[Ron Roettger]

in reply to: Turkey season starts this saturday #38040

after snow storm started photo

[Ron Roettger]

in reply to: Turkey season starts this saturday #38038

Hi all,
Had a fun trip to the black hills. It was shortened by a 8″ snow fall Thursday night that was going to add another 12″ before Saturday am. Along with high winds up to 50 mph. I thought it best to pack up Friday around 9 am and make the 2 mile drive on the two track road I was camped on, out to the main gravel road. And the 7 mile drive out to the paved road while I could! The first night (Tuesday) after setting up camp I spotted an old elk shed 25 yards from my tent sticking out of a snow field. It got down to 15 degrees that night but I found a new 5 point elk shed on a snowy hill side that day, but never heard or saw a turkey. It never got out of the mid 20’s and the birds were not active. Thursday brought better turkey hunting weather some sun highs in the upper 30’s/low 40’s little wind. I called a huge tom up a hill that ended up 4 yard behind me strutting and drumming, I tried to turn my head to see if he was turned away with his fan blocking his veiw so I could get my longbow around for a shot, but I spooked him, he ran out 30 yards and strutted and called back to me for awhile then walked off. It was very cool. I found 3 deer sheds, Later that day the weather was turning and rain/snow was called for. As I went to sleep for the night the snow was starting to fall. In the attached photos You can see my camp Tuesday after setting up and Friday after tearing down. I alot of fun, can’t wait for next year! Take care Ron

[Ron Roettger]

in reply to: Turkey season starts this saturday #28736

I leave Wis. at 4:30 am Tuesday the 19th. headed to the Blackhills I have both SD and WY tags. Tenting in the hills hunting the birds with my longbow and deer/elk sheds with lots of walking and looking. Also scouting water holes for my fall elk hunt in the same area of WY. Good luck to you all, be safe!

P.S. I Just got an e-mail from the mother of a young man that just completed both the Hunter Education, Bow hunter Edcation class that I teach. He got is first turkey, hunting with his uncle last Sunday durning Wis. Youth turkey season.
Here is part of the message-
Shayde got his 1st turkey on Sunday, the 10th. His turkey was 24 lbs, 9″ beard. He was so excited! He is very proud of himself! His cousin Noah got a 19 lb. turkey. Shayde rubs it in alittle that his was bigger! 🙂

I come back from my hunt on Easter Sunday, will past an update when I get back.

[Ron Roettger]

in reply to: first elk hunt! #41582

Gary, Thanks for the info. Along with 2-3 knifes I will bring a saw, rope for holding legs back, 8X8 foot plastic sheet to lay meat on to keep it clean? meat bags, Flash lights, head lamp, pack, and game cart if needed. Any thing else for the processing in the field part?

Thanks for the help. Ron

[Ron Roettger]

in reply to: first elk hunt! #34628

Gary, thanks for the info. I know what you mean about the flies. I have taken a number of deer on the SD side in this area. Many just after first light, and if it is going to get warm and sunny I work fast to get done before the hoards of flies come. I have been reading/research on field processing elk. Being so much bigger, I will not be able to just drag it into a shaded draw to help with the heat and flies. I have bought game bags, have a pack and a game cart if I am lucky and get one the details/location will decide what I use. In a perfect world I would make the shot just after sunrise, see the elk go down, have a cool/cold cloudy (no rain) day to take my time processing and packing out the meat.
But we know it is not such a world, I hope to be ready for the task if I do harvest an elk. Keep the info coming it is agreat help. Thanks Ron

[Ron Roettger]

in reply to: first elk hunt! #32878

David and others, thank you for taking the time to give the great info. I go to the SD Blackhills each fall the same week as this hunt (work, and teaching hunter, bowhunter Ed classes, and a grandson’s birthday make it the best week for my schedule) I see most elk in herds as you noted. some times I spot a Cow and calf off aways as though looking for the herd. I will be tent camping in SD just yards from the WY state line. Hopping the fence and hunting a strip of land about 1-1.5 miles wide and 15 miles north to south, with a few small private parcells in it. I would love to have a larger “wider” area like the SD blackhills to hunt but Non Res. can not hunt elk in SD. Our Wisconsin herd is not growing at a rate that will likely offer Me a tag in my lifetime. After reseaching drawing odds (51 hunters put in for 20 cow/calf tags) for the Unit I will hunt. The trips- tags,lic. and stamps for a Cow/calf plus a Doe/fawn deer come to $392.50 Gas, food, and lodging bring the total cost of the trip in under $700.00( that even allows for dry ice) I have Turkey hunted and scouted the area in the past and know the water hole,etc. and have seen elk spring and fall on the WY side. I will be using my Big Rivers flatbow, and woodshafts tipped with 160 grain Wensel Woodsmans heads. Thanks again. Ron.

[Ron Roettger]

in reply to: How do you find your arrows? #30256

I just replace the missing arrow with one from my buddies quiver! “just kidding” I use a a metal detector when at home shooting in the back yard, if I loose one at the club I go back out later with the detector, takes more luck/time with my wood arrows looking for the tips, then it does my wifes Alum. shafts. But most are found by spotting them hinding in plane sight in the same spot I passed over 3 or 4 times already.

[Ron Roettger]

in reply to: You Favorite Broadhead and why ? #40830

I like the W. Woodsmen also and have shot a number of deer with them, great blood trails. dont care for the noise (hiss) they make in flight. Do you guys/gals have this?

[Ron Roettger]

in reply to: Anyone going after spring Turkey #40241

I and a good friend were to head to the Black Hills next Tue. but his wife got real ill this last Wed morning. So now my thoughts are for her recorvery, things dont look good right now, but got to hope for the best.

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