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It took a while, but I finally put my tag on a buck this year. My buddy bagged a nice 5 point on the opener, but I saw nothing but a squirrel. I did spend a few hours in the morning on the opener helping him with his deer, when I should've been in my stand, but I don't know if I missed anything when I wasn't there. Anyway, the day after Thanksgiving I went to my friend's nearby property to hunt. He was out of town for Thanksgiving and asked if I would hunt his 100 acres and make sure no one else was hunting there. I had exclusive hunting privileges Weds through Friday. I drove my truck into a back field and parked to wait for the sun to rise. I took a seat at one end of the field where I could see the whole field, as well as the wood line around it. Soon after legal shooting time, I saw a doe at the far end of the field just inside the brush of the woods bordering the field. It was 200 yards away. Scanning the woods behind her, I spotted this nice 8-point buck. The brush was obscuring his body, and I could only see his head and neck. The doe spotted me and blew a warning. She did it again a few seconds later. When she ran into the woods the buck was still there looking at her. I knew he was going to run, so I set my crosshairs on his neck and steadied my aim. The Kimber 84M in 7mm08 roared and the buck staggered, as he tried to run away. I lost sight of him after that. I drove the truck over to where he stood and found him not far from where he was when I shot. I was a 200 yard off hand neck shot, and the longest shot I've taken on a buck in the Catskills. I had to call my friend Chuck to help me lift it onto the tailgate of my pickup, as it was too heavy for me to do it alone. The buck weighed 140 lbs field dressed and has a nice symmetrical 8-point rack. It also has two little bumps where it was growing 2 more points that would have made it a 10-pointer, but they're too small to count. I took some time to fill my tag, but it was worth the wait.

I really debated shooting this buck, we have better around but a bird in hand I guess. 30 yd shot, he went 50. Sent from my motorola edge (2022) using Tapatalk

What an afternoon. I get to my stand at 3:30 wind , temps were perfect. I hear a shot not too far away. Sounded like it was on my property. My neighbor gets back to me that there was a button buck in my corn field with the ass eaten out of it. Just standing there shaking. Seems like the yotes got this deer but didn't finish the process. Guys it was gross what I saw. He put the deer down. A good thing. So about 4:15 to my right I see two large deer. I have no idea if they were two bucks or a buck locked onto a doe. All I know is the buck started heading my way. It was a real nice 10 pt. Shooter goes off in my mind. I think that second deer was another buck but I never saw horns. So here he comes at 30 yards slight quarter to. I put a slug through the front shoulder and it exits through ribs. He goes down in front plowing up the leaves. I knew I had a good hit but he got out of sight. I get down and head for where I last saw him. Took a few minutes but I found him. Beautiful 10 pt. One tine was sligfhtkly broken and he had a scar on the upper part of nose. I thought that this could of been the buck that My neighbor and I hit opening day. Upon looking at the deer the back hoof was shot off. It was dangling and he was walking on bone. My neighbor and I agreed the buck on opening day was much bigger. I was thrilled to get this deer this late in season. 5 seconds before I shot this deer my brother texted. Telling me to shoot a big one so you can spend more time with your girlfriend! It worked!!!! Enjoy the picts.

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Well we didn't miss today!! Nephew shot a great 10 pt at 7:27! This morning.

Success on the North farm this morning. Let a buddy take his son out for his first. And he got one that will be tough to beat. Perfection!

Here’s how it went down this morning. I posted on this site I was headed for my stand. The drive up the hill on my wheeler had to be slow because water was being thrown everywhere from all the rain. Still, from the house it takes little time for me to drive up, walk to my stand and settle. I was in and just ready at 7:05 when my phone started ringing from my wife’s phone which is totally not like her. I didn’t know if it was her or my grandson playing with her phone so I called them back. I was talking as quiet as possible and they were not responding so I hung up and texted them at 7:06. My wife responded to my text, and we made sure each other was ok, and I asked to not be called again unless it was necessary. As I was putting my phone in my pants pocket without dropping my bow that was in my lap while sitting down, I just glanced up to my left and there is a deer totally broadside standing there. My immediate thought was that it was a big bodied doe, I was without question going to shoot if possible, and being around 20 yards wondered if it had seen me. I never actually looked at its head and instead focused on where I wanted the arrow to hit. The deer just stood there as I raised my bow, aimed and released the shot. I knew immediately it was a good shot because I heard the thwack but not the dreaded crack sound of hitting a shoulder. I was pretty sure it was a pass through shot. The deer bolted about 30 or 40 yards uphill and just stood there. Then for one of the few times of my bow hunting experiences the deer went down in view. At 7:13 I texted my wife I just shot a big doe and had it down. When I climbed down and went to the deer I discovered it actually was a spike on side presenting to me and a fork on the opposite.

