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Posted: 7/16/2023 9:50:48 AM EDT
[Last Edit: NesralG][Edited]
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Title says it all, 2023 backstrap fever has officially begun! Went out scouting with my cousin yesterday and hung a couple cameras, new cut of public land (to us) looks promising. Found some nice trails, old scrapes, beds, and recent activity near by. We found some public land via OnX and our Moultrie cam apps that has a lot of wetlands/marsh and if you’re willing to push thru and cross a creek it has many acres of oaks and about a 5 acre finger of a soy bean field that’s just littered with tracks. Hopefully I’ll be able to get some trail cam pics up in the next couple of weeks. I love summer time scouting, it gets me pumped up every year! Who else is starting to get the itch?  This was our first challenge, pushing thru the shoulder high reeds and cattails and in about 3 to 4" of standing water, I forgot to take a pic but the creek adjacent to the marsh is about 4 feet wide at its narrow point and full of about 1-3’ of cool running water. Attached File Large stand of oaks (lots of acorns growing!), found lots of this..Attached File And a highway leading right to the bean field behind me  Attached File |
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09/02 Elk opener. It’s gonna be awesome. We won’t roll in till the 4th tho. Just too much traffic from the holiday crowd. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
Member
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We will end up with all elk tags being draw some day. My home unit went to draw this year, I drew without using any pref points. Used an ATV trailer to drag camp in/out last year. Attached File Beat the hell out of that thing, got something different this year.. Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
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Training for the big show. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
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I’m pumped. Bow is dialed. Gear preps continue, workouts too. I get bored with doing the same exercises, sometimes I climb the rock. Attached File Not the cliff side tho. Scramble up the rim. Attached File Get a little upper body work in too. Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
Member
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Vastly different from the hardwoods of WI! That looks amazing, glad to see there are people here who shoot year round too. I'm on my 3rd year of getting my kids out for some 3D. My daughter is going to surpass me in no time.. but to be fair I'm a recurve guy  Attached File |
Member
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I got a million stories lol. Sadly, I have yet to arrow an elk since I picked up archery. So many close calls. I mostly gave up rifle hunting since I was whacking elk close and wanted a month of hunting. Still, I try and pull a cow tag for rifle season. No reason not to, except the weather can be…..harsh. Attached File That’s the wind, eventually pulling my chimney out. 2nd rifle shitshow. Even archery season can be rough, but I did manage to get 30 yards from a small bull not long after this pic. No good shot. Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
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I got a new non resident on this bull. Guy had never seen an elk in the wild. 800 yards from camp. One arrow, 25 yards. Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
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Getting ready for the 3 day antlered season here in Tennessee. Starts in 33 days with guns, muzzleloaders and archery equipment. Actual archery season starts 62 days from now. Attached File Did some work to my Mathews Switchback. New strings & cables, ditched the peep sight, put in a kisser button, and replaced the 4 pin sights with an EZV sight. It's time to do some scouting. Attached File |
The sun shines on every dog's ass once in a while.
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Got a new blade. Hope it gets bloody. Attached File Attached File Small enough to tuck in back there. |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
| I'm getting excited for the season. Bow is all tuned up, with new strings. I'm going to run a saddle for the first time this year. Hoping that will be a good change. Otherwise waiting on a few new arrow shafts to arrive so can get them built up and try a little more weight up front. It's hard to get with 31.5" arrows |
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Today is my best chance at scoring a B list tag. My either sex archery elk tag is an A list. We can also hold a B, which will be a cow tag for a rifle season. All leftover tags go on sale in an hour, first come/first served. Probably crash their damn server lol. |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
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WI, USA
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Almost 2 months after the first cam went out we finally ran across some decent bucks. Still got another month of growth! Attached File |
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In 30 days I will be on the mountain. And I scored a 3rd season rifle cow tag, same area. No more tipi for November hunts for sure. I’ll be in here. Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
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Originally Posted By NesralG: 🤞 you fill one of those tags. That’s definitely an upgrade from a tipi, very nice indeed! I’m all in this year. This is the water tank that hangs off the wood stove. Attached File Almost cheating. Attached File Hot water, on tap in camp. |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
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The weather outlook is looking devious for next week's 3-day velvet season in Tennessee. Attached File Chances of staying in the woods all day from dawn til dusk are slim. |
The sun shines on every dog's ass once in a while.
