now the wait...

[CrappieJohn]

I just finished the fletching of a new dozen arrows. The heads are ready to go on for some test shooting and then the blades go on.

The camo has been brought out of storeage and has been washed, descented, and air dried.

The pack has all the goodies and new bottles of cover scents. The knife is sharp and packed on board along with the license. So...now the wait.

This morning really did this waiting no good at all. I took the twenty minute drive to "my hill", a private tract of land I manage and did the big climb. Using a firelane I went to the top of the larger of the two hills where stands are set. This spot is unique in that it is on a corner of steep bluffland and focuses the deers' travel along the top and two trails going up and down. Because it is very private, the deer find it pretty cozy there and numbers are the rule.

Between the road and the stand I counted 14 deer. Of that number a total of nine had antlers! And two of these guys were huge. I have been finding the tracks of some very large animals up there, but my activity has always been during mid-day until this morning. Both of these oinks were together. One sported a head with eleven definite points but brush may have hidden two other points. The other big one was absolutely a giant and I was able to see twelve clean points on him. If this biggie is the same one that was cruising the ridge last year, he will fall into the 160 catagory again this year.

I'll be the first to admit that huge deer and I are infrequent friends. I have shot my share of very big deer over the years...many right off this particular hill. I've done them with the bow, blackpowder, the slug gun...everything legal for here weapon-wise. And I have done so mostly by luck. Two big buck deer were actually patterned and hunted successfully by me up on this ridge, but things really are tough to nail down on top...varying winds that switch in a blink are the biggest enemies for me.

With the presence of two pigs up there, I may have to do some serious consideration to playing their game once again. Yesterday's rain made the woods quiet this morning and all of the deer seen went on their way oblivious to my being there. So now I guess some serious study is in store for the next couple weeks.

Every time I will look at the matchbook on the target butt now I'll be seeing an elbow on a deer's front leg. And I suppose that my shooting will go down the toilet thinking about those two beasts too. Deer don't usually frazzle me and bucks are nothing new, but how am I supposed to get thru the next few weeks knowing they are up there and all I can do is wait?

[Chris_Wallace]

Go fishing or camp out on the couch watching hunting videos...

Would this spot be worth using a ground blind? That will definatly help with the swirling winds, alot more scent containment. Just a thought. You ever need to borrow a blind, I got a few Double Bulls to use.

[CrappieJohn]

Yes Chris...This area is prime for ground shooting. In fact, my bad back simply doesn't allow for safe stand hunting anymore. When I mentioned stands, I wasn't real clear and should have mentioned that I pack away my stand materials each fall after the late bow season right up on the hill.

More than, anything I am frustrated with myself. I knew that there were some bruisers up there from the tracks I've located during my summer jaunties to the spot. I should have taken the early trip a few times before this....normally I do. What I was actually hoping to find up there were roosting turkeys....no birds- just bucks.

[Chris_Wallace]

You gonna do a fall turkey hunt than?

You should consider trying to whack one with the bow, its alot of fun.

[CrappieJohn]

I generally draw the permit for fall turkeybirds in this area. "A" Season. I love the stalk doing fall birds and it makes for good breathing exercises for the deer season too. Bow? I'll stick to the 12....I like to eat them as well as shot at them. lol

[Deitz Dittrich]

I hung 2 stands this weekend.. And am driving in tacks out to 50 yards.. I'll pull the 40 and 50 yard pins off the bow in another week or so... I usually only hunt with 15 and 30 yard pins.

I am so ready!!!!!

[CrappieJohn]

I've been a single pin shooter for years....goes way back to the recurve and before the compound even showed up. The concept is simple, no guess work, and eliminates bad hits due to chancey shots.

[Stratosman]

The wait is part of the fun.. getting geared up and honed in and all the preparation that goes along with it is what I enjoy. Hung two stands myself on Thursday and did a little perimiter scouting as I do not like to enter the woods until I know what's going on, found good sign in corn as expected, and they are using the alfalfa field ech night as well. Now only if I didn't have that wedding to attend opeing weekend...

