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First opening day deer and first barebow recurve kill. Yay

Opening day 9pt! I hunted yesterday afternoon and even though it was super windy I still had an opportunity at this buck. I shot him at 27yds with the Rage 2 blade, these broad heads have never let me down! I have taken 4 bucks with them now and never had one get away. This is not the biggest buck in the world but where I hunt you just can't pass them up this size.

120 - 130 lb 4 point, 15 yard shot.. got to love slick tricks... Went less than 100 yards...

Luna and I went out on a call this morning only 12 miles from home. The hunter reported a quartering away pass through shot, with dark blood on the arrow. He searched last night, but actually got chased away by coyotes. He and a friend went back this morning and followed blood, but then lost the trail. He reported they walked all through the area. I told him this didn't sound promising due to the coyotes and the fact they walked all through the area, but we'd give it a shot. We started at the hit site, but were unable to find blood or hair. The hunter had watched the deer run through the field and exit it, so we knew if Luna was going in the right direction....she was. We entered the woods and the hunter told me this was the area the coyote chased the doe and threatened him, and the area he and his friend had walked through this morning. Luna stayed on the blood trail as it circled all around, then appeared to lose it. I picked her up and took her to an area that we had been through that had a lot of blood, and we restarted there. This time, she took me to a fence that bordered a field about 300 yards long. I lifted her over the fence and she was off on the trail again. I've read how difficult it can be for a dog to track through an open field, and I was prepared to take her to walk along the edge to hopefully pick up the track where the deer exited, but that wasn't necessary. Luna appeared to lose the track only once in the field, but corrected herself and continued on. It was at this point we observed turkey vultures overhead, then saw one fly up from the ground. I let Luna continue to track and she took us right to the doe!

Opening morning doe, 16 yards, great start to the year! Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Took a nice doe this am, she didn't go far, quartering away hard.

My view yesterday afternoon.

Guess I'll be this first. I believe this is my first opening morning kill ever... 21 yd shot...Rage hypodermic through bow lungs...she went 60 yds and piled up.

Josephmarten....hope your gift if a nice big buck!

Happy Birthday! Hope you can spend part of your special day hunting! Best of luck to you this season young man!

First time out behind our new house. Didn't get in the tree till 610. Also first time taking my son out during bow. Within 20 mins had a doe a fawn and a small buck walk out on they're way to the soy beans. 10 mins later 3 doe straight ahead of us came out but caught some movement and trotted off. 20 mins later a nice buck and another deer came out in the same spot as the first three. Needless to say It was the best 1hr in a tree I can remember, especially sharing it with my son. I had to let him know it's not always like this, I'm used to sitting all day and seeing maybe 3 deer. Can't wait for tomorrow evening. Brining the climber back and setting up closer to where they were comin into the field edge.

Chester is mine and Baron the puppy is the hubby's. Taken a month go

It wasn't far at all. He did take me to a diner and bought me lunch.

A pic from my sit last night Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Well... He was a lot bigger bodied than I thought... Shot the 4 pt last night...

VJP, ever have an brothers or sister growing up? I did. it was like a WWE match as kids. knock down and drag outs. 3 seconds after an argument or disagreement like that I would have stepped in front of a bullet for them. I think it is more of a "we can argue with our own but don't you mess with them"

My goof was working today.

And yet another shooting in a "Gun-free Zone" at an Oregon Community College with reports of 10 killed and 20 injured. Seems like these zones are not working very well to protect anyone from wackjobs but rather acting like magnets to attract them. Prayers and thoughts to the families of the victims.

Good eye! Definitely biting. We had a tug of war dragging the deer out. Luna didn't want us taking "her" deer.

I wouldn't disagree with you on this, but you have absolutely NO problem bashing any non-hunter or non-gun owner who may not exactly agree with your philosophy either. So what's the difference really? You automatically discount them as being stupid, naive and un-american, so how much does that elevate you above the caveman status? Not much. We know you well enough around here that it's either your way or the highway, so if you can't sit down and at least listen to other sides point of view, and have a civil discussion with them, then you are no better than anyone else I am sorry to say.

