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Spaulding Smails

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Everything posted by Spaulding Smails

  1. Yep. It was Rita. That storm was on a bee line for Houston. We were in Hawaii on vacation and started watching it bear down on Texas. We were supposed to fly home that Friday through IAH on Continental. All the flights were cancelled. Ended up flying American through Dallas on the red eye and went straight to a good friend's wedding in Austin that Saturday evening. It was hot, the wind was blowing 30+ MPH and it was dusty. Perfect for an outdoor wedding. Then, I had to haul ass to East Texas to help my wife's family recover from the aftermath of Rita for a week. I went from a bad ass, low-key vacation to a sweaty outdoor wedding directly to no sleep for a week busting ass to cut downed trees, patch roofs and clean flooded houses. Good times.
  2. About 15 years ago, I was hunting at my lease in South Texas. We didn't have any game cameras, but my uncle had seen a big mainframe 10 with matching kickers on his G2s right before the rut. He was out filling feeders and came across him mid-day. I hadn't shot a "trophy" buck on that place in a few years, so the following weekend I went and sat in a stand nearby. Got in the stand on Saturday morning and it was super foggy. I knew I had deer in the sendero, and when the fog finally started to burned off around 9:00, I saw the buck my uncle had seen at about 80 yards. I dropped him in his tracks, let him lay for a bit, and got out of the stand. It was a 10 with matching kickers... but he was only about 18" wide and not super heavy. It wasn't the same deer. I shot a 3-1/2 y/o with TONS of potential. Needless to say, I take my time to be 100% sure on my shot now. We've all screwed up at some point.
  3. I love this strategy. We always try to take our doe early in the season and definitely pre-rut. I hunted on a great lease in Live Oak County for 10+ years. It was 1700 acres and low fenced, but not much pressure on the ranches surrounding it. We never had a biologist out, but by taking old culls and doe early in the season and waiting on the right deer to mature, we started to see a good balance in the doe / buck ratio and started to get some 160+ deer with some really cool antler traits. That's without any supplemental feeding. Just five like-minded guys who paid attention and were honest and smart about what we shot. Damn, I miss that place. If you're truly working to manage a herd, it just seems logical to shoot your doe before they've been bred.
  4. No aerial surveys. It's way too small to justify that. We're in far western Kimble County. It's beautiful country, but pretty rugged and poor soil for any sustainable food plots. There's one location where I may put a small tank eventually. If nothing else, I'd like to have a little better dove activity. Other than that, we do try to leave the northern side of the property alone for the deer. That's where the water troughs are and where we set up the protein feeder. "Prisoner's Dilemma" is the perfect description. Heck, we even tried to buy the place next door last year to double our acreage but the guy wouldn't even entertain an offer. I wish we did have the soil to do some sort of food plot. I'd love to tackle a project like that. Good luck and post some pics when you do it.
  5. My place is small and low fenced. We've had it for four years and have taken one cull 5-1/2 y/o 4-pt freak WT buck. That's it other than doe, axis and a ton of hogs. We try our best to be smart, but it's a futile effort with small places on two sides that lease out to hunters. Since we've had it, I've seen decent 3 or 4 year old bucks on game cams around this time of year. Young bucks that you should absolutely let grow for a few years and would have nice potential. Every year, they're gone after opening weekend. I can only assume that they've been shot next door. I just refuse to be another one of those places that shoots them too young. And, if a big mature buck does ever wander in range, it'll be that much sweeter to know we waited and maybe played a part in letting him grow.
  6. You're pretty much spot on here. And, there's so many variables. Hunting on a 10,000 acre high fence place vs a 100 acre high fence place is completely different. I have no desire to shoot a buck with a tag in his ear that comes when you shake a coffee can filled with corn. I have and will, however, absolutely hunt deer on a big, high-fenced place. I set out to shoot a big 8 pt cull at my uncle's high fence ranch near Freer a few years ago. Hunted hard for four days and never saw him. Ended up shooting another big (but totally different) 8 pt that my uncle swore he'd never seen before. Not even on camera. You just never know with deer. My cousin's FIL raises deer and will occasionally let my cousin shoot an old one. It ain't anywhere near hunting. Here's one they were hand feeding last week.
  7. Natural gas / propane for the Generac / Kohler whole house setups. They do offer diesel, but those are rare for residential applications. They're hard-plumbed to your gas service and hard wired to your panel with an ATS. The cost jumps even more when you get into the 30-KW+ range because you're moving from air cooled to liquid-cooled.
  8. I think I mentioned it up-thread, but I was a fill-in for a guy who opted for an Alaskan moose hunt, so a spot opened up with a buddy who was on a loooong wait list. He's been the last two years. Got 24" of snow the day he arrived year one and didn't see a thing. Missed an 80-yd shot last year. I talked him into a rifle hunt this year since I'm not a bow hunter and didn't want to cram practice in and have zero experience when faced with an elk. From what I understand, we're flanked by BLM and an Rez. Jeep from camp with the guide based on his scouting reports then walk / bugle / sit / spot / stalk. They said most shots are within 200-yds and they have a 97% "encounter" rate with rifles. Solid advice on the scope. Much appreciated. My new Swaro has three settings that I dialed in to 100/200/300, so I'll leave it on that closest range when traversing. I'm going to have a big hamburger, no a cheeseburger, and a hot dog when I get back.
  9. @deadshank great write up. Sorry for your partner, but stoked for the guy that dropped the 6x6. That is definitely some rough, rough country. I officially got my NM Hunter's ID yesterday. Should have my elk tags next week. Depart 10/13 and back 10/20. Hunt Sat-Wed. Will start watching the weather next week. I'm not 100% sure what to expect, but I do know we're on private land, have a cabin as base camp, and a dedicated guide for the two of us. Other than that, I'm going in blind.
