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I've photographed this little guy several times before but it's been a goal of mine to get shots of him with his eyes open which I finally managed tonight. I recently acquired a new camera body and these shots wouldn't have been possible without it due to its low light capabilities, he didn't open his eyes and climb up to the edge of his hole until 15 minutes after sunset. I know this won't mean much to most of you, but the other camera geeks will appreciate this little tidbit, the shots where the eyes are open were taken at 8,000 and 10,000 ISO.

How is this for twisted logic, I would actually prefer some hunters to use a crossbow in archery season. I shoot my recurve at least 5 days a week to remain sufficiently proficient to hunt with it. I suspect I could shoot a crossbow 5 times per year and be sufficiently proficient to hunt with it, but I like the challenge of the recurve. For me, a compound falls somewhere in between those levels of practice. Not everyone has the time for, or desires that extra level of challenge in hunting. Do I want the guy who hasn't spent much time preparing to hunt with a bow to hunt with it? Nope. Do I want the hunter to have to sit out that part of the season? Not really. I would rather see the hunter who doesn't have the time or desire to dedicate to being proficient with a more difficult weapon use the easier weapon. Less wounded deer and more people included in this wonderful pastime. I think all agree its harder to kill a deer with a recurve/longbow than compound and harder with a compound than crossbow. Who cares. As long as you are proficient with the weapon you choose, go hunt. The only reason I would even oppose guns in archery season is because they make too much noise. One day I may decide I don't have the time to dedicate to remaining proficient with a bow and the crossbow may keep me in the game. Until then, all of your crossbow hunters, please leave the big bucks for me. lol

Yes I have. Real dry dusty soil. I put a few old turkey feathers around them. They add more.

you can argue all you want....not gonna change that thought pattern. I'll be honest, you wanna know why I broke out the crossbow last year? because it was so much easier then trying to kill a deer with my compound.....plain and simple.

I just don't want people who shoot guns thinking the xbow is an in to get a deer early. Everyone needs to understand that it's not a gun you can't take 60 yard shots out of the box and it should be required to have an archery course if you are hunting in archery season.

I think part of the rush, for me anyway, of hunting with a compound or recurve, is the moment building up to the shot.....the way everything has to pretty much come together perfectly to make it happen, I didn't get that with the crossbow...but still enjoyed it, just not in the same way.

I don't care one way or another about Xbows . But then I honestly don't think killing a deer with a compound is that hard of a thing to do if you hunt a high population area .

That is quite a perch that Hootie is sitting on. I was surprised to see that you have a bust of my mother-in-law.

just because someone is not for something, doesn't necessarily mean they're against it.........there's tons of stuff that isn't for me, but I could care less if someone else wants to do it. I won't fight for that cause, but won't stand in its way either.

We all pay the same for the tags to hunt. As long as we stay within the law. The choice of what we hunt with should be our own. I don't really care what another hunter decides to hunt with. And I don't want someone telling me what I can or cannot use. Besides selfishness, I see no other reason to not have full inclusion for crossbow.

2 seasons. ALL bows - recurve, lb, compound and crossbow - in bow season. All guns - modern, muzzle loader and air (big game)in regular. It really is that simple.

I can remember just a few short years ago when rifles were permitted in many southern zone counties.. The WAILING !!...The rending of HAIR !!... The gnashing of TEETH !!... Those terrible rifles were much more dangerous than shotguns, because they shoot so much FARTHER !! For some reason, that terrible phenomenon has not yet developed...I guess we have just been lucky so far.

It's the pistol grips. They're scary.

Well let me be the first to admit that I'm not the best bow shot by any stretch. While I do well on paper out to 40yds, that doesn't always carry over into the field with me under hunting conditions. I guess I'm one of the lazy bowhunters that doesn't have to time or desire to spend months pre-season preparing on paper or foam practicing long range shots. For me at least, my proficiency with archery gear has increased by shrinking my personal maximum range on game drastically. That has translated to my bow never coming off the hook on what some here would consider slam dunk opportunities at 25yds and beyond. I've learned that I'm ok with that, and will have to sacrifice a few shot opps every year because of it. I've lost my share of deer over the years by trying to force shots I should have passed on or waited for them to close the distance. I've got a pretty good streak going these last 1/2 dozen seasons or so, and I see no reason to try to extend my range again.