Not too much to tell really jjb. As many stands as we have, only a few are OK for a ENE wind like yesterday so I chose the one that I thought would likely have action (near small clover plot and crabapple trees). When I got there, there were three fawn bedded in the plot. After a stand off with them, they finally moved and I jumped in the stand, only to realize its about as bad as a stand as one can pick to shoot a 60" recurve. Shots are all to my right, never really cleared lanes this year since we don't hunt it much and it has arm rests. Only one real lane where the shot was 20yds and less, most were in the 30yd or farther range out into the middle of the plot. So I wasn't expecting to take a shot but figured I would enjoy the nice afternoon. Around 5:45, the fawn returned eating apples and playing. A few minutes later, they had heads up watching something, so I stood up, turned facing the tree and got ready to shoot to my right. I saw two doe enter the other side of the plot but they stayed off the edges in the really thick stuff eating. Finally one started heading for the only real shooting lane I had and I shot her at about 16-17yds leaning way out and over the arm rests. Not an ideal shot and it was less than perfect but it got the job done. Lesson learned that I really need to pick my bow based on the stand I plan to hunt. We have some that the recurve will be fine. That wasn't one of them really.

Good luck guys. Beautiful morning here in Randolph. Hopefully we can get some movement here today. Gonna try my hand at filming!

my goof is living in a doe only zone.....

Not to be contradictory, but everything I have read (including information on the DEC website) contradicts that. It says the NYS law protects the property owner, even if you allow people to hunt the land. They only time you would need insurance (and forego the mentioned protection) is if you charge money (commercial). From the DEC site: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8371.html If they aren't a "non-paying recreationalist" they are trespassers with criminal intent. The only other area that would pose a problem is if you intentional created a hazard (i.e. put in a thin cable to prevent ATVs from using your trails). Can you post a link to a NYS or legal site backing up the liability claim? I would be interested in knowing more. I'm not sure how posting can affect liability either way. Posting only increases your recourse with unwanted visitors (they can be fined).

First visitor of 2015. Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

Guess I have to rename my room with mounts in it to the memories room? Stop being so politically correct, its just a deer, if someone considers it a trophy why rain on their parade? I consider every deer I have taken a trophy and will never put anyone down for shooting a deer that makes them happy. That mount allows me to tell the story, explain how beautiful the animal was and show others the beauty of a nice mount. It bring back the day it happened and allows me to relive the joy and bounty it provided. Now to be politically correct I will have to be a memories hunter vs a trophy hunter? No I make no excuse for the hunting I do. I am a trophy hunter and will not change to a memories hunter. And I do not fell any regret for being one.

Another excellent short evening sit. I used my new Knight and Hale Pack Rack Deer Call for the first time. To be honest I was not overly impressed with the sounds it makes. They are not very loud. In any case, a young 6 pointer came in. I had also dragged some scent in and that seemed to have his attention. He gave me a 25 yard broadside but he is not the Deer I am looking for right now. Some doe cruised by a little later too. I have seen more deer in the first 2 days, than all of last years Bow season combined. Great and promising start. I sat in a stand I haven't been near all summer. 2 giant rubs about 10 yards in front of it. It will be my morning stand tomorrow, for sure. 2015 is looking good so far.

That train is also black. Just an observation. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My omelet was a little well done. Other than that, breakfast in the stand was pretty much flawless.

he has his ear muffs we got him for races that will muff the sound. he loves the idea of just being out in the woods, last weekend we sat in the tree stand for an hour or so and i have never seen him sit so still and be so quiet just taking in all the stuff happening around us.... his biggest thing is any deer we see driving down the road or even watching tv i have to shoot it so we can eat it... lol guess thats a start to getting him on the right track

I say yes do it. If he's excited about it, feed that fire. Eye and ear protection. Try and instill hunting, not just killing. Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

I don't personally see a problem with it. I would say keep it fun and hearing protection for him might not be a bad idea. Other than that, he earlier the better in my book.

we don't want ya back.

Its not about having the extra room yet. Its about ease of moving it. Believe me, 2 man stands are a pain in the backside to put up and take down because of the amount of weight at the top. I wouldnt even get one of the stands with all the bells and whistles at this point, just a basic one man ladder with a foot platform that goes all the way to the tree. Like these http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/big-dog-16-blue-tick-ladder-tree-stand-bdl-300?a=1837163 http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/guide-gear-16-archers-ladder-tree-stand?a=1333064 You can use a prusik with a ladder stand if you like. I dont though, I just attach when I get up there.

