It's going to be empty without Kim ... and that ain't no joke!

Thanks Big O and 2Poppa!

I feel like a traitor even looking in here without Kim. I am glad to see some of you peeked in and am hoping that we can find a way to move on too.
I really enjoyed everyone on Kim's site and the last few days have been like going thru withdrawls. =(
Hi to everyone...
JB

Well, thank you Big O. Just another one from Kim's blog lookin' for a home.
JB

It is like a mummy's tomb in here. I can't believe that the last post was 17 hours ago when we use to have them every few minutes.
Where has everyone gone??
I was out morrel picking the other night and realized that the hardwood lillies are already up. Anyone having luck mushroom picking?
How about turkey hunting? Anyone have any luck and if so, where are the pictures. I only saw one tom this year and we use to have lots of them. Where did all the turkeys go??
C'mon, lets get something going. Kim would want us to at least talk to each other. =)
JB

Don't let them "cry-babys" spook ya' outdoorchic. Like some one told me once. "Some people can not be happy in their own lives' till' their causin' caos in anothers. Welcome to the "family".
Which reminds me of another. Ya' can pick your nose,pick your friends, but ya' family".(Same person/Grand-Ma)

whos kim and wat happened to her?

It's one month shy of two years since the huntress blog was started. After reading it every day, even if there weren't any new posts, it's very hard to not look it up. I still do, just in case. I guess it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. You're right Judy. Kim would want us to keep talking. Keep telling your stories. I love to read them. We haven't seen any turkeys either, and we used to have a lot of them.

YOU LADYS TELL STORYS TOO!!!! WEll GET STARTED (Please), Thank you Ma'me.

Can't wait to hear about your hunts ladies Outdoor chic, I can't say I have seen much hunting deer with dogs here. My dogs are bird dogs, I think they might get a little confused hunting deer! I would like to know more about it though. As far a turkeys go, do to a bunch of events (including some big snowstorms) there will be no turkey hunting. We have to travel to see turkeys, so I can't say that there are more or less than last year. We are a little bummed by this at my house! And for everyone, I miss Kim too, I still think this whole thing stinks, but she would want us to keep talking!

Well I don't have any problems with the turkeys where I live. Matter of fact like to ran into one today. Its nothing to see 15 to 20 turks in one of the fields around my house. As for the dog hunting for deer. It is wonderful. Until you actually stand in the woods turn your dogs out and hear them jump a deer and take that deer for the run of its life, you are definitely missing something. What makes hunting deer with dogs so exciting is that it takes a group of dedicated individuals coming together to make a dog drive work. To hear the dogs sorting out a bucks slip is really astonishing. It gets into your blood. I raise black and tan coon hounds and I will have to say that they love it just about as much as I do. When they hear the truck coming and they know what time it is. I always reward them with some scrap venison!!! I would love to hear about some bear hunts!! We don't have any bear in the inlands of South Carolina. They are a rarity, if one is spotted. Have any of you ever hog hunted? I think that would be a adrenaline rush!!

Outdoor chic, check out the huntress blog - a great story from Judy about hog hunting. I am jealous of the turkeys! :) I know my bird dogs act and feel the same way that your dogs do, I can only imagine watching them hunt!

Because All the other guys forgot,
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY LADYS !
Sorry it's late, I was fishing.

Leaving this afternoon and flying out in the morning for Saskatchewan. I hope to have great stories to tell when I get back....if there is anyone to tell them to in here.
This is aweful, you can hear the echo.
Jacee, looks like it's you and me to keep the ball rolling. Sure miss Kim. =(
Have a wonderful holiday weekend and a great week, next week. Will be back in my seat on the 1st of June.
JB

I'm new in here, but JB your trip sounds awesome, can't wait to hear more about it.

Welcome goldylocks.

Hey yall! I thought I would read something about that trip by now from you JB. I have been anxiously awaiting your story. Nothing going on around here. I kind of liked the new dog blog!! Could have a little more variety, and he could be a little more interesting. But I loved his videos he has on there. Hadn't never seen the one of them rescuing the two bucks that got hung up together.

