TNMTBik3r

Thanks! He is getting ground into burger tonight. Hope to put one more doe in the freezer before season ends. But if another buck like that walks by he is going down too. My only restricion is no 4 points or smaller. I try to let them grow a bit bigger unless there is an apparent growth issue or injury.

First buck I have seen this year, first I have shot in 3 years. For the place I am hunting that is a really good buck. The last one I shot could have been his brother, they look almost identical.

Went this morning, passed 4 does on the corner lot at 5:30 feeding. Sat until 9:00 and climbed down. This afternoon, made it to the stand by about 1:30. Just after 4:00 I spotted my first buck while hunting this year. He was almost 150 yards away and I did not have a shot. I grunted and bleated at him, he would look up towards me and then go back to eating. I kept willing him to step about 10 feet to the right and clear the branches, and after 15 minutes he finally took a few steps. It wasn't perfect, I had about an 8 inch window to place the shot...basically I missed but still got the buck. I was aiming at the top of his shoulder, should have went shoulder into his neck. At the shot all I saw was branches waving and thought I clipped one, he dropped so quickly I missed seeing it. But then I saw the legs kicking...Walked over there and found blood all over his head and neck. Once I started looking, I missed the shot but nailed him between the ear and antler base - kind of scrambled his brains. In this picture you can make out the hole...Barnes Tipped Triple Shock 180 grain from my 30-06. I am not sure if I clipped a branch and got a lucky ricochet or if I pulled the shot.

Plus one for the freezer trick. I've used it a few times.

We went out last night and saw it. Pretty good, some of the CGI was a bit too apparent. Cannot wait for the next one, I read the books back in school and was excited that they finally went back yo make Bilbo's adventure into a movie and not just the Lord of the Rings. A couple of movie previews they showed have me excited... New Godzilla (have to dig out the originals and watch them all again) and a sequel to 300.

Princeton Tec Remix arrived today. It has 4 modes - high and low in red and white. The default is low red, and second press/hold gets high red. Worth mentioning there is not an audible click when you press the button, my current Energizer can clearly be heard each time. Also do not cycle through white to turn off the light. The low red mode is rated at about 10 feet. The high is about 23 (listed on the box). I tested both lights in a dark room at the house. The Remix low red is very close to the red Energizer mode. The high mode is a huge improvement and I can clearly see objects and read items from across the room. Will test it in the woods Saturday but I am confident this light is a huge improvement and will make walking down the narrow trail and hill much easier. Well worth the $25 it cost me.

Deer can do some amazing things when shot. One of my does on Thanksgiving ran 70 yards with half a heart and one lung jellied. I slept this morning because weather said 90% chance of rain last night. Woke up and no rain....think I'm fixing to head out and hunt the field edge tonight.

The 300 blackout upper seems like a good deal too. If I had the extra money I would be all over it... http://www.shop.ar15hardware.com/16-300-Blackout-A4-Upper-300BOCMA4.htm

My experience is the opposite, and animals clearly react to white light but limited to no reaction to red, although I will admit my red lamp experience is a bit limited. As far as the 10' light, that would be much better than what my current light does. I am going to take a chance on the Princeton Rec Remix since it is on sale. If I don't like it I will return and go with the Petzl Tactikka. I will update this post once I receive and test the headlamp.

Congrats MSU! They get the Rose Bowl, and Auburn gets the National Championship against FSU.

Cannot believe i have spent 4 hours looking at headlamps now.... So, since i am trying to get an inexpensive but quality light and one not very bulky, i have narrowed my list. Princeton Tec Remix with 3 red LEDs. I can get it from Amazon for $25 (newer model is $35, only listed difference is 125 lumens over 100). http://www.rei.com/product/830453/princeton-tec-remix-headlamp Petzl Tactikka Plus as listed in first post. Or Cabelas RGB - highly rated as bright red output on several hunting forums. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/Hunting-Outfitters-Camp/Lights/Headlamps%7C/pc/104791680/c/104757480/sc/104743080/i/104379480/Cabelas-XPG-RGB-II-Headlamp/1716920.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FN%3D1110237%26WTz_l%3DSBC%253BBRprd1716920&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRprd1716920%3Bcat104379480 For $25 though I think I should try the Tec Remix - and can always return it with Amazon. Thanks to everyone who has chimed in!

Thanks, I will look at the black diamond line. I also found this Princeton that has 4 red led. It seems to run around $70 which is more than i was wanting to spend though. It is also a bit bulky but some great reviews. http://www.princetontec.com/apex

I am looking at the Tactikka Plus right now. It is only rated to 35 lumens, 4 LEDs with red filter. http://www.rei.com/product/709063/petzl-tactikka-plus-led-headlamp The Tikka Plus and XP models are higher lumen, but dedicated red LEDs and the stock photo appears to only be 1 red led which implies low output and not much of an upgrade from what i have.. Still looking online and watching for other suggestions but right now the Tactikka Plus is top on my list.

Posting here instead of gear or hunting to maybe get more input. I realized today while walking in/out of the woods that my red headlamp is terrible. I have a cheap Energizer HDL33A2 led from Walmart that uses 2 red LEDs http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/Energizer-HDL33A2E-Energizer-Pro-6-LED-Headlight/8111444 I have two issues with this lamp -i have to press the button 4 times to get to red, and the red output is weak (beam lights just a couple of feet in front of me). I searched on Google and found that Zebralight h31r or h51r seem to be about the best but they are discontinued and seem to be out of stock everywhere. So, does anyone have any recommendations for good red handlight? Red mode only, or multi mode but easy to switch straight to red. I don't want to spend too much as it will be mainly for hunting but also a backup general use handsfree light. The Petzl Tikka also appears very highly rated, any firsthand users here?

I'm cheering for MSU now too. My brother attends there and my mom works on campus in the admin building.

Just got home from hunting and turned it on. Saw last 5 minutes of 3rd quarter and some nice runs.

I arrived late, 1:30. Passed 6 does on the neighbors corner lot when pulling in. Those were all I saw tonight, am undecided about going in the morning. I should have hunted the field line instead of the ridge I think.

I have considered trying Omaha. I grew up on a farm so used to good beef,not store bought. But my parents moved and my few contacts quit raising or selling beef so I have been stuff with store bought. May try some from Omaha and see how it tastes, have heard good things before. Ideally i would find someone local and buy half a beef off them though.

If you place any faith in the lunar tables, this afternoon right before sunset should be great. I look at the tables but don't rely on them. I plan on being back on the ridge line right after lunch.

I went and didn't realize that freezing rain had hit the farm overnight until I got halfway to the stand. I went ahead and carefully climbed the ladder and sat anyways, but at 8:30 with no movement I climbed down and came home. It was flurrying a bit at the farm too but not my house -about 20 minutes apart. Will see what the weather is like and may head back this afternoon. I want to put 3 more I'm the freezer and with my work schedule I only get the weekends.

I'm getting up in the morning to go. Weather shows about 30 degrees with 10% chance of precipitation and 13mph wind. Should be excellent hunting conditions, similar to Thanksgiving day when we saw a bunch moving. Hunting the ridge line again, if weather was worse tonight or if colder in the morning i would hunt the field but sticking to sheltered ridge and acorns tomorrow.

If you can share, please let us know what happened. Important thing though is she is back!

Great news!

Terrible, I cannot even imagine what this must be like. I'm a ways away in Columbia but would be willing to help as needed. Thoughts go out to the entire family.

I didn't get one either, went with a blem lower instead and wife restricted me to one triple digit item... One of these days I will pick up a Mosin and would love to get my grandfather's Garand from him.