2014 Archery Season/Trips

[Archerysniper]

I have my Montana elk and whitetail/mule deer tag in my pocket. September can't get here fast enough, planing on 14 days of hunting

[NoWiser]

Oh man, that's going to be a fun 14 days, Sniper! Please post the story, I can't wait to read about it!

The tag we ended up drawing is a pretty decent one!! It was the best of our 3 choices so I'm super pumped. You are definitely right in that September can't get here fast enough but it just gives us 5 months to prepare

[Scoot]

Sniper, how do you manage 14 days? I'd LOVE to go for that long! I struggle to butt two weekends up to a week, but two full weeks would really up the odds. Those extra few days can really make a difference as some trips really require time to figure things out.

The tag we ended up drawing is a pretty decent one!!

Decent?!? I wish I could get a "decent" tag every year! I'd take a "decent" tag like that once in my life! I'm jealous as heck, NoWiser! You guys are in for quite a trip!

[NoWiser]

Decent?!? I wish I could get a "decent" tag every year! I'd take a "decent" tag like that once in my life! I'm jealous as heck, NoWiser! You guys are in for quite a trip!

I guess "decent" might not quite be the adjective I was looking for. Most of the words I used to describe the unit when I got the draw results would get me banned from this site

[slimngrizzly]

Well... I dont have any out of the ordinary, wild tags for archery... but I leave TOMORROW for a 5 day SD/WY Elk shed hunt up in the mountains. Hoping the days aren't too hot, and the nights aren't too cold! Cant wait to see TINES!!

Its not "hunting" but im hoping I can give you elk guys a little tease of some BIG WHALE TAILS or something of the sort! A spring time fix...

[Scoot]

I'd love to do a shed hunting trip, slim! That should be fun!!! Anything a guy can do to get more time in the mountains is a good thing. Have fun!!!

[slimngrizzly]

Thanks Scoot! I used to go to Canada every winter for a month or so, back in my "single days".... Now I try to keep the trips a little shorter and closer to home!

I'll make sure to get some pictures I can post up for you guys

[NoWiser]

Have fun Grizz! That should be a great trip. Watch out for lions

[slimngrizzly]

Have fun Grizz! That should be a great trip. Watch out for lions

Thanks...

[Archerysniper]

It's getting closer and my buddy has been putting in a ton of leg work for me scouting and clearing out some wallows. He ran into this muley this morning while out scouting my hunting area.

[NoWiser]

Sounds like you are going to have an exciting hunt, Sniper! I bet you come home with an elk! Having two full weeks to hunt in an area scouted out by your buddy is awesome.

Are you doing much for physical conditioning to get ready for the hunt? Those mountains are killers for us flatlanders.

6 weeks from today and my dad and I will be on the road, headed to New Mexico. It's coming up quick!

[Archerysniper]

Oh yeah I have been conditioning with a pack started at 30 pounds and now worked up to 75 pounds. I still have a feeling my butt is going to get kicked when I get out there.

[Scoot]

I can't wait! I think we leave on the 12th- about 7 weeks away. Working out 3x/week and adding a couple runs, bike, and pack workouts to that. Shooting more after doing many months of shoulder PT. I'll order a new merino wool under shirt soon. Besides that I just have to order this year's diaphragm calls and I'm set. I'll probably be totally packed sometime in the next few weeks.

Trip to LOW for muskies in a week, then it's all elk all the time!

[Scoot]

Double post.

[DonBo]

A recent email from SoDak has left me depressed. They are considering delaying the opening of turkey season till Nov 1st. That may make me decide to forgo my annual Black Hills combo trip. It said their final decision will come at their August meeting, whatever that means.

Not sure if that trip just for deer and trout is worth the $300 tag. Guess I'll just have to wait and see what they decide.

[Scoot]

Dang- I hope you hear good news! That's a well-wish for you, but selfishly I want to read the story too!

