The 'SOLANA GAMES' have begun!!!

Way to go Gregg!! It sure takes the pressure off to knock something down on the first night of the hunt!

Congrats!

Bisch

As always. I'm ready for more!

[owlbait]

Great "buck deer" Greg. I'll bet as soon as he saw that Widow in your hands he thought,"Oh,Oh, this isn't going to end well for me!" Looks like a great time and great memories! Congratulations.

[kestimator]

Looks like a super time was had by all!!!  Thanks for sharing some of the stories and photos!!  

[alligatordond]

That's our Gregg. I'm so proud. Our Florida boy done did good. Oh man, think I got something in my eye.....

[gregg dudley]

Thanks Don for the first pic and Jack for the others.

Bisch, it was great to meet you.

Don D, it is just your allergies.

[NoCams]

Congrats Gregg !!!

[gregg dudley]

Dogs of Solana...

All of the guides at Solan have dogs that they train to track deer.  The guides have a special relationship with their dogs and the hunters invariably come to know,respect and love the dogs as well.  

Two dogs came to mean something special to me on this trip.  Randy and I already posted a picture of John's dog, Nacho, but here he is again:





This ten week old jagdterrier is one bad little dog.  He is going to be the real deal when he is grown.

[gregg dudley]

The second dog I got to know is Robert's six year old Blue Lacy, Taz.

I would come to respect Taz's abilities first hand on the first morning of the hunt, but that story will come....well, in the morning.

[Mike Yancey]

I have a Jagdterrier that will be 15 years old the 2nd of Feb and she is still a hand full. When I got her from Phil Phillips in CO when she was 6 weeks old, I intended to raise them but after a few weeks with her I decided that one was enough. Neat dogs!
Mike

[Butts2]

You got to be kidding??? These stories are going to get better! Nice Buck for sure  

[TaterHill Archer]

Well, I guess I can keep it going with my story.  
When the St Jude's auction kicked off this time around, I told my wife, I didn't care what it cost me I was going to come out of it with a hunt.  I stuck with it and ended up with the Solana hunt.
I have never hunted with my trad bow.  Therefore, I haven't taken any animals with it.  I must say I was pretty psyched up heading to the hunt.  I was one of the last to arrive on Tuesday.  I got there just in time for dinner and I was made welcome right away.  Dinner was great and I had a good time getting to meet everyone that night.





After dinner and when we returned to the bunkhouse, I found out I would be bunking with a legend for the hunt.  How many people can cay they got to spend their first trad hunt sharing time with Charlie Lamb?  It was a real honor and this was before the hunt even started.

[dragonheart]

Gregg congrats on a wonderful looking buck.  Thank you so much for sharing the stories of this hunt.  Looks like an absolute great time.

[GRINCH]

Greg congrats on a nice buck can't nwait to here how the others did.

[TaterHill Archer]

Things only got better on the next day.  I found out I would be sharing a truck with Gregg Dudley, Larry Surtees, and Charlie Lamb.  This was going to be good.





We spent time the next morning getting tuned up and ready.  I got to sit in a carpet blind just like Gregg's that evening and like him, I didn't like it at first.  Those camp chair arms were in the way.  I saw 4 does and 2 bucks that evening, but none came within shooting distance.  However, it was great to get in the truck to hear Gregg had one down and we needed to go get it.  You've seen the pics, but it was exciting just going to find it.  I learned on this trip that Gregg Dudley can shoot the lights out.

I also learned Larry Surtees is a great guy.  What a gentleman.  Glad I got to spend the hunt with him.  And learning from Charlie Lamb was great.

[Jack Guard]

Hey Guys, i am finally home.  3200 miles from Virginia to Solana.  Yikes what was i thinking.

Hugomongous Congrats to Greg.  Beautiful buck for a way cool guy.  And don't go betting against him on a trad bow shooting contest.  Your gonna loooooose !

Time for sleep.  See you all tomorrow evening.

[RC]

Great job on the Buck Greg. Congrats and ready for some more hunting tales.RC

[TaterHill Archer]

And to make a short story even longer....

I didn't see much game the first few days.  I had a few come by, but nothing within shooting distance.  Our guide, John, put me on a "good" stand on Saturday and it was a dandy.  I had 4 bucks under the tree at one time.  Only one stepped into the shooting hole.

I could see a 3 point,  7 point, and 2 8 points under the stand.  It was one of the 8 points that gave me a shot.  When he put his head down to get some corn, and after checking to make sure none of the others were looking my way, I decided to take the shot.  I could hear Terry saying "aim low" in my mind.  It was about a 25 yard shot.  I picked my spot, came to full draw and dropped the string.  That arrow flew perfectly straight.  Unfortunately, I didn't "aim low" enough.  My fletchings hit his back as he ducked.

I saw a few more deer while there, but never got another shot.  But I don't care, it was a great hunt.  I met some great people and I'm already planning for next year.

[amar911]

Way to go, Gregg! Wish I had been there with all of you, but Charlie filling in for me obviously was a real treat for the group. Thanks for the great pictures and stories.

Allan

[FerretWYO]

Jeff good story telling.
I will get back to it in the morning I have a lot stuff to get done and it to much to type on the phone.

Jack glad you made it home safe.

[Big Ed]

Awesome buck there Gregg!!