Heard one gobble that was it. My Sister in law score with a 21 lbs bird. 9.5 " beard and 1 " spurs.

Great morning in the woods. Shot this 2 year old bird at. 6:00am. This bird hand short beard .

Quiet morning, nothing heard or seen until I fired up this jake at 10:36. He came in hot to some cutting and I decided to take him home with me.

On the board! Shot him with 20 gauge with #9 tungsten shot. Did the trick.

My nephew Chris guide his nephew to this monster on Saturday during the Long Island youth season. Used the 410 with #9 TSS

A friend of my son had asked him if we would take him deer hunting some day. His friend Danny had never been deer hunting and wanted to get a deer. We took Danny out this morning with us. It was his first time deer hunting and my son put him in a 2 man ground blind with him to teach him. In the first hour Danny was able to bag a big doe. The joy and exhilaration Danny displayed was priceless. My son taught him how to field dress a deer and we helped drag her out. Take a new hunter hunting with you when you can. We couldn't be happier for him.

I'm not a trophy hunter, but won't shoot a spike either. Yesterday I had this guy feed in to 20 yards then bed with his forward shoulder facing me. I knew I could make the shot but figured I'd wait him out. 20min later I hear my nephews truck and see him park, the buck could see him too. I knew he was going bolt as he started to "lift", so I shot. Bolt hit him just in front of the shoulder. He went 80 yrds. Arrow took out heart, lungs and liver.

I was fortunate enough to harvest one during the antlerless season. 8G. This stateland certainly got some pressure last week

Tagged out this morning. Good bird. 9" beard. 19 1/2 lbs. He flew off roost and walked off with hen last weekend. I heard him gobble on roost last night. Snuck into his woods at 5am. He gobbled at 60 yards away. Perfect. Then a hen that I didn't know was there yelped right in between us. He flew down and she flew down to him. Shut up and walked away. Kept a eye on him all morning in the field. He'd answer but not leaving hens. About 11am I heard him gobble at other end of the field,back I go. Field had a crown to it. I called once in he came. Long morning and great hunt. Otsego County. Leatherstocking country.

Pouring rain when i got to the farm. Didn't want to get out of the truck. No gobbles from the roost so started sneaking and peaking. Heard a distant gobble and moved closer. Set my lone hen decoy out and called. He heard me and was coming. Turned out to be 4 two year old birds. Came right to me. First one that stands still was going to get it. And he did. Wasn't the big boys on the farm but I'll take a two year old every time. Very excellent hunt. Plenty of time to hunt for big boy.

I was debating on whether to let him walk this morning but considering it’s my last day out and I haven’t had any venison in 3 years …… I decided to take him. He’s a small rack 5 pointer but big enough to kick my ass getting him to my truck. Good luck to everyone who’s still deer hunting.

So, this year is my 41st bow season and I love it just as much now or more; definitely my favorite season and time of the year. But as I got older and after some shoulder injuries, and a shoulder surgery, this year was the toughest and sorest year I have ever had pulling back my bow. My Dr said that I need a full shoulder replacement but I'm trying to hold off on that. While bowhunting this year, I've seen a few and passed on some small bucks. Until last week, I finally had a mature 8Pt offer me a 10yd shot, following in a doe and my shoulder hurt so bad, I couldn't even pull my bow back on 3 tries. He eventually walked off with the doe having no idea I was there and all I could do was watch him walk away. Still a great close encounter but heartbreaking that my shoulder wouldn't allow me to pull my bow back. Next year I'm going to look at lowering poundage a little on the bow and try to time my cortizone shot better with bow season. Anyways, with my shoulder failing me, I took the rest of that week off from bowhunting to wait for the crossbow opener on Saturday. On Saturday, with about half an hour of light left, a different, smaller 8Pt offered me a 30 yd shot with the crossbow. I was able to collect my first ever crossbow harvest. 30Yd shot, double lunged, ran about 70 Yds and dropped. A decent 3.5 year old 8Pt. Love this time of year. Good luck all...Hunt safe, hunt hard, hunt ethically, and have fun out there!

