The 'SOLANA GAMES' have begun!!!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Great stories guys! a big congrats to all of you!

Sounds like everyone had a great trip....  Kirk

[Pat B.]

Great stories and memories !!!

Now on to Charlies version of "The Solana Games"!

[Ric O'Shay]

I've resisted posting while the stories were going up. This is a really great thread. Just wanted to say thanks for the opportunity to come down on Saturday and get to meet everyone before the afternoon "happening". It was a please to see all there and I look forward to hearing from Charlie.

BTW - Charlie, hows the cap doing?

Danny

[Shedrock]

Good stuff!  

[Charlie Lamb]

Danny... the cap is doing just fine. Thanks so much!!!
Wish I have had more time to spend chatting.

[Charlie Lamb]

Since I'm still involved in family stuff I won't be able to get into the story of the hunt from my perspective until later today.

Just let me say that it was a surprise hunt for me that started with a phone call from Terry Green.
Without beating around the bush he asked me if a spot came available would I be able to make it to Solana.

No pressure there! Right?!!

As it turned out he was waiting for a confirmation from another hunter so that gave me time to sit down and crunch the numbers.... alright, so the wife was doing the crunching and I was doing the finger crossing.

Within the hour I was back on the phone with Terry . As it turned out, the wife decided we could afford the hunt and we'd call it my birthday gift.
Terry let me know that the other hunter had made his choice and wanted me to be able to make the gathering.

I want to acknowledge that hunter and old friend Ted Fry. Thanks buddy! I'll make it up to you some time.

So with little time for packing and making the truck ship-shape for the trip I got busy.

Packing for these impromtu trips has become an easy matter over the years. Most of the time from September until January my travel bag st,ays packed.
I may add or remove items of clothing depending on expected weather,but nothing really changes much.

I'd been shooting my old favorite recurve "Scarlett" all season and she had accounted for 3 deer in Missouri.
At 64# @ my draw and slinging a 550 grain Easton 2216  with Magnus I up front I was confident I could handle any shooting opportunities that might arise. From bunnies to grizzled old warrior pigs, I was ready in that department.

I initially met everyone at dinner the night before the hunt started. More whirlwind activity. My head spinning from hours on the road, I grabbed a plate with a heaping pile of BBQ and headed for the dining area where everyone else was just finishing up.

Nothing like being odd man out from the git-go!

[Terry Green]

Congrats to Michael also on his doe......I.really got a kick out of his 'slacker' text....we have a lot of good ribbing fun on these trips as.well......and the Davidizms are a plenty. ....they need to be documented            

[Whip]

Wow, I had been following right along on this one, but slipped behind a couple days ago.  Took me most of the morning to catch up!!  

What a great gathering this is each year - I always look forward to the tales to come from it, and this year is no exception.  Congratulations to all, and thank you for sharing and taking the rest of us along for the ride!

[Bob Palmer]

Good job all! Congratulations!  

[Bob Palmer]

[Terry Green]

I was worried since we haven't heard from Larry. ....but o got a KY hero pic text to me this AM

[Cyclic-Rivers]

It would be really neat if next year there is video footage of how wired these deer are.

Great story telling, now that Charlie started his post I will be glued in.      

[Izzy]

Charlie, you still wouldnt believe it. Im not even sure a run of the mill camera would capture it.

[Randy Morin]

Man this hunt sounds like a pile of fun and great memories to all you fellas who attended.  Thanks for the read and great pics.  Maybe someday I can do some trips such as this.  You guys are livin good!!!      

[dragon rider]

Originally posted by Izzy:
Charlie, you still wouldnt believe it. Im not even sure a run of the mill camera would capture it.

You'd need some seriously high speed equipment to capture the way they approach a feeder - I've seen cats more comfortable in a dog pound.

[Terry Green]

If you pause this clip at the 1st of the slowmo re-run of the shot and mark over the elbow the middle of the vitals with a small pointy something and hold it there....then run with your cursor on the pause button and stop the clip when the arrow makke contact...and you can see how low the aim was on this Buck....



  Slow Mo breakdown with graphics

  Detail Thead on PowWow

[Charlie Lamb]

With a good night sleep under my belt... the guys slipped off to breakfast without waking me... I got down to the business of the hunt.

You know, the serious stuff, like shootin lots of arrows and swappin stories with everyone there. As always, there were old friends
 

and new ones to be made.
 

[Charlie Lamb]

I have to admit that although I'd only ever been on this hunt once in the past it was a lot like coming home.
There's something in the air in Texas and it gets to me every  time I get down there. The heavy smell of live oaks in the moist morning air or a yellow puff of pollen blown free from the thick cedar stands on a dry afternoon. I guess the cactus must lend itself to olfactory memories but I can't for sure say how a cactus smells.

Maybe its the calling of unknown birds from the forest or the sight of a flock of doves walking a path to feed on the abundant grain which benefits all living things in that hardscrabble land.
I'm not sure why they land at a distance and walk to the feeding station. Maybe it's to save energy so when they are startled into frenzied flight by some predator they can give it their all.

It does seem that all the animals in that part of Texas are into the whole frenzied flight thing.

[Bel007]

[Ric O'Shay]

Gotta love the way Charlie tells a story.