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We received our mounts back today! First time we were able to get a picture of the 2 of us together since I shot mine the second day of Bow (left) and he shot his second day of gun (right). This is what hunting is all about, sharing the outdoors with your family! I have hunted with my father my entire life (almost 40 years). He is 76 years old now and the first decent whitetail he has ever shot. The smile on his face is absolutely pricesless!

There would be no harm in calling the DEC law enforcement. They may be known to the local ECO. Even if hunting out of season and trespassing cannot be proven, they attempted petty larceny. A visit from him might discourage them from going on the property again.

Some really nice bucks there!!! Congrats n frame that pic for the house or camp , be something to look at and find inner happiness whenever you look at it ! My father never hunted n didn't get that chance to have those memories but I will certainly have them with my kids if I ever have any !! Priceless ... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I made the switch over to black flash cams and have used video pretty extensively. Still photos rarely tell the real tale. Sometimes the deer will stand there and eyeball the cam for a few seconds, then they turn and bolt. I have never had an issue with scent after they sit for a few days, and I tend to let them soak for a while before checking them. Once I get an idea of what deer are using the property, I back my cams out and set them on large scrapes and food plots where the human (farming) activity is normal, just to get some nice pics. I try to keep the pressure out of the areas where Ill be hunting. Ive tried using them to pattern deer in my hunting areas, and it always has casued the areas to be pressured and the deer stop using it. When I do set my cams in areas Ill be hunting, I put them up high, and install, check and remove them while Im standing or sitting on an ATV or tractor whenever possible. Seems to disturb the deer less than tromping around on foot. Just what works for me.

It can be on the same trail, just not right in front of your stand. Put the camera's 100 or 200 yards down the trail in the direction that they most often travel so they hit the cameras AFTER your stand location. I think Phade already said this, but it won't do you any good to have a picture of a buck on a camera that doesn't walk by that spot again because of either the camera or your scent. In fact, last year I didn't even put my cameras up in my main hunting area. Why? I KNOW there are some trophy deer every year. I trust my field skills enough to read sign and understand there travel routes to give myself the best chance at getting one each year. I will take my best chance at those bucks without even a 1% chance of spooking them (because I have had that issue of deer being spooked). Cameras have only been around for a decade. Before that, hunters have shot trophy deer for hundreds of years without them. To me (and this is just my opinion) the cameras can cause more harm than good sometimes. Thats just me, doesn't mean that works for you.

Nice picture of Bear prints about 30 feet of my buddy's camp at the birdfeeder. Have gotten some really nice photos of bear over the years at this spot. Other pic of the Coyote is about 65 yds behind the camp on an atv trail, Nice detail on the Coyote pic. As the crow flies, about 30 miles southeast from Syracuse NY. Now, I am not of the wolves in NY group but could see why people would mistake that as such.

What happened to living within your means? How about the concept of having as many kids as you can afford?

Checked my turkey cam set up yesterday and found a whole bunch of pics of this breeding pair of coyotes (and no turkeys pics in the past several days). It's kinda cool to see them up close in the daylight but it will be super tough not to give 'em a dose of hevishot in a few weeks, especially if they screw of my turkey hunting!!! The male... You can see that she definately has a litter close by...

turkey this spring thought I'd post this link... Take note in 3rd paragraph as to how far they travel... good luck http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/Landowners_Guide/Species_Mgmt/Wild_Turkeys.htm

My cam is on the edge of our yard. I do not hunt there, I just like watching what comes in during the night. I think it's amazing how alive the night is.

Today I went to check on my trail cam I sent out last week. The intent of the cam's placment was to see if their were any turkey in the area. Lone and behold! I haven't ever gotten a turkey before, but it appeard quite large to me.

Guys, check out this video my buddy Monte put together from this past winter. If you don't like to see deer suffering and dying, then DON'T watch it! He's got some other AWESOME nature videos on his channel if you got some time to spare, check them out. The man is a true outdoorsman I respect a great deal! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsvg-B4VUbQ

You know there is so much of this discussion that waves some big red flags when it comes to semi-butchering an area to clear shooting lanes. It also makes me look long and hard at simply throwing up some pop-up ground blinds and expecting deer not to pay attention .... even if they are expertly brushed in. Think about a deer spotting a little square box mounted to a tree, and then think about some brand new monstrosity set up in their living room that we expect them to ignore. Imagine a treestand that sticks out from a bare tree with these climbing sticks buckled to the tree. And we are expecting them to simply ignore all our forest renovations? Yes it may work fine with younger deer, but those that have made it through a few years by simply being wimps, may just be a bit more twitchy when it comes to some of our constructions. These reactions to that simple little harmless box stuck on a tree should be telling us something. And by the way, many of those "bolting" bucks got the hell out of there before they even approached the box to smell it. It appeared to be just a response to a visual stimulus without the scent and sound senses. They simply saw it and scrammed. Yeah, a lot of these videos are telling us a lot more than simply the right and wrong ways to use a trail-cam. There's other lessons to be learned there too. Just something to think about.

