Less shots this year

[bowtech2]

I live in Sullivan county haven't heard much shots this year. I was talking to someone else they hunt in Orange County they haven't heard much shots to. Is this the way it's been in much of the state too?

[WingNut]

Same in 4A, have seen a deer all gun season.

[HunterDan1]

I hunt 3m Orange County and noticed way less shots this year than prior years on opening day. This past Saturday I heard a few more shots throughout the day. No deer seen on full day sit. I have been seeing them on the way out of the property. No safe shot. I think they have me patterned!!!

[RSRAINS]

In 3H I heard more gun shots on the crossbow opener then I did on the rifle opener and I am talking at the crack of dawn. 

[bkln]

The quietest ever opening day in 3G/F....

[ididnotvoteforobama]

In 3H I heard more gun shots on the crossbow opener then I did on the rifle opener and I am talking at the crack of dawn. 

 

Im in 9k alot of amish around me. Opening day of bow , there was more shooting than opening of gun season.  Not seeing many deer during gun season a fair amount during bow. I think the deer are in lock down for the opening of gun week. Things should get better I hope.  I just burned 3 weeks vacation  and  saw very few deer  and only small bucks.

 

[Steuben Jerry]

Our part of 8T was the quietest I remember. I think the last two winters did more damage than I thought.

[Live2Hunt]

8G Tonawanda wma  only 3 shots that were close and maybe 10 shots within 1,5 miles. Gun season to date ive seen ONE doe at 600yards. I ran into 2 guys coming out of the woods saturday that came out with 5 buck skulls.(winter kill)They found the place were deer go to die. 8, 6, & 4 point other 2 had antlers gone one was small the other was a big old boy that had bases bigger than a half dollar. They said there were some doe remains there also and one fresh gut shot doe. Explains the 3 shots on the opener, rifle guys. If you can take shots at deer at 300 + yards then walk the 300 yards to see if you hit the thing. I also found a 4 point skull during archery season.  I have hunted hard and this will be the worse season on record for me. What does the DEC really do ???    

Edited December 1, 2015 by Live2Hunt

[Pygmy]

Only 4 bucks weighed in at the Campbell Legion deer pool so far, Jerry... Best one a 176 lb. 8 pt. from Bradford...

[Dom]

The quietest ever opening day in 3G/F....

I agree with ya!It's not that we have no Deer in the area either I think we have fewer Hunters.I have deer hunted in Dutchess county for 23 years and have seen a decline since I started/we have better gear and do most hunting from a stand then

 on the ground also have fewer private land access.I myself I'm a sitter go to my spot and wait for others to move and they do not do that to often anymore.I have seen many deer but out of range for the land I am Hunting.

[bowtech2]

The guy I talked to said he's hearing from a lot of people this is terrible season. Let's see what the dec say about this season.

[G-Man]

8 buck and 2 doe from camp so far, it's a little down from normal, but on pace for our average of 18 a year.. less shots around but that happens when you buy out the surrounding camps..

[ATbuckhunter]

in 3j and I heard no more than 20 shots all day opening day. My shot was the only one up until 2pm on Sunday. Defiantly less and less shots every year. Could have something to do with a lower deer population. 

[Doc]

Unless I missed it, I have yet to read any of these replies that claim the same or more activity than in the past. And this is not all coming from just one part of the state. So what's going on. The weather cooperated perfectly for one of the few times that I can remember in years. Supposedly we have a great herd, even running to overpopulation in some areas according to the DEC. So what's the problem? Fewer hunters?

[WingNut]

Unless I missed it, I have yet to read any of these replies that claim the same or more activity than in the past. And this is not all coming from just one part of the state. So what's going on. The weather cooperated perfectly for one of the few times that I can remember in years. Supposedly we have a great herd, even running to overpopulation in some areas according to the DEC. So what's the problem? Fewer hunters?

HUH?  The weather was worst I can remember ever.  The damn wind was horrible almost every sit, not just direction but 25 mph or better consistently.  20 deg temperature swings every other day, cold damp snow squall Saturday to 60 deg Sunday, this past Saturday Fog so thick visibility was 30 yards at best.  As mentioned in another post, I seen dear all bow season, but the number of dear seen was way way down.

[WNYBuckHunter]

I have to say that one of our properties is just plain dead this year. Usually by this time we have 10+ deer taken there. This year we are at 2, and thats including bow season. We are finding sign in all of the usual places, getting decent results from cameras (down a bit from previous years but not bad), but we are not seeing the deer while we are hunting.

 

The other property we primarily hunt is doing pretty much the same as it always has.

