Leaderboard

My name is Tom Rausch and I live near Waddington. I haven't been on the forum much, but want to get the word out that I just got my Leashed Tracking Dog license and I'm available to take calls. My dog, Luna, is a Wirehaired Daschund and we've only been on two calls so far. The first one we recovered a bear, the second one we searched unsuccessfully for a spike. Despite not finding it, Luna worked the line for an hour in a swamp without any visible blood. The trail eventually took us into a wood lot where we found one drop. We ended up back in the swamp where the trail was lost. I'm telling that story so nobody expects miracles. The success rate for tracking dogs is around 35%. I'm willing to travel around an hour and a half each way. Hopefully you don't need our services this season, but if you do, my number is (315) 854-2044.

This is one of 6 hinge cut bedding areas in this 25 acre wood lot. The woods were logged off 2 winters ago and are thickening up now. I moved this blind into the edge of the woods where I can hunt the woods and the food plot pictured below.

Yep it sucks go pay big $$ to hunt another state, I'll stay here and hunt these runt ny deer.

Is she good looking ? I might consider sharing MY stand with her... On second thought, she really doesn't have to be THAT good looking... Why raise my standards at my advanced age ? Is she FEMALE..?.. Does she have a PULSE..??.. She'll probably do, as long as she doesn't TALK to much..

Here is a good way to put things into perspective for her. There are 365 days in a year right? If you hunted every weekend of the season that would be about 26 days... now let's add a week off from work just to hunt... that's 5 more days for a total of 31 days (That's minimum). 365 - 31 = 334 days you have spent with her. Looks much better once you crunch the numbers huh? You guys, (like me), that fish, turkey hunt, play golf and have a few other hobbies throughout the year... sorry I can't help you. You might wanna rethink the whole having a wife thing... or get one that doesn't care how much you hunt like me... LOL.

Not surprisingly, I agree with Doc. lol Here is how I think about it, if I draw the bow and think "I hope I can make this shot" then I better not shoot. If I think "dead deer", then I shoot. Anything less than complete confidence (and that varies by person and situation) is a no shot in my book.

My wife supports my addiction! She's an inabler, she bought me my rifle. My name is grampy and I'm a hunter.

And I have nothing but respect for any hunter that kills, or chooses not to kill ANY legal deer. We all hunt for different reasons, and are different people. I don't think the size of the deer a hunter wants to kill, determines if they are anything other than another hunter. No one should ever be made to feel ashamed of any deer killed! It's truly an honor to hunt and kill any deer. We are all in this together, and no one should feel superior or inferior based on the deer they choose to kill.

I am just wondering what a sight pin looks like on a deer 100 yards away? I will have to pull back without arrow on one this year and see how much of the deer my pin covers! I am betting about half the deer lol. Oh and if I shot a monster at 80 yards and one at 15 yards well of course the 15 would be more impressive to me of getting closer to a mature buck = more skill to me.

But is dinner ready and waiting when you get home? lol Wait, come to think of it ....

Yup My daughter has had the same luck for over 5 years deer & turkey hunting she still has yet to use a tag but I make sure to tell her after every hunt how much I love her & how much I enjoy the time I get to spend with her in the woods because someday we wont be together to do it. It is not all about the killing. It is about the memories we make

For years everything was based on 20 yards... even to the extent that many bow hunters had only a twenty yard pin set on their bow and adjusted their pin placement based on the shot yardage + or - ... as the bows became faster and faster that went by the wayside. What was long range years ago isn't the same today. What that range is depends on many factors.. so , there is no right answer... it is relative to each hunter, his equipment and his ability.

That kind of says it all. It doesn't matter what kind of super archery equipment you are using or how well you can use it, that statement always remains true and never changes.