My son scored on a big wide 6 pt with 10 minutes of shooting time left. He only uses a compound bow and made a perfect double lung shot. We waited an hour and only had to follow the blood trail about 45 yds to make the recovery. And of course old Dad had to help drag him out lol.

Pa cams have been buzzing with bucks cruising, no chasing. I went down this morning looking for one of our 4 shooters. This guy has a broken ear and bad eye. 30 yard shot quartered away went 120 yards. 3 bucks came to the grunt call before 9:30am. The photos don’t do this deers body justice. He is massive, unfortunately I don’t have a scale but in the top 3 bucks I’ve shot for size.

Been applying for 23 years and spent 4 days seeing almost nothing, this guy came in to say good morning.

Daughter got her spike last night. It’s her first NY deer and third in her storied hunting career, 3 days, 3 shots, 3 deer. She questions why I come home empty handed so much [emoji38] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No I didn't buy another firearm. Actually I'm selling off a few that I never use. This year I'm turning 68 in December and looking to retire in the spring of 24. I've been thinking about getting back on a bike for at least 8 years now, having sold my last one 10 years ago. I really got hooked on the brand new 2023 HD Breakout and just decided to do it. Picked it up 9/20/23 and already have 400 miles on the clock. I plan on riding as much as I can when the weather is nice before the winter sets in. Since it's too warm for hunting right now, this is the perfect backup plan for me. I'm back in the saddle again.

Hubby got one this morning. The first bird is being mounted. Total time in the woods for both birds 45 minutes!

Late morning, 11:48. Came in hot! Good luck everyone and be safe!

Put the hammer down on this doe this evening. CVA Wolf does again

61 years ago today (June 30) , I married the love of my life . I am surprised that while being married that long that we haven't driven each other nuts .

Called in the same 3 jakes twice opening Morning at flydown and right before Noon whistle, I had to work day 2 but my brother slipped back into one of our favorite roost setups.. Bird was completely silent.. And Dead by 6am

This past summer my oldest told me in conversation he thought he could graduate college a semester early and be done. 3.5 yrs rather than 4. Apparently those college level classes he took in high school were going to pay off. Well he called me yesterday and told me he was indeed done with school and was strictly focused on his career now. He earned a BS in Finance and Financial planning. My man! From the day he turned 16 he's had a job lined up and I don't think he's ever quit. He washed cars, washed dishes, made burgers at McDonald's, did retail and even humped concrete for two summers on a crew. Last January he did an internship at a financial services company in Rochester. A couple months later they offered him a formal contract to work for them. He's been working 30hrs a week at the firm this last semester in addition to the school work. Gratified and happy for him. Hard work = success.

Got my second ever b-day buck in 40+ yrs of hunting yesterday. Not the biggest buck in the woods, but I'm very happy with him. Lot's of yrs, I was already tagged out and couldn't shoot a buck on my birthday. Ya, I know crappy selfie, lol.

Great ending to Letchworth bow season. Finally caught up with one of the hit listers. 127in Now to find one of the other two. Good luck all.

Had a great hunt with Beaver City Bear Hunts in Denare Beech Saskatchewan. Shot an absolute giant black bear 2 hours into the hunt. Trail cam pic is from the week before. Sent from my LM-G850 using Tapatalk

Went down to my oldest son's property in Honeoye Falls to give it a try . I was in the blind at 2:30 . About 3:30 , a small racked buck with a decent size body showed up around 20 yards from me . I put the 20 yard dot on him and took the safety off . The safety made a click sound , the deer heard it and looked my way . When it turned it's head I pulled the trigger . This was the 1st time I ever had a shot at any deer with the crossbow . The deer bolted and took off in the direction that it came from . I found my bolt as the shot was a pass through . I couldn't spot any blood . I had called my son and he was on the way home . He told me to wait for him . Matt and Blake ( grandson ) came out and we started looking for blood . Speck here and there . Matt spotted it in the neighbor's woods about 30 yards onto that property . Recovered the deer and Matt should be butchering it right now . I doubt that I would have found the deer without help . Shot the deer on the left side with a Rage Expandable .

Well I " Got Er Done " this morning ! Certainly not my best shot but glad to be out there with these old eyes of mine with a Crossbow ! It was a 30 Yard shot and she noticed my at the last second ( I wanted to double lung her) and bought it in the neck . She ran about 25 yards with the Bolt sticking out of her neck , turned around broke the Bolt off then slowly went down . While dressing her out I retrieved the Business End of the Bolt without ripping my hands open !

