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Rob Hopkins
- Male
- North Shore, MA
- United States
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Rob Hopkins's Groups
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M2D Camo
43 members
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WHITETAIL ADDICTS BRAGGI…
78 members
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Food Plot Management
14 members
Rob Hopkins's Discussions
Wild bird Hunters in New England ????
Started Jun. 5, 2009
Flying Delta or Continental and checking a Bow Case
Started Oct. 30, 2008
Left-handed TCA Omega - .50 Cal. Muzzleloader
Started Oct. 2, 2008
Rob Hopkins's Page
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Profile Information
- About Me:
- 17 years ago, while in Montana on a hunt in the Bitterroot Range, an old Cowboy said to me, "Son, you never kick a turd on a warm day." It wasn't until about 5 years later that I finally realized both the gravity and relevance of that statement. Think about it- on a sub zero day, you can kick crap all day long and nobody will be worse the wear- because the turd is so damn frozen, it really can't do any damage. Hell, it doesn't even stink!
Now go and kick that same turd that's been baking in the sun for 4 hours on a 90 degree day.......what do you have? You have a big 'ole mess on the toe of your boot- that's what you have. Same activity, different conditions, very different outcome.
I look at being an outdoorsman & naturalist kind of the same way. There are seasons when the Grouse numbers are down and I'm happy with one bird in the bag per day. There are seasons when I can't get close enough to that big mainframe 8 and have to settle for nothing but does. Sometimes you pass on bucks that are 2.5 years old, other times- especially here in New Enland, a 6 point 2.5 year old buck is the best deer you will get in bow range during legal shooting hours some seasons. I try to legally harvest what the environment and conditions allow, while keeping the impact of my actions always in the forefront of my mind.
Last year, on the first Saturday of the bow season, a doe came right under my stand- she was 7 yards away and had no idea I was there. I had a doe tag but let her walk. Why? Because she had a fawn of the year with her. I knew if I took that doe- her fawn was as good as dead and had no chance of surviving the harsh New England winter. That fawn could become a Massachusetts record book deer. Maybe- may be not. Definitely not, if I took it's mother that day.
So with the MA Archery opener about 45 days away, we have our stands up, plots planted and already greened up and we have our cameras out. We have a pretty good idea of where the does are bedding and feeding and we've figured out how they are moving to get there. There are no other hunters in this area so the pressure is very low. Last season, we spotted a mainframe 12 with double split browtines roaming this acreage. I saw him the last day of the season about 60 yards out. I couldn't get him to come in any closer without unzipping my fly. We found his sheds, he's massive. For a MA buck, he's ridiculous. He's the badboy that my buddy and I are both looking for this season. We think we now have his two sons coming into our plots as well- as we have pictures of them (a 10 and a 9).
Hopefully, when any of them show themself this year, it'll be a nice cold day. That way, I won't have any problem with attempting to "kick this turd". The 12's time has most definitely come. He's had ample opportunity to pass his genes on to many a doe in the herd that calls this acreage home. If all goes well, my oldest son will have an opportunity to hunt one of his progeny in the next few years.
Going scouting on Friday and switching flashcards out of the cameras. Hopefully, we have a picture of the big 12...............
- Animals You Like to Hunt:
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Moose, Bear, Ducks, Geese, Pheasant, Quail, Coyote
- Tools of the trade:
- Shotgun, Rifle, Muzzle Loader, Compound Bow
Rob Hopkins's Photos
Rob Hopkins's Blog
My GSP Pup runs & Prizes in her NAVHDA Natural Ability Test !!
Katy ran in her NAVHDA Natural Ability Test yesterday up at the Yankee Chapter test in Dresden Mills, ME. She had 5 finds in her field search, 3 of them she handled steady through flush (watched the bird fly away, no shot) and allowed me to heel her away and re-cast. She nailed her track of the wounded Pheasant & swam as many times as the judges asked.
Katy earned a 112 Point, Prize I.
As much as I had high expectations
… ContinuePosted on June 14, 2010 at 11:11am — 1 Comment
Gun Dog training with my two young boys...........
It's been a long winter here in New England & I've been itching to get Katy out with other dogs and to train with
other pointing dog folks. On Saturday, we traveled down to CT and hooked up with some great folks for some Field Trial training- working young dogs from horseback, working adult dogs on conditioning runs & birdwork.
A good day- save for the cut on my young charge's rear left leg.
I brought my two sons & we got them up on a horse. They both enj
… ContinuePosted on March 8, 2010 at 9:16am —
Pictorial Essay - The Evolution of a Gundog Pup (at 9 months)
Katy at 8 weeks old with my boys, the weekend I brought her home from Iowa.
At 10 weeks old...... beginning to figure things out.
At 12 weeks old......… Continue
Posted on February 2, 2010 at 5:10pm — 3 Comments
Nebraska Niobrara River Valley 2008 Buck is back !!
… Continue
Posted on August 10, 2009 at 7:26pm —
Introduction to Quail this weekend for my Gundog pup..........
Saturday morning, my 3 month old GSP pup & I headed down to the Hill & Hollow Pointer & Retriever Club in Berkley, MA to meet some members of the Mayflower GSP Club for some field training. The club members in attendance were all very friendly, very helpful and had some very nice dogs. The 2005 GSPCA NAFC was there with his owner, Bill Felins. Bill was my point of contact from t… Continue
Posted on August 10, 2009 at 11:00am —
Comment Wall (8 comments)
- At 12:57pm on November 12, 2008,
FRANK DEBLASIO said… - TEXAS
- At 11:54am on November 12, 2008,
FRANK DEBLASIO said…
- I LOVE WRESTLING ! ! !
- At 5:32pm on September 29, 2008,
Samantha Virk said… - Good "TURD" story you have in your profile...sounds like great Montanna philosophy to me! ...and thanks for the "cute" comment on my ram photo!
- At 12:13pm on August 29, 2008,
Palmquist Farm said… - Hi Rob! Thanks for adding Palmquist Farm as a friend. Check out our website at http://palmquistfarm.com/activities/hunting/
- At 4:33pm on August 28, 2008,
Double M Outfitters said… - Welcome aboard Hunterspot.com, Hope you injoy this site. It is a great place to trade stories and tips!
- At 7:53am on August 28, 2008,
Steve said… - Welcome and thanks for joining. Your 'about me' got me all worked up and excited for the upcoming season. Great stuff and good luck this year! Make sure you keep us up to date on your progress.
- At 11:58pm on August 27, 2008,
DeWayne Sharp said… - Welcome aboard, very impressed with your about me ,we think alike, I have let many a deer walk ,for the same reasons.
- At 4:34pm on August 26, 2008,
Jim said…
- Welcome to HunterSpot.com! When you get a second, invite your buddies here.
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