Well folks, how have you done so far? Yesterday was our opening day....I had opportunites on 2 does and a 1 horn spike, I gave them a pass. Another doe came through with a spotted fawn. No, I didn't "pick a spot" 

My son passed on a 5 point, he has a couple monsters coming through. The boy (he's 30+) got lost on his way in....opening morning jitters

Great activity for state land....just gotta put on the hip boots. I had one doe come in that was almost all black. She came out of a black swamp, I am pretty sure she was laying in the muck to keep cool. She was wary as heck....I was in a great spot but she knew dang well I was there. So smart.

I will stay picky until I get to ShrewHaven in a couple weeks, then it will be a race to stack does

I hope you are all having a productive season.

My opening day was spent sleeping in after a long drive back from Colorado Friday/Saturday.  It's the first opening day I've missed in many years.  Hoping to get out this weekend, depending on how much of my honeydo list I get done after spending three weeks trying to chase an elk down.  Looking forward to a Shrewhaven thread again!!!


Jason

I always like hearing what everyone is shooting.....this year I had visions of recreating Fred Asbells arrows. I was overrun with work and moving....and didn't get started on them until late.

Then I remembered a conversation Fred and I had. I had built some really simple arrows and showed them to Fred...."They look beautiful to me" he said.....after I had him-hawed about how basic they were.

So I put these together to remember my friend. Not as "show-off" arrows, but to quietly remember my mentor while I sit in the woods this fall.

Your "Fred" arrows look great!

Sometimes the simple stuff is the best, good luck to you Roger.


Jason

I spent opening day driving back from an unsuccessful (but still very enjoyable) mule deer hunt. Probably won't hunt in this 80 degree weather, but it's supposed to cool off nice this weekend. Good luck to all the Michigan hunters out there! (And I suppose to all you other guys as well)

Love them Roger!
I havnt been out, yet. Maybe next week.

Ps. Really missing reading new stuff from Fred. Probably my favorite hunting author.

Good luck, Roger!
I passed on two does yesterday...they were outside my 'comfort zone' and I felt like a shot would be a 'Hail Mary' effort...dusk was approaching and not relishing the thought of a lights-out search all by my lonesome. Had they been ten yards closer...yeah. I would have gone for it.

Good luck this season Roger! I hope you have a safe and blessed season.

I was able to kill a nice doe here in PA on my opener, 9/16. I have a few more doe tags and a buck tag but work keeps getting in the way of my hunting time. 

Early scouting before the opener had me in some THICK clouds of mosquitos! Literally under my glasses and trying not to inhale them..bug nets for my daughter and I will be in the day packs. We are heading out Friday to state land. She is 9yrs old and hunting with a 62" Bear Ranger recurve and Zwickey Eskimos. It'll be her first time ever hunting...I can't wait to hunt with her.

Our opening day on long Island is October 1st also and I was hunting a new spot in a abandoned ladder stand i found scouting in the spring. I fixed it up and snuck in before first light. I saw a real high 8 pt stroll by at 7:15am but I didn't have a clear shot through the brush and he was 25 yards away. then 15 minutes later a doe came in with a spike and she spent the next 20 minutes going back and forth. She came the stand at 3 yards but I didn't want to hit one lung so i passed. A couple minutes letter she stuck her head out of the brush and when she gave me a 15 yard broadside shot I took it. She went 50 yards piling up with a liver and I nicked one lung. She was down in a second or two. Of course i forgot my game cart but it was only a 100 yard drag to my truck.

Morning hunt I saw several doe with fawn and a 2 year old 8pt.  Evening I saw a few deer and pigs going out but none while on stand.  Spent Sunday in church.  Need all the help I can get.

Good luck Roger, I look forward to seeing a bloody knife pic from the one you bought at Compton!

Quote from: Bigriver on October 05, 2023, 07:25:38 PM
Good luck Roger, I look forward to seeing a bloody knife pic from the one you bought at Compton!

That knife was absolutely on my belt! Bear track

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Saweet Cant wait to see that thing bloody...

My Fred Bear camo limb coverings came from 3Rivers yesterday (quick shipping...2 days) and I put them on my PCH today. I love this bow....now I feel like one of the cool kids [attachment=1][attachment=2]

PCH is my favorite Widow, nice bow.

Brian - The Stag Hunter knife you sold me at Compton has become my favorite. Big enough, not too big. Perfect handle. Thank you!!

Thanks Roger, hope it brings many years of service.