Leaderboard

1 buck tag a year would just mean that first buck wouldnt get tagged.

The easter bunny starts them. He told me this Bear was killed around Binghamton NY. There is snow on the ground here so it must be true.

Whats the chance that buck was killed in an ar area!!! lol

Spruced up my plane orange hunting vest while i had to go out of town for work. Took the vest along and did some re-modeling. Hopefully it brings me some luck. I need to get another bottle of dye to put some finishing touches on it.

I don't know why I didn't upload this in full 1080p HD the first time... here it is, awesome heart shot footage in full HD:

Well i can finally say i wont be the only guy in the house anymore. After three girls i was getting worried. Don't get me wrong i love them to death but i am a little worried come the teen years. Made my day.

I would seriously love to see spears legal

I have to say that I am satisfied with the fact that trophy deer do exist here and some are taken every year. Also they are not cheapened by being behind every tree. In other words when someone takes a big buck around here, it is indeed a noteworthy event. Do we match the hunter-heros on Saturday morning TV with their farm raised and genetically engineeed monsters? ....... not hardly. Can I live with that? ....... absolutely. I have to hunt hard for what I get, and that doesn't bother me a bit. Would I change any of that by risking the loss of choice for myself and others? ...... no. Do I enjoy hunting in its present form? ...... more than anything else that I do. So, if I am to be honest, I can't really say that I am ready to sign on to any of the latest pop management schemes. So my answer is "Yes, life is good in our deer woods". I have no idea what others need from their hunting, but my hunting needs are being met just fine. As a qualifier, I will admit to hunting in one of the WMUs that has a high harvest and supposedly a deer density that is quite a bit above the state norm. Perhaps that effects my attitude somewhat. Could hunting be better here? ..... sure anything can be made better, but not at the expense of hunter numbers, or hunter choices.

I am saying that points based AR in my area will do little to nothing to save 60% of the 1.5 bucks and nearly 80% of the 2.5's. Instead it will target them.

merely an FYI - I have been in rocky mtn national park over 12,000 feet in August and it was still over 70 degrees up there, 90+ down in Boulder, CO. The air is thin up there and it definitely take at least a day to get used it and be able to catch your breath. Lastly, I'm a big fan of Cliff Bars.

I would like to know from the anti AR guys if they feel their area is doing just fine the way it is? You have very strong feelings about not changing anything. Are you saying that this is as good as it gets and that the plan currently in place is working perfectly fine.

And exactly how will it do that?

this is just getting annoying - the regions that the proposed AR for next year need it because of the number of hunters taking young bucks and does. Now im sorry that the catskills do not have the agri to support the huge bucks that are out in the western part of the state (i will take it up with the glaciers that formed the region in the last ice age). the catskills need this to promote a healthier herd - most notably due to hunters from the city/long island that "need" to kill a deer during the season. Aside from the "nice 6s" ive seen on my trail cameras at 1am I have not seen a single basket during bow or gun season in two years - best ive seen was a spike. If we give it 2+ years we will maybe be able to see at least SOME improvement.

With all of these topics, it's just amazing how different areas are experiencing such drastic differences in what they experience. That is why i am not a big advocate for any rule that is not region or unit specific. I see my local DEC officer many times a yr and know of many tickets that have been issued for the typical scumbag reasons. As someone stated above, if you know of a violation, report it every time. If you dont report anything then they will naturally be elsewhere dealing with others. As far as these two choices go, i don't know which is going to work but it's pretty obvious that some regions have some serious problems and sticking with what you are doing now sounds like a poor choice for both the deer and the hunter.

There is not nearly enough ENCON presence throughout this state to even begin to effectively enforce a one buck limit or AR's...

So your saying anybody who shoots a small buck is a killer but somebody who shoots a big buck is a hunter? I've shot 3 bucks over 100" all the rest are under 100" so am I a hunter or a killer? LOL

Oh Look - it's another AR topic. Hot Frackin Damn! Occupiers Woo Hoo

The deer is legit, but the story is not. Check out the Northeast Big Buck Club website... http://www.bigbuckclub.com/gallery.htm Go to: Search Parameters___Posted___Last 15 days That deer is listed as a pick-up/roadkill from Becket County, MA...not NY. Makes you wonder how stories like this get started?

