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stiknstringbow
Member
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Posted: Sun May 31st, 2009 06:10 pm |
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| Due to Turkey season being over it is time for me to start thinking about about deer and elk (but mostly Elk) I am planning on hunting in Bear River unit 681 in September. I have been researching it a lot since last season and am pretty excited about my chances. This year will be the first in several years that it will be open during early season for antlerless elk so I expect to at least get a cow, but I have the bad habit of passing on cows if there is a bull around. It (the unit) has a decent success rate and very few hunters. I have one possible partner for this trip and posted on Tradgang to see if there is any interest in joining. I am told that there is very limited camping (as in almost none) but found some state land inside unit that I am going to check out in a couple weeks. The area is almost all gated roads with walk in access allowed and if I cannot find a place on/near an open road I will make a camp in behind a gate a ways. I have talked to a local that will let me park at his place, so I can shuttle in and avoid leaving vehicles where they will be noticed. I hear that it is tough hunting, but with it being 3pt or better or antlerless Elk and 2pt or better or antlerless for Deer, Bear open....etc. I even hear that there is a good chance at a summer-run Steelie or early Coho in one of the many streams. It gets me excited just thinking about the possibilities. I am not a Trad snob so if any other archers are interested in joining me, lets talk about it.
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stiknstringbow
Member
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Posted: Sun Aug 9th, 2009 04:52 pm |
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| I have not found any streams, other than Bear River itself that would hold fish, but did find a DNR campground on a little lake to catch planters out of near unit. I saw lots of elk sign so it is all systems go come September.........
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Turkeynut
Member
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Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 03:53 am |
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Does sound appealing but I'm heading into the Alpine Lakes via pack train for the opening week. Any elk area and with my track record of bow kills if a cow presents a shot before the bull does I'd hate to be her
I will be downyour way though a lot during the Modern rifle deer season though. I got a great spot for a tree stand that i think would have a big one passing through.
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Turkey Dancer
Member
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Posted: Thu Aug 20th, 2009 07:20 pm |
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My brother and nephew want to head down to Pacific County area for modern deer ... howeverI haven't hunted it in about 30 years for deer .... must goscout ... I did get down there for about 2 days turkey hunting 2 years ago, but ...
TN - Talk with ya at the state meeting in Sept.
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stiknstringbow
Member
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Posted: Fri Aug 21st, 2009 12:42 am |
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| TN, that sounds like fun! I hunted there back in the late '80s. I know it is not far in, but there were some awesome wallows on the back side of Hyas Lake at the base of Cathedral Rock. I called in my first 6pt up there. Have fun!!! I will let you know how my season goes.
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Turkeynut
Member
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Posted: Sat Aug 22nd, 2009 02:14 am |
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Thanks..ya I'm starting to get really antsy about going, tonight pulling a few salmon out of the river helped taking my mind off of it for a bit.
Went yesterday to a walk through 3D course to see if I'm ready....well the bow is but I hope the "NUT" attached to the bow string does his job and it'll be fine
Gonna head out again in the morning to try and add to my salmon collection trying to get that smoker filled up to have a treat on my Elk hunt
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stiknstringbow
Member
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Posted: Sat Aug 22nd, 2009 04:18 pm |
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the bow is but I hope the "NUT" attached to the bow string does his job I know what you mean, I have been steady practicing on my 3D's in my back yard and stepped it up to 3 or 4 times a day. I seem to have gotten worse than when I only shot 1 round a day (10 targets) to make matters worse I started taking shots that are through the bushes and otherwise "marginal" and have lost a lot of arrows. If they come out in the open they will have proplems with me, but I am about 60/40 on the long shots through the brush. For some reason I can hit my smaller targets better than my larger ones with the exception of my deer. (a long shot for me is 35-40) I keep having issues with the standing bear, If one stands up to look around I better wait for a different shot or I might just piss him off!Last edited on Sat Aug 22nd, 2009 04:20 pm by stiknstringbow
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Turkeynut
Member
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Posted: Sun Aug 23rd, 2009 03:31 am |
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| I know what you mean, this course I walked through he did a good job at putting a lot of obstructions in the way. One had a fern that completely covered the 8 ring or entire lung but one small hole in the X. THis time I had wanted to see how well a judged ranges so I'd guess the range then range it with my range finder.did pretty well on guessing. the one thing that helped was I would focus on the obstructions and even ranged them to try and avoid them. Hopefully the elk will respond in very much the same way the 3D's do. Just stand there broadside looking pretty at 30 yards and all will be well. I did lose an arrow myself, on the final target, a turkey at 11 yards, I shot for his head and it passed through completely and ventured on to bounce off a couple trees before it exploded.
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stiknstringbow
Member
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Posted: Sun Aug 23rd, 2009 03:35 pm |
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| What course was it? I used to shoot at Skookum out on Shaw Road. We have one down here at "The Lucky Shot" that I have heard good things about, but $15 a round for 30 targets?? I will stick to my backyard and stumpin' in the woods.
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Turkeynut
Member
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Posted: Mon Aug 24th, 2009 01:55 am |
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Ya the Great NW archery shop At Skookum Range there puts on a 3D every Thursday from april til late August. It's done now but he charges $10. And Doug will put them in some pretty tricky shots, through brush behind trees and even one this last time was completely under some dark shade while the hunter was blinded by the sun.
I stopped by Luckyshot a few weeks back, ya $15 bucks may be a little steep but I don't mind paying that money to a Ma& Pa store rather than giving it to a big chain, I may try him out this winter when I'm down. Guess he throws up an indoor 3D while using up all the leftover Xmas trees.
But if I had property and some 3D's I'd probably do like you and stay around......some day.
