I just grabbed the Irish Setters a couple weeks ago and have already walked them through the woods a good bit. they are incredibly light and hold out the water (so far). only knock is that they don't have a lot of arch/ankle support - but that can be remedied with an insole and me tying them better.
And I just purchased this: As soon as it arrives, I'm going to re-sight in my bow to make sure that they're in line with each other. It occurred to me that it's a lot more important that I'm accurate to X yardage with it than with a tape measure when I'm in the field. I never really used one when I bowhunted from tree stands, because I was always hunting the same land and could use landmarks for distance. This open prairie shit is going to be wild.
The grasslands look like it would be filled with snakes but I've walked probably a hundred miles between my two trips and never saw a snake. I wouldn't worry about them at all. Couple things: -Range finder is super important. Good call. I went my first year without one, which was really stupid. Not sure where your guide will be taking you but if you're on public land those lopes are so skittish. I would consider a call and a cutout. I had a cutout with my buddy but a call would have helped a lot, as well. I imagine your guide will get you on some water. The only problem is there's been a lot of water out there the last couple years so it's hard to gauge where to sit if you haven't done a ton of scouting. Not sure if you'll be out and about but a pack is something to consider. If you're walking a shit ton it's nice to carry all your stuff in there and then strap your bow to it if you're going to/from somewhere. My buddy had a GPS and we literally walked 15 miles one day. It's also a good thing you'll have a guide because it's kind of easy to lose your vehicle once you get in the field. Also, if you get a pack, consider getting a water bladder that sits inside. We would leave camp in the morning and not go back at all during the day. It can be hot as shit so plenty of water is really important. I'll add to this as I think of things. EDIT: Arrows - think about using arrows that are as light as possible. If you're taking a long shot they'll duck the string if you're using an arrow that's heavier (like Easton FMJs). Binos. Get good binos. Seriously. This is a major major thing. BINOCULARS. GET THEM. I have Vortex Diamondbacks. They're realtively cheap and very good quality. My buddy had a pair of $1,200 Zeiss binos and the difference was negligible. You'll be sitting and glassing for a ton of your trip. Good binoculars are so important. With a body harness for them. Also important.
Vortex Binos Vortex Harness Tenzing Pack Water bladder My buddy had a Tenzing pack. I bought an Alps. They're both good, although I think Alps stole Tenzing's design. You can get much better harnesses than that if you want to spend more money but that's what I have and it's does the job just fine. I would most definitely have at least some version of those things.
From y'all's experience, do the "dummy" mechanical broadheads fly the same as the actual mechanicals? I used to only use fixed broadheads, which you could just use on a broadheads target and then change blades. I've bought rage hypodermics with a 2" cutting diameter so that I'm shooting a total 400 grain arrow at ~310 fps setup for hunting for this pronghorn trip. Everything I've read says that the dummies will fly the same, but is that right? I'm lethal at 40 yards, and solid at 50: I'm not sure that I'm confident enough st 60 yards right now, because I'll occasionally push or fly one.
I don't trust mechanicals, but that's a personal thing. From everything I've seen and shot, the dummy ones are close enough to the real thing.
I've never shot them before and probably won't for whitetail. Everything I've read recommends them for antelope due to the distance of shots and the and then having thinner skin/weaker bones.
Guys, I'm moving back to Indiana in October and want to get back into Hunting. More so Bow. Would be interested in something for Whitetail and Turkey and then some other game on hunting trips. Elk, Boar, etc. Any recommendations on a beginner set up? Will probably buy a bow after this upcoming season. Don't feel like paying new equipment prices. Been looking at Diamond, Bowtech, Hoyt, and PSE. Looking for something that's super customizable. Any help would be a huge thanks.
Not doing antelope this year. Doing a long trip to the Nebraska-Oregon game with my dad instead. Going to miss it big time.
I would take a road trip with my dad over hunting every time, he is getting older so there aren't that many chances left
That's exactly what I thought. Dude is 67 and just sort of had a cancer scare so I was like fuck it let's go to Oregon.
Wish my pops could go with me on the pronghorn trip, but he's not really in good enough health for all the walking.
-Go out the second day of archery season. -it's public land ~300 acres -be the only truck there -see a deer almost immediately -start stalking the deer -30 minutes in hear 2 shotgun shots very close (like I ducked instinctively) -spot a moron dove hunter and his dog -go to a new spot -decide to leave new spot because poop -as you are leaving the spot moron dove hunter is coming to this spot -he asks if you're looking for bucks or does because he bumped 3 does on the piece of ground you just came from (which he apparently didn't know or recognize your vehicle) -tell him "I know. I saw one and then you shot right by me." -"oh." Fucking morons
I know a couple of things are universal truths. 1. There is a god and I am not him. 2. You can never have enough mojos. Also it is opening day of Dove season and we have some nice weather. I am getting excited.
Didn't see any, actually. I don't begrudge dove hunters doing their thing but when there's already a truck on a decently small piece of ground and this mofo is just shooting all willy nilly. He had no idea I was that close ( ). One, it's unsafe. Two, you just bumped all the deer ya fuck.
If anyone needs boots, I have these and they're awesome. A steal at under $70 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2...adfast-2428102335&utm_content=main-image-link
On it. Would've been more useful a couple of weeks ago. I had the sole come off my old Vasque hiking boots about two miles from my truck last week.
Heading up to Northern MI to do a little hunting with some buddies at the end of October. Much rather be hunting than doing Halloween bullshit.
just joined a hunt club up here in VA run by some guys I work with. haven't hunted deer really at all since high school, so I'm excited to get back into it.
I never noticed a difference between the dummy mechanical and the actual one, it went where I aimed so I was happy. I tried my hand at archery antelope. If you can get to within 60 on one good luck, locals out there told me to be confident at 80. I ended up low crawling for an hour and a half and ranged one at 86 yards, and they ended up hauling ass before I even got to half draw.
Pretty much this every day: The land was gorgeous, I saw a ton of them, and I had an amazing time. Would definitely recommend. It's just really difficult hunting. I'll post pictures later.
Never in my life have I come so close to just straight up poaching. We had rifles for shooting prairie dogs in the truck, and after 3 days of crawling trying to get an archery shot I was frustrated. Kept looking at lopes through my rifle scope, clicked off the safety once. Would have been so easy. But alas my integrity and the threat of the hefty fine won out. More so the latter.
What's really frustrating is when you know they see you, and they wait 20-30 minutes before bolting. They just sit there staring at you from just out of your range waiting on you to move. Then, after a half hour boom, they clear a quarter mile in fifteen seconds.
I'm a forester working with other foresters. They manage the hell out of the property (frequent burning). It's some old paper company land and has been treated well.
yeah I have no illusions of getting quality bucks - just looking to get in the woods and hopefully stock the freezer
also I've never hunted deer with a shotgun before - any tips would be welcome I have a 12 gauge Remington 11-87