I have tried to find a crossbow hip quiver built to carry bolts with fixed broadheads. It is odd that product descriptions do not seem to clarify which models are suitable for this. Does anyone have a camo bolt quiver that works well for them with fixed broadheads? If so, what manufacturer and model? Also, a good sling? I bought a crossbow after having shoulder surgery.

Ever try to run with a hip quiver? I don't like them.

If I run at my age it is not toward anything:) BTW - I bought a quiver at Walmart, but it was not camo.

Hehe, nice! How does it work for you?

It should work fine. It has 3 tubes and the decocking bolt fits in them. Not sure if I will carry extra broadheads in it since I have 3 bolts in the bow quiver. That should be plenty.

Took out the tubes and made a leg tie and it works OK. Did not need this evening though as I used one of my broadheads and harvested a nice big doe with a double lung pass through.

I use one almost identical to this one. My leg tie is actually a 1" wide quick release buckle. The broadhead fits into a foam pocket, shaft is held in place by two clips.

http://www.bowhunterssuperstore.com/vist...f38831563df789c

I am using mine for a reusable decocking bolt/thug. I use a bow mounted quiver for the boadheads. I don't know if foam would hold the tip on the thug. This is my first day hunting with a crossbow, and it is way easier than a compound.

Congrats, I'm going out tomorrow. Hope I don't get rained on.

A rainy day hunting is better than a sunny day at work (and I like my job).

I'll be hunting tomorrow with an Xbow for the first time ever. I shot it some in the back yard and, at 50 ft, I put 3 out of 4 in one inch. The 4th was about an inch out. I'm uncomfortable because I don't understand trajectories on this thing. But, I'll be close so it may not be a big deal.

Not sure how I'll even like hunting with it. With a rifle, I can sit a hundred or so yards away, read a Louis L'Amour book, stand up to relieve myself and generally wiggle around. We'll see.

DD1, sounds like ya got a little spoiled rifle huntin. I'm bettin you'll really like the x bow. I got my first one last yr and can hit pretty consistently at 40 yrds which is double what I used to limit myself to with a compound. I used to shoot instinctively and now have a scope (world of difference, like shootin squirrels with an open sight 22 vs a 22 with a 3x9). Having to put down the book, quit figiting and wizzing out of your stand will make the challenge of the hunt much tougher and rewarding. I've always said one with a bow is better than two with the gun. When ya have to let em get close enough ta hear em breath the adrenaline really rushes. Have fun!! I doubt ya depend on Venison ta survive and if ya do ya can piss, spit, read and fidget during gun and still fill the fridge. Good huntin to all!

Be sure to sight in with fixed broadheads if you use these. Mine shoot very accurately but zero different from equal-weight field points.

http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/catalog/crossbow/the_vari-zone_crossbow_scope

I can't see using an x-bow without something like this. If you don't have a chronograph, zero the x-bow at 20 yds. Put the target at 40 or 50 yds and keep turning the speed ring until you are hitting the aiming point. Always shoot from a bench type rest when sighting it in, it will take out most of the human variables. I use a rangefinder when hunting, either on the deer itself or on landmarks around the stand so I know the yardage. Trajectory is like a rainbow.

I use mechanical broadheads, they fly the same as my field points.

One thing - have a magic marker with you, and shoot ALL your arrows at the 40-50 yd target. Any arrow that doesn't fall within the group, re-shoot it. If it falls out of the group again, mark it and don't use it for hunting. All arrows won't fly the same due to how the fletching and nock is installed - something to do with the spine of the arrow I think.

I have a scope but sighted it in a 25 yds on the first dot, 35 on the second etc. It shoots great out to 50 yds off a rest, but windage is too much at 55 yds. I too use a range finder. I had a 30 yd landmark in the right place, so putting the second dot on the doe about 5 yards beyond that worked perfectly. Its in the freezer now.

Hunted about an hour from dawn on at a corn feeder. Then got a call that I was expecting from the county property tax people about them being on the way to my place. Got a call later that kept me from hunting in the afternoon. But, I walked by and checked out other feeders and it appears that the deer are eating acorns and forbs.