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stiknstringbow
Member
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Posted: Mon Aug 24th, 2009 05:41 am |
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| I know what you mean about M&P shops and when I stopped in the guy was nice enough to offer to buy me a coke, but when he found out I shot Trad and he wasn't going to make a sale I became invisible. I plan on hitting their course before I leave to hunt just because, but I wish there was a Trad shop around!
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Turkeynut
Member
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Posted: Mon Aug 24th, 2009 10:53 pm |
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Wow i didn't even notice that he had no trad stuff.....did seem like a nice guy though.
I also like the 3D courses and figure $15 dollars on what I call a "Redneck golf course "is more fun and a lot cheaper than real golfing
Now I really won't shoot much more than 20 yards just to get form perfected. My bow is dialed and my only problems are dropping my front shoulder from time to tim and gripping the bow too hard on release. Other thatn that if I do it right the arrow has been going where I envision it going. I always try and practice at trying to hit a baseball at 40yd. And I'm pretty much their. With emotions aside I feel real comfortable all the way to 60yds on a target.Lets hope it a 30 though
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stiknstringbow
Member
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Posted: Tue Sep 15th, 2009 07:04 pm |
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Just got back from a week and had a great time, however I did not get to pack anything out....saw 74 elk, 8 grouse, 5 racoons, 3 deer, 1 bear, 1 coyote, and one porcupine. called in a cow to 16 feet! and got no shot. Was into another herd about 20 yards from a big fat cow before getting busted. I got into them every day, but just couldn't close the deal.
I am heading back down next weekend to try again.
How was your trip?
Next year I am bringing my fishing rod also, they were catching Salmon out of the Naselle River and trout out of the lake!
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Turkeynut
Member
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Posted: Wed Sep 16th, 2009 06:59 am |
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Just got home myself, and can't sleep even though I got up at six broke down camp, rode 9 miles on a horse then drove from Leavenworth to home.
Well I had a great time being on a good drop camp high up. Only saw two elk, opening morning, I had one bugle then go quiet so while moving around to reposition Istuck my arrow back in the quiver( First mistake) using a fall away rest now instead of a whisker bisquit like I use to it's harder to walk with an arrow on.
Anyway I notice out of my periferal vison what looked like an elk rack. then I saw his body no farther than 18 yards. I thought" WOW" this is going to happen and he don't even know I'm here. Well I lost it and just grabbed an arrow and " Thuwwump" as I pulled it on the string. The Bull heard that and froze and all I had was a shot right between the eyes, so I didn't take it hoping he'd walk on but in typical fashion he didn't he just bolted straight away. While upset I didn't get down which is normally the case when I F*&( an elk hunt. Next day I jumped a yearling cow which stopped at thirty yards giving me a nearly stratigh away but was quartering enough to give me the slide it just in front of the rear hip shot. This time I did everything right except I gripped the bow on the shot which usally kicks me left 4-6 inches at 20 yards. So t thirty plus I know it's enough to shave hair off the front shoulder. Clean haircut shot with that one.....CRAP..... other than that I learned a ton about this stick flinging and while tired as hell, ready for deer camp and onto late Elk. Plus I saw a real nice tom tonight on the way home so.....spring ain't far away
Sounds like your having a good one too. Getting close is half of it. We heard a bunch but they just weren't that interested or would get busted, had tow different bulls with in a hundred yards til a wind change One night we heard them up the hill so while around the campfire we decided to bugle to see what they'd do, well one wanted to fight and damn near ran through camp, he was no farther than 60 yards from our campfire and was bugling at us. Then he ran through the meadow right in front of the other camp up there and they thought we were messing with them....until they shined him with head lamps. Pretty frikkin cool. Last night we called him in again but he is on to us and only came to the edge of the timber. Won't get out this weekend, plus been away from my kids for 10 day, think I'll take them to the fiar or a movie.
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Turkey Dancer
Member
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Posted: Fri Sep 18th, 2009 06:35 pm |
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| Sorry you both didn't have any better luck. Been awhile now since I've thrown sticks (although I have the new Matthews Solocam as well as my old 55lb recurve). I now go with my brother, nephew, & son who all do modern firearm. I still do a fair amount of cow calling and have called them in 7 years running ... my group still can't believe how often I call them in, but I can't seem to get them to try ... hhmmmm ! I don't bugle since it's late Oct/ early Nov ... but the cow calling really works well !!! Last edited on Fri Sep 18th, 2009 06:36 pm by Turkey Dancer
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stiknstringbow
Member
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Posted: Tue Sep 22nd, 2009 07:34 pm |
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Sounds like you had a good time, I also saw a turkey on my way home, in the Palix area !? It seemed out of place, but I definately know one when I see it !
I didn't get one, but had a couple come in close, oh well, late season,or next year.....
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Turkey Dancer
Member
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Posted: Wed Sep 23rd, 2009 12:44 pm |
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| I always liked the late season better ... especially with snow. Miss them good old days ...
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stiknstringbow
Member
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Posted: Thu Oct 15th, 2009 08:45 pm |
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Late season, I am planning a couple day trips East of me, Are the gates open in 667? I dont usually head that way but.....
I actually am planning on visiting 520 for a cow.....
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Turkeynut
Member
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Posted: Fri Oct 16th, 2009 03:33 am |
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667 or Vail only has the gates open on weekends during rifle deer all other times it's walk or bike in but during the week they may frown on it if there's a lot of logging activity in the area you're in.
Heading for Teanaway in the morning for 5 days to whop a mulie or at least drink moderately heavy or is it heavily moderate I get confused when it comes to burbon
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stiknstringbow
Member
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Posted: Sat Oct 17th, 2009 05:31 pm |
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Good Luck! I am heading clamming.
I gotta wait for all the "gunnies" to have their turn before I get out again.
P.S. my partners report seeing a lot of Turkey in the Manastash this year, I hope they make it until next spring.......
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