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Post by ncmountainman on Feb 28, 2012 22:23:50 GMT -5
April 6th is the full moon that should get the bass to push on the beds IF the water temps agree and if it stays mild it should be good. 58 degress usually starts the ball rolling for the prespawn. Best thing is to go fishing, wear polarized glasses, stand on that trolling motor, cruise around the backs of the hollers and coves, and look. Spawn is like the rut and spread out some but the "peak" should be the 2nd to 3rd weekend of April around here. Usually around the 3rd or 4th week. This is for largemouth. Spots will start in April also but there will still be spots on the beds after the largemouth are finished. Spots come into the banks at different times it seems and stay longer especially the bucks. Can't really see spots on the bed but they spawn on those gravelly sloping banks in 4-15' of water. Drag a carolina rig through them with a french fry worm. If they are there, you will know it. If not, move on. Happy fishing to all. Any one in for some great Alabama Spot action? LOL
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Post by ncmountainman on Feb 28, 2012 22:11:26 GMT -5
Nice catch, Bill. I'm getting ready to start fishing on the local lake here. Great Alabama spot bass fishing with spots caught up in the 5 pound range. Going to have to try one of those Alabama rigs soon. Friend's of mine went and fished a small tournament last Saturday. Real windy spinner bait day. Ted came in 2nd with a little over 15 pounds of spots fishing spinner baits on windy banks. Heath came in 1st with over 33 # (5 fish) of largemouth fishing spinner baits around windy boat docks. Unreal! Spots will go start on the beds in about a month. 47 degree surface temps right now.
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Post by ncmountainman on Feb 28, 2012 19:53:21 GMT -5
NC has LOTS of deer on the eastern 1/4 of the state but they are the size of a german shepherd dog. Small. Sandhills portion on the next 1/4 going east has a good quantity of deer with a little bigger size. Piedmont area has the largest deer in body size and also the largest antlers. Western mountainous area has very small deer. 150# live weight is a very large buck. Antlers are small with no mass in general. Lots of wide racks but no mass or tine length. Not many crop fields but a huge amount of forested land with a very rural population. Very strict on doe harvesting. In the far western part where I live, a hunter can only harvest a doe during bow season or the last day of muzzleloader only. 3 week high powered rifle season. Approx 100 deer harvested in the county per year. A 120" buck is a very nice "trophy" deer in most parts of NC. People freak when they see my deer on the wall and I don't have a 150"er. They always say "well, you got those up north". My biggest was killed here and locals still talk of it 12 years later. Many deer heads mounted here in NC that you all would throw away. So, we have a very strict doe harvest, 3 week gun season which opens the Monday before Thanksgiving (prime rut?), huge amount of public land, rural area, no baiting on public land, and spotlighting is illegal, yet less than 100 bucks killed total for the season, and none will score 150. Indiana is one of the top states in the ENTIRE US of A for trophy buck hunting. What is wrong with that? I love it there. Looking at the B&C trophy entry map I found online it appears that the majority of entry's come from eastern MN, western WI, eastern IA, eastern MO, western IL, and western KY. All along the Mississippi River drainage. Ohio river drainage has excellent potential also. Geography taught me that these rivers moved a great deal over the centuries and in so doing produced the most fertile land for crops and maybe for racks too. Genetics, abundant crop fields (food), and soil content I think all play into the equation for trophy buck potential. Managed hunting can play a big part in this also. I guess it's all relative to what our individual exposures are but I love to hunt Indiana and look forward to a chance to one day hunt Kentucky and Illinois also. My cup is always over 1/2 full !!!! You all should, and I'm sure you do, feel blessed by the good Lord that you have Indiana to hunt through out the seasons and argue for the sake of making Indiana even better for trophy potential. Hopefully I can share in that with you all. Ohh, here's that map I found. mikehanback.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/04/03/qdma_bigbuck_poster_5.jpg
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Post by ncmountainman on Feb 23, 2012 22:51:24 GMT -5