I had a WONDERFUL black bear hunt. This was my first time sitting alone and I am not ashamed to say...I was scared to freakin' death. I have always had this "thing" about bears and I honestly think it is because I have read so many stories of bear attacks and I thing being eaten alive would be a really shi@@# death. So...
On Monday I climbed into my stand and when I could no longer hear the 4 wheeler I realized how alone I was. Normally, I break out a book, play a hand held game and just relax, but not today. Every sense in my body was on red alert.
It didn't take long for my very first bear to appear behind me and I turned in my seat to see it come in. Slowly it moved, closer and closer and I tried to remain calm. Passing by my tree, I thought I was safe. Wrong!
He circled my tree and then I lost sight of it. I turned and looked down, directly into the beady eyes of the black bear. Standing on it's hind legs and bringing his hind legs up I quickly stood up. He stopped and we remained having a stare down for what seemed like hours, it was only minutes.
Git! I said and he stood on all fours at the base of my tree. Go on...git out of here I said again. He just stood looking up at me.
For twenty minutes, I banged, clattered on anything that would make a noise and talked to the bear like he might just understand what I was saying. Finally, he moved off to my left and made his way to the barrel.
Dining on the barrel buffet he rolled around on the ground. Without a care in the world Mr Bear scratched whatever itched him, sat on his butt and licked his paws. He stayed close to the drum so I was ok with that. I could watch from 20 yards but any closer and it was panic time.
Finishing his grooming and dinner the little bear turned and looked right up at me in the stand. Taking a few steps in my direction, in my most authoritive voice I said...."I have no problem sticking one of these arrows in you so maybe it would just be a good idea if you went the other way". He stood there looking at me for a brief moment and then turned and went the other way. Guess he understood my threat. lol
Tuesday and Wednesday I didn't see a bear but got a little more comfortable and sat and enjoyed my surroundings. Whiskey jacks and squirrels frequented the barrel and they are fun to watch. Loons flew overhead and I heard moose walking along the edge of a nearby lake. Three days into a 5 day hunt and I had spent those days alone in the bush. And...I was alive to tell about it!!
Thursday the weather had broke a little and it was actually comfortable sitting in the stand. This was the stand that I had sat in on Wednesday and hadn't seen anything. It was almost time to be picked up and the only thing that had come to visit were the birds and the squirrels. Fifteen minutes and my guide would be here. I had thought about getting my gear in my pack and ready to go....hold that thought.
I looked towards the barrel and saw movement behind it. OMG..there is a bear I thought. Coming in at 40 yards was a bear and it was headed right for me. It stopped mid stride and looked right up in my tree.
Standing there for what seemed like a long time, it turned and moved into some windfall. That gave me the opportunity to get my bow off the hook and scoot to the edge of my seat. My heart was pounding so hard I thought for sure it would jump right out of my chest. The bear moved closer and now stood at the barrel.
Licking some blueberry scent gel from the top of the drum, standing at 24 yards was a nice bear. Nothing like the one I took in 07 but you can't and won't get a bear like that every trip you take. "This is a nice bear" I thought and I would be happy to have it.
Taking a piece of meat from the drum the bear moved off towards the bush. Dang it, I thought first of all because it was now 10 minutes before pick up and and second I thought it would just take the meat and leave. Luckily it stopped and ate the meat, then turned and headed back.
Sitting down the bear reached inside the barrel and sat licking the oil from his paw...I drew. "One more time buddy" I said and I no sooner had the thought and he stretched out and put his paw back in the drum. I released my arrow.
My Pink Muzzy hit it's mark and the bear ran off. I watched it bale up less than 40 yards from the drum and heard the death moan. The worst case of the shakes set in and I grabbed the radio. Blabbering I said I shot a bear. The guide answered and said "what did you say Judy"? I repeated myself and I guess I must have been a little excited because he still didn't understand what I was saying.
Jim my guide and Scott my husband were there within minutes and after I climbed down from the tree we went to where my bear lay. A perfect double lung shot, I could not have been more proud. I had harvested a bear ALONE in the bush!!
Plans are being made to return again as this was an awesome place. We thought we were going to be staying in tents and imagine the suprise when we pulled in and there was a lodge. Hot and cold running water, flushing toilets and a kitchen and a cook. Enough beds to sleep about 20 people AND a washer and dryer.
Good people, good food and good times. But most of all lots of good memories that will last a lifetime.
JB

That is a great story, thanks for sharing. Also congrats on your bear.

I have some questions, and forgive me if I seem ignorant, but I have never seen a bear in person, (we don't have them around here, IN) and I can't think of anyone I know that has ever hunted bear.

Do you eat bear?
Do you bring it home with you?
How big (weight, height)?
When you talk about them eating from the barrel, put there by you or guide to attract bear, right?
Color phase in 07, what does color phase mean?
When you hunted in 07 did you hunt with your husband? in the same tree?
Last but not least what was the best meal you had cooked for you?

Again thanks for the story.