The Good Lord blessed me again on the second Sunday of the early antlerless gun season. I “doubled down” on the “Jesus first” thing in the late morning, after a short uneventful early morning hunt with no deer sighting, church and adult Sunday school. After that, my wife had a heck of a honey-do list for me. I knocked off everything she asked for and then some. Then I drove about 20 miles to my parents place, on the opposite corner of wmu 9F. They had lots of work for me to do also, before I could go hunting. Once again, I knocked all of that and then some. This is where the “Others second” came in. I was much later than I wanted to be, back in the double ladder stand that goosifer sold me for $20 a couple years ago. That’s where the “Yourself last” thing came in. I thought I blew it again over there, by picking the wrong stand, as I had the previous Saturday afternoon. My dad had mowed the clover plot out back, during the week, to a short stubble. Between that and hearing the old boss doe blowing downwind, 1/2 hour before sunset, I thought for sure I was in for nothing. Once again, I decided to give up before sunset, and started to pack up my stuff. Just after I pulled off my camo face mask, I heard the unmistakable sound of hoof steps, in the tall goldenrod upwind. She stepped out, 45 yards away, 2 minutes after sunset. I cranked the old Redfield scope up to 7x and verified the lack of headgear or buttons, then settled the crosshairs on the back lower corner of her inboard shoulder blade. When the smoke cleared, there she laid: The J.O.Y. doe, 28 minutes before the closing buzzer of the early antlerless gun season. T/C Omega 50 cal, 240 gr XTP, (2) T7 50 gr pellets, Redfield wide field 2-7x. Ive only eaten her fillet mignonettes so far (made tacos with them) and once again, they were “to die for”. She was about as close to perfect of a “grinder doe” that a guy could ask for. With both of my first draw dmp tags punched now, and our meat supply in decent shape, I’m going to be a bit more selective than usual with my (5) remaining deer tags.

Good bites lately, I love the fall fishing. Sent from my motorola edge (2022) using Tapatalk

We had a fun morning. Kinda quiet early on, and then around 9 we had a gobbler sound off pretty close, but in the woods. For the next 45 mins we listened to and called to what sounded like 6 or 7 birds that were not far away, but they just would not come out of the woods. I tried everything with them. I would call and they would answer and we would go back and forth over and over. Then I tried the silent treatment and they just kept gobbling. We did catch some movement through the brush, and could see multiple birds back in there, but just couldn’t get them to break cover. Evan was shaking like a leaf the whole time! He’s definitely hooked. Tomorrow we are going to the same location, but will setup in the woods this time.

Spring this year she shot a 21lbs bird. They decided to have it mounted. Man did it come out nice. DJ's Taxidermist in Avoca did the work. I have had a number of deer mounted by him and never disappointed. The bird is just amazing!

Just took a big doe with muzzle loader. Three came in and only two left. : ) Picture is from my stand.

Nice big doe ran up the ridge at 7:15, she was dragged back down at 7:30.

Brother got it done tonight perfect 8 point slob! 30 yard shot rage broadhead probably saved us from tracking. Hit was back but out a huge hole in the deer. He went about 50 yards.

Found the deer this morning. Had to be at work at 9:45 so I hunted to 7:45 and got down to look. Found nothing until 8:25. The deer was right next to the road. It was a perfect shot but being so close arrow went through one lung and out the stomach. Not once did I find stomach content in blood. I just got home from work and backtracked its path. Only blood was where it bedded or fell. Crazy shit. First pict is entrance.

Nice one taken by my neighbor. G2's over a foot long. Came in to check out a decoy! Think it will gross between 130-140.

10/19 buck. Was really not planning on shooting anything that night, then I was tempted too long. Shot him at 30yds slightly quartered toward, he went 50 yds and crashed. Elite Era, QAD Exodus heads. Sent from my motorola edge (2022) using Tapatalk

Doe down, 20 yd shot, she went 30. Sent from my motorola edge (2022) using Tapatalk

New Hunter score on this doe. It was perfect doe without fawns . He was supper excited. Doe was taking in 8N . Giving God at the glory.

It's been almost three years since we had to put the last of our three dogs down. When I was told by my Brittany breeder friend that he has a litter of puppies that were born on my late mothers birthday, it was a done deal. Liver/White male, two weeks old. Yankee Bean II

Day 2 of youth season. We decided to move back into the woods to see if we can get close enough to them. Heard some light gobbling just after first light again, same as yesterday. We shall see. Also, it looks like Evan takes after his sister in the sleeping in the woods category.