[DaveT]

in reply to: Grizzly tough! #33804

Hello guys….are the new left bevel El Grandes available yet?

Dave

[DaveT]

in reply to: Ground Hunting Tips #32938

Dr. Ashby…..good idea on the Ghillie. Hunting the Ivory Coast sounds exotic :shock:! Nothing like the possibility of a coup d’état to add some excitement. I live in North GA (Canton) a couple hours or so northeast from the LaGrange area.

Take care and wishing you a speedy recovery on your radiation treatments.

[DaveT]

in reply to: Ground Hunting Tips #32859

Brett…thanks for the tips. Dr. Ashby….I can’t argue with that and I will have to say still hunting for hogs and bears might just be my favorite thing to do. I actually got my first black bear this year while still hunting so I am hooked for sure!

I have not done allot of still hunting for whitetails so my original post is more natural ground blind related. However I sure won’t pass up the chance if in the right circumstances! I had a Ghillie along time ago and man was it ever hot…at least down in Georgia. It was a homemade kit but it was neat. I would be interested in getting one again at some point at least for my head or upper body. I did find it hard to shoot my bow with one on though.

[DaveT]

in reply to: Ground Hunting Tips #32498

Well….it’s been allot of fun so far. A real learning experience. I am hunting some fairly pressured deer on a local management area but have had a couple of good encounters this past weekend. Had a doe come into to feed on an oak flat but the wind was swirling a bit and I think she knew something was up. She was real nervous coming in as it was a real windy day. She looked my way and stared. While I don’t think she actually saw me she acted nervous and just walked the other way. This blind is my least favorite because of poor back cover so need to work on it more. She also walked in a way where she was staring right at me so that didn’t help.

The next evening had a small buck come into another blind right at dark. This is a good blind and has good back cover. He came in and looked in the general direction of the blind but then ignored it. He was not feeding and just moving through. Then I learned a good lesson. As he hit my final lane at 25 yards I bleated with my mouth to stop him. He stopped and I shot. It would have been perfect if he would have been standing there when the arrow got there! Since I stopped him he was alerted and staring in my direction. On the shot he ducked the shot and was gone. Ground Lesson #1: Do not shoot at an alerted deer or one staring in your direction. From a tree they cannot see the shot as well due to the angle but from the ground they can. At least at this distance they have enough time to get out of the way.

I am getting more comfortable now after the encounters and more confident as well. I think this might be the most important part of it all….you have to be confident. I do think that for my area I probably need to go ahead and really build up the blinds so I can just peek and shoot over it. Especially since I am in a feeding area and they can come in from any direction. Also I bring some gardening twine to tie up the blind when needed.

There is definately allot to learn which can only be learned by getting out there and making some of the common mistakes but I have found everyone’s tips very valuable.

[DaveT]

in reply to: Ground Hunting Tips #28269

I don’t think you can hit them any better than that!!

I have done allot of ground hunting for hogs and gotten a few this way. Also shot my first bear this year from the ground. I just always was programmed to think whitetail=treestand so I have not done a bunch of whitetail ground hunting until recently.

I did go this AM and saw nothing and going to be going all weekend so hopefully I will have a good tale to tell. I also just go a new Niff T Seat today so very excited to try it out. Thanks for the tips so far!

[DaveT]

in reply to: Interesting Bear Situation #50019

Thanks Lance…..yes Frank checked me out on Saturday. He is a great guy and have known him for quite some time. This year is nuts with the #’s of bears. Saturday morning this bear was the 8th bear I saw! I saw 3 juvenile bears (50-60 lbs), a BIG unidentified bear walked by me at 20 yards in a thicket but no shot. 1 Sow with little Cub and I got within 6 yards of a another marginal shooter (70- 80 pounds or so) but didn’t want to cut it that close. Then was able to get up on the one I got around noon. When I saw Frank I think I was #2 so I can’t believe he checked that many over the weekend. Going to be a big year for bears I’ll bet. Nice job by the way on the deer you got opening day….I saw it over on GON Forum. Sure is nice to start the season off quick:D! I am going to try to go back up there with my dad to help him get one if possible. I told him I would drag it for him if he gets one:shock:. I wish I hadn’t said that.

[DaveT]

in reply to: Interesting Bear Situation #48867

Guys I would like to thank everyone for the tips. I hunted the area discussed in North Georgia on Saturday and got one:D!! It was a 150# sow bear. I was still hunting and stalked it while it was in the tree and shot it at 20 yards as it was coming back down at the bottom of the white oak. It was the 8th bear I saw that day and one of the most incredible days in the field I have every had. I posted the picture under the photo section.

[DaveT]

in reply to: Storing meat? #44384

A Foodsaver vacuum packer is awesome for game and fish. It is pretty inexpensive and well worth it IMHO. You can get one at Walmart. Just butcher out your own into individual or family sized portions and will keep for along time.

[DaveT]

in reply to: Like Blind Man Chop Wood! Field Dressing Advise #43366

Lance….I am a big fan of the “Womack” method myself. Hopefully Lance will have a video for us after this weekend:D!It is a great way to get a deer out of the deep woods.

One obvious tip but a good one is to make sure to keep a small sharpening stone on you. Especially with hogs…. a sharp knife sure makes the whole process more fun and safe!

Keep up the good tips!

[DaveT]

in reply to: Interesting Bear Situation #39386

Thanks guys for the tips guys.

Lance…. the trails along the ridge were very worn out so it’s pretty easy to see how they are traveling. I had never seen a bear actually up in a tree until the other day then see 3 different ones! I am so excited for next weekend. The second bear I saw was very mad at me and wouldn’t leave the tree. He was woofing at me and I finally had to yell at him to get him to move. Even then he just kind of climbed down then waddled off. I could have probably just shot him while in the tree. I was only about 25 yards and I could have gotten closer. He was a good one…I’m guessing a couple hundred pounds at least. The sign in this area is breathtaking. Literally well over 50 or more trees over a 1/2 mile of ridge just destroyed. Looks like for the most part the white oaks have failed up high but I found this group at about 3000 feet up to 3500 feet. Based on the sigh it is hard to tell how many bears are working this area but I saw 3 and heard one more so at least 4. I have some pics I’ll try to post later.

I might bring a lock on up there at some point but there is just so much sign that I would prefer to be more mobile. I don’t have allot of bear experience but seems to me you can hunt them allot like hogs. Find a hot area and just kind of be there quietly and downwind….then spot and stalk. But I’ve never shot a bear so what do I know:D

Thank you so much for the tips and please keep them coming.

[Author]

Posts