This debate is really pointless......If you were talking about putting two hunters on the same piece of ground and one was consistently taking better deer than the other, I'd buy in, but you aren't. So there are too many variables for it to be a valid comparison. X2 My brother and I have hunted the same piece of property for quite a few years there in Indiana. I have gotten 6 bucks between 120 and 140's. in Indiana. He has gotten none. I am not allergic to killing does either. I only have 1 week each year to hunt. He lives there. I hunt from a tree stand, take a backpack of supplies, and stay put in the thicket 50 yards + from the field edge. Hunt with a single shot pistol. My brother hunts on the ground, moves alot, likes to be able to see the fields, and uses a pump 12 gauge. He says I am just lucky. I've hunted here in the mountains of western North Carolina many years and have never seen/heard of a 150" deer being taken....ever. I have gotten a 140". Not patting myself on the back just showing a comparison. My style of hunting is more condusive to getting a good buck than my brother's is. Am I a better hunter? I believe I am better at killing good bucks than my brother due to the style difference. He still gets his share of meat and he is a happy hunter. Would I like to harvest a 150+ buck? Absoleutely. Could I? Sure could but....... I need a managed tract of land to hunt on which I don't. I would need the money and time to travel and scout/manage/hunt more in states that have deer of that consistancy on those managed tracts I spoke of which I don't. I just hope I keep getting lucky and luckier. LOL Some folks have the time/money/and dedication to get all this done. Some folks have the time and money but don't have the dedication. I think it takes all three or be like me and be lucky. or.......anyone want to trade for the above for a great spring 3#+ spot bass fishing trip...bear hunt....vacation in the mountains? Then I'll make sure to get the dedication and the time to 'get er done! Interesting discussion.
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Post by ncmountainman on Feb 22, 2012 18:47:56 GMT -5
Well as of now, most of you say you are seeing Less Deer. The Deer Vehicle wrecks/collisions are also way down. So I really think in many places Deer numbers are down, imo 56.2% are more or about the same.
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Gonads
Feb 16, 2012 8:22:33 GMT -5
Post by ncmountainman on Feb 16, 2012 8:22:33 GMT -5
Gonads force a hunter to tag a deer as a buck? That must be the most insane thing I've ever read or heard of in my 35 years of deer hunting. And people agree with it? Wow, big antler delirium must be a brain disorder. LOL Joking of course as everyone has different reasons for deer hunting but that is really out there.
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Post by ncmountainman on Feb 14, 2012 18:36:01 GMT -5
Wow. I can't believe how often I hear "I'll shoot any dog that runs a deer or comes through by my stand". It's just a dog wondering around. That same dog might push a deer to you that you wouldn't normally have seen. Those same deer that live in the woods are used to that dog being around for the most part. Shoot, that deer isn't going to high tail it to the next county and never come back. Took a guy to Indiana with me years ago. Heard him shoot twice. When I got to him, he had shot a big doe and also a dog. Doe came through first. Dog a few minutes later. Never took him back.....
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Post by ncmountainman on Feb 14, 2012 11:30:57 GMT -5
My wife loves to sew quilts. She sews a couple each year and then gives them away as a CHRISTmas present. She sews them totally by hand. No sewing maching whatsoever. They are beautiful. She sewed the landowner/friend of mine there in Indiana one quite a few years ago and he still displays on his bed. It was her way of saying "thanks" for letting me hunt and harvest deer on his land.
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Post by ncmountainman on Feb 13, 2012 20:10:10 GMT -5
I'd take the first eater buck I saw and then hold out for a large one after that. Does hit the ground. Only have a week to hunt. I have eaten $150 buck tag soup letting a small one walk and then not getting a good shot at at larger buck the rest of the week.
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Post by ncmountainman on Feb 9, 2012 15:44:20 GMT -5
I've traveled all over the world and most of the US of A. The valley I live in is God's country or I'd move to Indiana in a heartbeat. Valley surrounded by mountains with a 7000 acre lake right in the center of the valley. 10K people total in the county. 1 town with a population of 600 and 2 red lights in the county total. 60% of the county is national forest land. 32 churches in the county. Seems like every road has at least 1 church on it. No crime to speak of but also no industry at all. Deer hunting is dismal with about 100 total killed per season. Fishing is good but nothing like fishing farm ponds. God's country is where the Holy Spirit is in your heart making you a content and happy Christian following God's word in your daily lives. That said......"you all come see me, you hear?" LOL
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Post by ncmountainman on Jan 28, 2012 12:01:07 GMT -5
Strange about the tags. Many states don't give a tag. You just call in and report you harvested a deer. The State of Indiana DNR should have verification of the harvest in the computer from when a deer is checked in and the tag is given it would seem.