I've got pictures of deer at my feeders from last weekend but there are so many acorns on the ground I can't see them eating anything but acorns for a long time.

My game camera no longer recognizes the SD card. I wish they made a reliable no-frills game camera that just took pictures when something walked by. There must still be a market for products that just do basic things reliably.... I guess not.

Try using a pencil eraser on the copper contacts on the SD card. It might clean them enough to work.

RAH the company you are looking for is Reconyx. Unfortunately these days you have to pay extra to get the reliability you are looking for.

It should not cost $500 to make a reliable motion triggered camera. I don't need magazine quality photos or fancy features. It just needs to keep working.

I agree it should not have to cost that and it has nothing to do with magazine quality or fancy photos. Most of todays cameras will take fairly high res photos. In my experience, reconyx is the only company making cameras that will last "forever", not have a bunch of false triggers with no subject in the pic or pics of deer butts/noses, have excellent battery life, etc.

I thought I had found a viable camera in the coverts last year. First season they did pretty good. Second season, which was this year, not so much. Starting getting all kinds of screwed up pics. Pics during the day that almost look like night vision photos, etc.

I have ONE reconyx and it's the only camera that does what it is supposed to year in and year out. I have a heap of others that basically suck.

There is a whole other world of guys that build their own.......

Moultrie. M880. Around 100 bucks. I love them.

The first review on this one said it is tricky to program. I am not looking for a unit that needs to be programmed. I use it the same way every time. Its for scouting, so I just need a picture when something walks by. It needs an on and off switch to meet my needs. Everything else is baggage. I understand that I must represent a small (or underappreciated) market share, and that is why such products don't exist.

I run cameras yr round and have gone through many brands that did not last through a yr of daily use. Like u I am not looking for one that does everything just one that takes video. video gives more information back to me. Reconyx is the best but cost is pretty high. The next best for me is the Moultrie brand. I have several of these that are now in their 5 year and still going strong. I think they were around $150 but may be higher today.

Tracy

Thank you for the info. I paid pretty good for the Cuddeback and it has stopped recognizing SD cards. If Reconyx made a simple unit, I would give them a try. I hate gadgets, but I know many folks love them. I just want to know who the biggest guy around is so I can wait for him.

I tried the CB and bought two a few yrs ago. I had one that I placed in a spot where I would get doe families pics all day and night with the Moultrie but the CB pics were reduced by hundreds of pic so I took it back to BPS for a trade to another Moultrie. I have the second CB setting on a bench in the gun room, I will use it on occasion because it is my least fav camera

What is required to use the Reconyx entry level camera to just take pictures when triggered? How many buttons must you push?

I have the Moultrie M880's also. Good bang for the buck

Reviews suggest that the cheaper Reconyx 500 is better than the pricier 600. Any experience with these 2 models?

Not sure if you have looked at this site, but it is the best place I have found for reviews of cameras.

http://www.trailcampro.com/

I don't have either of those. In the initial setup you will only have to select a couple options like photo/video mode and how many pics to take per trigger, then set the date and time. After that you just turn the camera on, close it up and it is ready to go every time.

I had looked at that site while Googling. It appears that the prices for Reconyx are fixed by the manufacturer.

Every camera has an initial amount of set up for simple time / date stamps. Then it is as a simple as off and on. I run my Moultrie cams all year long also. My older ones go through batteries a little quicker than the new M880 but that is to be expected. I have also heard great things about Reconyx but I have been so pleased with Moultrie, why switch?

Anyone have a bad experience with a Reconyx trail cam?

Rah, I've had one running for three yrs now and I am very pleased with the photo quality (great pictures) and battery life is great, best I have when it comes to battery life. The only problem I have with them is the cost. So I have some mixed emotions due to the fact I can buy two Moultree for the price of one Ryconyx. These two brands are my favorite's and will never buy any other brands from here on out, and I have tried most of the popular brand name game cameras. I bet between my son and me we have bought at least 6 or 7 brands of game cameras and maybe more the more I think about it.

Tracy

I only put out one camera, so I may bite the bullet and buy a Reconyx.

