Trad Gang

Trad Gang Highlights => Highlights 2009 => Topic started by: KentuckyTJ on November 30, 2009, 07:56:00 AM

Title: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: KentuckyTJ on November 30, 2009, 07:56:00 AM
You may have seen these in the POWWOW section earlier in the year but wanted to put them here.

September 6th buck. 53 lb Morrison Cheyenne, Easton Trad Only 500 series arrows with 100 grain brass inserts and Magnus Stingers.

(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Buck%202009/P9060611-1.jpg)

(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Buck%202009/P9060606-1.jpg)

(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Buck%202009/P9060596-1.jpg)

October doe. Schafer Silvertip with same arrow setup.

(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/2009%20Doe/PA060670-640.jpg)
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: bluegrassbowhunter on November 30, 2009, 08:59:00 AM
Way to go Tom...& nice shooting on both of em......
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: ishoot4thrills on November 30, 2009, 09:24:00 AM
Excellent, Tom! Still looks just as big(maybe bigger!) as when you first posted the pics. Very nice mature doe as well.

Congrats on a great season! Wish you many more too!
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: Gatekeeper on November 30, 2009, 09:48:00 AM
GOOD GRIEF!  :notworthy:  They're both huge...congratulations  :clapper:
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: BRONZ on November 30, 2009, 10:37:00 AM
Nice pics brother and congrats!
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: swp on November 30, 2009, 12:19:00 PM
Wow! They must be interbreeding with the elk down there.  :)
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: billy shipp on November 30, 2009, 12:25:00 PM
2 nice deer Tom....that velvet buck is cool.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: oneshot-onekill on November 30, 2009, 01:19:00 PM
Nice deer TJ...how about the TT? Any blood on it yet?
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: KentuckyTJ on November 30, 2009, 02:02:00 PM
Thanks guys. Terry, our three week gun season just ended. I stay out of the woods then. Will be after them now. Also just got my string settled in on the Tall Tines. Man that's a great bow. I'm glad you turned me onto them.

Thanks Brother.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: cacciatore on November 30, 2009, 03:44:00 PM
Congrats TJ it is a very impressive sized buck
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: oneshot-onekill on November 30, 2009, 04:42:00 PM
I havent had alot of time in the woods lately...and then our shotgun season came in also...went out one day for 2 hrs and heard probably 30 shots....all from the same general area....hopefully can get some time now that it is over...if there are any deer left in the area...that buck is a bruiser!

I went to a 10 strand D97 string on my tt...almost as quiet with no string silencers as with the original string with silencers...really liken this bow alot....going to try a 8 strand and see how it shoots...will let you know.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: KentuckyTJ on November 30, 2009, 04:56:00 PM
I already know. I'll p.m. you.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: bowhawk archer on November 30, 2009, 07:07:00 PM
Way to go Tom! That buck is a bruiser.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: pitbull on November 30, 2009, 07:21:00 PM
I would have waited another month to shoot that buck, so all that nasty moss fell off and he had shiny antlers!  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: joe ashton on November 30, 2009, 08:54:00 PM
those deer are beauts....Joe
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: Michael Arnette on December 01, 2009, 07:22:00 PM
Great deer Tom, good luck with the rest of your season. I have heard alot about Kentucky's management system, what are you thoughts on it?
I might have to try a D97 on my TallTines.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: KentuckyTJ on December 01, 2009, 09:22:00 PM
Michael, I find myself sitting here debating on whether to answer you question publicly or not do to I by no means want to sound like a trophy hunter. Let me start by saying I've shot many small bucks in my time. I believe every ones hunting spot and personal standards are different. I was raised hunting a farm that a 110" buck was a sure trophy do to the low numbers of deer and the pressure from surrounding farms. I now however am blessed to hunt some of the greatest hunting land in the state and it is strictly managed for big bucks. So with that in mind here is my take on our Fish & Wildlife Departments efforts.