Shawn, Don't be a douchebag

Don't know of any reason you couldn't. I carry my pistol and my rifle during deer season. Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

Zeus, PM me your address and I will send you a new package of slick trick magnums. I am not using them. They are 125g but will work better than pushing your centershot all out of whack. You really need that bow properly tuned and it doesn't sound like your shop did you any favors. Can anyone near Rome that has bow tuning skills help Zeus out? Happy to help you if you want to drive to Rochester.

Nobody thinks a firearm solves all the world's problems, but it sure as hell can solve the problem of being totally defenseless when you need to defend yourself. I'm pretty certain we will find out if there were CCW holders around that were armed. I believe we will also find out why they didn't help. It may not be such an obvious conclusion.

And oddly enough nobody here would say anything about taking a long shot on a coyote.

Ill let you know what my opening day goofs are on October 15th.

If you want to call a deer your trophy... that's just fine... everyone makes of their success as they will... I just think the whole "every deer is a trophy" is over used and was developed only after the big influx of "trophy hunting" and passing on young bucks. Kind of an "I'm not gonna let the trophy hunters and big buck hunters have control of the word trophy, cuz I don't like trophy hunting or big buck hunters" mentality. Who cares what other call their deer? Call your deer "The greatest, most fantasic thing that ever happened to me, I think I might cry deer"... if that's what keeps ya going in the woods. My deer are like a new pair of sneakers... when they're new you're all excited about the new sneakers and don't want them to even get dirty. But, after a while you just want a new pair of sneakers.

So who's nuts? The guy who takes an anti-depressant? The guy who sees a therapist? Where do you draw that line? That's one damn slippery slope.

dp you do the same when you throw a steak on the grill?

I just did. Nothing listed for a New York company. Some agencies also suggest that vacant land liability may be covered under an existing homeowner's policy. None of the information was specific to NYS. I have nothing against liability insurance - I'm loaded up with it. But I still believe that vacant land insurance in New York state is superfluous, given our liability laws. While I am sure an agent can find a vacant land policy to sell you in NY, that doesn't necessarily mean it provides any real benefit. DEC and NYS law seem to indicate it is unnecessary. I'm not trying to argue, just trying to understand what you base your claim on. As a landowner, I would really like to know if such a policy has any value in NYS. I cannot find any factual information to support the purchase. Also, there is nothing to suggest posting (or not) has any effect on liability. Posting (in NYS) only relates to trespass. I could not find anything to contradict this either.

Excellent ending to my opening day. This morning was super windy and nothing happened. After work, I had some batteries to change in a camera , but brought my bow and decided on a mini sit before dinner. I never use scent drags, don't know why. My first bow buck came in on a scent trail I made using one for the first time. This evening I cobbled one together with an old rag and rope and poured some Bob Kirschners scent, the Roam lure and Silvertop, which I combined on the rag. 15 minutes after a short drag to my stand a little 5 point comes right in and walks directly under me. He never winded me and wandered about for a while. I was pretty pleased with the outcome. I was thinking of heading in, when another set of horns comes poking through a dense stand of saplings. pretty much following the same route as the little 5. He wasn't the Big 10 I was after, that much was clear, so I was relaxed and not planning on trying a shot. He came up behind and once he rounded the bushes I could see it was the nice 8 point I had on camera rubbing off his velvet. He was actually pretty respectable. As I was taking in his points his head snapped right up and looked me in the eye. I squinted and remained immobile. He was a little wary but didn't run, but made a slow prancing retreat, down wind from me. He sniffed the air a few times. He knew something was up. I had brought the pee covered rag into the tree with me as cover scent. In hindsight, I should have tied it to a tree below at deer-nose level. It may have acted as a distraction and perhaps we could have avoided the stand off that followed. In any case, as he was wandering off I wondered if I would see him again and perhaps regret not being more ready for a shot. This is the problem when you know a Big 10 is in the area. He is ruining my hunting! Seriously though... a really great opening day, and I shall be using scent drags quite a bit. Just call me the Drag Queen from here on out.

1 of the 16 we saw this morning, friend missed one.

Based on my lack of hunting skills, I am pretty sure every deer I have "killed" was suicidal. I really just assisted.

You just jinxed yourself for the entire season, if not life.