheads. Sorry for the delay in responding to everyone, the family and I have been in Denver visiting family for spring break. Can't say I enjoyed the wheather though. A couple days it was around freezing for the high! Thanks again, Desert Rat for life, Justin. P.S. My daughter will be very excited to read all of your posts.

I have one hit for a bull tag, which is either early rifle for my 10 yr. old son or a 9 archery for my 14 yr. old daughter. I couldn't be happier, even if I get goose eggs again for myself. I have never drawn a lope tag and only one elk tag in ten years. This sh....t is so nerve racking!!!!! Congrats to everyone with and who will recieve tags, good luck on your hunts!!!

dang, I need to step into the bathroom for a second!!!!!! That's incredible!

I have been trying to find hunting areas closer to home to Archery hunt, my main area is about two and half hours aways. I keep going back because I haven't found a good new area. I see hundred in. whitetail every season, but when I put the cameras elsewhere the quality of deer seem to go done. I like hunting with friends to check out their hunting areas and style of hunting. My general opinion is if you have a decent area it is not broke so don't fix it!! But yet I too still look at other areas. I can tell you some areas not to try!!!! Good luck and scout around, maybe you'll strike gold.

Back in 04 in unit 9 while scouting for a archery bull hunt my buddy and I found A poached bull. Rifle shot in the gut, he was bloated but had not opened up yet. I know he was fresh because all the birds around still hadn't done any damage. During the hunt we came across three different cow elk trapped in the fence. None of them were fresh, very sad feeling when you come across these things.