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This is an antlered does that I found a few years ago...

Here again.. that is you.. you are not the whole... you not understanding something has nothing to do with it's importance to other law abiding gun owners... your personal comprehension, experience and positions say less about a pro gun stance than the pro-belo stance. If society can't make it's own decisions, then who do you propose should make them? The Governor? The President? Legislative officials?? This is where your claim to be pro gun gets warped...you actually don't believe the people can or should have control over themselves when it comes to their 2nd amendment rights... I really want to hear who you think is the brilliant mind that should be in charge of making all the rules for society.. other than society itself? and why society, aka "the people", or in this case, the legal gun owners, are unable to decide what's best for their own freedom and safety... You see, those so called pro gun... gun owners that couldn't get off there lazy asses and vote last November... probably would rather have someone else like government deciding their fate as well...

SO I officially completed my first true season of deer hunting. I must say I am pretty proud of my dedication, I put in around 100hours total between regulars northern and southern and late muzzleloader. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for answering some of my posts. Even the more errr…. Negligent ones. And I wanted to share a list of achievements over this first season and follow it up with a short story of my final day. I sat through 10-20* temps shivering. I fell asleep a few times in the evening after going out in the morning as well.. I learned to be able to sit still for longer periods of time. I sorted my gear and got my insulation and necessities system parred down. I also realized how much sitting comfort plays a part in the enjoyment of the hunt. I learned to walk a little slower and softer. I only saw deer 2 times. I heard them 2 times. I learned how to better spot them in the woods. I learned more about deer moving and bedding habits. And I am sure there are others I am forgetting. So on my first time ever out with a rifle in my hand hunting I was sitting halfway down a large ridge that ran the length of a creek. Unfortuneartely I was not sitting far enough down and was treated to the sound of several deer crossing said creek about 50 yards outside my vision. In the middle of a text message id ropped my phone and readied to shoot. Only to see hide nor hair of them. On my second time out we were sitting on the same ridge in a different section where ( the deer always go) according to my “guide” on the way there he tells me the cleared a bunch of land a little farther down and did some logging. This time I saw doe, 2 of them come from crossing the creek and then trot directly away from us down towards where I had sat the first time. My first true sighting but no chance in heck of a shot. After an uneventful rest of the sit I went down and checked out where they had come from. Seemed to me that the logging and land changes had caused the deer to no longer move as far down the ridge / creek and were now using a split in the creek as a bridge to move from one side to the other and there was heavy trail showing such. Sure enough as we followed said ridge towards my first spot we heard 2 grunts of some sort down by the creek but nothing showed its head. For the rest of the season I saw NO Deer. I moved from 6k to 6p to 6r. The later 2 being large tracts of private land. I saw sign, oh boy did I see sign. Deer Super highways, rubs, beds etc. but no live deer. And so went the entire rest of the season, I had a week vacation, a couple 3-4 day weekends and spent every free moment in the woods. Getting in an hour before light many mornings in effort to be set before they showed. So came muzzleloader. My partner had an extra so I bought the tag. We went sat evening and sun all day on the final weekend. We let his father talk us into doing a stalk down through some swamp in an old crab apple orchard where we had spent a majority of our season…. Well needless to say the swamp was fine but the east end of the orchard was so over grown there was no lanes to speak of. So we humped the rest of the way to his stand and I made my way around the outside of the orchard to where a bordered a southern field, there was a defined small ridge here with an old old loggin trail that I had wanted to hunt all season. For this last day I had moved my chair over there the morning before, 10 feet down my ridge overlooking a small 30yards of marsh then up 10 feet to the ridge in question with a large corn field and creek on the other side. I get my husky self there with about 2.5 hours of shooting light/ time left. ( till legal sunset) I sit down. And strip a layer, remove my hat, get my water out. And in general and “preparing” to sit for the net 2 hours. All in all about 4 minutes of movement tops. As Im bringing my bottle down after a sip or water is ee a flash of white in the trees at the start of the logging road. I freeze. Sure enough 3 doe. As slowly as possible I set down the water and lift the rifle to my shoulder. Getting good and set. They stand for a minute and then go down the trail a decent trot. Sight is on the lead doe the entire time, but there is decent coverage in the way. Looking ahead I see a nice gap in 2 trees and move my sights in the middle to take a shot. Sure enough the doe goes right behind said trees and for a moment I have a solid block of unobstructed hide behind the sights. …… but she keeps moving and they disappear down the ridge. What happened? Well my brain didn’t think to make a bleat or something to try and stop them so I could shoot. And I told myself all season I would be someone who unloads at a moving deer in hopes they hit it. I told myself all year I would go for ethical and safe shots. I don’t want to send a deer to painfull drawn out death because we cant find her or the yotes get her. And so ended my first season of deer. Mother nature saw fit to taunt me for my first season at the ripe age of 30. Showing me the goal for a moment in the beginng and the end of the season. Like a drug dealer for an addict. Punishment for the previous years not putting the time in. Heres hoping I paid my dues and next year is more successful. Hind Sight 20/20…… I had an acceptable shot and should have taken it. The excitement of the situation delayed my reactions. Thanks all. I hope you enjoyed the read.