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Post by ncmountainman on Jan 26, 2012 20:00:31 GMT -5
I'd like one. You take PayPal? or I could mail it to you.
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Post by ncmountainman on Jan 21, 2012 10:06:53 GMT -5
Killer camaro and wife too!! Still have both of them? My birthday is in March also....the 6th. Hey, I really like those shoes you had on Timex. LOL My picture is of the wife and I in the church parking lot after we renewed our vows at 25 years. 1st time in 1985 we drove a '64 Malibu SS on our honeymoon. Had a minor wreck in Pringle SD few years back when the back tire blew out at 75MPH with the ole lady on the back. Got down to about 15 and flopped it down. A lady pulled out in front of us a year ago on our way back from Tibey Island and we hit her front fender at about 10 mph. How someone can't see a white motorcycle with three headlights at night I don't know. Luckily we were just bruised both times.
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Post by ncmountainman on Jan 21, 2012 8:25:57 GMT -5
Hope you are feeling better and no repercussions from the hit. Everything work out ok?
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Post by ncmountainman on Jan 21, 2012 7:02:32 GMT -5
Nice '69 Chevelle and 'Stangs too. Here's a couple:
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Post by ncmountainman on Jan 20, 2012 13:46:17 GMT -5
Just wondering if any one else on here owns any good ole boy toys? I have a '67SS Chevelle that I've owned since 1985 when it was just a daily grocery getter and kid and garbage hauler. Even took my beagles rabbit hunting by hauling them in the trunk when the truck was down. Restored it myself over a 17 year period of down time. Drive it weekly anytime the weather permits. Also have a '02 Harley FLHTPI I ride often. Rode it to Sturgis, Key West, Atlantic coast beaches, Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, and other shorter trips. Great riding here in the mountains. Got a bass boat, and best of all.......a lovely wife that loves for me to hunt, fish, hang out, etc. Anyone with similar interests out there?
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Post by ncmountainman on Jan 20, 2012 13:38:24 GMT -5
Sleepergsx.....what part of WNC did you live in? I live in Clay Co. down by the TN/GA/SC line. Yup, hunting in Indiana is in no way comparable to NC. Much better quality and body size in IN and a lot more deer than the mountains. Fishing? Hmmm, lots of real lakes here, not ponds, but not near the catching that my friends in Indiana do in the lakes (ponds) there.
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Post by ncmountainman on Jan 15, 2012 9:31:59 GMT -5
Deer hunt? IOWA when my kids get rich enough to buy me a outfitter trip with lodging, meals, etc. LOL
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Post by ncmountainman on Jan 9, 2012 0:30:22 GMT -5
Don't blame the guy one bit. Most all, including me, would LOVE to get a buck like that but I would show it to the guys I hunt with, bring it home, show it to the couple of relatives and close friends, and take it to the taxidermist shop. I love to hunt for many reasons but getting in a book isn't one of them. Nothing to prove to anyone but myself. The guys I hunt with are tickled if I get a good 'un and i am for them. Wouldn't even think about putting it in a "record book". I shot a buck in the 140's in the mountains which is huge for here. Field dressed 137#. You wouldn't believe the rumors. People claimed I had to shoot it at night because a deer that big couldn't be killed in daylight. One claimed to my BIL that he saw me dragging it across a field two weeks before the season opened. One guy actually called me a liar about getting it legal in front of my young son and I had to ask him to step outside for a good old fashioned whooping. He sat down and apologized. Instead of being happy for me that huge Jealousy over antlers came out. Unreal. Bigger antlers does not make a man any better than the other but people go crazy. For the record, I shot it two days before the season closed at 9:30 am on public land and many saw it that day fresh. To each their own.
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Post by ncmountainman on Jan 8, 2012 15:42:19 GMT -5
11 pointer and three doe in Indiana during 1st week of gun season. Saw 3 bucks and 9 doe. 4 of us hunting the farm saw a total of 51 deer. Mostly bucks. I used my .308 Encore pistol in Indiana. Came back and had double hernia surgery. Hunted the last day here in the mountains and killed a cow horn spike and skinned, deboned, and gave the meat to the land owner. 270 rifle.
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