Tracy, I have 8 out. 2 are black flash to try to catch a poacher. I expect that I've tried everything but Reconyx on my 6 feeders. Most work for awhile. That's generally 2 years. The best I have ever found were Cuddebak. That's the old Cuddes. My last one finally quit.

Want to get disgusted? Put 2 or 3 out watching the same spot. They won't agree.

I hear ya Dave, But if a poacher is in the neighborhood I would not use a Reconyx, I would worry about him finding it and taking it home with him. Two things I don't like on my place is poachers and those dam Cormorants. Coon hunters have trespassed without asking, and I let them walk because coons are such a nuisance.

Tracy

Tracy, "my" poacher has come for 3 or 4 years. The GW has been out to talk about it. But, the best he can really do is follow up if I can get a pic. I'm more worried about my Grandson or his friends running into him.

Took a coyote this morning with the new crossbow. We have a dog in heat and the coyotes are very interested. Fortunately our fixed male GS is interested in them too. I have pretty much ignored the coyotes in the past, but their populations have increased so much, that I will now take them as they pass by. Need some wolves around here.

After the last few years of not seeing many coyotes I saw 8 last weekend and another one this weekend. Going to try and shoot as many as I can.

In the past, I have left them alone, but their local population has really increased over time. I probably cannot put a dent in their numbers, but with fur prices so low, trappers are not very interested in running lines.

Update on hip bolt quiver: Carrying the decocking bolt out in the quiver was just too noisy and inconvenient. I am now decocking after walking back to the house. Live and learn...

My beaver is back @ the pond, he always shows up when the bayou nearby is low. No rain in the last 90 days or so. I have been thinking of taking him down and tanning the hide to make a tubular hand warming muff. it would come in handy while setting in a tree stand during cold weather events. My question is, will he sink if shot at the pond?

I've never shot one in a pond, I've always used Conibear 330's to control them. Good idea on the muff!!!

RAH, I tried to decock my crossbow once in the field. Never found the arrow because it buried itself so deeply into the moist soil. Now I bring it home and shoot the bag target that I have with a junk arrow that I only use for that purpose.

Morning Tracy
I shot one in my pond and it did sink but was real close to the bank so I could retrieve it. I felt bad after shooting it so the next one will get a pass until it starts to mess up something then I will take action. Their hide is awsome looking tho. Mine was cutting small sweet gum trees so I should have left him alone..... Lol

Thanks for the report Pat. I wished or hope mine will eat willows, I have a lot of willows around the pond. I have been trying to remove them when I get a chance. Maybe he will take some willows down, most are small willows. But, he has been knawing on some other grass type plants, I see them floating around the pond and looked at the cutting close and determined they were cut down. That is what made me start looking to see what was around the pond at dusk. He may get a pass for a while, based from your post. Thanks

Cool Tracy
I'm giving them a pass till they mess up. Heck Google it and see if it is on their food list

I use a reusable decocking arrow designed for that purpose. It does not get buried in the ground.

Decocking arrow hit a buried rock and is toast. Bought a cheap solar landscape light so I can shoot a bolt in my target after dark. Misjudged a rack and took a 3.5 year old 9-point today. Its does from here on out. The guy was big and a tough drag for an old guy and his wife:)

Did you ever make a move on a trail camera?

My son is going to take a look at he circuit board in my current camera first. If he cannot fix it, I will buy a Reconyx and hope it lasts.

Took another big doe tonight. The big ones winded me, but a couple of the fawns came in close and gave the big ones a false sense of security. One of the big ones even blew early on, but they could not figure out what they smelled. Took over an hour for one to get close enough (25 yards). I have been storing my clothes with spruce needles which seems to alert them but they are just not sure what to do about it.

My son fixed my trail cam. He also just landed an IT job with a school system.

Great he could fix the cam and AWESOME he landed a job! Getting a job in their chosen profession can be challenging for our kids in today's job market. Nice to hear of a success story!

He seems to always land on his feet. Only just got back from Colorado.

A kid shot an old buck on my place. All teeth were gone except 4 lower front teeth. And, they were loose. But, it was large and had good body condition so it had to be eating something.