For a measly $20 I won't tell her you said that

You may have seen this before, but it's worth a reminder, as we see this problem getting worse every day. Charley Reese's final column for the Orlando Sentinel... He has been a journalist for 49 years. He is retiring and this is HIS LAST COLUMN. Be sure to read the Tax List at the end. This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be. The article below is completely neutral, neither anti-republican or democrat. Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day. It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering! 545 vs. 300,000,000 People -By Charlie Reese Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does. One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank. I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes. Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.. ( The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.) The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House?( John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. ) If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist. If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan .. If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way. There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do. Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees... We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess! Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper. What you do with this article now that you have read it... is up to you. This might be funny if it weren't so true. Be sure to read all the way to the end: Tax his land, Tax his bed, Tax the table, At which he's fed. Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes Are the rule. Tax his work, Tax his pay, He works for peanuts anyway! Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat. Tax his ties, Tax his shirt, Tax his work, Tax his dirt. Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he Tries to think. Tax his cigars, Tax his beers, If he cries Tax his tears. Tax his car, Tax his gas, Find other ways To tax his ass. Tax all he has Then let him know That you won't be done Till he has no dough. When he screams and hollers; Then tax him some more, Tax him till He's good and sore. Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in Which he's laid... Put these words Upon his tomb, 'Taxes drove me to my doom...' When he's gone, Do not relax, Its time to apply The inheritance tax. Accounts Receivable Tax Building Permit Tax CDL license Tax Cigarette Tax Corporate Income Tax Dog License Tax Excise Taxes Federal Income Tax Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) Fishing License Tax Food License Tax Fuel Permit Tax Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon) Gross Receipts Tax Hunting License Tax Inheritance Tax Inventory Tax IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax) Liquor Tax Luxury Taxes Marriage License Tax Medicare Tax Personal Property Tax Property Tax Real Estate Tax Service Charge Tax Social Security Tax Road Usage Tax Recreational Vehicle Tax Sales Tax School Tax State Income Tax State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) Telephone Federal Excise Tax Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax Telephone State and Local Tax Telephone Usage Charge Tax Utility Taxes Vehicle License Registration Tax Vehicle Sales Tax Watercraft Registration Tax Well Permit Tax Workers Compensation Tax STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. What in the heck happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'

Always bittersweet for me when the season closes............I know it's time to get my life back on track as I have neglected much for the past 10 weeks. Don't misunderstand; bills get paid, kids are fed and hauled to & fro, leaves are picked up, pets are fairly healthy and love is made but other things need to be caught up and organized. I sure do miss the time in the woods, messing with the guns & bow, excited calls & text messages from friends and family, packing up the duffel etc. When I get home from a few days away the most excited one to see me is the dog. The rest of them seem to get by OK.....................LOL. Oh well, 9.5 months till archery opens. Woot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It really makes you wonder who sells more worthless crap to try to pry your money out of your pocket ..... The archery equipment industry or the fishing lure manufacturers ..... lol. But you know, these guys will make a pile of money. They're just capitalizing on those that have to have the latest and the greatest .... lol.

