Message Board

CO Muleys

HUNT — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:07:57 GMT

Heading to CO for a mule deer scouting trip end of July.

Forum: Western Game

more pics from Canada

Buckhunter24 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:00:16 GMT

A few more pics from Canada. A Couple good dead bucks the Fiance' found also.

Forum: Shed Hunting

More Canadian Bone

Buckhunter24 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:55:52 GMT

My personal favorite is the 10-pt match set that was tied together with baler twine. He must have had an all out battle with a round bale for fun.

Forum: Shed Hunting

Canadian bone

Buckhunter24 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:52:04 GMT

Well the Fiance' and I had an awesome trip up to Canada. Between the 2 of us we managed to find 147 sheds in 7 days. This was the biggest shed of the trip. My buddy actually has the match set off this buck from last year and he actually got a little smaller this year. Was hoping to find a couple monster sheds but they're not behind every tree as some might think.

Forum: Shed Hunting

WI Spring Turkey 2009

STEINY118 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:03:24 GMT

Hey Jarod,
Never assume bud.
It was a shoulda, coulda, woulda morning.
I am trying to get good video - so I delayed my shot in hopes he would come into the decoys where I had my stationary camera on. He was shootable at 30yds and only had 10ys to go for the perfect set up and he got spooked by a beaver slap and took off.
I'll be back at him here in a couple hours.

Forum: Turkeys

Forum is Moving!

Back40Admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:49:45 GMT

Hey all,

After a couple of years of hosting our own forum, Back 40's forum is moving to a new location. We have decided to sponsor the DIY hunting section of the forum on Sage Creek (http://www.sagecreekforums.com). I will most likely shut this forum down early next week, and I will direct link to the new one on Sage Creek.

I thank and appreciate everyone that has posted here over the years. Please register on Sage Creek and let's continue the great discussions we have!!

Forum: Misc.

Fish Pickling Recipe

backatit — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:26:33 GMT

I know you guys are all about hunting but here is a recipe for pickling fish that can't be beat. I use panfish so when it is done I can just pop it on a cracker and sit down with a cold beer. I always put a few garlic cloves in with them and when the fish are gone eat the garlic and onions.

STEP 1

1 1/2 LB FISH (CUT TO BITE SIZE PIECES)

6 CUPS WATER

1 CUP PICKLING SALT

REFRIGERATE 12 HRS OR OVERNIGHT AND THEN RINSE

STEP 2

COVER IN WHITE VINEGAR FOR 12 HOURS OR OVERNIGHT AND THEN RINSE

FISH BRINE (SHOULD BE MADE AHEAD)

BRINE RECIPE

1 CUP WATER

2 CUPS WHITE VINEGAR

1 CUP SUGAR

2 TBS PICKLING SPICE

1 1/2 CUPS WHITE PORT WINE (CAN ADD AT FINAL PREPARATION IF ALCOHOL IS PREFERRED OTHERWISE THE ALCOHOL EVAPORATES)

OTHER INGREDIENTS IF PREFERRED (I.E CAYENNE, GARLIC, ETC)

COMBINE AND BRING TO A BOIL. LET SIMMER FOR 15 MINUTES.

LET COOL

FINAL PREPARATION

LAYER CURED FISH AND ONIONS (AS PREFERRED) IN JAR(S). (I USE GAL JAR)

COVER WITH COLD BRINE.

LET STAND IN REFRIGERATOR 10 DAYS.

I'LL BE YOU'RE EATING IT BEFORE THE 10 DAYS ARE UP

Forum: After the Harvest

April sheds

Buckhunter24 — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:44:56 GMT

Went out after work on monday and picked up 7 sheds. The 7-pt side scored just under 71 inches. Need to get back out and try and match that one up.

Forum: Shed Hunting

NE Turkey 2009

cotman — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:33:37 GMT

Well we had a good time hunting today. I ended up videoing Trevon taking a double bearded Jake this morning, another Jake was with him so I handed the camera to Trev and we hoped to have a double kill but the bird wouldnt come in range with a strong 35 mph wind. Stayed at bout 50 yds. If the wind wasnt so strong we woulda had two Jakes down. None the less, it was a great day of hunting - seeing alot of birds, they just dont want to breakup quite yet.

Tomorrows a new day.... Ill be back!

Forum: Turkeys

Scouting

Back40Admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:34:08 GMT

With the last couple of weekends being nice out, I was finally able to get out and do a bit of scouting while bringing my boy along. We were a mile (as the crow flies) from the truck in the thick stuff when we finally started seeing some good deer sign. He was a trooper getting back into it, but 5 minutes after that picture was taken, his feet never hit the ground again as I carried him back to the truck. He loved every minute of it, but I have to say I was a bit tired when it was all said and done....