[NoWiser]

DonBo, you've got to go!! I look forward to that story every year! All things considered, that's still not too bad of a price for a week in God's country bowhunting and catching trout.

[Scoot]

All things considered, that's still not too bad of a price for a week in God's country bowhunting and catching trout.

I agree with Jim! I don't think that's too be either. Plus, it'll be dang tough to not go, won't it?

[frogtosser]

I drew a Colorado mule deer tag and just got my Colorado elk tag in the mail last week. I get to spend a week out there and have 27 days before I leave.

[NoWiser]

Sounds like you have a fun trip to look forward to, Frogtosser! Will that be the week after muzzleloader when you are out there? Having two tags will definitely be fun. Hopefully you find yourself in the middle of a bunch of bulls and bucks!

I leave for New Mexico in 10 days!! The anticipation is killing me. I woke up at 3:00 this morning and started to think about elk and never could fall back asleep so I just got out of bed and went to the gym to get in an extra long workout. It felt like fall this morning!

[DonBo]

Black Hills Combo stories are over South Dakota has officially moved it's fall turkey opener from Oct. 1st to Nov. 1st. Too late for me to stay in our little tent trailer. I won't make the trip in October without the opportunity for turkeys, as that's my true love.

First time in almost 40 year I won't be making the trip. A tough decision, but with all the deer hunting opportunities here at home I just couldn't justify the expense.

[Scoot]

I woke up at 3:00 this morning and started to think about elk and never could fall back asleep...

Jim, you should have called me- I was in the exact same boat! I got up at 3:00 and started tidying up elk hunting gear and finalizing a few things on my packing list. I got about 85% of my packing done last weekend, but I still found plenty of random items and things that need to be taken care of before I leave. My pack is completely loaded and ready, my hunting clothes are washed and ready, my bow and arrows and broadheads are about locked in and ready. I've still got to get the cooking kit together, I have some food items I need to get, and I've got a few odds and ends to get ready besides that. I'll be 95% done before this weekend (especially if I can't sleep).

[Scoot]

Black Hills Combo stories are over

That sux!!! Sorry to hear this, Don.

[NoWiser]

Jim, you should have called me- I was in the exact same boat! I got up at 3:00 and started tidying up elk hunting gear and finalizing a few things on my packing list. I got about 85% of my packing done last weekend, but I still found plenty of random items and things that need to be taken care of before I leave. My pack is completely loaded and ready, my hunting clothes are washed and ready, my bow and arrows and broadheads are about locked in and ready. I've still got to get the cooking kit together, I have some food items I need to get, and I've got a few odds and ends to get ready besides that. I'll be 95% done before this weekend (especially if I can't sleep).

That's funny. I tried counting sheep but they all grew antlers and started bugling at me. It was a lost cause. So, I hit the stair climber at the gym while listening to Danny Moore's interview.

I've got my pack all ready to go minus some flagging tape and batteries. All of our suppers and breakfasts are organized in boxes and I have our lunches and snacks ordered (who'd think you can do all of your grocery shopping for a hunting trip on a cell phone?) All of my clothes are washed and hanging up so I just need to throw them in a duffel bag. I'd say I'm 80% packed and will easily finish this weekend. I need to leave a little bit to do each day or I'll go crazy!

[HooknHorns]

Heading to Colorado after work Thursday, can't wait. I had an arrow dilemma after a Robin Hood. I was left short some so I pick up some if cabelas ACC and found out they didn't fly well with 100 grain heads.

Needed more FOC and nobody had brass inserts for them and my traditional heads were too heavy for a 340 spine. Not a good feeling with a week before I leave. So I found some xbow tricks at 175 grain and I'm shooting 4 inch group at 55yards, 510 grain arrow. I love this arrow set up.

Speaking of dreaming, no elk bugling for me just mule deer in velvet for some reason. Kinda hard to kill when they seemed bullet proof. I shot every arrow I had, they all just bounced off. I'm glad I woke up!

Good luck guys and safe travels!