Another year has passed by. This season had it all, plenty of deer were taken by hunters, friends were made and life time memories stored away for the next camp fire. Plans are being made for the up-coming season as I type. Hot Rod, Jiddo and I are going to go on a Bear hunt at North Country Lodge, 9/8 - 15th. If interested contact Bert and see if there are any openings left.
I'm looking forward to next year.

First hunt Report

I figure it is easiest to hear it straight from Uncle Bill

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Hi Ron,
We made it back without any problem. The hunting was poor, six hunters for 8 days and no legal bulls, 6 points on one side minimum. The weather was 80-85 degrees everyday with bright sun and no clouds. Nice weather if you were at the beach. We saw 5, 4, 3 and 2 point elks but not the big 6
point bulls. They were in the deep pines with the cows and didn't want to come out.
I had a chance to go to the high country cabin they had at tree line. It was a 4 1/2 hour horseback ride, straight up. We were at 8000 feet and it was still in the 80s. No elk. We stayed 2 nights and headed back. That was the best part of the trip.
The guides only hunted one way, 5:00-9:00am and 5:00-8:00pm watching the slides, which are inverted funnels where the trees have been removed by avalanches. Nice new grass grows there and that's where we saw the smaller elk. They (guides) would not go after the elk in the timber, so we hung around camp,fishing and quick dips in the stream, very cold, chopping wood, etc. boring during the day.

I'd rate the Outfitter as poor.

It wasn't what we expected but we still managed to enjoy. I'll bring the tape to Nantucket.

Talk to you later. Bill

North Carolina

Friend Candi from N.C. has bowhunted for most of the past month. Those of you who have surfed through the pages know that she shot, lost than recovered a nice 8pt. She than followed that up with a nice doe, taken with archery equipment. Great work and welcome to Bowhunting family.
More news from N.C. two more deer were taken by this huntress, another doe and a 4 pt buck which tiped the scales at 140lbs. I'm waiting for photos, they are being downloaded and sent, as soon as I get them you'll see them.
She has come through in a big way, look at this 173lb 5pt buck, taken with a 10 yard shot, double lung and heart shot. Great news is that she had brought her 5 year old nephew along for this hunt. Thanks for the photo and I'm looking for more.

Vermont

Terry, Bird and Tony are at the camp for the week of the 14th, Oct. As soon as I hear anything I'll let you know.
Report from Terry, Deer everywhere. Shots were taken along with a nice button buck that fell to one of his arrows on the last day of the hunt, Oct 21st. His season is off to a great start. Bird and tony have yet to report from the same hunt. I'm told that they also saw deer and plenty but failed to get any shots. Rumor has it that bird is talking about regressing back to the wheel bow ? I'm seeing him today at Terry's house to butcher the buttton buck. I'll have pictures soon.
Report from Tirrell is that while hunting at the Davis Inn this past weekend a Turkey had the misfortune of crossing the path of Mouths 10 guage ! Bam, one for the table. Good going Bobby, what time is dinner.
The season is still on, so who knows what the final tally will be.

Maine

Steve[squirrel] is planning a solo trip to the camp this coming week....16th-19th. I'll keep everyone posted on that one.
I know of one Moose that was taken in this state, 52" spread 20pt and 825lbs, I'm waiting for premission and photos to elaborate... stay tuned.
The squirrel went and came back with the same amount of deer as usual, none. Had some excitement, watched young trapers set their coyote traps than proceed to trap a family pet out for a walk. Moved stand several times without any luck, maybe will have to dust off the 06'es.

Mass.

The season begins the 15th. Jiddo and Shawn are ready in New Bedford, Jeff Souza is ready in Middleboro along with #2. Jeff Grimes is hunting in Mills. Brother Bob Tirrell is hunting in Plymouth. Rods got his eye on a buck in Attleboro and new partner, Jason Fuller will be hunting in South Middleboro. As for me, I might get out for a couple of hours in Mendon. I'll keep you posted as I get reports from everyone.
Shawn shot at a doe on the 16th, spent all day on the 17th trailing it without finding the deer. Bad luck with rain the night before. Chin up Shawn, time to redeem yourself.
On Tues. 16th Oct. Bill Andrade aka..'g-spot' shot a nice 4 pointer over in Berkely. Thank you for breaking the ice, g-spot. He's going to Maine this weekend and states that he's got plenty of old photos of family and friends that will be posted. I can't wait to get busy.
As reported , Rod shot at a nice buck, but failed to recover it, rain washed away all sign. Still looking though. Jeff Grimes shot and recovered a nice 5pt. weighing in around 135lb., deer decided to swim across the river first, a canoe was used to recover the animal. Pictures are coming. Both Rod and Jeff shots were taken 11/2.
Nov. 6th, election day, did you vote ? Well Jason was busy shooting two bucks today, a 4pt. in the morning and a 5pt. in the afternoon. He's got himself a hot spot and the bucks are getting into the rut, I'm hoping they are still moving next week on the island.
Update from the island, the week started off with some low life form scum stealing over a thousand dollars worth of equipment from the back of my truck. We filed all necessary reports and continued on our vacation, though it somewhat changed our hunting styles. Ground level and eye to eye was the required method this week. monday afternoon I came face to face with a buck at a mere 8 feet. I let him walk past and attempted a quartering away shot which was deflected by a branch, which one of Murphy's laws is that one ? Jeff Sousa missed at a beauty of a buck, very tall racked buck. And Shawn shot, hit and lost a nice 7 - 8 pt buck to someone else. That buck traveled a long way, we tracked the deer for over 8 hours and much of the time on our hands and knees. The trail ended when we came to a dirt road and massive open field. No more blood and no deer in sight. The very same day after Shawn called off the track hunting with Jiddo, I took a nice doe, shot through the heart, Jiddo did you see that ? The island drought is now offically over.

