FJCrusing

UPS missed the mark on this one. Made it to Franklin (where I live) and got loaded to the wrong truck and took back off to Atlanta and then back to Chattanooga and hopefully back to Franklin for the 2nd time. Would be nice if it makes it back in time as it's a Christmas present for my wife. Thanks UPS for your "Operational Conditions" issue. It was a 2-day Free Shipping so I really shouldn't complain.

Yeah I was well short of what I should have brought the previous road trip when there was an impromptu range visit. Hate that. Am just going to start bringing more than I think I need. Rolling arsenal.

Been there too often. Then the problem I run into for my regular road trip (wife's family) is when I get there someone usually wants to go shooting so I haven't brought what I should have. Tough problem to have.

Bass Pro prices are terrible and the store brands are very low quality. I am definitely a Cabela's loyalist and am a Club Member. I receive lots of great deals, free shipping, generous club points to use toward purchases and at least once a month have a 10% off + free shipping deal. Bummed about the Bass Pro buyout, hope it falls through. Cabela's is definitely aimed more toward hunting and outdoors (which works well for me) as opposed to Bass Pro which is aimed more toward fishing. I do enjoy the no sales tax since they do not have a brick and mortar store in Tennessee but I suspect that will soon change. The Cabela's store brands have always been high quality and a lot of the store brand items have lifetime guarantees which is nice (deer blinds, trail cameras, hunting boots, etc.) that I have purchased. The only thing negative that I have found about Cabela's is their firearm prices but Bass Pro is just as bad. As is Gander Mountain, Academy, etc. All the big box stores are overpriced in regards to firearms.

Congrats! Ribeye of the sky apparently.

Anxious to do some coyote hunting once deer season ends. Haven't really noticed the deer population being down in my area but I have with the turkeys.

Contact Vortex. Apparently they will send you longer/better screws that work with that plate. Might use some blue loctite also.

I hunt turkey in middle Tennessee also and didn't see as many last season as I did the year before. Wondering if the population has taken a hit where I hunt due to coyotes. Planning on doing some coyote hunting once deer season ends and before turkey season starts.

You can certainly start the paperwork but can't submit it until you complete the class. I don't know how much of it can be submitted online now but I had to go to my local DMV in 2008 to submit the paperwork after I completed the class. Good luck! Turn around time should only be a couple weeks after everything is submitted.

There will definitely be some coyote hunting in-between deer and turkey season. Haven't seen any bobcats or fox on my trail cameras, just coyotes as far as predators go. Mating season should gear up around February.

Yes although if you want to shoot some high powered loads (220gr), hardcast or lead ammo you may want to consider a KKM barrel for the Glock 20. I carry a Glock 20 Gen4 for deep woods protection and have been very happy with it. I carry Underwood 200gr ammo in it. I've always heard that the 10mm will crush bone as opposed to .40S&W in case you piss off mama bear. I like the .40S&W and 10mm. I shoot both and my EDC is a G27. You won't be disappointed with a G20.

Ground Venison Vegetable Soup: 1.5-2lbs Ground Venison 4 carrots, diced 4 celery ribs, chopped 1 onion, chopped 4 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 (14.5 ounce) can whole tomatoes, crushed 1 (15 ounce) can peas, undrained 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained and rinsed 1 (15 ounce) can green beans, drained and rinsed ground black pepper to taste 1/8 teaspoon ground thyme 1 bay leaf, or more to taste 1/4 cup water, as needed (I substituted some spicy V8) Directions: Crumble ground venison into a stockpot over medium-high heat; cook and stir until venison is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir carrots, celery, and onion into the ground venison; cook and stir until vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add potatoes, tomato sauce, crushed whole tomatoes, undrained peas, corn, and green beans to the pot; season with black pepper. Stir mixture until evenly mixed. Add thyme and bay leaf to the pot. Pour 1/4 cup water over the mixture if needed to moisten mixture, replenishing as needed while cooking. Bring soup to a simmer, place a cover on the pot, and cook, stirring regularly, until potatoes are tender, about 1 hour. Pretty tasty!

