Cari took this 10pt this past weekend on our trip to the hill country. She had bucks running does all over her and finally got this one to stand still long enough for a 16yd shot. The deer expired 70 yds later after taking a 100gr NAP Hellrazor through the lungs from a Hoyt vetrix shooting Easton axis arrows. This was her first buck with a bow.

It was a cold predawn morning with the moon up and the sun starting to rise as me and Ash walked to the blind. We checked the pit blind for varmints and then climbed on in. It wasn’t 10 min and I could see deer starting to move in. A large doe came in with a nice 9pt behind her. About that time the feeder went off and deer scattered, I told Ash to get her bow up and get ready. I could see several smaller bucks and the large 9 in the distance when the doe eased back in. We were hunting does for Ash as Cari had dibbs on the last buck we were allowed on the property. Ash got her bow up and the doe put her head down and Ash was able to draw. She held for a few seconds and made a perfect broadside double lung hit on the deer. At the shot I watched the arrow disappear throught the does side and hit the ground 20 yds the other side of the deer. She only made it 45 yds before going down for the count. The bucks stood around and we watched several more come and go before we got out and recovered her deer. She was shooting a pearon sidewinder set at 41lbs shooting 24″ beman ics jr arrows with 4bld 85 gr magnus stingers. After high fives and laughter we took the deer back to camp to show everyone and for Ash to clean. She is skinning her own deer now as well as mine. I have her trained good!!!

Well this past week has been great! We had a good christmas and then took my new squirrel dog that came from VA out for a hunt. In about an hour Ash, my cousin and myself had 12 squirrels in the bag. The next morning we left for the hill country with both Ash and Cari taking deer with their bow. Cari a 10pt and Ash a doe. Had great fun with everyone else at the lease even with the cold and wind. We hope you a great holiday as well.

Now is the time to find hunting supplies, especially bowhunting supplies on clearance at the walmart stores here in E TX. They are selling broadheads, arrows and other accessories for more than 50% off. I bought 12 packs of broadheads, 1 ameristep lockon and 16ft climbing sticks, along with a 15ft ladder stand and some other stuff for like $175. Here in another month the shotgun shells and camo clothing as well as any other stuff will also sale for a lot less than normal. Don’t miss out as there will be red tagged items in your stores as well when the hunting seasons close.

The deer movenent has really slowed down the last 2 weeks with the temps in the 80’s and the acorns still falling. The deer are mainly moving at night during these warm spells but roaming in the daylight hours during these little 1-2 day cold snaps. We really need a good cold front and a hard wind and some rain to get rid of these acorns. Most have quit hunting, but our little bunch still needs to take about 20 more deer to meet our quota that the bioligist requires. We have until the end of Feb though and the weather will turn around by then, Jan and Feb are really good months to pattern and harvest deer on food sources just like in the early season.

We have harvested some nice deer here in ETX this year with several 150 and 160 class deer being reported as well as a 17pt that went 175 taken in Newton Co. On our place their have been several in the 140’s and one in the 150’s, with them being 5 1/2 years old and older. Our counties way to the south and west in the hill country and south tx have been doing real well with several deer over 200 taken as well as one that went in the 270’s gross. Monsters have also been coming back across from old mexico as that country that is usually dry had a great winter,spring and summer with lots of plant growth and flooding waters and it is really showing up in the horns. A record setting year for sure.

Duck hunting during the first split has went well for most everyone I have talked with. Several of the guys I work with went this morning and killed their limits with no problem. I am hearing of really good hunting on the sulphur and red river as well as on some of the major E TX lakes. Dam b is full and loaded with vegetation and has been holding a fair number of birds and has been giving up limits to everyone that I have talked to that is hunting it. The creeks are full of wood ducks with all the acorns that are falling and are perfect for jump shooting.

I have bought a finished squirrel dog out of VA and am awaiting his arrival. When he gets here we are going to hunt him hard and see how many squirrels we can finish the season out with. Here in Texas not a whole lot of people squirrel or rabbit hunt any more, but we have beagles and now a feist to extend the season with. Squirrel season closes the first weekend in feb and the limit is 10 per day. There is no closed season or bag limits on rabbits.

There is plenty of time to do lots of hunting, so dont let the warm weather end it for you. Get out there and get with it, you cant kill them sittin on the couch wathin football.

It was a warm sunday evening a coupe of  weeks ago that my daughter and I set out on a little short hunt just a few minutes from the house. We pulled in around 4pm and eased into the woods shotguns in hand. In less than 30yds in a cat squirrel took off through the trees and a load of number 5’s from the old 870 brought it down.

After the shot there were more squirrels barkin in the distance and we eased towards them and sat down next to a large oak. In a coupe of minute another young gray was moving in front of us and the little over and under 28ga Ashlyn was toting broke the silence again with another tender squirrel for the fryin pan.

We were slowly easing along the creek when a couple of woodies jumped up and I downed a hen with the one shot I could get off before they were gone. After wading in to get her I was glad that it was 70dgrees with the water temp about the same. Bet many folks can’t claim that in their neck of the woods in late nov. we continued on down the creek and collected another fine little gray.

As we were again coming up on the creek I could hear the wood ducks below us under the edge of the bank. I got Ash up to the edge and told her she had first shot. At the next step several birds got up and she dumped her first duck in the creek. Ducks continued to get up and she missed her next shot and I took over while she was reloading and downed a drake, now back in action Ash also got a drake with her 4th shot.

We chased one more squirrel around for a while before he got away from us after being missed numerous times by both of us, then it was time to head out as the light was fading fast. Back at home we cleaned our take and took them in and cooked them up. Nothin beats fresh game on the stove.

This quick and easy bread tastes like home-baked yeast bread, and it is excellent with chili and other hearty stews. It tends to harden quickly, but there are seldom leftovers.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

3 cups self-rising flour
4 Tablespoons of Honey
1 egg
1 bottle room temp. beer (12 oz.) (try Guinness Stout for dark, rich bread)
1/4 stick of butter - melted
Optional – 1 cup of sautéed (caramelized) onions

Butter (or use non-stick spray) a loaf 9” x 5” loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, honey, egg and beer (or onions) then mix well. The mixture should be sticky. Pour mixture into the loaf pan. Cover with paper towel and let stand in a warm place for 15 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Pour melted butter over bread and bake 5 minutes more or until bread tests done.Turn immediately out of baking pan; cool for 10 minutes before serving or slicing (thick slices are best).

Well I finally got my 101 last friday. What can I say but wow!! I really like this bow and have found the one I am going to shoot this year. The 101st is a 36.25   ATA bow with a 7″ brace height. It has both the new roller guard and string suppressor. I shot it with the usual 29″ 70lb 350gr arrow and got a speedy 327 fps out of it. I then backed the bow down to 62lbs with the same 350gr arrow and was still getting 306. Crackers who has a shop and makes custom strings and tuning was able to get 346fps out of one at 61lbs with a 306gr arrow!! This bow is not as quiet as the guardian but is not loud either. The draw is smooth with just a slight hump where it breaks over to a solid wall that you will not creep out of. I am going to get me in a 60lb and shoot it in 3d this year, will have to shoot a heavy arrow to get down to 280fps. The bow has the slim grip that feels great in the hand and is standard on all the bowtechs. This bow is going to be a big hit with both speed and forgiveness. I also shot this bow with a 400gr arrow at 70 pounds and still got 312fps, talk about drive through some flesh. Stop by your dealer and try one, I think you will like it.