Our state has done an excellent job with our whitetail herd. When I started bow hunting in 1985 just to see a buck was an amazing event. They stocked northern strain deer from Michigan and Minnesota I believe as well as from other states which is the reason our mature deer have tremendous body sizes compared to other southern deer.

Our season is long Sept. - mid Jan. in my zone but we only get one buck tag, which I like. As I say they split the state up into different hunting zones depending on the herd sizes. I'm in a zone where the numbers are high and we can shoot as many does as we want as long as we keep buying bonus tags. In comparison the eastern mountainous part of the state has very few deer compared to our area and the take is regulated for much less. There are fewer deer there not due to the department not doing a good job but due to the land is mountainous and therefore they have very few crops and the land simply can't support many animals.

My wish would be to change some things though so more of our bucks could reach their full potential. I don't know anyone that given the opportunity to shoot a 150" deer over a 110" deer would pick the 110". An important issue there would be to move our three week long rifle season out of the rut. I really believe that's the next step in making some real jaw droppers in our state. Every season we lose many bucks that have great potential but are only 2.5-3.5 year old's due to them getting lead poisoning simply because they are in the rut. We also have another muzzleloader weekend in October as well as another week in December.

I would just like to see them take it to the next level of quality of deer over trying simply to control the numbers in my zone.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: bluegrassbowhunter on December 01, 2009, 09:55:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
An important issue there would be to move our three week long rifle season out of the rut. I really believe that's the next step in making some real jaw droppers in our state.
I agree 100%  :readit:
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: Big Ed on December 01, 2009, 10:06:00 PM
Congrats on a fine season
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: on December 01, 2009, 10:38:00 PM
Congrats! What a brute!

Bisch
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: Jim P on December 01, 2009, 11:38:00 PM
congrats, Really nice deer
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: talltines on December 02, 2009, 12:33:00 AM
Congrats on a great season Tom!
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: centaur on December 02, 2009, 07:40:00 AM
Good ones! I would like to shoot a buck in velvet sometime. Nice job.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: DHR on December 02, 2009, 10:03:00 AM
well done, that velvet looks cool.  good luck in the late season.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: LoweBow on December 02, 2009, 10:18:00 AM
Guys, lemme tell you a little something about TJ.  I've been lucky enough to have hunted w/ Tom for over a decade now and have learned a ton from him in the process.  We hit it off the day we met and have hunted together ever since.  He is a modest bowhunter that has never wants any fame or recognition for taking many "above" average animals w/ a bow.  Patient and silently deadly on his feet that can only be described as cat like.
I was sooo glad to see him lay down his compound and join me in trad archery.  His 1st trad kill was a doe in my backyard....poor fawns hung around for over a month lookin for momma..LOL., but from the point in time that he released that arrow and watched the fletching dissapear in her ribs in slowmotion he has been hooked on the sitckbow.  When he shot that doe....you'd of thought he had just killed another B&C buck...his eyes were HUGE and all he could keep saying was "That was freaking awesome!"  

I can honestly say that Tom has surpassed my knowlege of trad bows and setups.  He's flat eat up with it!  He lives and breathes trad arechery from the time he wakes up till he goes to bed. Some day I expect he may even be able to outshoot me..LOL., but I'm won't hold my breath on that one....
A talanted photographer, dog trainer, and hunter.  Loving father, husband, and friend.

Great fried to have that will do everything in his power to not let you down!  I hope to be dragging many more deer in the years to come w/ this guy, but hope he starts shooting smaller ones as my back doesn't like these anymore.LOL.