Forum: Whitetail Deer

Back 40 Bowfishing

BullBalls — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 04:15:38 GMT

Well, I have been absent from the forums as of late and that is because I have been involved in a big project. I finally have gotten some progress done and am ready to reveal it. Here is Back 40's new vessel. It does not have a name on it yet but I am working on it and am willing to take suggestions. I need to put some finishing touches on it. The lights in these pics are not where they actually are. I have moved them since the pics were taken. I will update more photos as it gets completed. I wanted to have some before pics but in some confussion it did not get done.

Forum: Misc.

Great Article!

Back40Admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:06:20 GMT

What are the chances?

By David Knupp

What are the chances? That was one of the questions running through my mind on the morning of November 9, 2004 as I drove to my favorite hunting spot. You see, I had already harvested one very respectable buck that season on October 1st, our season opener here in Illinois. It was the largest buck I had ever taken with archery equipment, and I knew it would come close to meeting the minimum requirements for entry into the Pope and Young Club. I could have stopped hunting that season on opening day and been satisfied. Luckily, How boring would that have been? was the other question running through my head that morning.

By the time the rut finally rolled around, it had actually seemed like I had shot my first buck the season before. It had been a long 40 days since the season opener and I had been hunting hard. I figured my chances of harvesting another P&Y qualifying buck that season were slim, but I knew the opportunity to see one that day was great. It was the peak of the rut, and I was hunting an area where I have witnessed over the years some very exciting whitetail activity. On several occasions, I had witnessed bucks aggressively fighting, seemingly almost to the death. Once I witnessed two bucks fight until they where both bloodied from fighting so intensely. Another time I watched a buck so worn down from fighting and chasing does lie down in a creek to cool off just out of bow range. I believe the rut was actually the demise of this buck, because I found him dead later on that season with no apparent human inflicted injuries.

The 20-acre woodlot I was hunting that day is always filled with dozens of scrapes and rubs. I scout hundreds of acres of woods each year, and have yet to find an area with as many rubs per square acre as I find in this small woodlot. Although this woodlot is only 20 acres in size, it is the largest patch of timber with in two miles of its location. The woodlot borders a creek and many large agricultural fields lined with small brush filled ditches, the perfect habitat for the mid-western whitetail. The buck-to-doe ratio on this farm is very balanced, the result of which is evident in a very active pre-rut and rut.

I climbed into my tree stand located in a very thorny black locust tree 30 minutes before daylight. The woods felt crisp and calm, with the temperature in the low 20s and no noticeable wind. Upon getting situated in my stand I could hear deer running around in the woods behind me. Initially, I assumed I had busted them while entering my stand. Seconds later, I could here a buck grunting. At that moment, I knew I was in for an exciting morning hunt. I immediately nocked a 5575 Gold Tip arrow and clipped my release aid to my bowstring. I remained motionless standing in my tree stand for the next 30 minutes listening to the buck grunt and chase does around the dark woods. As first light appeared, a doe and two fawns made themselves visible directly below my tree stand. They were very alarmed and jittery, fortunately they where unaware of my presence, and more concerned with the buck still grunting just out of sight to my right. With my arrow still nocked and ready to draw, I was concentrating on my shooting lanes to my right looking for the grunting buck to appear. Then suddenly I caught some movement to my left. I slowly glanced over to my left, trying not to alarm the doe and two fawns directly below me. Sneaking towards my shooting lanes on my left was a shooter buck followed by several fawns. I slowly shifted my feet to get in position to draw my bow at the slowly approaching buck to my left. In the process of getting into position, my arrow detached itself from my string. My heart sank, and I became a little panicked as a quickly re-nocked my arrow. The buck continued its path towards my shooting lane on a trail 28 yards from my stand, all the while I could still hear the other buck grunting and running circles in the woods to my right. As I drew my BowTech Liberty bow, the buck stopped unalarmed perfectly broadside. I settled my pin directly behind the bucks shoulder and squeezed the trigger on my release. In a split second I heard a loud whack as my arrow struck the buck. The woods around me exploded with deer running everywhere. The buck immediately stumbled for a step or two then slowly walked away at a 90-degree angle from my location. He walked only 28 more yards and then fell over with in sight like a ton of bricks.

As the adrenaline in my body started to rush, I could still hear the first buck to the right of me grunting. Several more does and fawns became visible, watching and listening trying to figure out what had just happened. Finally, the first buck appeared still grunting and trailing a doe. He was a nice year and half ten point that I had already seen and passed on earlier in the season from the same stand. As he trailed the hot doe towards the location of my downed buck, he caught sight of the fallen monster. What I witnessed next ranks high on the list of amazing whitetail activity I have witnessed in this wood lot. The small 10-point walked up to the fallen buck and lowered his head as if to challenge the much larger motionless buck. He stood directly above the buck and shook is antlers at the expired monster. He challenged the other buck for a minute or so then became satisfied that he was at the top of the pecking order now and continued chasing does around the woods. I remained in my stand hoping to get a shot at one of the does still running around my tree stand. Several fawns had actually bedded down around the buck I had arrowed moments ago. Then suddenly I could here a third buck directly behind me grunting. The saying when it rains it pours certainly was applicable to this situation. I continued watching and listening to get a glimpse of the third rutting buck. I watched for 15 minutes or so, and then decided I could not take the anticipation anymore and climbed down from my tree to admire my harvest.