Primos Jellyhead is a awesome choke also

You could do that "random act of kindness" with her. Give her a couple $20 gift cards to Walmart or something, then take her there. She's not allowed to spend them, but she can't leave the store with them either. She has to give them away to whatever random strangers she chooses, for whatever reasons she chooses. It makes her feel good about HERSELF..., it makes her(and you) feel good about YOU..., and it makes those you touch with your unexpected generosity feel good about MAN KIND! Make sure you grab a lottery ticket on your way out the door...., because I guarantee you you're gonna get lucky,lol!

I sure hope they recruit from outside the area.........

Here are some sample pictures from the Browning cameras. I have 2 Browning Dark Ops (black flash) and 1 Browning Strike Force (IR). I've only had the Strike Force for about 1 1/2 weeks so I don't have a lot of pictures with it. The first 13 pictures are from the Black Ops camera and the last 7 are from the Strike Force camera. I tried to include a little of everything. I am happy with the performance so far, especially the battery life. I am using Tenergy rechargeable batteries and haven' recharged them yet. The battery meter only shows 1-2% reduction since I've had them out. I am still trying to figure out the best settings for the cameras and will have plenty of time this off season to get them fine tuned. The night time pictures in the Black Ops are ok, but the daytime pics are superb. This is my first experience with black flash so I wasn't sure what to expect. I would however recommend these cameras to anyone. The price is good and so far no issues. I will continue to post pics up here throughout the winter.

That was from bloomburg news network .I guess its all a lie ??? each side has its own slant ...MAN COOL OUT DON'T GET YOUR TINSEL TANGLED... NO ONE IS OUT TO GET YOU ...

Grew up watching this show and the other great ones ,, like Marty Stouffers Wild America

They logged State land north of me two years ago.

last thing I bought she never used. It was a cemetery plot. (relax just kidding) I do not have to worry about such things but if I were to buy for a lady,I would need to know her likes dislikes etc. i bet if you listen close and pay attention, shje had told you at least a dozen times by now. Tune in she will steer you down the right path. if not a nice weekend getaway is always nice.

Rob ...hope she does too really...THAT SAID.... To all non married ppl..NEVER give an engagement ring on a birthday ...Christmas..Valentine's day.or any holiday. Life is fickle and can turn around on us as can loved ones...in the case of . Engagements...you should always get the expensive ring back should that happen...if you make it a "gift" you can't.

It's a Shim! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They don't get any better than that! There's not a typical on this planet that compares to this in my mind!

You get an A+ for effort!

I can't help; I got mine a Nikon D80 DSLR because she can still use the lenses for her film SLR with it, but you said no camera in the OP. I know my wife would be happy with about 40 lbs of goose jerky. I was up at deer camp for two days and she went through three geese worth of it!

Why were you annoyed on Biz's engagement day ?!

Engagement photo's? No wonder you weren't smiling. I was annoyed that day too.

You are soooo GAY!

Unlike the majority in my area who have veneers, my teeth are all real. I do wear a retainer 4-5 nights a week so nothing changes! Here's a no smile for you, Grow.

Hope it works. I am getting sick of singing "Pine cones roasting on an open fire"

This thread is so entertaining. I equate the NYC people who hunt to the hipster movement...you know the beard, moustache, with tight jeans, flannel, boots. Look the part, and might even want to be, but even if they are, are really outsiders looking in on a great party. Different strokes, for sure, and I understand that. There's just a line that needs to be held. I suit up several times a week and my employer could easily be located in NYC. But, everyone also knows I kill things and eat them. I might look stylish, but they also know I am a man.