[The_Field_Ager]

While doe numbers are way down in my part of 9H, I did see more young bucks this year than usual. This however is due in part to better stand placement this year. Gun has been very deflated in terms of shots heard and my cameras are not picking up the numbers these last 3 weeks. Just getting the same 1 yr old buck everyone once in a while.Day time sightings walking about are almost non existent now.

 

I saw a lot of orange blobs in the woods driving about on the opening morning tho.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Papist

[landtracdeerhunter]

I can't say for the rest of the state, but in our area, deer went into a more nocturnal state second to the last week of bow. We seen shooters,  just half hour forty five minutes before and after legal sunrise,sunset. Historically, this is the time of the year when we harvest big bucks. Remember, ninety percent of the shots are blanks. Theirs some mighty fine deer hunting left out there. Catch'em off guard.  Get out and get you one!

[Steuben Jerry]

Only 4 bucks weighed in at the Campbell Legion deer pool so far, Jerry... Best one a 176 lb. 8 pt. from Bradford...

 

Hey Pygmy, how have you done so far in your part of 8T? It's been a very down year for us and the surrounding properties. I was fortunate to get a 10 point before 8:00 am on the rifle opener. Not a huge deer, but my first 10 pointer. Just shy of 150 lbs dressed.

 

Including us and the surrounding properties (about 900 acres) that was the only one. Only 2 does taken during archery. We've passed on a couple young bucks and saw 7 does for the entire first week of rifle with 3 hunters. No shots nearby. 

 

I have one doe tag, and am hesitant to fill it. That's potentially 3 less deer walking around next year. I went the entire archery season seeing only a couple different does.

 

I'm betting there won't be any doe tags available at all next year in 8T. As you surely know, they were only giving them out with preference points this year.

 

I'm praying for a mild winter! So far, so good!

[bowtech2]

Unless I missed it, I have yet to read any of these replies that claim the same or more activity than in the past. And this is not all coming from just one part of the state. So what's going on. The weather cooperated perfectly for one of the few times that I can remember in years. Supposedly we have a great herd, even running to overpopulation in some areas according to the DEC. So what's the problem? Fewer hunters?

I think the dec needs to change something. I know people don't want to hear it maybe less doe tags. I'd hate say it shorten the seasons a little. We need to get the numbers back up. I also think the dec needs to listen to the hunters to. Most of us have cameras out there so we can keep track of your deer number more then the dec.

[Doc]

HUH?  The weather was worst I can remember ever.  The damn wind was horrible almost every sit, not just direction but 25 mph or better consistently.  20 deg temperature swings every other day, cold damp snow squall Saturday to 60 deg Sunday, this past Saturday Fog so thick visibility was 30 yards at best.  As mentioned in another post, I seen dear all bow season, but the number of dear seen was way way down.

I am talking about opening day. Other than a nice layer of snow, I couldn't have ordered a better day. Of course, Since I hunt in Western NY that is the area that I am describing. I can't say what the rest of NY had for weather.

[G-Man]

I am talking about opening day. Other than a nice layer of snow, I couldn't have ordered a better day. Of course, Since I hunt in Western NY that is the area that I am describing. I can't say what the rest of NY had for weather.

The processor I use had his best opening day in 6 years 50 deer in by 3pm opening day 75 by sunday, 1st time he's had to turn deer away as his cooler was full, most were better than average bucks, I thin the opening day weather cold and crisp let hunters sit instead of getting up.and moving around to get warm and taking running shots, they were able to take 1 shot and get deer, 1st time I have seen 3 bear taken within a few miles of each other as well. I don't think less hunters just change in way they hunt.

[Nomad]

Mine has a higher number this year as well, my doe on Tue. morning of opening week was numbered in the low 100's when I brought it in. He had a full crew working 12 hour days .

The place near where I hunt was turning them away. Now did he have workers call in sick who knows.

Our farms deer take right now is in the mid 20's , wait till we start driving ......,

Edited December 1, 2015 by Larry302

[Nomad]

I wish I could edit above but it seems to time out.

Our farm deer take in the mid 20's.

My processor overflowing with deer.

My taxidermist said it seems about average.

A guy nearby took 8 off his 40 acres .

My friend in 8j took several off his 40 acres . ( maybe we should all buy 40 acres....)

My little corner of the deer woods seems fine .

Either way the stock market goes up , then down. The Earth is warming , then cooling .

Yankees win then lose We had record seasons.......

Edited December 1, 2015 by Larry302

[Ewags66]

8T also only 2 shots all day on my hill opening day. Didn't see a buck either. I can't remeber the last time that has happened.