  10. @hornmpa96 and @686 I did a cross between the two of you this weekend. Got to the ranch around 1:30 Saturday. Rigged up a ruck sack, made a portable target and took my 300 WinMag and proceeded to hike in circles around our place for 3+ hours. Trying to combine my training and shooting at various angles / elevations in prep for my elk hunt next month. Got it out to 285-yds and feel much more comfortable now shooting off of sticks, prone, etc. Got back to the house around 6:00, loaded up the dog and the Mojos in the Polaris. Only saw a few birds and shot two with no signs of improvement in the birds before dusk. So, I went back to the house, poured a stiff cocktail and snuck down to one of the water troughs near the protein feeder. Watched seven bucks until it was too dark to see. Didn't get any pics, but did see a big 6-pt (should be an 8 but is missing his brow tines). His main beams shoot straight up rather than out. I'll set out game cameras in two weeks to see if I can figure out his pattern. Would be a fun buck for my son to take this year. Shot a bit more early Sunday AM. Back home by 11 AM the next morning. 24 hour trip, but damn it was fun. I love solo ranch trips.
  11. @solamente73 Thanks for the info on the transport. What was your breakdown on the cooler situation? I'm trying to figure out my game plan. I have two 100 qt Igloos and a 120 at Yeti. Wondering if that's enough or if I need to invest in a 250 qt Yeti before then. My buddy is bringing his coolers as well, so we'll be doing the Tetris thing for sure. I have an 8-ft bed with a tool box, so I'm optimistic I'll have enough space, but I may have to add on the bed extender to be sure.
  12. Geromi is a really solid dude. Lived down the street from him for almost a decade. Dude knows the boat business very, very well.
  13. Congrats @solamente73! What an amazing animal. Love everything about the story. Send more pics and elaborate on the hunt!
  14. This is 100% my expectation. Playing with some buddies tomorrow afternoon, and I'm completely anticipating a round in the 90s and the complete inability to find a fairway or hit a green in regulation.
  15. Played yesterday after work. Best I've struck my irons in a long time. Went 40-41. Mini meltdown on 16-17-18 where I went bogey-bogey-double. Also missed two birdie putts inside of 10' and had an unfortunate double on the front due to a bad bounce off a sprinkler head in the middle of the fairway. First legit shot at breaking 80 in ages. Golf is a whole lot more fun when you're improving.
  16. Yup. That stat can be misleading. It also means we're 86-9 when leading or tied after 8 innings.
  17. After never having any joint issues, I developed tennis elbow this spring. It started to get pretty bad, then I hit a long iron fat and it was debilitating. It was on hole #3, and I could only putt the rest of the round. It was so bad that I couldn't even pick up my coffee mug out of the cup holder in my truck. I had played very little golf in the preceding 5+ years, and really started playing / practicing more and made a pretty dramatic swing change that I think all contributed. I ended up getting a cortizone shot, and that helped a ton. I was religious with my own PT, and it honestly fixed the issue. I used this product and it really helped. Had it not gotten better, I would have had to put the clubs down. Been pretty good the last few weeks with only the occasional pain. https://www.gripxt.com/products/
  18. Got skunked in Burnet County this morning. Saw a few birds off on the horizon, but didn't even pull the trigger. I think the rain played a huge part. We were hunting over a tank that has always been solid on opening day when it's dry. Bummer, but I'll take sitting in the field with a cup of coffee watching an amazing sunrise over a computer screen at the office any day of the week.
  19. Supposed to go out to Burnet for an opening morning hunt. I'm expecting very few birds and a very muddy yellow lab, but it'll all be worth it.
  20. Venetian is definitely on the list. Heard good things about Irie's as well. My parents, sister and her kids may be joining as well. That'll be the only night we eat out, so at least we won't be fighting holiday crowds at every meal.
  21. Heading down to Port A for Labor Day weekend. I'm coming in early, then the wife and kids are headed down after school. Looking for a low-key dinner recommendation for Friday night. Seafood preferred but not required. Suggestions?
  22. I was driving down 290 on the way home Thursday of last week and saw that beauty. Damn near flipped a U-turn at Oak Hill Little League to see if she was for sale. Gorgeous rig. Congrats!
  23. Agreed. The further south the better. As @deadshank mentioned, there's several outfitters in that area that are solid, and the birds are usually pretty consistent. Might be tough getting a spot the first few weekends at this point, though. The only one I know of around here is the Storm Ranch in Dripping Springs. It's been 5+ years since I dove hunted out there, and it was OK. Shot maybe 4-5 dove in one evening hunt. They don't even advertise dove hunts, so not sure if it's something they still offer. https://stormranchhunting.com/ Also, it may be too late, but check these guys out if you want a season lease. Hunted with them for a few years before we bought our place, and had a good experience. Hunting was hit and miss, but had access to several spots and the reservation system was pretty decent. https://www.wingedrepublic.com/
  24. Granzin's was my go-to once I moved to Central Texas. LOVED the dried smoked sausage. They changed the casings about 5-6 years ago. Not sure if they were natural before, but the more recent variety is definitely the artificial type. They keep much longer, but don't have the snap of the old style. For summer sausage, I remember my dad always getting a decent amount from his processed deer at Midway in Katy. It was awesome. Opa's and Granzin's both make decent summer sausage as well. Slovacek's is my favorite from HEB.
  25. Can you be rude and nice at the same time? Can confirm that she's very rude. I sat next to her at a charity event a few years ago. Kidding aside, she was super cool and seemed very down to earth.
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