Two real nice bucks! Congrats! What did your buck score? Enjoy the fellowship that you and your dad are blessed to have all those years. Sure wish my dad was still here to do all the stuff together. We did the same for 40 years. We hunted together, went to shooting tournaments together, and ran a business together...sure miss him. Hope you enjoy many more years together! Jeff

Congratulations to you and your dad,on two very nice trophies! Couple of big-un's there for sure! You are very fortunate to hunt with your dad for 40 years. He looks great for 76! Hope you guys have many more years making hunting memories together.

Well only got to take my daughter out Sat morning. Had everything set up pefect. Had 2 birds fly right down to within 30 yards to the left of the decoys fanning no clear shot yet, and next thing I know one came in silent from the right up a gully, and was in my decoys at less then 10 yards fanning. Daughter tryed to swing he gun to the right, she is a lefty and bird busted her, she managed to get a shot, but did not connect. No Sunday hunt as she had a friends birthday sleep over Sat. So will try again this Sat for her.

You may want to follow up with ECO Card in a few days. I have had some experience with him. A second call/inquiry might be helpful moving this up on his priority list.They are busy and the squeaky wheel..................

LOL. Seriously Papist, I don't know where you come up with this stuff. The alternative is to not shoot yourself in the foot by using proper cam and hunting techniques to give you the best bang for your buck without the added risk of blowing up a pattern. Setting a cam on a trail a buck is using regularly and then checking it, and then setting a stand on/near it, likely results in more mature bucks than not...knowing you were there and risking all the work you just put into it. I'm not talking about being high and mighty hunter here, just basic logic. There is zero need to have to get a pic of a buck on a cam on a trail he may be using to kill him off of a pattern. Work backwards to find him until you can't push it and then go in and hunt with the stand on your back or make a very well prepared effort to get in and out with as little damage as possible. That is what beachpeaz is talking about.

So lets be clear..it would be illegal to be out with a shot gun with turkey or bird load out of season...but there is still legal hunting of vermin ...wood chucks... so it is not illegal to be carrying a rifle and one should consider what type of animals they are sitting in the dark with. Having protection should be on ones mind when being at ground level with animals. BTW...that encounter...NO OFFENSE meant here, could be taken as a open season for guys like that...call the DEC...

Totally understand Grow. We all know what they were up to, Was asking to see what the options could be. We all know how easily some of the excuses can roll out to get out of a ticket and how frequently those poaching actually get busted. Was focusing more on an angle that takes any excuses and officers "discretion" out of it.

If it helps that much why not have everyone go on it and not work? Then we would all be just rolling in money? right?

This cam is 8 feet off the ground on a slight slope. Same buck nearly a month later. He still notices it. Did he get used to it? Maybe not as bad of a reaction right? He never showed up again. This is a cam at a scrape. He never showed on the property again. People love to make generalizations that paint with a wide brush. The truth is deer are like any other animal, including humans. They each have their own disposition. Thinking that all deer are not afraid of trail cams if they constantly encounter them is short-sighted at best. I play to the lowest common denominator and use trail cams as if every deer were like the ones above. Some are not, but some are.

Report them, walking and trespassing with guns in the woods out of season is "prima facie" proof of hunting, they don't have to be shooting at anything. I see at least 3 violations and you have proof on camera.

Posted or not...they were armed with guns and decoys and NO Kids

Fishers are the navy seals of the forest for sure.

I want what your smoking.

Around here, they seem to get hit with lightning or something.......alot.

A young friend of mine managed to get his first turkey ever this morning! Called in a group of 8 gobblers and he took one of the biggest! Its a real beauty with 9" beard and 1¼" spurs, made a great 36 yard shot with the old Mossberg 500 while I captured it on video ????

I read this a few times.... When I was taken out of work permanently, it was a three battle even with a lawyer to get my disability. During that time we did not have enough money to cover all the bills, so I was getting food stamps. It wasn't much trust me. But, there were a couple times when I was getting food and my g/f was getting TP and crap like that and she would buy beer at times. So according to this thread, that makes us scum. I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have busted my ass to make a living since I was 16 until 5 years ago when I was taken out of work! I didn't ask for health issues! But life does it's will! I have never had a job that paid over $13 an hour. Factory work and warehouse work. In the few times I was inbetween jobs I would work through temp services to offset unemployment. I even did a one day job to clean up a garage for a refuse company that dealt with human waste. One of the trucks was left over night with a busted valve. Three feet of human feces had to be shoveled up. If Man-Power had told me what the job was in advance I would have said "F*** ***!!!". It was disgusting, but I did it to make a days wages! So be careful who who call scum please.