LOL... You must not know many trad shooters... most of the guys I shoot 3D with are unbelievable.. many score in the high 250's up to 25 yards... and kill just as many deer if not more than most bowhunters I know. We can shoot out past 20 yards acurrately, but because of the bow speeds the trajectory of the arrows at greater distances leave too much room for error... and a man has to know his limitations. If you take your sights off your compound I'll shoot with you at 20 yards all day... not to say that there aren't some trad shooters that suck, but the same can be said about some compound shooters.

The deer in my avatar was arrowed at 55 yards. He still doesn't know what hit him. There's too many intangibles that go into someone's effective range, which can vary based upon the setting and animal as much as the skill and will. The problem is too many people try to quantify this topic to back ethics or vice versa, and it's really pointless because any generalization, personal experience, etc. is really only applicable to that person. If you believe you can make the shot, then that is an effective range, in my book. And, as an archer, you know whether you can make that shot or not. We all know the thought process that goes on when pulling a bow back on an animal.

Awesome, now we have people not only telling others how far their effective range is, we have people doing that AND telling them what bowhunting is to them.

Here's our first recovery. (I know, small bear. Hey, I didn't shoot it, just tracked it.????)

does she get excited when she "almost" gets a deer? if not, maybe it's just not for her.....if she's just barely tolerating sitting there with the sole intent of killing something to make her hunt a success, then maybe it's not for her??? the people I knew who were miserable with the experience of "hunting", really didn't change their minds even after killing something.........on the other hand, those who came unglued at the mere sight of a deer coming close stuck with it either way

funny thing I see here in NH is more & more young ladies filling up the hunter Ed classes & with hunting related stickers on their cars/trucks then I see with young men

All of the author's justifications seem to be on weather. Hell if it were 30 below but you'd have a high opportunity on monster deer he'd probably still include it on his bunk list Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

In other words, What a wuss!

By glancing over this list, I see that author is routinely factoring in how "cold and snowy" a state is to figure out its deer hunting ranking. My goodness. Not a guy I would want to share camp with.

Same here, she knows exactly what she signed up for, her family has 40 acres in Liberty and I know hunt there almost all season. As far as my fishing goes it works out great she is a pastry chef and goes to work at 2 am so she is asleep by 9. I just wait till she goes to bed and then I leave and fish, I just make sure I'm home before she wakes up. Over all it's the perfect situation

My fiancé is going to gun hunt this year! She's excited

Yup...Been THERE....That's why I don't HAVE a wife anymore.... I did get a HECK of a lot of hunting in over the years, though...<<smile>>...

wife comes out with me as much as she can!!!

My wife knew who she married well before we tied the knot.

I specifically wrote I was speaking of my hunt area, only. I specifically stated that I know I was in the minority. I also specifically stated that I understand the opposing point of view. ...... There are some good comments pro and con - that's what makes a good discussion.

You are right in that some properties aren't big enough to hold a mature buck... but public lands are usually quite vast and have plenty of places to hold a big buck. Yes, the guy who has a couple acres in his back yard, half of which is open field, will probably spend more time walking or sitting on his property than killing deer. But most habitats are much larger than a few acres and usually encompass many properties and will hold at least one mature buck. If anything today is a much better time for big bucks given the number of hunters managing their properties and passing on younger bucks. In fact, more hunters are passing on young bucks in NY than ever before. Reaching full potential is like waiting for Utopia... it will never happen. Things can only get better for bigger bucks, which it already has. Like I always say, Killing deer or not killing deer has more to do with what a hunter is doing or not doing than where he is hunting.

I knew plenty of hunters whose biggest thrill was seeing what other guys brought back to camp....those guys are gone as well as the old time hunting camps......now "antler envy" and "look at me" are king.

Some pics from my son's property in Italy Valley

HERE I COME, TO SAVE THE DAAAAAAY !!!! Any of y'all remember " Mighty Mouse" ?

I heard the DEC cancelled the rut for 2015 as a means of population control. It wont even happen this year.

We have hunted the first 4 days of season for years.Sucks that we cant use last years tags anymore but we still went.I set up in a field corner and thicket edge and at 8am this guy came through and he gave me a hard quartering shot at 8 yards.I nailed him perfect.He went around 100-120 yards before piling up.First northern buck I've ever shot!!

