Hunting 24/25: big bucks and a lot of ducks!

[ChickenNuggets 1622]

Sucks... some grandkids are getting really rich right now... 

 

Edit: Doesn't suck they are getting rich... just sucks that land is becoming so scarce.

Edited November 8 by ChickenNuggets

[CHIEF 5072]

I think we are gonna wait to go up after tomorrow's game. We got 7 inches at the lease, and there is about 4 inches of water under the feeders. The owner said to come on out, but that it is really muddy. In other words, you can come out, but you sure are gonna fuck up the roads. It's our first year, so we are gonna try to keep the roads in good shape.

CHIEF

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4968]

Supposed to storm all night and then clear up just after daybreak at our place in East Texas. That's as good of a recipe as any for them to be moving during the day given the warm temperatures. 

[686 3414]

Got some time with the 14yr old in the blind today, looking for does or pigs but none showed. Did see a big flock of hen turkeys, including what I think is a bearded hen.




New target showed up on the cell cam just a few minutes ago:

[Frank Drebin 5636]

Great hunt with son and his friends out near Anahuac this morning. Limited out by 8:00 am.  Going to put some of the teal on the grill tonight.  

[Storm the Field 5276]

On 11/5/2024 at 9:08 AM, Storm the Field said:

I know this dude must still be young, b/c he appears to be out stumbling home from the bars at 3 in the morning.

Same dude wandered out in the rain to two separate feeders between midnight and 1 am last night.

Guessing the rut hasn't quite started yet. Doesn't this idiot know he won't get laid if he only comes out when the does are sleeping?

Edited November 10 by Storm the Field

[Kennythetiger 9358]

16 hours ago, 686 said:

Got some time with the 14yr old in the blind today, looking for does or pigs but none showed. Did see a big flock of hen turkeys, including what I think is a bearded hen.




New target showed up on the cell cam just a few minutes ago:

Is that a domestic Hampshire pig?  

[686 3414]

Is that a domestic Hampshire pig?  

It definitely looks like a domestic that broke loose, and like it would be good eating.

[686 3414]

Had a good day today.

[686 3414]

Some pics through the spotting scope from inside the house this AM. Mid-range year for us buck-wise. Decent numbers but the quality is down some from years past.







Young 8 point with little splits on his G2s is kinda interesting:

[Reagan1k 3017]

11 hours ago, 686 said:

It definitely looks like a domestic that broke loose, and like it would be good eating.

We have a lot of Oreo looking black and white or black and orange hogs.  Maybe 10% or more of the general population....coloration seems to be just part of our genetic make-up as there are normally one or two in every brood.

Been that way for 30 years in the part of the hill country we hunt.

[Izhmash 560]

Had fun watching this guy on Saturday. Weather was a little warm in the afternoon...but I can't argue.

Curious to get consensus on his age. I've guessed him at 4.5 and hoping he makes it another year or two.

 

 

[Frank Drebin 5636]

1 hour ago, Izhmash said:

Had fun watching this guy on Saturday. Weather was a little warm in the afternoon...but I can't argue.

Curious to get consensus on his age. I've guessed him at 4.5 and hoping he makes it another year or two.

 

IMG_6424.MOV 57.94 MB · 2 downloads  

 

I agree.  4.5.

[Anastasis 23404]

1 hour ago, Izhmash said:

Had fun watching this guy on Saturday. Weather was a little warm in the afternoon...but I can't argue.

Curious to get consensus on his age. I've guessed him at 4.5 and hoping he makes it another year or two.

 

IMG_6424.MOV 57.94 MB · 3 downloads  

 

What a beautiful buck. 

[USCATX 1076]

I thought I missed this one from 110 yd, but he only ran about 20 yards on a neck shot and dropped.  I love a good Travis County low fence 8 point.  

[686 3414]

Had a peaceful sit after the horns finally put Arky away. Does and yearlings, no pigs or shooter bucks, but a nice sunset.

[686 3414]

Turkeys and fog so far this morning.

[Izhmash 560]

This thread is dreadfully slow this year.

I was getting excited about TG week...but damnit, the heat is returning. FML.

[Izhmash 560]

@686 Tell us about your rifles. They look like well thought out tools...curious if they are custom, ots, etc? What kind of glass, calibers, and supression?

PS - Is your daughter wearing suspenders? That's awesome.

[686 3414]

This thread is dreadfully slow this year.

I was getting excited about TG week...but damnit, the heat is returning. FML.

Yeah a cold front would be much appreciated.

[686 3414]

[mention=2146]686[/mention] Tell us about your rifles. They look like well thought out tools...curious if they are custom, ots, etc? What kind of glass, calibers, and supression?

PS - Is your daughter wearing suspenders? That's awesome.

Those two rifles my daughters are shooting are as follows:

1. In the foreground the 12 yr old is shooting a Ruger American Ranch in 300 BO topped with an Sig BDX in 3.5-10 with an aftermarket throw lever. Suppressor is an Sig QDX with a silicone cover. I cut the stock down for kid LOP and fabricated a soft little recoil pad. The buttstock shell holder has some foam in it to raise the cheek weld and provide some cushioning. Shoots subs and supers very well. Bogpod deathgrip infinite carbon tripod.

2. In the background the 14 yr old a Tikka T3 action that I swapped the factory .270 barrel down to a second hand factory Tikka 6.5CM threaded, fluted, and ceracoated barrel. Suppressor is my titanium AB Raptor that I run on my elk rifle, but in a short arrangement without the “reflex” mount. Scope is an older Nikon 4-12 x 50. Stock is a Boyd’s AtOne (nice because they adjust down to about 11.75” or so, and then quickly back out as needed). I added a Salmon River Solutions Arca rail to the foreend to allow more secure tripod mounting. Tripod is another Bogpod Deathgrip Infinite with the saddle removed to use the Arca mount. (Saves about a pound and is much more secure)

With the suppressors, tripods, and ear pro on, the kids were shooting full factory loads in these gun like they were .22’s. They wanted me to shoot the rifles first and afterwords they said “oh it’s not loud!” And then they proceeded to empty the mags twice in about 90 seconds. This pattern occurs every fall. They must have heard me shoot an unsuppressed rifle years ago and immediately think shooting any rifle is going to be really loud. We literally don’t even talk about recoil, the sound is what they worry about.

14yr old has a bino harness on, which looks like suspenders. Suspenders are cool; so are coveralls. Here she is two years ago with her first doe wearing my dad’s coveralls from the 70’s:

[Storm the Field 5276]

3 hours ago, 686 said:

Yeah a cold front would be much appreciated.

I'm planning to duck out of the office after lunch on Thursday and head up to my lease. Cool front this week looks to be at its strongest from Wed-Friday. Should be able to get in Thursday evening, 2 Friday hunts, and Saturday morning before it warms back up.