DaveS

Went out for a couple hours this morning (private land) during the drizzle and see 4 unidentified deer (white butts) heading through the thickets and "ol gray ghost". Watched that sucka bed down.....dang bow season!

This weather will start keeping all but the most dedicated hunters out of the woods. I see a few on public land, but usually right at daylight. On our private land, we are still seeing family groups and some nice wiley bucks. We are in the proccess of culling some scrubs and other selected animals for better deer next year. It's hard to hunt by our self set rules right now as you sit in your stand and watch deer after deer move through the area. The public land area is covered in duck hunters...so the deer move there with the quacker action. I was out there in my canoe yesterday and one poor little woodduck flew over and a battery of anti-aircraft fire opened up on him. I left the area due to the steel shot falling into the canoe....morons! But the deer are still there...take everything going on around you and play it all to your favor. As fewer and fewer folks hit the woods...the deer will settle down some. Think "thickets" near food sources.

I never have been coon hunting. Not least what you're refering to. I have always wanted to try it, but never met anyone with dogs that did. I do however have beagles and love rabbit hunting with them. I can only think that raccoon hunting would be as much fun.

Nice first buck ! Now go get ya another!

I think it's all about her deer, not the fact that it's a dink. To her, it may be the biggest buck in the contest. Good luck to all who entered!

As far as your pelts go, tan your bobcat and coyote hides. In my opinion, there is nothing prettier than a bobcat hide displayed on your wall or end table. Coyote pelts look real nice layed across the back of the couch in your "guy room". You won't get much for your yote hides now days. I don't know about now, but you used to have to have a special permit to sell bobcat hides. Something to do with the overseas demand for bobcat hides.

Coyote is one thing. Read the regs for feral hog. Talk about confusing? You can take feral hog on any legal hunt with the weapon legal for that species. The State and Federal wildlife officials want these hogs GONE! Well, next time I'm out squirrel hunting, I want those "official rule makers" to go with me. I want them to show me how to kill a 300lb feral hog with a load of low brass 6's! If the game department truly wants coyotes and feral hogs brought under control...make it easier for us to do so!

That little boys first deer, the 9 pointer is a nice racked buck also. I'm too late to enter my one horned spike buck....dang.

Learn to tan your own hide. It is very easy to do.

Congradulations on your buck. The antler kits sometimes available through walmart and some specialty outdoor shops are very easy to use. Main thing you need to worry about is make sure you get all hide and flesh off of the skull before mounting. The company I do all my business through has a very nice mounting kit for antlers. If you need more help, just let us know.

There are many, many ways to tan hides. The methods I mention are the best and easiest for the beginner. I will only give instructions to the beginner tanner that are tried, true and easy to succeed at.

No problem. Let us know how it turns out, so everyone can learn.

First thing you need to do is get it out of the water! That is the quickest way to a rotted hide. Get it drained and dry the hair as quickly as possible. Salt the hide, roll it up and freeze it until you are able to order your chemicals. Raccoon will need to be "degreased" before pickling, tanning and softening.

Fort campbell had a shoot like that a few weeks back. Federal Game wardens and USDA shot a bunch of them at night on post. I heard somewhere in the neighborhood of 32.

He keeps hiding his face...he must be a wanted man! Nice buck though!

I slice up a back leg for jerky. I also use high mountain seasoning. On another note, I usually take one hind quarter and cure it into a "Ham". Backstraps (loins), get cut into chops and one gets cured into "Canadian Bacon". I have never used a "jerky shooter" and ground meat to make jerky before. I just don't care for that type of jerky.

AWESOME DEER! Nice job.

I second the motion! Need a thread of our own.

Interesting...I've been hunting all my life, was a game warden for 13 years, seen all kinds of things...but I have never, I repeat never, seen a pack of bastage groundhogs "attack a dog". I have however, seen a dog attack a groundhog that was minding his own business....poor dog took one heck of an a%%% whoop'n. Learned his lesson too!

Sounds good to me rob...nice, easy and to the point. Got your meat deer, now you can hunt some nice "boneheads"!

Well, I know it's not the youth hunt, but my little 7 year old Grandson got his first deer today. A big doe taken at 55 yards with his little youth model .308. Dropped her where she stood...don't get no better than that!

That's a very good idea. My problem with "hunters for the hungry" is, the butcher guy charges the doner the fee for the deer. I would give more to them if the processor would donate his time as well. But I would give some away to someone who would appreciate it.

I'm stuck here at the Fire Department.....

There are some good electric grinders out there. I got a really good off e-bay. Get one with sausage tubes. You won't regret it.

Nice gesture!