Louisiana

Friend Rose is awaiting the opening of gun season, I'm waiting for reports. She's taken a few good hogs in the past, along with a few nice deer. The one above was taken in Jan 2001, so she's the first one of the year to get her venison. I'm betting that she gets another one or two this year. I'v got photos of her with a couple of hogs on the photo page. More to come from her I'm sure.

New York

The week of the 4th of Nov. finds friends Hot Rod, Joe Williams and Steve Mason and cousin Donny; hunting in the empire state, reports are sketchy but two deer have been taken that I know of. A doe was shot by Rod's "friend ?" and a spike was taken by Steve, not sure what Joe's been doing.
Full report is in, 4 bucks and the doe were taken by the N.Y. crew. Rod took a nice 7pt along with Joe W. taking a healthy 4pt. Pictures are in the works, to be scanned first. I'm ready to go back to N.Y.
Well as you can see the pictures are scanned and posted, Rods deer is to the right and Joe and Donnys deer are on the friends page. This group has been very busy this year, as have a number of my hunting buddies.

Penn.

The brothers Bob [Tirrell and Davis] are heading down to Penn. agian this year. The 20th annual trek usually results in many shots and a few deer taken. Mouth aka...Davis is on a role, wouldn't be to surprised to see him whack another turkey while in the deer woods. I'll keep you posted on this hunt as it unfolds.
Report is in........ Davis aka....'Mouth' shot a nice 4pt. the first day out dressed out at 115lb., brother Bob Tirrell waited until friday the 2nd to shoot his deer a real nice 8 pt. dressed out at 150lb. This year Penn. changed the rules regarding the harvesting of doe deer, it's a good thing too, because both brothers were surrounded by them all week. Could've done some serious reduction in doe numbers. Not sure if any pictures were taken. I'll update if any are available.

Ohio

Here it is, the story straight from 'UB'...
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Hi Ron,

Its a beauty. I'm pretty proud of that buck and yes it will be mounted
and placed in a prominent place at home.

Friday, Nov 23 Phil and his son Joe from Ct and I drove to Scioto county
in southeastern Ohio. My friend Phil and several of his buddies in Ohio
bought a 260 area plot of land that borders Meade paper company
property. Its in a pretty rural setting with hardwoods and rolling
pastures and fields of corn. Sounds pretty good, it gets better. On
their property there is a tobacco barn that has a new cement floor,
weather stripping and a wood stove. They even put up an outhouse with a
1/4 moon cut into the side, looks great and works. We arrived around
10:00pm Friday and got out our bedrolls and went to bed. On Saturday we
scouted and set up tree stands with the guidance of the other buddies. I
was in the hardwoods that was adjacent to thick brush. A power lines to
my right. As morning approached on Monday we were up at 4:00,am, had a
light breakfast of oatmeal and packed our lunches. The morning started
out auspicious, had trouble with my tree harness, forgot my orange vest
and went back, half way to the stand the bulb blew, I had a spare light.
I finally got situated in the tree stand about 15 minutes before legal
shooting time. There I sat for and hour when I heard that tell-tale
noise of rustling leaves. I released the safety and got ready. It was a
little foggy and the sky overcast. Next thing I see is a doe coming
right at me and about 12 yards away. I shoot, down it goes then I notice
the buck behind her as he bolts to his left. Bang, second shot missed
but the buck stopped at 34 yards broadside. Bang, off goes the deer. I'm
out of shells and watching as it goes over a small knoll. I'm listening,
and I heard some thrashing, could it be. Ten minutes later I'm down from
the tree and tagging the doe which was shot in the neck. I went to
where I shot at the buck and picked up the strong blood trail. Three
minutes later I crested the knoll and looked for the buck. There it is
stretched out like a log. The antlers were in the brush and when I
approached the buck I got a look for the first time at how big they
were. Unbelieveable !! I shot the buck right behind the front shoulder
and it only went about 70 yards.

We took the deer back to camp on the quad. Everyone was impressed.
Eleven of us took 4 deer, two passed up smaller deer. They shot 4 deer
off the property during archery season and two guys shot big bucks in
their yards.

We left camp on Wednesday and I didn't get home until Thursday morning
and started to butcher the deer. Next year on Nantucket you can show me
how to cut up the meat. I'm on a roll.

Talk to you later

Bill