Year ain't done yet Tom...hope you're still coming out this weekend.  We're moving stands tomorry afternoon.  Time to shoot some does together!
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: eddings220 on December 02, 2009, 12:19:00 PM
Hey TJ, Excellant season so far and excellant thoughts on our Deer management here in Ky. I would agree 100%. After reading your post I was remembering when I started hunting back in the 70's when a 110"-120" class deer was considered a monster. Back then it was also common to see a nice 6 point hung on the wall as a true trophy. Ky. has done a good job, but I think if they could implement your thoughts about season changes, it would only get better.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: Boone the Hunter on December 02, 2009, 02:23:00 PM
great season Tom, love that buck what a tank! the doe as well, looks like she could manhandle most the bucks in my area, look forward to seeing and hearing about your future kills.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: KentuckyTJ on December 03, 2009, 08:34:00 AM
Thanks guys and special thanks to you Mike you are and will always be a great friend.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: Pinecone on December 03, 2009, 09:35:00 PM
Woohoo!  Great deer, Tom!  Congratulations!

Claudia
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: joevan125 on December 04, 2009, 08:47:00 AM
Dang TJ every time i see a pic. of your deer it reminds me of all those big ole cows we raised when i was a kid, except for the horns of course.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: KentuckyTJ on December 04, 2009, 09:23:00 AM
Haha, soybeans and corn does a body good.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: joevan125 on December 04, 2009, 09:33:00 AM
Yep you got that right TJ.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: wapiti1997 on December 12, 2009, 07:52:00 AM
Great season for ya TJ!  Well done gramps...
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: smoked on December 16, 2009, 11:15:00 AM
Nice buck! I may have missed it, how big is the place you hunt? I could go for years without even a sighting of a buck like that, hunting 15 and 20 acre spots really doesn't allow  you to be as picky.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: Terry Green on December 16, 2009, 05:58:00 PM
:eek:     :clapper:    :eek:
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: Mike Spaulding on December 17, 2009, 10:01:00 AM
Man Tom, AWESOME!  I have the great fortune of owning Tom's old BW SAII that he took so many deer with.  I feel like I own a piece of his big buck "mojo" but I just can't figure out how to get it to rub off on me!  Maybe I need to get that Morrison from you too and then it will start to kick in.. Tom, you sellin?    ;)    ;)    ;)
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: bshunter on December 17, 2009, 12:56:00 PM
that doe looks huge!! great buck to!
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: Whitetail Nut on December 17, 2009, 11:59:00 PM
wow what a buck. Ive always wanted to get one in velvet like that congrats
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: ronnyg on December 18, 2009, 08:14:00 AM
Now that's what I'm talking about!!
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: longbow fanatic 1 on December 18, 2009, 08:32:00 AM
What a great season, TJ. That is a tremendous bucks. Way to go!  :notworthy:    :notworthy:
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: KentuckyTJ on December 18, 2009, 04:54:00 PM
Thanks guys. Been in St. Johns all week it's good to get back here.

Mike, no way you're getting the Morrison already have a rack ordered for my casket to hold it.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: akdd on December 18, 2009, 08:05:00 PM
Both of them are huge deer.Congrats
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: rugrat on December 23, 2009, 09:13:00 AM
Nice shooting!

MD
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: amazonjim on December 23, 2009, 10:04:00 AM
Sounds like the two of you have something special and rare these days, good friends are hard to come by.

What a great buck, and if your friend hauled him out on his back, I'm not sure which is better the great buck or a friend that would haul him out for you LOL.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: m2bowhunter on December 23, 2009, 11:43:00 PM
Hi ky TJ, what part of ky are you from? I live in the western part. By the way, great buck. I guess 53 lbs is enough to take a big deer.
Title: Re: Kentucky TJ's '09 season
Post by: KentuckyTJ on December 25, 2009, 09:45:00 AM
I'm from Louisville. Wow you live in the sportsman's paradise part of our state. Western Kentucky is an amazing place.

Yep 50 lbs. is efficient enough to take big game. I did do some things to put the odds in my favor though. First off I searched for bows that have very good speed while shooting a very stable arrow. Then I shoot a smaller diameter broadhead than most for better penetration. By going with a smaller broadhead I lost some weight so I also use 100 grain brass inserts behind them giving me a total of 200 grains up front.