I went out Friday and they were still chasing pretty hard. It's either a 2nd rut or late rut going on in middle Tennessee. Saw one nice buck and several doe cruise by my stand around 6ish but I still didn't have enough light so I didn't have a clean shot. Later on I was doing some walking to a blind and bumped another buck that was hanging out with a doe and they both disappeared fast. Never got a shot at anything but at least they were on their feet and moving. Probably won't be out again until the week between Christmas and New Years.

I haven't been out since the week of Thanksgiving after taking two out of state. Busy the next two Saturdays so am hitting the woods all day Friday in Maury County. Not sure it's still late rut / 2nd rut at this point or not. Looks like it will be sunny on Friday 38/20. Hopefully the sunny weather gets them on their feet. I'll probably hunt the woods in the AM and then move out to the fields / tree lines late morning. Good luck this weekend.

Very nice! My freezer is full of venison as well. Has been a good season. Enjoy!

I hear ya. They will definitely be locked down at this point between the rut and hunting pressure for the rest of the season. I'll probably stay deep in the woods the last few weeks of the season instead of the open fields and edges. I'm on 150 acres of farm land but it's partially wooded so it's a good mix. It's more like a bypass of property that the deer use to get from one property to the next so we usually get them as they are passing through. There is also a creek that runs around the property which makes it an attractive water source. I missed a nice 8 point last week (40-50yd shot) as my scope got bumped and I didn't realize it. Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. I had re-adjust it and dial it back in again otherwise I probably would have called it a season after that. At this point I just want to take my young son out a few times before the season is over. He went with me once during archery season and said it was too warm and wanted to go when it got cold (didn't disagree with that and this was coming from a 5 year old). Unit L private property also gets an extension between January 9th and the 13th for doe only on private property so depending on how it goes the next few weeks will I continue to hunt that last extra week.

Makes sense. Sounds like some rough trails. I've taken two so far this season (out of state) and my freezer is pretty full. Going to donate anymore that I take. I'll probably hunt about 5 more times before I call it a season. Good luck and hope you get a few more before the season ends. I'm in unit L and does are 3 a day. Kinda ridiculous but the property I am on is overrun with does so I can see why.

I don't suppose your 4 wheeler is making enough noise to cause them to run off when they hear it? I assume your stand is probably too far to walk to? I used to be on a 3000 acre lease and didn't have much of a choice regarding the use of my 4 wheeler but I would try to drive in and park as far away as possible and then walk the rest of the way to minimize the noise. Good luck on Thursday! I won't be out until this Saturday and the forecast looks like rain. I hunted 4 days straight last week.

Thank you. Very smooth firing rifle with the Browning BXR 155gr ammunition. Tested out 2 other brands (Federal Trophy Tip & Hornady SST) and it had the least recoil and best groupings. Just purchased this past year and first season with it.

Harvested this nice size doe on a 300 acre family farm in West Virginia. My Yeti 65 was overflowing with deer meet into an extra styrofoam cooler. Should be eating real good this next year. Dropped with a Browning X-Bolt .308 on the spot. I previously missed on a nice 8 point the day earlier at 50-60yds which left me puzzled and discovered that my scope got bumped somehow during my travels to West Virginia and was way off. Went and had it boresighted after the big miss and then dialed it back in and this doe went down the next day so I knew I was back on track.

Saw a big 8 moving across one of the larger fields on my hunting property. Couldn't get a shot off in time. About all I saw today. Was around 9:30AM. I was in the deep woods the first few hours but nothing was moving there. Back at it starting Monday. I will be hunting on a family farm in West Virginia Monday through Saturday.

They are starting to show back up on the shelves at various Academy's again.

I'll be out tomorrow morning. Can't wait. Weather looks great for Saturday. 62/32. Going to hunt the woods in the AM and fields in the PM if I don't harvest something in the AM hours. Walked right up on one last Saturday morning at 4:45AM. Had my green LED headlamp and the doe didn't even know I was there. I was probably 10-15 feet away. Also taking a new hunter with me (colleague from work) but he is going to bow hunt.

lol... True story.

I did some extra buying (magazines/ammo) mostly but it will get put to good use and I shouldn't have to buy any for quite a while.