JB that is a most exciting story. I am envious. I know all too well about the heart thumping, from deer hunting. It sounds like a real adrenaline rush. Why did you let the first one by? What kind of laws are there about hunting bears? Do they have to be a certain size or were you only allowed one bear and the first one was too small. I am sorry that I have to wait all the way to Feb. for another story. But Deer season opens up Set. 15 maybe I will have something for you!!! I love to hear about different game hunts. Hunting is my love!!! If only I could make it a occupation!

Glad to hear that JB. I would love to hear some stories of your past hunts considering I am new to this blog thing. I am always up for a good story, and maybe some bad ones!!! How hard is it to hunt with a bow? I have been considering starting with one and just praticing. What kind is the best kind to invest in?

Sure my email address is christine.starling@yahoo.com I will look forward to hearing from you. I got some sad news. One of my best hunting buddies, my red hound named Ole Red, passed away this morning. He lived 8 blissful years. I will forever remember his song as he tracked a many a buck through the woods. He was special because I raised him and his brother and sisters since they were 2 weeks old. By hand, their mother died. So long ole pal, Hail the king of whitetail.

To Outdoorchic, Mrs. Black:
As I sat here reading about your loss(both of you), my Min-Pin "Milo" is at my feet, just looking at mr like they do.
He was abandoned/abused when I "rescued" him, or maybe it was him saving me( had lost my dad and lil' brother month's before).
He's not much of a hunter(loves chasing squirrels/birds) but he's mine.
I had a "hunter" when I was young (deer/squirrels) till some A%%*$#@ "mistook him for a deer". Took awhile before I could get another(25 yrs).
Don't worry ladys, ALL DOGS (DO) GO TO HEAVEN ! !, and will be waiting for us when we get there.
They might not have wanted the story Mrs. Black, but WE DO ! !
PLEASE TELL .

Geeze, thanks for all the kind words. My story is too long to post on here and I think that it was turned down twice for a couple of reasons. #1, I did not harvest on that hunt and smiling faces over harvested animals attract the most attention. BUT, I am a true believer that there is more to the hunt than the harvest. For almost 20 years I dreamt(?) of hunting an elk. On that hunt I experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and it was all very detailed in my article. I think it would have been a great article, enjoyed by the readers but I am not the one to make that decision.
I did not submit it to Outdoor Life as I thought F&S and OL were related companies. Perhaps I need to pull out one of my OL mags and check it out.
#2, and I do not mean this in an ugly way...I find that many of the outdoor mags are very male dominated. I expect a rash of sh@# over that being said but I think it is true. AND THAT IS OK.
How many articles do you really see that are written by women? I was so blessed when Kim had her sight that I could share my hunting experiences and there were people that truely appreciated them. I have been testing the waters on this site and there seems to be some that are interested. How cool is that???
I will check out OL and if they are not affiliated with F&S, I will submit my story. If they say no, once again I say "their loss". It is a good story...
Thanks again my friends for the kind words. If I was clever enough to figure out how to post a picture, I would show all of you the full mount I FINALLY got of my 2007 P&Y bear.
I know just enough about the computer to be dangerous =)
Happy Monday
JB

Did anyone see Kim's feature article in the F&S magazine? I was excited for her when I saw it yesterday.
Still not sure if she is still employed with F&S or if she lost her job completely. Only know I miss her alot and it is sad because some of the ladies just won't come in here because of what happened. Some have cancelled their subscriptions too.
Kudos Kim on the story if you do peek in here once in a while. Wish you only the best and it is F&S's loss. They just don't know it yet =)
JB

Yeap, just got my issue today and saw her piece in it. It always perks my attention up to see a lady in the f & S mag. They don't have enough for women in my opinion.

Hey JB, I just remembered this hunting story last night when I was talking with my uncle. On one particular deer drive, my friend Jerry was down in a cutover shot his deer he got all of his dogs but one off the deer track. Instead of stopping and letting the deer stop and bleed out they kept pushing. They had a pretty good blood trail but it went on and on and on. Well it was about noon and the drive had been called since they were tracking the deer so the standers were done coming out. Well one of my buddies was coming out on his four wheeler and found a deer just standing in the road with a dog barking at it. He jumped off the four wheeler stuck the dog in a cage on the four wheeler and shot the deer. Well by the time this was done here comes Jerry and another guy we call "OldSpice". They were down pratically on their knees just following the trail and comes up on Ricky loading their deer up on his four wheeler!!!!! The joke is we all believe the deer was dead all ready just hadn't fell and Ricky shot a dead deer. So because he delivered the last shot to the deer believe or not he got the jack pot for the deer because it was the biggest deer harvested that day. Nevertheless Ricky came away with the money, his choice of meat, and the new nickname "Road Kill". Poor Jerry and OldSpice did all that tracking and pushing to just help Ricky claim his first deer killed!!!! P.S. Just a little footnote, we are all so close that there were no hard feelings, a lot of picking and laughing but no hard feelings. Its stories like this that keeps me going back for more. Every hunt is different and the dogs bring an excitement to the sport and thrill you don't get out of still hunting. I got some more, I will share some time.