My buck was 150" gross typcial (146 4/8" net) officially scored. Shot with my bow. His, I scored at 131" +/- my novice scoring, shot with a .270.

That is just too cool!!! Awesome! You are truly blessed.

Congrats to you and your Dad!! Great pic too!!

Well, since you brought my name up, I guess Ill chime in... #1 The concert is not "to raise awareness for gun safety and mental health", its to support an organization that actively advocates and works toward the addition of gun control laws and gun/magazine bans. Do a little looking into what they do rather than just read what the "about us" on their website says. #3, who said anything about no training? Most teachers are liberals, etc? Broad brush much?(No teacher I know of is underpaid. I know a bunch of them.) #6 At close range, shooting at huddled up people, a sawed off is just as, if not more effective than an AR. Theres a reason why police and military use them for close quarters situations. #7 those are your words, I dont see anyone saying that. Point it out if Im wrong. What has been said is that a gun law only effects those that follow it, so it will not prevent an illegal sale.

I think that is the key right there. Confronting a person with a violation, misdemeanor or even a felony could get out of control, I guess, I wouldn't think a person would shoot a cop for getting pulled over for a violation either. In any of these situations you just never really know the type of person you are dealing with.

I set a cam the weekend before last and have zero intention of touching it until me or Moog are walking by it to hunt a stand down past it come October or November. Once the card is pulled, I'll use it to figure out how the deer are using that corridor for future seasons and maybe a little intel for this season. For some people that'd be blasphemy...not being able to check cards. Who cares. I want the info to use. My cams give me 50% intel for this season and 50% intel for next season. An acquaintance of mine has run a trail cam on the same tree at a pinch point bucks take as the rut kicks into gear. It's been up three years now, and he only checks once per year. He can't hunt that spot often due to work/locale, but let me tell you, the pics/info he captures is nothing short of eye opening. If only he had bandwidth to take advantage of it. We have two spots that cams have proven set dates to hunt by just letting the cams go get the intel needed long-term. I started using cams around 2000 or so. I've made more mistakes with cams than probably everyone else on this board combined. That said, cams are a great tool when used properly (or as close to as possible). Knowing that they are just "one" trick in your bag rather than the whole bag, is a big difference maker. Plus its also fun to be at work and getting shots like this texted to you...

Make sure the property is posted and call the local DEC officer. If you can print out a picture and give it to him...he may know who they are and might give some insight with how to deal with them. Its painfully obvious what they were doing and they should be ticketed for it. If they didn't have a gun with them, I would think they are setting up for a kid but they would still be trespassing. My advise would be to talk to them in a very nice and respectful tone but at the same time be stern. It would amaze you how being respectful can help you, even though they disrespected you by trespassing and trying to hunt on your land out of season.

The answer is absolutely yes if they are not used to them. If you manage a large plot of land and have 100 cameras all over like you see on a TV show, and the deer are used to getting their picture taken day and night everywhere they go, I am sure they start to get used to it.....eventually. However, for us amateurs, who throw up just a couple, do so only in the fall, and then check them once and a while, you will 100% without a doubt effect the deer movement. You leave scent no matter what you do. if nothing else, just the scent of you being there and the scent from you on the camera will make the deer weary. I tend to put my cameras in areas I know I can get pictures of the bucks, but not near any of my tree stands. Even if a deer shifts its pattern by 100 yards to avoid a camera, that can be detrimental to hunting. Use cameras as a generic inventory of what the property holds, use your brain and the sign to narrow down where they are and where they move to effectively hunt them. Be smart about them and they can be used to your advantage. Be careless and the only thing you will ever have hanging on your wall are pictures.

I would have called the DEC immediately...and 911, I would have been on the phone with the 911 operator as I spoke to them. Had they noticed me. Would have also got a pic on my phone....Then if they were coming in from a road would have gone to the road and gotten a plate # if they were dumb enough to continue on...I also wouldn't have been sitting in the spring woods unarmed at that time...bears are out and Mommas with cubs...it's not illegal to have a rifle for chuck hunting so having that protection if needed is important...also rabid animals have been shot already this year...another thing to consider

If you think about it, any human attempts at forcing deer populations to be more dependent on the efforts of humans are likely to be creating excessive concentrations of deer populations and populations that exceed natures ability to provide sustenance when the human intervention ends or becomes inadequate for whatever reasons that nature might provide. Wild deer are not livestock or creatures that should be managed via agricultural means. We may modify populations through hunting, but trying to boost those populations beyond what nature automatically can accommodate is likely not something that will in the end benefit the herd.