Decoys are a personal choice. Some people use them others don't. You can use decoys to mark the desired range for where you are sitting. Decoy can be used the make the turkeys think that is the source of the calls. Not using decoys, may make them look more for what bird is making the calls. Don't forget to either camo paint your face or use a facemask, and wear gloves, both can stand out and be spotted. Wet fresh-plowed fields can make hard to spot a turkey that just sitting out there. Feathers may blend with the dark brown soil. Plan to start the day on the cold side and get hot coming back from sitting. there is a lot of temperature swing in spring turkey hunting. If you have a long walk, bring some water to drink. May even do something like wear a pair of shorts under the hunting pants so you can ditch the pants for the hike back out (helpful if you have a mile or 2 to walk back). Bug spray is a must for spring turkey - do apply to neck, ears and face, even with a face mask. The bugs will go any exposed skin and it is really hard to sit still with bugs in your eyes. Always assume another call that is approaching you could be another hunter. Be prepared to show off an orange hat, or say something to let them know you are there. I have sat inside a field edge with a decoy out in the grass and watching that field just to have a hen walk behind me in the woods. Also have been in a "hedge" row between two fields. Pre-season scouting saw turkey in the fallow field, so that is how I set up for turkey season. A tom was in the plowed field gobbling behind me to the left, out of sight and range. Moved quietly as possible through some poison ivy in the hedge row and poke my head partly through some brush just in time to see him move off further out-range. Couldn't call him back. It may be disappointing, but it is very exciting and gives you an adrenalin rush. Last spring the small plants (we are talking 6 inches or shorter) were moving like something was under them. The movement came towards me and up popped a grayish-colored weasel, just two feet away. You just never know what pops up around you in the spring. Good luck and have a safe and fun hunt in the Spring.

Oh, come off it already... The only awareness that you have that this will be ammo against hunters is probably right here. The mad dog wasn't reacting to abuse, he is just a moron... And that wouldn't be an excuse anyway... No need to help the manipulation of perception with your own behavior... Your a funny guy...

I'm not much of a turkey hunter I try a bit but not much....adk buck hit it on number 6 from my experience patience is key....probably why I'm no good at it Edit.....just outta curiosity do you guys use locator calls...if so what owl crow ect?

I've never been accused of being Left...lol. But in the course of every day normal activity if I see a gun (and I am not talking about noticing a CCW on someone), it does get my attention, If the person is in hunting clothes as Doc mentioned I am more likely to pull over and ask how their luck was. While standing in line at the bank to make a deposit.....probably not a similar response. It is sad really where we have come as a society. I can remember going to school with the gun visible in the vehicle to catch a couple hours of hunting after class. I can remember pulling out a new knife I got for Christmas to show the guys, only to have the teacher show us the one he got as well. Having a knowledge of guns and how to safely handle them was the norm, not the exception where I grew up, especially long guns. To bad it isn't the same today.

Hahahahaha. …I thought it said for my husband to take his girlfriend and I could shed hunt.

" With age comes wisdom, Grasshopper" Hehehe....Unfortunately, many other things come with age. Arthritis, spastic colon, incontinence, erectile dysfunction and many other wonderful conditions... I remember a quote from George Burns.. " Sex in your eighties is like shooting pool with a rope"....

You could always re-gift them. I'll send you my address...

JUST READ THIS PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP ! PBS Newshour ran a gun control poll on their homepage and the found that over “95 percent” of respondents opposed “more restrictive gun laws” on Sunday.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. I’m not sure I follow your thinking. And want to make sure of what you are saying. I always thought the MILITIA part of the second amendment was referred to a standing state/federal army. And the second part of the amendment provided the individual the right to keep and bear arms so that he/she could defend against the government. Are you saying the MILITIA part is referring to a bunch of folks in gun clubs that group together and call themselves a militia? Lastly I thought he word NECESSARY always meant...hey we just fought the English for independence. Their pissed at us. They will come back (did in 1812), the French and Spanish like the new world as well. We the founding fathers understand this, so we need an army….the army is necessary…but we don’t want the government to use it against the people. Do you not think this is what it means?

Anybody else notice that the deer season ran the same dates as this year. Oct 25 - Dec 6

Money for a browning a5 I can buy it now but why not get some cash from people lol

I am not the overly religious of sort, but it does boggle my mind that the true meaning of Christmas is not even known to so many people out there these days. To them it's just a jolly holiday that you are supposed to spend money and buy gifts for others, and that's ALL they know about it. Unbelievable really.

Another year above ground !