[Chris_Wallace]

I hung six stands today up in A-town. One in an Acorn grove of trees coming up from the swamp that was good for two nice 8 pointers last year, one over looking the food plot. Third one using a tamarack finger coming out of the north side of the swamp. Fourth one is at the intersection of three trails just before they head out into an eufala field. Fifth is in between the bedding area the one big buck that the neighbor has on film the woodline, the fifth one is watching where three tractor roads meet, they walk up to the food plot, they can turn right into a small field or go straight into the big eufala field.

Did some scouting on where to put a ground blind too, found three or four solid spots.

I am heading down to Elko in the morning to put 8 stands up down there.

Crappie Tom-

You like to eat them too? I got two this spring with bow an arrow, it was a blast! If you can consistently do two inch groupings you can get a turkey! Seriously think about it.

[Chris_Wallace]

I hung six stands today up in A-town. One in an Acorn grove of trees coming up from the swamp that was good for two nice 8 pointers last year, one over looking the food plot. Third one using a tamarack finger coming out of the north side of the swamp. Fourth one is at the intersection of three trails just before they head out into an eufala field. Fifth is in between the bedding area the one big buck that the neighbor has on film the woodline, the fifth one is watching where three tractor roads meet, they walk up to the food plot, they can turn right into a small field or go straight into the big eufala field.

Did some scouting on where to put a ground blind too, found three or four solid spots.

I am heading down to Elko in the morning to put 8 stands up down there.

Crappie Tom-

You like to eat them too? I got two this spring with bow an arrow, it was a blast! If you can consistently do two inch groupings you can get a turkey! Seriously think about it.

Just got back from an AWESOME trip, went out for a one day hunt, 9 guys, 9 birds, I wacked a nice jake, and a young tom, two other young toms and 6 jakes, the trip was an absolute blast. The Double Bull T5 Pro Staff worked awesome, the arrows flew true, the birds were willing to talk and chatter and had a great time with great company.

My point of view:

First Bird I Shot

Beard Is On The Left

Father's First Turkey

First Double

Father and I

IT WAS A GREAT TRIP!

[Chris_Wallace]

I went down to elko today, saw a ten pointer sitting in the middle of soybean field at noon. Put out my stands, they look pretty good, I found two cool spots that will be awesome for spooking in a ground blind, a pricker ash/vine combination that has a lot of empty space on the back side will do a gret job watching this little funnel between woods/cornfield/soybean field set-up.

[Captain B.R.K]

I'm READY for 3 weeks to come early! Two weekends ago I hung up a couple of stands and walked in the woods to see what was going. Plus I hung a couple of cams as well. Probably going out this week to pull them off the trees!

[Royce Aardahl]

Put 2 stands up yesturday. Heading to ND wednesday to get ready for the opener friday. I am pumped!

[bigbucks]

Trimmed up & did some final painting on a new permanent Saturday. Also scouted a new property & pick a couple of spots to place portables. Trying to get the rest of the prewinter projects done now, so I can hunt as much as possible instead of doing them this fall.

The unexpected tractor overhaul that we had to start last week is biting into the prep time, but you can't push snow with a motorless tractor...

I've been seeing deer in the alfalfa mostly & some beans. These cool days in August are about pushing me over the edge waiting for season.

[bottomdweller]

Chris, just wondering if you have used the new matrix by double bull. Looks like a nice setup, shooting capabilities 360 degrees.

[Chris_Wallace]

YES, I have used the Matrix 360, I own two of them now, the Matrix is the blind that other blinds are judged by. Definatly worth the money, Brooks and Keith are awesome guys too, they are an absolute riot to be with.

[bottomdweller]

Thanks Chris, I have the titan and like it quite a bit but would be nice for a little more room and more shooting capabilities. Will definetly think about the investment.

Thanks