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Welp… my season opener just took a hard 180. Took a nice trip to the urgent care last evening annnd I tore my left gastrocnemius calf muscle. Hurt. Like. Hell and I’m down for 6-8 weeks minimum. So you fellas need to produce so I can live vicariously, at least until October 
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Originally Posted By NesralG: Welp… my season opener just took a hard 180. Took a nice trip to the urgent care last evening annnd I tore my left gastrocnemius calf muscle. Hurt. Like. Hell and I’m down for 6-8 weeks minimum. So you fellas need to produce so I can live vicariously, at least until October Geez man. I’ll keep you updated. Elk or not, it is gonna be great! I always see/hear/smell em, and have called bulls into range, but always something like a limb/tree/cow ruins my chance. Seen some insane stuff. 300+” bull pissing on himself from 25 yards, but I was not the shooter and only watched it thru the oakbrush. God help me I love this. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
|
Originally Posted By NesralG: Welp… my season opener just took a hard 180. Took a nice trip to the urgent care last evening annnd I tore my left gastrocnemius calf muscle. Hurt. Like. Hell and I’m down for 6-8 weeks minimum. So you fellas need to produce so I can live vicariously, at least until October Damn dude, get well soon. TN archery season starts in 25 days - I've got the itch for a new bow and I'm trying to fight it off. |
Member
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WI, USA
Member
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WI, USA
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I’m doing good, been sitting in my reloading room watching THP lol. Thankfully my wife is a saint and keeps me well fed. In the meantime I’m watching these guys.. Attached File |
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I hauled a few hundred pounds of stuff into base camp. Mostly stove fuel and drinking water. Once we move in 9-4 I want to hunt elk, not firewood and water. I set up water filtration, but it is a time suck. Attached File Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
Member
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518
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WI, USA
Member
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What do ya’ll think.. this the same buck? Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By NesralG: That’s going to be a nice setup. What do you have for a UTV? It’s getting close to time for the old lady and I to ditch the 4 wheeler and go utv. Yamaha Wolverine. 2019. Been flawless so far, and it goes everywhere. Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
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Congrats! Meat in the freezer. That seems about right. I always seem to be able to find bucks late spring thru summer and then they disappear for 2-5 weeks right up until the rut. Getting them to show face on camera at night, easy. Catching them during daytime hours, not so much. Those mature deer stay nocturnal because they're wise. Hopefully you're able to spot one on his way out to feed. Good luck! |
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I’m heading up for the finish, been up all month and it ends 9/28. Bent but not broken. Damn elk everywhere/nowhere. No bugling yet. Just ran home for home crap and a hot shower. Helped a friend get his bull out on 9/4 Attached File Eating some fresh fish, and elk from the friend. Attached File That damn water was 61 degrees. Went swimming anyway. Attached File Aspens are just starting to turn too. Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
Member
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WI, USA
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Dinner pic. Can of chili, chopped up burger, Mexican pickled veggies. Attached File More fall color too. Attached File Heading back to camp now. Final push for an elk. Attached File Insert my elk in this pic. Attached File |
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
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No deer tag this year, finally drew an early bull elk tag. That's getting 100% of my attention. I'm going to be out the entire two week season. I'm either coming home with an elk, or the when the season ends... it took me 14 years to draw this AZ tag. |
If you can't take the high road, occupy the high ground.
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Originally Posted By dorobuta: No deer tag this year, finally drew an early bull elk tag. That's getting 100% of my attention. I'm going to be out the entire two week season. I'm either coming home with an elk, or the when the season ends... it took me 14 years to draw this AZ tag. You are gonna smoke a big one! |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Originally Posted By DVCER: You are gonna smoke a big one! Thanks! I'm a little upset that CO is not going to have OTC elk tags for out of state hunters next year. I'm going to have to start building up points for the CO draw... |
If you can't take the high road, occupy the high ground.
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Originally Posted By dorobuta: Thanks! I'm a little upset that CO is not going to have OTC elk tags for out of state hunters next year. I'm going to have to start building up points for the CO draw... 100 bucks just to get a point is excessive, and I don’t see the point system getting any better. Our best units take 12 to 24 years to draw. AZ is similar I’m sure. How much is a res tag? |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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I scored a bonus cow tag yesterday in our leftover tag sale. 2nd rifle Grand Mesa. Here’s a good one, somebody used 24 NR points in our primary draw on a cow tag. Probably just getting too old to see any elk hunt on the horizon. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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For the first time I got myself up off the forest floor and 18 feet into a tree. 3 does, 2 fawns and one raccoon showed up but no bucks. Still have tomorrow to hunt after church. If anything, I'm learning what works and what doesn't. Attached File Attached File Actual archery season starts September 28. I can't wait to fill some tags and freezers. |
The sun shines on every dog's ass once in a while.