Cabinboy really how much work and preperation does it take to go out and shoot a doe or a yearling buck!!!! Walk in any woods that have deer tracks and food...Boom..work done... I know on some parks that have ar in place now,they also have a rule in effect that says young hunters under the age of 17 can shoot any buck they see... I believe all of ny state could put that law into effect and then the fight about the kids and new hunters not being able to shoot would not fly!!

Assuming you will only be doing day hikes out of a main camp... -Water filtration: I'd go for a base camp purifier like http://www.rei.com/product/737349/katadyn-base-camp-water-filter, and just fill bottles from that; hand pump filters also are good but require more work on your part. -Tent: Check out http://www.steepandcheap.com. They offer a new deal every 20 minutes or so, and they put up at least one backpacking tent a day I've noticed, at really great prices -Ultralight Stove: I wouldn't skimp on this. Try and get a nicer one if you can. MSR makes some pretty good stoves. Unless you can make a fire...then just bring that old cast iron frypan -Packs: Check out Osprey Packs or Gregory. Both great quality and pretty light if that's what you're looking for. Expensive so buy them on sale. Some good packs are offered on steepandcheap.com from time to time. -Bags: (sleeping bags). There are so many out there, just find the right temperature rating and decide between synthetic or goose down (ongoing debate). Just remember, the smaller/lighter you go at a fixed temp. rating, the more you will pay. -If you plan on getting lots of snow, good snowshoes will be a necessity. I'd recommend MSR again http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4085830&cp=3712723.3718184 and a tad lighter but real pricey http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4082823&cp=3712723.3718184 -sleeping pads: sleeping pads? rocks will work.

Quote-Don't you think young guys (or gal's)would be more interested in taking a huge stud buck like the one's you have taken and shown them pictures of? (In the new AR zone) Or would they rather shoot a doe or spike like some get every year now? You want the pinto or the corvette? You know his/her answer... No I don't.I have a 10yr old daughter and she loves to fish but only if she's catching fish and it doesn't have to be a big fish just as long as she's catching fish otherwise she will lose interest in a hurry.I believe the same to be true if she were hunting or most young hunters for that matter, they would be happy just to shoot a deer regardless of size. My thoughts on AR's.I hope they don't implement them in my area.I hunt deer because I enjoy all the work and preporation that is involved in the taking of a deer be it with a bow or gun and I like eat them.As much as I love to hunt them if I didn't eat them I wouldn't hunt them.Sure I like to shoot a big buck but not to the point where I don't care if other hunters leave the sport and others don't join the sport of hunting because of my obsession with big antlers.

ADK, this is a tired issue & a tired thread. I am a "true" hunter, I'm sure you are as well. I respect your opinion, but respectfully disagree as well. In the end, we are all hunters. As a group, we will survive or perish based on how we treat each other. Let's put this to bed.

I know of a few guys upstate that are the same way. They break every rule in the book so i guess it works both ways. There are both good and bad cidiots and country bumpkins lol. John

citiot=city idiot At least that is how I interpreted it. You know, the city folk who come out one weekend and rampage through the woods, and don't have much of a clue as to what they are doing or much respect for the locals. Not that I look down on city people, I don't even use the term though I find it humorous. We do need to be conscious of what the general public thinks of us, and the best way to do that is to be well educated on hunting and deer management practices. The general public should not be able to compete with our knowledge of deer hunting practices. As the article SteveNY posted mentioned, ARs are not all about raising trophy deer. It supports a healthy deer herd. Many hunters may only support it to increase their chances of getting a trophy, but ARs do much more than increase the number of trophy deer. Personally, I have a hard time taking anti AR arguments seriously when they discuss how it will be fuel for the antis. ARs back up hunters role in managing healthy deer populations and therefore support hunting activities. Why are hunters stepping back from better fulfilling their beneficial role simply because they are afraid of antis? You want to knock ARs, go ahead. Just don't take the BS argument that we will get our butt kicked by antis because of it. I won't let antis stop me from hunting responsibly. Thanks for the articles SteveNY

I should clarify. It is just the sonogram. Hes not due till May 9th but i cant wait. Already looked up the lifetime license.

