Tick Farm adventures with Rafe

[Rafe Hollister]

I do get out before light and I sometimes get in a stand. Even though I don't do things the same way as you I still manage to kill 1 or 2 deer every season.

Hey, Craig. Would you like to come hunt the Tick Farm sometime?

[hunting170]

Goofy-looking SOB. If I had shot it, I'd have it mounted and name it Snowflake.

FYI Rafe...Rafe Jr would work in that situation as well.

[Rafe Hollister]

I kill what we will eat and nothing more.

BTW, if you came to the Tick Farm you'd probably just forget the ice cream, anyway.

[Rafe Hollister]

Directly translated: "I only kill what we eat."

I've bow hunted 4 days this season and have passed on 3 deer because I am always selective about what I take. I don't hunt a high-fenced airport and the folks around the Tick Farm are involved in trying to improve the herd. That does not include shooting everything we see.

However, I'm sure you understand that and just like giving me a hard time, but I'll play your little game.

Also:

[Rafe Hollister]

I know you are a killer of animals, TTCraig.

[Triton X2]

I know you are a killer of animals, TTCraig.

That is just TTTTTTTTTTTTTTo funny

[Triton X2]

How old are those viper ss's?

That is almost exactly what my bro-inlaw has. He has the bow holder, gun holder, foot rest, etc.

The platform fits inside the seat portion while carrying, and I will say I am impressed with how quiet it is when locked in for carrying. It takes some doing to get it all untied and on the tree though.

Heck I may use that thing tomorrow. Like I said it's more comfortable than any stand I've been in, permanent stands and all.

Dave, mine is about that same age. New they are always around 269 bucks, I think

[Limbshot]

In other words, just adopt everything that Craig uses, because if he doesn't use it, it is clearly shit or you are a mouth breathing moron for using it! Everybody knows that! That is why I have everything I own for sale so I can start all over and work my way up to everything he has! Can't wait!

[Limbshot]

Guess I better settle in for another Angst Burger.

[Limbshot]

YUMMY! That beats and Angst burger any day of the week!

[Rafe Hollister]

Rafe drew blood. Times 2. Pictures and stories to come.

[Rafe Hollister]

Saw a few deer Saturday but nothing close enough for a shot.

Sunday I was in a stand ( ) when I heard some turkeys to my West near the new pond. I looked that direction but didn't see them yet. When the pond was built, the trees were pushed into one pile, which mostly blocks the view of the pond from there.



After a few minutes I saw some movement at the north end of the pond (middle of the picture). Some of the turkeys started to work their way around the pond. I remembered that I had a mouth call with me. I started yelping at them and they responded but wouldn't come into the timber, staying about 80 yards away. They responded to me every time but were insistent on me going with them, rather than them coming to me. So they eventually worked their way past the pond and over the hill to the West. I waited about 30 minutes and got down to see where they were going and if I could catch up to them.

I looked over the hill and saw some in the pasture and some right along the fence. I figured they would keep going West along the fence, so I got into the timber to try to cut them off. There's a series of little draws coming from the pasture into the timber and I decided if I go to the next ditch to the West, I can set up in the brush and maybe get a shot. I went to the South into the timber about 80 yards and started heading West. When I got into the same ditch where I had last seen them, I yelped with the mouth call again and sat there waiting, deciding whether I should go on over there or sit here for a while, calling to them. Within a couple minutes, I looked that way, and they were sprinting towards me, and the closest one was about 30 yards. I had enough time to drop to one knee and clip my release onto the string. I drew back and tried to find an opening. There are a lot of briars and saplings in that part of the timber, so it was difficult. Finally one gave me a broadside shot at 25 yards. I aimed for the hip and let it fly. She crumbled immediately. The others started going crazy. Two of them flew off and the rest just stayed there walking around and putting and yelping. I loaded up another arrow but the nock was broken. I threw it down and loaded another arrow. There were still 3 or 4 birds in range, so I picked one out and shot just under her. Then the others ran off, too.

The bird I shot was not quite dead yet so I finished it off with a Gerber hunting knife to the throat. Distance to recovery was about 3 yards. You can see what the Slick Trick did to the turkey. Pass-thru that took out both hips, nearly severing both legs.




Took the bird back to the cabin and dressed her out, telechecked it, and had some lunch.

[Rafe Hollister]

Went back to the same stand for the afternoon hunt. Got up to 75 degrees and was sunny. I was walking to the stand with my shirt open and decided to sit in the stand shirtless until I cooled off. Took a few pictures, including this one.



About 5 minutes after I took that picture, I saw 2 jakes coming my way about 50 yards to the West. I didn't have my release on my wrist and the bow was resting on the stand to my left and I was sitting down. I slowly put on the release and stood up. The wind was blowing the camo material into me and it was wrapped on the broadhead. I managed to completely get ready by the time they were at 35 yards. I got drawn when the closest one was behind a tree. When he passed some limbs and stopped to peck at something, I released the arrow. There was an immediate "WHAP!!!" and he stumbled to the side. The other turkey putted and the one I shot dragged himself a little ways with the other right beside him. The one I shot laid down and died. The other pecked on his head and stepped on him, strutting and clucking. I put in my mouth call and called him back out and he stood exactly where the other was when I shot him. Wish I had 3 tags instead of 2, because it would've been cake.

In this picture, you can see where the turkey were standing, about 3 yards on this side of that bent tree in the right side of the picture.



Here's the dead jake with the wound on him. Yeah. It eviscerated the thing. Distance to recovery was about 12 yards.

[hunting170]

Went back to the same stand for the afternoon hunt. Got up to 75 degrees and was sunny. I was walking to the stand with my shirt open and decided to sit in the stand shirtless until I cooled off. Took a few pictures, including this one.

OH MY GOD!!!!!! MY EYES, MY EYES!!!!!!

[Rafe Hollister]

Yes, I was shirtless when I shot the turkey.

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. I think H120 is jealous that I don't have a pot belly.