Sounds like we are kindred spirits!!! I love hunting, but my parents and sisters think I am crazy!!! Its my uncles that got me into the sport, coming in after their hunts and telling all these wild stories. I already loved the outdoors and rather be there than in the house doing "womens work". LOL!! So my grandmas 86 yr old brother bought me first shotgun and my uncle started taking me on the drives. But I am like you, I don't really care how a person hunts or what they hunt, its the comraderie out there in the wild outdoors that gets me. I dont have any female hunters as friends younger than 60. As for the guys I hunt with they couldn't be any more of a gentlemen. I will have to say it astonishes even some of them for a young woman to be so interested in the sport and the work that goes into it. My dream job is to work on the preserve Buchanan Schoals. They have a excellent deer herd and it would be outdoors. But alas we all have dreams!!! I would like to say though talking with you and everyone else here is very liberating! I hope to hear from you soon JB. My hunts are interesting but they are nothing compared to all the hunts you have been on!! Bear Hunting, um that takes guts.

Hear Hear Hear!!! Nothing like fishing when you can't hunt!!! I would love to go on a girl hunt. It can't be anything like the men. Don't let nobody fool you they gossip more than women ever could dream of doing!!! Been looking at the bows. As usual my mama thinks I have lost my mind. My daddy has learned to just let me find my own way. I get all the outdoor thing from him, he is a logger and I would go to work with him every chance I got when I was a young girl.

outdoorchic

I keep checking and looks like this is becoming a lonely site!!! Sorry the only thing I have spotted lately is a big nanny as roadkill. THis is what I hate about people not agreeing with hunting. While you cant help some deer getting spooked and and running in front of a car, if you control the deer herd problems such as this is not as bad. I much rather have the meat on my plate for supper than lay wasted in the road!!! I have been messing around with my two Jack Russell Terrier/BLack and Tan Coon Hound pups!! They are 10 weeks old. They are already as big as their mama. I hope that mix will make a jam up deer dog. But I would settle for rabbit or coon!!!! They are still just pups and I am just enjoying their spunk! Their names is Shelby (my cousin named her) and Einstein!! I guess we will see if he lives up to that name! Oh well catch you all later.

We are seeing more bucks each day and it looks like there may be some good ones to hunt this fall. I saw a small buck that had been hit on the road that fronts our property...dang it.
I did see a pretty awesome sight yesterday morning. There was a deer leg (I am guessing from the road kill buck) laying in the middle of our road. I looked out the window and a huge eagle was standing on the leg. He kept moving his talons, carefully placing them and next thing I knew...he flew off with the deer leg in his talons. What an awesome creature.
We are seeing more and more eagles as we live close to the floodwaters where they nest. Pretty common to see them in fields feasting on animals that have been hit by cars or just varmints.
Also, we have a den of grey fox that come in to our driveway each night. They started out with three little ones and now are down to one. I did not know that both the male and female tend the den. Pretty fun to watch...they are beautiful.
Nice to finally see a post in here. I check almost daily but all I get is an echo. HHHHEEEEELLLLLLOOOOOOOOO!!
JB

We started working up our food plots, seems late but the weather just isn't cooperating. Mine needs to be gone over one more time with the disc and then left for a couple of days. Maybe next week we can get them in as now it has started to rain.
Been seeing a really nice buck in the hay field. He needs to move into the woods as he will be way too tempting for someone on the road with a gun.
Never really figured out the theory behind violating a big buck. You shoot it illegally, then what. So now you have a big buck and no braggin' rights. Kinda stupid isn't it!!!
This year I will be ready when that big fella crosses in front of me at 42 yards. I didn't check the distance last year with my range finder, just guessed and my arrow went right under his belly. Not this year...I double dog dare him =)
Nice to see you still peek in every now and then Outdoorchic. Looks like it is just you and me most days. Wish someone would throw out a hello or something once in a while.
I just keep checkin' and hopin'
JB