Steve, where I hunt I don't want the AR just because I want huge buck, its because I want to see buck period! Doe to buck ratio around here is totally out of whack. I see 15 doe to 1 buck, and I am being generous with that number. In 16 years the biggest buck I have shot is a 6-pointer that scores 58". The rest were ALL spikes. I can't see how AR will NOT help my area, it just isn't logical to think that it won't. Mature buck in my area are so rare, we hunters around here have nearly made them extinct. No one to blame but ourselves, but thats just how its been for many years.As a hunter, I am not happy at all with the quality of hunting in my WMU, and any hunter I talk to agrees with that, even the ones that don't agree with the AR. They are just stubborn and complain that they cant shoot their spikes and 4 pointers any more, but still complain there aren't bigger buck around. THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE KILLING THEM ALL!!!!! If it didn't work, why is the DEC moving past the pilot areas and expanding it more and more? After all it is what these people do for a living. http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/arsummary11.pdf Like I said before, maybe the herd in your area has a good buck to doe ratio and doesn't need a mandatory AR program, but round here, we definitely do.

So you are not a true hunter if something pisses you off enough to make you stop handing over your hard earned money for something you don't agree with? hmmm I guess you fellas figured out every thing, I didn't know you conducted surveys and can read minds.

Strategy 2.3.6: Beginning in the 2012 big game hunting season, expand the mandatory antler restriction area to include WMUs 3A, 4G, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, and 4W. From http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html

Thought this was just an "experiment" and "we have no plans to mandate AR statewide" Just like gun control, you give them an inch and they run with it. Now the opinions of some are going to be forced on all of us. I'll quit buying a deer license and go to small game only, not going to pay those jerks to ruin our sport.

Cant be..im special..one of a kind..my mommy told me so

Yes killing is part of hunting, But there is more to hunting than just killing or so I dont say it again harvesting of an animal. If time is spent out in the field and you let a four pointer walk it doesnt mean your not going to get anything. If that animal survives the season it means that next year you will probably see him as an older deer and possibly another four pointer also. Giving these deer an opportunity go grow a little older has changed where I hunt. And this is my opinion on where I hunt. I am seeing plenty of year and a half old bucks running around when before they werent around as they are now and having the opportunity to see a few nice racks every year. Anyone that hunts with me knows, I never put anyone down for shooting a small buck, I congradulate them on any deer they kill. The fact that these AR's were put into place in an area that needed it has only improved the hunting. This is not something I read in an article, this is my opinion and for me the bucks I have harvested in the last few years are proof to me that its working.

Ideally it would be a maturity level restriction rather than pure points or width. Unfortunately ARs are the most accurate way to do it. Age is harder to judge than counting tines. In the end, all the arguments that ARs take away opportunities from hunters tell me that hunters are not in the woods for the right reasons. If success is measured by your death toll then you need to take a step back and ask yourself if you are a hunter or a killer. Killers need not apply. I spent endless hours in the woods last season- never had a chance at a mature buck. Let a nice 3yr old 8pt walk by the last day of bow season. Still loved evry minute of it and I know that when I get lucky enough to have a mature buck come by it will mean that much more, but it won't make or break me.

I am a land owner in a AR zone. I am pro AR cause of how I see that it has been working. I dont shoot any year and a half old bucks not even the basket eight on the last day I let them walk. Me and my family own alot of land where we hunt and we always have friends and family that arent as fortunate as us hunt with us. If my land is everyone elses land then why would I want to buy any? Have the government buy it back and make it all state land. People buy their own land to get away from all the BS in state land and the reasons why is posted is #1 cause its mine #2 safety. If I dont know someone and I see them on my property hunting I ask them to leave. I dont think there is anything selfish about it. If someone is fortunate enough to buy hunting property so that they can do what they want on it why does it make them selfish? I dont own the deer but I do own the property!! My land, My stands, and I invite who I want to invite. Not who wants to invite themselves.