2023-2024 Official Somerville PHL Thread

[WRasco]

Thank, will check it out.

[TN_boy]

This weekend was hot!
Brought a change of clothes and wet wipes. Took a rub down bath about 100yds from stand and changed clothes. Hid them in a plastic trash bag for pickup on way out. Still broke sweat setting up the saddle.

Heard at least 10 different deer blow at orange army showing up right at and after daylight. 1 truck beat me in and I arrived at 5am.

I'm ready for that cold front.

[rem788]

Looks like it will be much cooler this coming weekend but you might need some rain gear.

[Cocobulldog]

Went out for opening weekend. Hunted out there for the first time so did not know much about the areas outside of doing some scouting the weekend before. I ran into one hunter at first gate on CR125 and saw two other hunters walk by around 11 am. Ran into the same hunter on Sunday morning at the gate. I think i walked by him a couple time as he was up in a tree. My dang GPS had me walking in circles trying to find a spot I marked on Sat. And yes it was nasty hot, did not see any deer both days. Will be heading out again this Friday evening and will hunt the same area as it looks to good to venture to the other gates right now.

[rem788]

From what I saw on the radar it looks like the area got hammered with rain today.

[JoeStudd]

Went out this morning and came in for lunch. Two friends and I ran into another couple guys right by the parking lot and chatted it up. If that was any of y’all, shoot me a message

[TN_boy]

Warden was checking licenses and hunters ed certificates last night.
Make sure you have a way to show proof if cell service is not available.

[WRasco]

How was the deer movement with the cold front?

[TN_boy]

How was the deer movement with the cold front?

Hunter movement was great!
Deer have transitioned to avoidance mode due to late comers and "stalkers"

[rem788]

Hahaha! Hunter movement is always great. There’s always some people trying to stalk, or at least the last 4-5 years there has been.

Doesn’t everyone have their Hunters Ed printed on their license? I always carry my license just in case since service is spotty out there.

[Cocobulldog]

Yep Game Warden was out last Sat. evening, Checked my license but old people like me don't need the hunters education. I'm hunting out of the first check station right off of CR125. Ran into a couple other hunters but did not see too many. Saw one deer Friday night way off and one on Sunday morning as I was walking to a new "spot". I'm sure I was one of those "stalking", walking in circle in the dark as still trying to figure out how my GPS works.

[rem788]

Yep Game Warden was out last Sat. evening, Checked my license but old people like me don't need the hunters education. I'm hunting out of the first check station right off of CR125. Ran into a couple other hunters but did not see too many. Saw one deer Friday night way off and one on Sunday morning as I was walking to a new "spot". I'm sure I was one of those "stalking", walking in circle in the dark as still trying to figure out how my GPS works.

No worries, you're not the only one. I do that every year, at least the first couple times I go in since things grow and change from year to year. It takes me a little bit to get my bearings. Walking around trying to find your spot in the dark is one thing but I have actually seen guys walking around, crossbow aimed forward actively trying to sneak through the woods to shoot animals. Have you tried the OnX app? If you have not you may want to give it a try instead of the handheld GPS. I save all kinds of spots and you can create an offline map with all your spots saved, then open the offline map when you lose cell service and walk right to your spot. Once you open the map you will see the blue dot, that is your current location, hit the little white crosshair looking circle in the bottom right hand corner of the screen and you will see a blue conical shape appear off the circle, that is the direction you are pointed. Aim that toward your destination and start walking. If you stop for a bit it has trouble getting your direction so start moving again and you're good to go.

[JoeStudd]

I’ve been bumping into some hogs consistently on my walks to the setup in mornings before sunrise. **** near a pants filler every time. One of them is pretty dang large. Are y’all carrying a sidearm in? If so, what caliber? I don’t think my pointy sticks are gonna straight drop one if they decide they’ve had enough of me walking through there.

[rem788]

NOTE: Firearm restrictions contained in the Public Lands Prohibited Acts do not apply to a person in possession of a handgun in compliance with applicable law, including, but not limited to, Penal Code, Chapter 46, and Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter H.

So whatever that means.

[JoeStudd]

NOTE: Firearm restrictions contained in the Public Lands Prohibited Acts do not apply to a person in possession of a handgun in compliance with applicable law, including, but not limited to, Penal Code, Chapter 46, and Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter H.

So whatever that means.

Ok So at least I can carry one as long as I’m legally allowed to in the state of Texas. I wouldn’t be hunting with it, but carrying for self defense. I do remember a conversation on here or somewhere else about it being legal to actually dispatch a wounded animal with a firearm so long as it was hunted and wounded with archery equipment. Don’t expect that to happen, but just wanna know if y’all think a 9mm would suffice or if I’d need something with a little larger caliber.