Somerville 10/11

[kornsqueezer]

Hey kornsqueezer, you join a lease this year or just trying a different public area?

Lonebow,
I joined a lease for the first time in 13 seasons. I got burned pretty bad back then after 17 years. I guess it took a long time and my son Trey (Trophy7) to get over it. I still got a problem with the lease manager and haven't seen him in about 6 years.

[Limbwalker]

I meant to add that I considered last year my best on public lands in Texas also because of the luck I had at the Sam Houston NF. Saw deer there almost every time out, and found a place and a strategy (mountain bikes, anyone? ) that worked much better than I anticipated.

I bowhunted E. Texas from '79 until about '92, when I left school at SFA. Then hunted sporadically at Somerville from '92 to about '98. I never remember seeing so many deer, and certainly NOT in the national forests like I did last year. So things are better everywhere than I remember them.

Usually, when someone passes 40, they start talking about the "good 'ol days." Well, I'm here to tell you that THESE ARE the good 'ol days for public land bowhunters IMO. At least in Texas.

Now, don't get me started on how ridiculously good the bowhunting in Illinois is! ha, ha. It's almost embarassing how easy it is up there. Texas hunting is good training grounds for anywhere else I've been. That's for sure!

John.

[alec73065]

I meant to add that I considered last year my best on public lands in Texas also because of the luck I had at the Sam Houston NF. Saw deer there almost every time out, and found a place and a strategy (mountain bikes, anyone? ) that worked much better than I anticipated.

I bowhunted E. Texas from '79 until about '92, when I left school at SFA. Then hunted sporadically at Somerville from '92 to about '98. I never remember seeing so many deer, and certainly NOT in the national forests like I did last year. So things are better everywhere than I remember them.

Usually, when someone passes 40, they start talking about the "good 'ol days." Well, I'm here to tell you that THESE ARE the good 'ol days for public land bowhunters IMO. At least in Texas.

Now, don't get me started on how ridiculously good the bowhunting in Illinois is! ha, ha. It's almost embarassing how easy it is up there. Texas hunting is good training grounds for anywhere else I've been. That's for sure!

John.

[justintyme8303]

[QUOTE=Limbwalker;

Now, don't get me started on how ridiculously good the bowhunting in Illinois is! ha, ha. It's almost embarassing how easy it is up there. Texas hunting is good training grounds for anywhere else I've been. That's for sure!

John.[/QUOTE]

Where in Illinois would be good? I am headed that way for Thankgiving this yr and would like a shot at a buck from there.

[Hoggwild]

Roll Call, whose going to be at the WMA in the morning?

[Limbwalker]

I'll be there.

justintyme, I hunted the public lands of southern Illinois around Carbondale and Murphysboro. With just a little scouting, you will be on a brute before you know it. There are so many acres of public lands down there, and the archery season is so long (3 months), that the pressure is very light and you can expect to get into an area and pretty well have it to yourself for the duration.

Some of my best hunts came very close to developed areas where nobody else thought to look.

There are also some state lands there where the old coal strip mines were. They are producing some huge deer nowdays.

Really, it's the best bowhunting, by far, that I've ever seen. I can't see how it could get any better really.

Compared to hoping for one deer/season with my bow in Texas, I went to passing deer after deer up there and still taking at least 2 each year. The last year I was there, I took 4 and stopped hunting because my freezer was full. And I probably passed on at least 10 that year too.

Just crazy good bowhunting.

John.

[Limbwalker]

Success!

Another rare Texas public land archery harvest for me this morning.

Man was it beautiful this morning. NO mosquitoes (I was worried about that after last season) and the perfect temperature.

After a very long and wet (thanks to dew on all the ragweed) hike in, I got set up and into my stand by 6:15. Around 7:45 I saw a doe and fawn about 40 yards out, on another trail. Then around 8:30 two does came right down the trail I was watching and offered me a shot. It wasn't the best shot I've ever made (a little high) but it worked. She went about 100 yards.

The drag back to my truck is one that I don't want to do again though. Pulling a deer through that ragweed just plain stunk!

But it's always worth it. Had her skinned, boned out, and to the meat market by 1:30.

Just love it when a plan comes together...

John.

[05 gray ghost]

Congrats

[Limbwalker]

Thanks.

I didn't see as many vehicles Sat. morning as I did last year on the opener. Probably 1/2 as many in fact. Wonder where everyone was?

[Villa]

Congrats Mr Limbwalker on ur doe. I was at box 1 Sat. morning and parking coral was full and over flowing. But manager to get in and set up. But I didn't see anything til late about 1100. Had a doe and her yearling come and in about 18 yds but just to busted by her right before she cross the route I came in on she stop and got my scent and made an about face and left. Just needed about 10 more yds to be broad side but she new something was up. "Dang it". Maybe next weedend.

Man was it over grown. Some area was head high. Thats highest I seen it in past couple yrs. Any one else had any luck.

[Texwild]

No luck for me either. Some a doe and a fawn about 60 yards no shot offered. The game warden was at the parking lot checking for license and permit when I got back.

[Yogi]

Third year hunting Nails. Didn't see any deer. Last year was either under water or grass with lots of trails. This year no water and every clearing full of head high ragweed, no trails that I found. Was Yegua full of ragweed too? Good weekend though.

[Hoggwild]

Yegua has eye level ragweed everywhere. we seen 12 does total, closes where at 40yrds and winded me! BUSTEDDDDD!! Most we seen were 50yrds or more away. No hogs though? Guessing weather still to warm for them? During previous scouting trips we would jump a few bedded down or in the creek itself. We were hunting off Station 3.

[Limbwalker]

Last year, there had been trespass livestock (cattle) on most of Nails for what appeared to be quite some time. That's where all the trails came from. I notified the area manager about it and he said they were going to try and get on top of the problem. Apparently they did. No cow trails to follow this year.

Thankfully, I'm not allergic to ragweed, as my entire body and bow were covered in yellow pollen. Not too bad walking through it, but dragging a deer 1/2 mile (according to google earth) back to my truck through ragweed just plain stunk. That's the best workout I've had in months. Not complaining mind you. If it keeps the wannabees closer to the road, then I'm all for it. And if they manage to make it back to where I'm hunting, then they deserve it. So far, none have that I can tell...

John.

[Yogi]

Yeah, I remember the cows. I had forgotten. Congrats on the success. I hunt back in by the DU pond. I wonder if they know its washed out, and I wonder if that will change the vegetation back there. So far not. Two were set up on the oil well rd, and stayed out of the ragweed that way. I didn't see where they parked though, maybe on the private rd? Any way, opener was dry, unlike last year.