I'm of the belief that as long as hunting remains the single best wildlife conservation method, we will always have hunting. But, as hunter numbers diminish so does hunting as the best wildlife conservation method. I think society should be just as alarmed by how hunting is being attacked... without it there my be no way to keep up with population growths in the animal kingdom that doesn't involve the implementation of some kind of chemical Euthanasia. Which will certainly cause a problem in the food chain of all animals and seriously mess with the ecosystem. Hunting is way more important to mankind than anyone really knows.

Thanks.....Even though they say that it doesn't affect the meat, if I see the doe version of Cindy Crawford, I think that I will pass...never thought I would pass on Cindy Crawford, but in this case I will.

Looks like Fibromatosis. http://dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/health_program/fibromatosis/index.asp http://www.buckmanager.com/2010/02/10/white-tailed-deer-tumors-or-warts/ Never seen it in person.

I hunt in Washington County, many farms, I am only speaking of my hunting area and certainly cannot make comment on other areas of NYS. I've been hunting for 52 years. The good old days were truly were good. Back then when I was a kid - young man, I was hunting in Columbia County an area of many farms. So called, "big" bucks were much more plentiful back then from what I see today on the farm in Washington County. My neighbor farm friends tell me what hunting was like in the area back in the 60's and 70's. It was the same as my hunting in Columbia County. The fact is today I see doe and young bucks, I do not see the big bucks. During the rut, we use to see bucks on the farm and certainly in fields and crossing streets at dusk and nightime. My simple definition of a big buck is one of 8 points or more, about 3 years old or more. The area produced 10 pointers and every once in awhile the really big boys were taken. Those days are over. Simply stated dead young bucks do not grow up to be big bucks. One really big buck can produce dozens of sons with the same gene potential as him. When young bucks are taken, you are deystroying the future gene pool of big racks and bucks. As hunting pressure has increased in the last 30 years, I believe too many young bucks are being removed. We are left with only a few big bucks. There is plenty of evidence that farming have changed over the years. For instance soybeans are popular in some states and these states produce really big bucks. We can't force farmers to grow soybeans so what is the alternative? So, more of the same? or do we alter the present the present policy in order to get a benefit for years to follow. During the hunt season I sometimes see these young bucks hanging from a tree or just inside the barn. They are almost always young bucks. Years ago in the 60's and early 70's we saw 8, 10, 12 pointers hanging. Sure 8 pointers were more common than the 12's but you get the idea. Today I see very few 8 pointers hanging up. If there was a minimum antler size law in effect of let's say 8 points, in a few years we would have 8 pointers roaming around for the take. In other words, give the young bucks a chance to get to the 8 point range. In a few years, instead of taking the young bucks you would be taking 8 pointers in almost the same numbers. I'M IN THE MINORITY. In a recent DEC survey hunters voted to continue the present system - take whatever you want. I FULLY UNDERSTAND MANY OF YOU WANT TO TAKE A BUCK NO MATTER WHAT AGE. I UNDERSTAND. So please do not curse me as some old guy that wants to limit your chances. I am suggesting that if we take a three year break from taking young bucks we can all enjoy hunting and taking much more mature bucks with big racks. I'm not alone there are many hunters that would prefer a minimum rack policy. On the Northfork of Long Island there is a very high density of deer maybe one of the highest in the state. I have seen huge bucks during the rut. Many of the really big boys travel along the cliffs of the Sound, I've seen them while fishing in November usually around sunset. I've never seen one in my yard, I live one minute from the Sound. However, I've seen doe and young bucks. The really big bucks don't come into the neighborhood they do visit the farms along Sound Avenue at night. The problem is there is no way to hunt them. Access is extremely limited. Bow hunting is the method. If all these bucks were taken as young deer they would not grow into the big boys. That is why we see so many 8 pointers and larger, an I mean alot larger. Anyone that knows the Northfork know some of the biggest bucks in NYS are taken on the Northfork, and why not? When young bucks grow up to the 3 year plus range they become big bucks. I'm in favor of a minimum "point" policy for taking of bucks.