Yes, they are Class III casinos. Having represented two counties for many years against an Indian land claim where the tribes wanted to have a class III casino, I will say that most experts that have studied the effects agree that casinos tend to drain, not augment, the local economy. The quote from David Frum is on point. I would not want one in my area.

made it happen for the last day of the season!!! definitely not a trophy but she'll do. hard to pass anything up on the last day.

I'm done.........I hunted hard yesterday and this morning and have nothing to show for it. Yesterday was a full day in Canadice/Lima and I should have killed a doe in the afternoon. I had 5 doe/fawns in a field with a couple small bucks. They mingled around for ten minutes and I was trying to sort out the doe from the fawns with my binos. I'd pick out a doe, put the glasses down and pick up the gun, she'd move and I'd start over. Then a buck would go behind her or a fawn would be in front of her. After a bit they fed over about 30 yards further south and my shot was screened by some brush. I had her dead and dressed, just waiting on them to feed another 20 yards further south when all of a sudden they all spooked off and never stopped until they were 240 yards away! My best shot and it should have been a gimme was at 140 yards and I had a perfect rest. That was it. It was 4:10pm and I was left holding a wish in one had and my________in the other hand. This morning I hunted East Aurora for a few hours and saw zip.......................... The Fat Lady has sang her song and the curtain has fallen on another great season.

said it before and i'll say it again and I don't care if I get flamed for it. Putting any animal out of its suffering is the right thing to do regardless of the law.

Guys, Im in Ulster county if your interested you can pm me for my contact info.. I run a part time shop from home for the past 24 years. Im only doing game heads these days due to my full time job, artifact collecting and my passion for hunting and fishing... 2004 national champion small mammals , 2007 runner up north american champion and best of shows in NY, CT , NJ and many first places in award of excellence division.. Few pictures of customer deer.. Thanks for looking. Ron

Hoping within next year or 2 to get rigged back up for water found some spots just need permission and steel....land trappin for me in 2 weeks.....the 17th I can lay some steel....can't wait love the pics guys nice job can't wait to hopefully add some from my lil line....I'll be happy to do half as good....

No money to mount just throw him in the pile of racks i have already. One of the ugliest racks i have. lol. arrow hit right where i thought it did right above the shoulder and out the neck. must not have bothered him to bad he was covered in shavings from just rubbing a cedar tree. Didnt get the jaw bone might check it out once hes all bones though if the yotes dont drag it off. teeth were all black I assume from eating acorn's.

Well I guesss there are miracles. I had to work the night before gun so I put everything in the car and went to work. Got out at 6 and headed to my spot. After changing and walking to a ground blind i built last winter and settling in I said a little prayer and asked for blade to walk by. 10 min later he did. I dont know what else to say but thankyou Lord. Ask and you shall receive.

