Slappy

I got an extra chair in here Dave! Bring some McDonalds with you and a Large coffee please. :-)

I'm getting out there tomorrow morning.  Alarm is set to wake me up about 5.5hrs from now!  Cold wont affect me fortunately because I'll be in a nice box blind with a Mr. Buddy Heater.  Last time I used it, I ended up kicking off my boots and making myself comfortable. haha! This will be my last deer hunt until bow season! 

I am so lonely on this side of the state!  You guys helping each other out and stuff man! Makes me sick...  :P

I shot this button buck....with my camera! [URL=http://s532.photobucket.com/user/jtv14/media/P1010065_zps4d7ef9b0.jpg.html][/URL] He was actually a funny little guy. He would feed in the middle of the field and all of a sudden BOLT 0-60 high tailing it into the woods! Then would come back a few minutes later eating in the middle of the field again and BOLT back into the woods. LOL! He was skittish!

Well this may be my last weekend to hunt.  I haven't been in the past 3 or 4 weeks now so I am looking forward to getting back out there.  I got a new camera for Christmas, so I may be shooting with my camera more than my rifle.  We'll see though!  I am taking my buddy with Muscular Dystrophy again so hopefully he can bag him a doe.  The hunt this afternoon will have 7 hunters on our property!  So if anything is moving, there will be backstraps in the freezer.        

I need toget one of those. I only hear good things! I dull every knife I "sharpen".

If you think you will stick with deer hunting, you need a rifle. They simply are more powerful and more accurate. With the shotgun slugs you will be very limited in distance and from what I understand, especially out of a smooth barrel, are not very accurate. As far as caliber goes, it's a personal choice. I hunt with a .270. I like it because with the 130gr bullet it is powerful and flat shooting. I made a head shot on a deer at 183 yards a few weeks ago and I'm just an average Joe Schmoe. My dad shoots a 30-06 he also is a good shot and it's a very effective caliber but slightly less flat shooting compared to the 270. The 30-06 has more weight in the bullet meaning more energy at point of impact. So basically just pick one, go with it and don't look back. Both are proven calibers. If you want a suggestion, I'd get the .270 because it's a hard hitting and flatter shooting gun. If a heavier rifle is a problem for you or you are recoil or noise sensitive, look into a .243. Also if you plan to share the rifle with kids or women, a 243 would be the best all around caliber. I think I speak for all saying that us hunters are glad to have you as part of the family. Keep asking questions!

Merry Christmas Dave!

I have shot several deer in the neck.  My granddad taught me that trick.  Depending on how they are standing when you pull the trigger.  If you hit, its a big hit and if you miss, its a clean miss.  I ONLY take ethical shots at deer.  In fact, I have passed on more deer because I didn't feel the shot would be ethical than I have killed with an ethical shot.  All but 2 deer I have shot in the neck have dropped in their tracks and expired quickly.  The two that ran, left a huge blood trail and didn't go far.  I have read that neck shots are not an ethical shot but that has not been my experience.  I am also shooting 130gr .270 round.  Im sure if you were using a 223 or similar it may not be the best.     The last deer I killed (can't remember if I shared this already or not) I had only 3 minutes of shooting light left.  She was standing at 183 yards facing me in some standing soybeans.  So a neck shot was my only option.  If I hit too low, I was afraid the bullet would enter the guts.  If I shot in the middle, I was afraid the bullet would exit the back of the neck and enter into the backstraps and tenderloins ruining meat as well as clipping the guts.  If I shot too high the bullet would safely pass over her head and missing her hind quarters. So I had about a 3 inch window of a perfect shot where the bullet would enter the kill zone and exit safely without ruing meat or hitting guts.  Well my .270 is sighted in a little high and when I shot, I hit on the upper end of my 3" window and the bullet entered into her nose, through her brain and exited out the brain stem.  It wasn't gruesome simply and entery wound and an exit wound that the hair had pretty much covered up.  She was DRT.  Literally, it was instant death.  She didnt even twitch.  That was the most humane kill I have ever done.  

Love it! Where did you get it?

Very nice Dave!  

I have seen both parts of the body Phil referred to....and he is right.

I got one of those Swiss Army Credit Card Multi Tool things.  The LED light on it is worthless but I have used every item on it multiple times!  Its worth its weight in gold!  I probably use the pen and the scissors the most.  I like how yours has a more substantial blade though.  

Wait, we have non TN residents on this forum?! Infidels!! 

I can't believe we only have a few weeks left in the hunting season!! Boy this season has sure flown by and I am sad to see it go. But I'll be darned if my mind hasn't already switched over to thinking about turkey season!! I clearly have lots of mental stress when it comes to the outdoors. I wait in high anticipation of deer season, then turkey season, then fishing, then dove then back to deer and repeat every year for the rest of my life. In between all that I enjoy camping, backpacking and doing improvements to our land.

I use a Primos Blind Luck ground blind.  It is plenty large enough for 2 people and gear.  Keeps the rain off of you, conceals you well and it is easy to set up!  Make sure you have set one up before you plan on using it.  The first time I tried to set one up in my living room (not a primos) my dog left the room because of the things she heard me say!     http://www.cabelas.com/product/Primos-Blind-Luck-Hub-Blind/1370491.uts

I have a Petzel Tikka XP 2 with a red light and its worthless for walking to your deer stand.  Its great for being in a tent with stuff up close, but the light isn't bright enough to really pierce the darkness and let you see where you are walking.  Maybe the Tac Tikka is better.  In my experience, if you want a bright red/green light, then get a handheld light.  Like I said though, there might be a headlamp out there that fits the bill and I just dont know about it.  Keep us updated on your purchase because I am interested in something bright and red.     I know they say animals don't notice the red light, but my dogs sure notice a laser pointer! 

And I thought playing NutBall was a bad.

  With each deer.  You can shoot up to 3 deer per day in Unit L, which means you would need to log each of the 3 deer individualy.  

I am going to take a break this weekend.  Watch the SEC championship, get some things done around the house, be with the wife.  I have gotten 4 this year so far passed on several others.  I think at this point I will just help a few of my buddies get a deer or maybe hunt for one myself, but shooting them with my bow or a pistol.  It looks like we will meet our harvest objective this year so at this point, I can be more selective.  

Good job Shaun! 

Hey, it doesn't have to be a difficult shot to be a good shot! I'll take an easy shot any day! That's cool you were able to watch her come in from so far away. They really gets the heart pumping when they start heading to you.

Indeed some great memories Luke. I do hope you can pass down your love and knowledge of the outdoors to your kids and grand kids one day. I grew up hunting with my dad but we never had any sort of opening day or thanksgiving tradition like that. My father in law purchased some land last year and we are in the process of forming newly created traditions. So we are very excited!

Nice doe FJ! She should be good eatin indeed! How far was your shot?

I try to balance my love for the outdoors and my love for my wife. But I think she secretly likes it when I go hunting because she always gets a Hot Hands tossed to her when I get back. Haha. She has a kung foo grip on those things. Haha