Certainly sounds like access is the issue here. Need to find more or different ground to hunt.

And maybe after she finally has success, she will be frustrated because it wasn't a buck, or it wasn't a big enough buck. It really sounds like a case of too much expectation. There is a lot going on around us that tries to make hunting seem easy. Some of that is attributed to TV. I started at a time when it was expected that you would not get anything. That made the dry years seem much more tolerable. Maybe instead of putting her in the "next best" stand, you will have to let her put some time in the "best" stand. Somebody suggested some drives with her as the stander. That sounded like a pretty good idea to me too. But beware, like I said, when the expectations challenge reality, some times token successes may not be adequate. Be prepared for that.

I love hunting here, including the changing weather as season progresses. No, its not the trophy land of a few other states, but good population, good action and the chance to take a decent buck works for me. The late season snowy MZ hunts are as fun as bow season.

This is just a cool idea for those of you that self film out of a climber. I found it online and decided to make one and I'm glad I did, its a 3 piece folding aluminum arm that stays permanently attached to your stand so no more lugging a camera arm around. It does not interfere with the stand whatsoever (packing it, carrying it). All for about $25 worth of materials. If you'd like detailed measurements/materials just let me know. Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

I think this article is pushing something!!!! HMMMMM

Hey all. So this is more of a "I'm showing off" than anything else. But I wanted to show everyone my "upgrades" to my Summit Mini Viper SD. I ditched the big suspension seat for a Hazmore Silent seat(made in the USA) this thing is cool it sheds some weight and slides way back out of the way, so when you stand up you can stay close to the tree. I added a Third Hand Archery Universal Bow holder, and stabilizer straps(made in the USA). Next I had a guy at work mill me a bracket for my quiver that mounts to the stand. This holds my quiver down near my feet on the riser bar. Quiver just slides in with arrows facing upward, making my arrows accessible and ready to go should I need a second one. I also added a MOLLE frame, Shoulder straps, and a Lumbar belt...let me say that this set up makes carrying this thing a breeze, all of the weight is fully distributed across my back and waist. The stock Summit backpack straps were really lame IMO. Finally the Sherpa Game cart(made in the USA) kit that attaches to the stand and turns it into a game cart. Lastly I cut and added these furnature feet felt pads to the inside area where the cable meets...it reduced the metal clang that happens when they are snapped in place. Thanks for looking...I cant wait to get this thing in the woods this year.

I don't agree... not all properties hold big bucks. And to make a blanket statement about the entire state isnt right. Hunt with the masses here and youll see.I shoot big deer on heavily pressured land every year. I know where they go when the pressure turns on. I have a pattern on serveral big bucks and know where they will tend doe year after year. I don't think the hunting is anywhere near its potential when people shoot yearlings. Sent from my SCH-S968C using Tapatalk

Yes same person. Lol. This view never gets old for me. - Deerthug

LOL.. I wonder sometimes who you guys hunt with and who you know... almost everyone I know that hunts has an old time hunting type camp... no jealousy, no antler envy... sometimes a little friendly competition for that year's bragging rights, but mostly guys enjoying having a group of guys that share the same passion as they do... this forum and most trade shows I do are the only places in my "hunting world" that I see "antler envy" or the "look at me" attitude. I agree that things may be changing, but the old-time guys and hunting camps are still alive and well.

Get off your high horse, whats even worse is sitting at your computer judging everyone else with no knowledge of who your talking to.

I would not try to hunt with iron sights if you haven't practiced with it. If you do, you'll notice that hitting a paper plate at 50 yards isn't that hard. I consistently pop beer cans at 50 yards with my Henry 22LR with buck horn sights.

Heavy woods/mountains. I would like to stay in the $1k range. The kimber Adirondack is looking real good though.