Moose River: 10 days of pure fun!!! 11/6714 Thursday: I get up late and make it to the camping area and find some other hunters setting up camp in the spot we wanted. I found another spot right across the dirt road that was a little smaller but fit the tent just fine. So with little time before dark I raced to set up the main base camp site alone. Just before dark I finished staking down the tent when the other hunters from across the dirt road came to say HI. Matt, Rob, and a few other guys they said where coming later. I talked with them for about 10 minutes, young guys in their early 20's and a both seemed pretty enthusiastic about hunting. I was excited! I eat some food, finished setting up the cots when I heard a truck and meet my old friend Murry from Oneida lake, he was proud to show off his new truck and camper when another old hunter (71) I met back at Indian Lake showed up and we all knew each other and chewed the fat for a bit. Bed came early that night at 8pm. 11/7/14 I get out early and head up. I cut across 4 sets of tracks but nothing worth tracking. I hit the ridge where my 2010 buck fell and said a prayer. I hunted down the valley to the road and came out about 400 yards from the camp site just after dark. Cold conditions with snow, nice day out. Saturday I finished setting up the cook shake and was out by 10. I posted most of the day as we lost snow and I wanted to check this funnel area. No sighting. I still hunted down the mountain the last hour with no luck. Nice day out but a bit warm. I meet my friends Greg and Shawn back at base camp and celebrated their arrival. Sunday I pushed up from the road to about a half mile then skirted across the ridges on some old logging trails. I crossed the river then circled back after 3 and was on the road just at dark about 700 yards from camp. I cut a few tracks on the ridges and spotted a tail flag from what appeared to be a doe. Monday was warm and I went on a hike for a few miles looking for sign with no success, nice day to just enjoy the woods but warm for deer movement. Tuesday was hot and I needed a brake. I cleaned the camp, said good by to Greg and took a nice hot shower! Boy did I need that! I ate like a king and prepped for the next day. I was in NO shirt it was so hot. Wednesday I was out early and headed for a swamp I wanted to check since two years ago. After crossing a beaver dam I explored the area and headed into the swap and was stuck for about a hour in it. Shawn called on the radio and said he was leaving early. I finally got back up on the ridges and crossed the beaver dam to the other side of the swamp then crossed another river to check the other side. I found a rub and some scrapes so I relieved myself in one and headed up the ridge with about 20 minutes till dark. 10 minutes later a doe came in and freshened the scrape for me and head up the ridge behind me. 2 minutes later a small buck with split spikes came in. Having my buddy Chris's gun which had sentimental valued I wanted to get any buck with it and shot when he was broadside quartering away. I waited a few minutes then checked for blood and found nothing. I pulled out and made the hike out 900 yards uphill it was like rock climbing it was so steep. Mark a tracker I meet in 2010 came back to the campsite and we feed him as our food supply was excessive and explained the story. He offered to check for blood the next morning as snow was predicted for late morning. Thursday we drive out and head to area and Mark, Mike and myself check for blood and find nothing for a 200 yard radius not even hair. 600 yards away on the road Mike finds 3 drops of blood. I check for any other signs for blood and find nothing as the snow comes down an hour later. I run the ridges above as he headed up from the original spot but find nothing. I hunt the area for the rest of the day with no luck, cover many miles hoping he is close, I saw one doe around 10:30. I concluded I shot high and hit no vitals. To say I was disappointed in myself in more ways than one would be an understatement. That night Mark has dinner with us again and tells us the many stories of his tracking adventures, he is a true wilderness hunter and I can tell he is a great tracker. Friday we had snow and again I hunted the area with the small buck really hard. I cut across 2 sets of tracks early and saw no other tracks or deer the entire day. With snow I tried covering some ground looking for any lame deer to no avail. Again that night Mark came and had dinner with us but he came out 2 hours after dark and I could see he had a long day. (We meet him at a trail head concerned he was so late.) His story telling and good spirits kept my disappointment at bay thankfully. I made Mike promise that if Mark shot a buck we would help him drag it but it did not happen. Saturday we said goodbye to Mark and wished him good luck as we packed up to go home. He was heading back 7 miles again to look for his buck! Can't wait for next year! Today Mark sent me a picture of his buck. Mark Albin you are one determined hunter and a hell of a tracker! I look forward to more of your epic stories about tracking in deep woods. We always have a plate ready for you at camp NFA! You are the Man!!! Today I was sent this picture from a buck he tracked for six miles Saturday, and he goes back at least 3.5-10 miles! He is 9 years my elder and puts me to shame. His story telling, great spirit and love for deep woods hunting was the highlight of this trip and I look forward to spending time with him at camp NFA next year. Congratulations Mark on another deep woods buck! Your drive, determination and tenacity is astounding! Hope our friendship only grows stronger as time goes by you are amazing!

Well it's official. I'm hooked. Can't wait to get out and do it again. Spent tons of time researching(thanks to all of you)practicing my shooting and game planning for this. Went out Sunday morning for the first time. My hunting buddy and I are both rookies so expectations were low. We felt that the day would not be a waste no matter what happened because you are always learning. We'll at about 9:30 in the morning I was walking through a field with waist high grass hoping to scare up some pheasants(no dog...yet). About 100 yards away from me a single pheasant flys in from the North side and lands. Talk about getting juiced up. Now I know there is something in this field. I slowly stalked the pheasant and as I got about 30yds away I could see the grass moving as the pheasant tried to run on the ground. At about 20yds it took flight and I swung my Shotgun around and took the shot. First time not shooting at paper. I am hooked.....can't wait to get out and try again. Thanks for all the help and teaching from all your posts on this forum. I felt prepared and confident.