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Team 7 Thread

Shot a little sika hind last night.
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Congrats on the sika! That is awesome.
 
I got out for a morning sit today. Had the right wind to sneak in early to a bedding area where I killed my bucks the last 2 years. Didn’t see anything on stand but did jump a doe on the way out of the marsh. Unfortunately, she saw me before I saw her so I didn’t have a chance at a shot. Hoping to get out for another sit this weekend (probably tomorrow afternoon)
 
I got out yesterday afternoon to an area that had a ton of deer pics coming in from my cell camera a couple weeks ago - they had been feeding on the acorns there for the last hour or so before dark based on pics. Well the wind was finally right, so I headed there and stayed until end of legal hunting hours. Not a single sighting, though. Got some more work to do to find where they’re feeding now.
 
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Congrats Red, any Sika is quite an accomplishment. How's the pressure down there this year?
Thanks! Saw some guys but the pressure wasn't too bad while we were there but it was still pretty early. It was the only couple days I was able to sneak away. We ended up with my hind and @GCTerpfan got a spike.
 
Thanks! Saw some guys but the pressure wasn't too bad while we were there but it was still pretty early. It was the only couple days I was able to sneak away. We ended up with my hind and @GCTerpfan got a spike.

That's good I have a friend down there that said the last few years it really blew up in popularity. Probably a different perspective being a local though where I'm pretty sure years ago almost no one traveled to hunt those things.

Something I want to try eventually I just need to overcome my strong dislike of hunting in swamps.
 
That's good I have a friend down there that said the last few years it really blew up in popularity. Probably a different perspective being a local though where I'm pretty sure years ago almost no one traveled to hunt those things.

Something I want to try eventually I just need to overcome my strong dislike of hunting in swamps.
I'm sure it will be getting busier starting this coming weekend. They were bugling but as far as dates we were definitely on the early side.

"Something I want to try eventually I just need to overcome my strong dislike of hunting in swamps." That would be a problem lol.
 
I got out for an afternoon sit on Sunday. Took the kayak in to a spot along a river where I found a remote apple tree. Looks like I was a week or 2 late because there was only 1 apple left on the tree and the ground was clean. I still had high hopes that something would come by because there is a lot of pressure on that end of the property from the land access areas that should have pushed the deer in to the swamp where I was set up. Unfortunately, nothing came by so my goal of paddling one out on the yak goes unsatisfied once again.

Around 5:00, pistol fire starts ringing out from the private land on the opposite side of the river. Generally no big deal but on the second magazine, I hear a stray round zing past close enough to hear the high pitch tone and the bullet hit leaves behind me about 50 yards away. That’s a very unsettling feeling. Luckily that mag was the last of their target practice.

Paddled back out to find 7 deer in the field right by where I parked. Lol, next time I might have to set up on a nutterbuster bucket in the back of the truck.
 
Saturday morning I didn't hunt and the wife went out, she got a shot at a doe but didn't connect...

For the afternoon hunt the wind direction sucked for all of my promising spots, so I slipped in with the wind until I found a spot on the back edge of a thick low spot (that looked decent) that borders an oak flat where two deer highways intersect. The mosquitos were horrible... At about 6:30pm I had a beautiful 6 point come in and feed around me from 25 to 7 yds. and leave, never knowing that I was there. I heard other stuff moving, but never put eyes on anything else. I slipped out the 400 yds. of thick stuff to a maintained trail, and hiked the hour back to the house. Maybe next time... It's always the anticipation of "next time" for me lol...
 
Sorry guys, I totally whiffed on a chip shot this morning. I had three dies within 15 yards at totally choked. I’ve missed the last three deer I’ve shot at so far.
 
Sorry guys, I totally whiffed on a chip shot this morning. I had three dies within 15 yards at totally choked. I’ve missed the last three deer I’ve shot at so far.
Don't worry about it. It happens to the best of us. As a matter of fact it happened to me a couple of weeks ago. :rolleyes:
 
I’m really struggling with these WE steps I picked up too. They seem to be way more frustrating to get set up. I’ve switched back to my heavy muddy stagger steps. I may try and put the WE steps in the classifieds. All in all I had a nice time out though.
 
