I am still rock'n the Heli-M. Not the best Mathews bow ever but it gets it done. I made a deal with myself this year. If I kill a target buck I get a new bow. It's 90 degrees here again today. Hard to think about hunting....
This is the third season with the halon. Before that I had a Q-2 that I was hunting with since 1999. Although it was old it definitely still killed critters. I think when it was about 10 years old a tech from Lancaster archery noticed a flaw in the one limb. No questions asked I had 2 brand new limbs on it a week later. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Checked camera today and nothing really exciting. I had one small buck on camera but I did have a group of does and fawns come by my spot almost every morning in the last two weeks between 6:30 and 9:00. This camera is within 20 yards of two different sets I have to use depending on wind. I’m feeling good about opening morning. I’ve hunted one of these sets on opening morning for the past 5 years and I think last year was first I didn’t have a morning kill. I did on evening hunt in that spot. Im not too excited about not having bucks on camera. I rarely get big bucks on camera. Super excited that does are around!! Bucks will come they always do. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Congrats on the doe Fix! Well done sir. I updated the first post in this thread to keep track of points - I will update as often as I can. I wasn't around much all weekend so just now getting around to it. Hope you all have a great week. More oppressive heat and dry conditions here in Indiana - just been insane.
I'm starting to get a little excited, I've got that quality 8 pointer (not the brow tine beast I'm calling sky scraper) showing up every other night like clock work about 20-40 minutes before sundown. And the opener will fall on a night he should show up. So far the wind looks OK (south south west), not perfect (due west). He has been coming in from the north west and crossing right underneath my stand. It would be a chip shot at about 10 yards if everything keeps happening like it has. My stand is on the eastern side of the pinch point. Given that info, would you guys hunt that evening if given the chance... provided everything goes as described weather wise? Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
More often than people realize you're best chance at killing a mature buck is the first sit in that area/set. It's a long season, I say wait for everything to be optimal and strike. Make it a surgical approach as opposed to a numbers game. Both can be successful for sure but why waste time and potentially ruin future hunts when you could be in another area getting us 50 or a traveling willberry of a buck. In Venatione Veritas
That's why I'm asking you fellas. I was thinking the same thing. It appears that it's changed to a wind out of the south. However, it never fails that I forget just how much that particular area curls to the south east. Attached is the satellite imagery of the area in question. My mouse cursor is where my stand is. If the wind stays out of the south what are you thinking? How much would you guess the wind might swirl? He has to be bedding somewhere just to the north west either in the tree line or the grass meadow. My approach will be coming in from the east along the southern field edge. Does that change your thoughts? Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
Thanks for the input. Given the fact that would be my first buck of any real size, I need the encouragement to be patient. Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
I don't wanna tell you how to hunt but after looking at that map I think I would try to put my stand in the middle to cover the entire Funnel. Then focus on not over hunting it. And have a think on running cams to cover it in it's entirety. In Venatione Veritas
I've got my stand placed so that if something walks through that pinch and I want to shoot it, it's possible. That was the only spot I could put the stand to hit that clearing. It's thick cover to the north and south, but no sizeable trees for a stand, except the one I'm attached to Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
I would definitely make sure the wind is good before going in but I think I would get after him as soon as that happened especially if he is on somewhat of a pattern. I’ve never really hunted a patterned buck but the does on my property are usually like clockwork. Those thick brushy areas with smallish trees are perfect for a saddle setup. You don’t need a perfect tree to crawl up in. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
A lot of my good spots I have trees set up to cover trails on different winds. At some point Tink a decision will have to be made and I hope it works out for you and you get him!! Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I'll keep an eye on things but so far it looks like the next good wind won't be until the Sunday after next... at least on a day I can actually hunt on, and that's if the pattern continues. Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