I walked to the spot where my 100-grain Spitfire tipped arrow had passed through the buck. I immediately saw a lot of blood. Although I new exactly where my buck lay, I could not visually see him from the ground. I followed the heavy blood trail counting off 28 yards to where my second buck of the season lay. I had made a perfect heart shot. My trophy buck never knew what hit him and never suffered. As I knelt down to examine the massive mainframe ten-point rack, several fawns remained only 25 yards away curiously watching me. At that moment, I realized my chances of harvesting a second mature Illinois whitetail was good, during the rut in this small woodlot, where at least 9 does/fawns and 3 bucks decided to put on an amazing show.

Forum: Monthly Contest

A Representative Slam

Back40Admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:20:11 GMT

I got to thinking the other day what animals I would like to pursue in my lifetime. While I've never been big on completing the Super Slam or anything, I came up with what I call the "Representative Slam". Basically one of each species, plus a few other animals. The list looks like this:

1 of 3 Elk.

1 of 4 Sheep.

1 of 4 Bear.

1 of 5 Caribou.

1 of 5 Deer.

1 of 3 Moose.

Mt Lion

Mtn Goat

Pronghorn

Another goal of mine is to shoot all five of the deer species and all 4 of the turkey species (2 of each already done).

Another cool one I thought of was the "Midwest" Slam. To include a plains state mule deer, whitetail, bear and turkey (spring) all in the same year (all DIY). That will be a fun pursuit I go for when I draw my WI bear tag in a few years. Might even have to throw an antelope into that one. Now that would be a busy fall!

Anybody else have any "Slams" they are trying for?

Forum: Misc.

SITKA SATURDAY On Camofire!!!

BSLugnut — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:41:08 GMT

For those of you that are interested in getting a good deal on some Sitka Gear, get ready for SITKA SATURDAY this coming Saturday, March 21.

Camofire will have Sitka products, in AP, Breakup, Max 1 and Mountain Mimicry. They will have 90% coats, pants. The will have vests, base layers, downpour products, Mountain pants and Celsius products and base layers as well. They will be having back-to-back deals, Saturday and Sunday.

https://www.camofire.com

Sorry I don't know all the specific products that they have received. Because, Sitka added several things that they were not aware of.

Have a great weekend!

Forum: Equipment/Shooting

Attack on WI Bowhunting

Back40Admin — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:22:45 GMT

***This text was copied and pasted from another site***

Your bow season is at risk. While reading through the Conservation Congress Spring hearings questions, I came across question 57 which seeks to make the archery season an antlerless only season except for opening weekend and two weeks during the rut. Bowhunters would not be allowed to harvest a buck at any other time of the bow season if this passes.

It is being labeled an "EAB alternative" is really an attack on bowhunters. The wording is sneaky enough not to mention the bow season which is most likely an attempt to trick unsuspecting CC voters into voting for it as an "Alternative" to EAB on the grounds of fairness. By fairness, it means that since gun hunters get an opening weekend and the 9 day season to hunt bucks that bowhunters should only get that same amount of time to harvest bucks.

As a Bowhunter, you have more reason than ever to attend the April 13th spring hearing to vote NO to question 57. Please make sure to spread the word about this assault on the bow season.

Here is the wording as it appears in the CC spring hearing book.

QUESTION 57 An EAB Alternative

The use of the Earn-a-Buck deer season in Wisconsin has been controversial, unpopular, and seemingly unfair to many hunters since its inception. Yet, EAB has proven to be effective at reducing high deer populations. It accomplishes this by tying the ability, opportunity, and desire for harvesting a buck with the biological necessity of harvesting antlerless deer. Sadly, EAB does this on an individual hunter basis where one hunter may be able to hunt bucks for over 100 days, while another hunter may never have even one days chance.

Another way of utilizing the same ability, opportunity, and desire for harvesting a buck would be to implement a full-length antlerless season with a shortened buck harvest period. Season opening weekends (and perhaps a two or three week rutting period) would always be open for buck harvest so everyone in the DMU has the same chance at that time for a buck every year that the program is in effect. Antlerless harvest would be spurred on during the rest of the season by the desire to return to a full-season buck hunting opportunity again. Specific time periods and trigger points for the implementation of such a management tool could be developed cooperatively with the DNR. All hunters under this system would and should be treated equally.

In areas or DMUs of high over-goal deer populations and in an effort to provide equal buck-hunting opportunity to all hunters in those units, would you prefer the concept of shortening buck hunting opportunity by limiting the buck harvest equally for all hunters on a seasonal basis instead of limiting individual opportunity through the use of EAB?

Lastly, you will want to know where this attack is coming from. You will be surprised to know that one of our very own Bowsite members is at the heart of question 57.

Make sure to attend your county CC hearings and vote this down!!!!!!

Forum: Whitetail Deer