I’m really struggling with these WE steps I picked up too. They seem to be way more frustrating to get set up. I’ve switched back to my heavy muddy stagger steps. I may try and put the WE steps in the classifieds. All in all I had a nice time out though.
Not sure how long or how much you have used the stepps. There is a learning curve with them but IMHO once you stick with them and develop a system there is no better way to climb a tree. I carry 7 stepps and a knaider. I've been using stepps since 2017, with a knaider since 2018. I've carried some sticks in the woods about 1/2 dozen times since and every time I wish I had my steps. I've just decided I'm done ever trying to like sticks again.
 
Not sure how long or how much you have used the stepps. There is a learning curve with them but IMHO once you stick with them and develop a system there is no better way to climb a tree. I carry 7 stepps and a knaider. I've been using stepps since 2017, with a knaider since 2018. I've carried some sticks in the woods about 1/2 dozen times since and every time I wish I had my steps. I've just decided I'm done ever trying to like sticks again.
This is my first season with them. I figured there would be quite the curve with them. Seems like I’m worn out and nice and sweaty by the time I get in the tree. Of course humidity was near 100% this morning! I have a three step aider I’m using with them to try and get more distance between steps.
 
This is my first season with them. I figured there would be quite the curve with them. Seems like I’m worn out and nice and sweaty by the time I get in the tree. Of course humidity was near 100% this morning! I have a three step aider I’m using with them to try and get more distance between steps.

I'm with @redsquirrel ... I carry 7 Stepps and a knaider/swaider. I use 5 to get to height (if I need that many), and the two "extras" for my ROS/platform. They literally work on every tree, and I absolutely love the compact carrying profile. That being said, yes there is a bit of learning curve, but make sure that your ropes have been stretched prior to use!
 
This is my first season with them. I figured there would be quite the curve with them. Seems like I’m worn out and nice and sweaty by the time I get in the tree. Of course humidity was near 100% this morning! I have a three step aider I’m using with them to try and get more distance between steps.
Forget the aider. If you haven't already go lookup the @Cain video for tying them on a tree, and @boyne bowhunter's video for untying them. Get a knaider. Make sure the ropes are stretched on a tree overnight and then go practice tying and untying them over and over til you're comfortable. I can climb up and down the tree in the dark with them now because I can do it by feel, that's how much practice you want. I place one stepp around waist level, the next around head level, then stepp up and repeat. You will have stepps that shift on you once in a while when you step on them. I'm always holding onto the next stepp avoe it and wearing a lineman's belt but the stepp is just shifting, it's not going anywhere. When I first tie the stepps I try to cam them over, then cam them over a second time to tighten everything up. The one part of my system that I'm working on improving is the stepp bag.. that is not my favorite.
 
I'm with @redsquirrel ... I carry 7 Stepps and a knaider/swaider. I use 5 to get to height (if I need that many), and the two "extras" for my ROS/platform. They literally work on every tree, and I absolutely love the compact carrying profile. That being said, yes there is a bit of learning curve, but make sure that your ropes have been stretched prior to use!
The only thing I'll say about the swaider portion... is I'm pretty sure there is a skeleton out in the woods somewhere hanging upside down by a swaider. I'm more than happy with what I can do with just my knaider :)
 
The only thing I'll say about the swaider portion... is I'm pretty sure there is a skeleton out in the woods somewhere hanging upside down by a swaider. I'm more than happy with what I can do with just my knaider :)

You're probably right, haha! However, practice makes perfect, and I've put in the hours... I use the @JCLINE84 version set. I've found that the lineman's rope management to be the key with this system, that and don't stretch things out while going up, because you'll pay for it on the way down! My headlamp died on me one morning last season, and I was able to setup and climb without any light, because I know where I keep everything, and was comfortable with the system. It's either SRT or WEI for me now, nothing else, and I've tried literally almost everything (yes, I have a problem) lol...
 
Thanks, I’ll look into a knaider. Do guys make them or buy them?
 
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