Great when a kid gets a deer. Even better when its an old one. Took my first triple this morning and am done till muzzleloader.

settled for this:



Lots of new hunter pressure from low acreage properties.

I've noticed that what you settle for is what I dream about.

I have been hunting for a while now and my only real hobby is wildlife-habitat restoration and deer hunting. What I lack in talent, I try to make up for with persistence.

RAH, I'm seeing the same thing here. I have some nice deer that are only 2.5-3.5 years old but they are shot on adjoining properties before they can really get large. Those are 5, maybe 10 acre parcels.

The deer have 8-10 points, but short tines or no mass. Only a few are nice, but they still could use 2 years of growth to get big.

I put out a camera yesterday, so I will see what survived the opener.

My answer is a drastic herd reduction via does. Fortunately, I have hunting friends that can take time off from their own properties to help me. I have great habitat and multiple totally undisturbed patches of cover so that subordinate bucks and many does have a place to stay. Under low deer numbers, more deer can stay mostly in my place. BTW - I bought a Reconyx and love it so far. Got a picture of an atypical with a drop that is 3.5 years old. I have his sheds from the last 2 years. He is lame on one front leg and has been for as long as I have been seeing him. Very odd and cool rack. Hopefully he survives till 2018 when he'll be real trophy.

I've seen some but mine were also young. Haven't seen a doe yet. That's odd.

One of my hunting friends says that I need a bumper sticker that says "Make the Herd Great Again"

I'm happy just to be able to hunt again and managed a doe for the freezer last weekend. We have an amazing amount of little bucks with a few bruisers as well. For once, I saw about an equal number of does and bucks. I'm back to hunting with a 20 ga after years of exclusively using a muzzleloader. I'm not convinced it was a good move. The Savage 220 is extremely accurate, but I have reserves about its knockdown potential.

A former student killed a 28 pointer. It had about 15 pts on its beams with the rest being 1 in stickers on the bases. It wasn't enormous but scored in the 190's. Pretty cool.

Pictures!!!

Send me a pm.

Shot a pig yesterday. Found blood but not the pig. Walked into a bunch of them, after dark. It got a little loud.

Dave, I suspect your rut is on, when the doe's are hard to find or see.
Our rut usually starts the week before Thanksgiving and will continue through mid February. We start see fawns in or around July 1st and we even saw new maybe 10lb fawns just 2 weeks ago. I have hunted twice for a couple hrs each set and have not seen what I am looking for. But I really enjoy setting up 25 feet in the tree and watching what walks by.

Tracy, I saw a nice doe about dawn. I decided to pass. I figured it was Thanksgiving and I had way too much to do to mess with that big doe. Any I will be mule deer hunting in 2 weeks. We can't eat that much venison and I do expect to get a mulie buck in South Texas. Of course, I'll still be hunting my place. Heck, it's deer season and I'm going to hunt. I might not kill anything but I gotta hunt.

Sounds like a good upcoming Mulie hunt. I bet u have a good time on that trip. Dave, what rifle are you shooting on the Mulie hunt? And what city are you hunting near?

The deer Brook mentioned:





And one on my place that needs a year or 2:



I have his sheds from the last 2 years

RAH, do all his sheds look funky?

He has been lame on one leg ever since I have seen him (at least 3 years) and I believe that is why his antlers have always been a bit bizarre. I do think he has good genetics, but I am not sure how successful he might be with the bum leg. He does get around just fine on 3 legs. I hope he makes it through this year.

I must have missed something.... you got a Reconyx!

Yup

Tracy, we will be hunting near Dryden I think. I will be using my butchered 1917 Eddystone 30.06 that has traveled with me since 1968. I finall had to replace the barrel last year. It has taken mulies, whitetails, elk and antelope. I have a closet full but always reach for it.
Btw, I saw nothing today. But, my Bluegills are still feeding.

Dave, that old 30-6 sounds like it is a trusted riffle. Hope u get the biggest one of your group on your trip

Looking forward to it. I haven't mule deer hunted in 25 years and never in Texas.