Thanks for the update.. Tryin to talk my dad into gettin one this year. Glad to hear it's workin good for you Ol dog on a stray

Very little trigger creep,nice crisp break.

And that is exactly why disarming law abiding citizens will only increase crime. When criminals know their prey is not armed, it emboldens them. England and Australia have proven that beyond doubt.

Less than ideal conditions yesterday afternoon, but had to help a friend sight in his gun so I took the chance to take a verifying shot myself. Even with it being kind of cold out I was happy with the results. Come on Friday! Benelli M2 20ga, 3" 1.5oz Fed HW 7's, SumToy .562-5, 40 yards

Seriously wooly, you should do more advertising, as far as I'm concerned these pics should be on the cover of NatGeo magazine, this is an awesome work.

Decided to kill two birds with one stone today and go try to call some turkey in to my fox den blind for some pics. Decoys on one side, and the den on the other. No turkey showed up today, but I did see momma fox walk right past me with a mouth full of moles before she disappeared over the next ridge. I knew there was another den over there so I packed up and got to it. Momma usually just dumps the moles at the door and goes off hunting again while the little guys eat and play. As I snuck up the next hill I could see and hear a pup on the mound chirping! One of his brothers or sisters came out to join him in the sun for a bit and then they shot back down the hole, so I shot back to my hole to warm up and put some pants on! I got a nice close spot set up for tomorrow if I can time it right!

Yup!!! I love bowhunting! Lol Just picked up myself a rangefinder this week so no more misses due to underestimating yardages! And thanks I'm gonna do my best!!

Some parts tough to watch, but well done video, showing a tragic side of nature. Thanks for sharing.

It was hard to watch but it makes you think of what happens out there for the deer, a small piece of what happens any way. Most people or hunters only think of deer when the season gets closer and when its over so are they're thoughts

I think they are as efficient as they need to be if hungry enough... with the high population of small mammals and rodents in most habitats in NY the need to expel a bunch of energy to catch a turkey might not be necessary on a regular basis... but they are opportunists so an occasional turkey dinner is probably on the menu.

This was my daughters second year of youth turkey hunting she is 13 and she did not have any luck last year. So, we went out Sat put on lots of miles and seen lots of deer and 1 hen. So of Sat afternoon I had my dart league banquet for the year, and one of my dart team member's told me that he seen 3 jakes on their property earlier that day and I was more then welcome to take my daughter there to hunt Sunday. So we get up and head out Sunday morning at 5am as it is only a mile down the road from out house. We get there and sit down and listen. We start hearing the geese,ducks, and seagulls, and the waves hitting the shore line down on the lake. Then we hear some grouse drumming. It was heard to hear, but I though I hear a gobble to the south about a couple hundred yards away, so we waited and I heard it again. So we get up walk about 100 yards down the hill, stop I make a call and he hear a goggle, so I look the area over quickly and walk about 80 yards into the woods from the logging road. I find a nice open area on the ridge. I set my daughter up by a tree facing SW and I setup out Avian Jake and Hen decoys (theses decoys are worth every penny). As I just finished placing the decoys I seen a bird fly down about 100 yards from me. I was like did I just spook this bird. So I got back to my daughter and sit near hear. I got out my slate called and did a light call, and he hammered the call with a gobble about 80 yards away. So I told my daughter get ready. I have here using a 20 gauge Harrington & Richardson because it is small and light.So I make another call and nothing. So we sat there and listed, and I heard a noise. I told her to the gun up on her knee and aim towards the lake. I could hear the gobbler puffing up and drumming but could not see him. Then my daughter says she see's him, he was at 20 yards and coming fast in the brush, he breaks out in to the opening and charges the jake decoy and now is at 10 yards,he puffs up front of my daughter. He is fully puffed up (not strutting and turns and faces my daughter), I am like shoot, shoot. then bang, She bagged a bruiser of a bird.The hunt over with by 6:10 am. Total time of setup and hunt was about 5 minutes after locating him. It was a amazing hunt, with the bird just puffing up and charging the decoy. The bird weighted 19 lbs and beard was 9 1/4 and 1 inch spurs. It does appear to have a second beard, but its tough to tell if it fits the definition of a true double bearded or just a super thick beard that splits. Her dad is writing the story as she was tired and wanted to get some sleep.