I feel exactly the same! For me it is all about the time spent. While I do not scout like I should(I love scout hunting and not knowing what might be in the area.). I spend many hours trying to perfect my shooting skills to get an ethical kill. Endless prepping for the season. This seems to be a quality many bow hunters have, not all but many. This is not something I typically see from gun hunters and the new crossbow hunters. Do I really care if full inclusion happens, no not really. Do I think it will have any effect on my hunting, not in the least. Crossbow hunters just like many gun hunters are lazy and will probably give up the sport once they realize that just because they are hunting early season does not mean deer will jump into your lap and that real work is needed to become successful. And finally they will realize the crossbow is not a gun and that practice is needed to become effective.

I think the xbow is in a league of its own. the traditional bows and compound bows both need the same mechanics to achieve the shot. Yes the compound is faster and you get let-off, but they are much more the "same". The xbow you draw or crank back and lock it in. no need to draw for the shot, and we all know even with let-off it doesn't take long to get tired with a compound. Also, you can call it a mechanical release on the xbow to be technical but I still call it a trigger. the xbow gets shot like a gun. The only thing I compare the xbow to the other bows is that it shoots an arrow-type projectile and the range is short.

Some years ago I pulled my drive in one snowy winter evening from a store run and could see something on my parked truck's mirror. I walked over and found that it was a little Saw Whet Owl just perched there with his eyes closed. He did not look in too good of shape so I picked him up and brought him inside to look him over. I could immediately see that several of his toes had frozen off and he was boney and just about dead. I just happened to have a large bird cage so I set him inside on a perch and expected to find him dead in the morning. When morning came he was still sitting there on the perch still looking rough so I decided to see if I could feed him something. Happened to have some raw chicken breast in the fridge so I sliced up some small bite sized pieces and offered it to him. Man he gobbled that chicken up like there was no tomorrow. Well as a few days went by he came along very well and started to look like he was getting back to normal. His problem was he had no toes-talons so he would have a hard time catching anything to eat, turning him loose in the middle of the winter would have just been a death sentence. I kind of liked the little guy and it was not a big deal to take care of him so I did. He ended up living about another year and a half. Chicken was his favorite food but he also like lean red meat. His cage door was left open and he would come out and fly around for exercise for a bit and eventually go back in his cage when he wanted to eat or drink and sleep. I called him Hootie

Some people just can't see that Stone. Let them have their little tantrums, because you're never going to persuade them. It's irrelevant anyway, because it's not IF crossbows get inclusion, it's WHEN.

Expectations ....... The hunting shows on TV and videos set newcomers up for failure. They illustrate typical hunting scenarios as a little slice of heaven where the weather is great, the deer are plentiful and always big. Antler scores are emphasized, and the ease with which trophies are harvested are always exaggerated. Sitting on the couch in the living room never gives any indication of how uncomfortable things can really get. All of this TV representation of hunting makes the realities of hunting hit a lot harder when the newcomer finally sits in that blind and has a few hours to decide he never wants to do this again.

Confirmed person shot on Lux st, just now , unknown if he was wearing Hunter orange or not .

Post the video of her. 1st time at the range and start at 100. Should be easy. After all, the bipod, bench and scope make the shot.

I didn't know there was a clown season!

9 times out of 10 it's not the weapon that wounds an animal, it's the person wielding it.

here's a Redd Foxx

I wonder if "Big Game Hunter" programs have any influence. They sit comfortably in front of a screen while eight and ten pointers come by every minute or so. Then every 5 minutes a big griz comes to get them. The kid is free to talk "There's One" and buck to doe ratios are two buck for every doe. The same kid sits in the cold, quietly now, for two hours and sees nothing. when they do show up its doe and the deer seem to be more aware than in the video. They get out of sight faster too. He comes home cold, hungry and empty handed. Mom gives him lunch, he sits down and bags three 12 pointers in 10 minutes. You want to go hunting tomorrow son?

Hope your special day is filled with nothing but the good stuff! Family, friends and good food! And perhaps a fine beverage of your choice!

The odds for hitting the lottery are better... I just missed out on that auction...My last bid was 84.5K.... All for shooting an elk in somebody's back yard.

Well I know more than a few compound shooter that pick up the bow a week before the season shoot a down arrows and go.. Face it your pins are set, peepsight, on, a d using a kisser button you use a mechanical release that is just like a trigger. And they shoot the ten ring out to 30 yards on every shot. How is that different than a crossbow? The pee on this forum have more of an interest in hunting and other aspects of the sport. A poll here doesn't reflect the general bow hunting population, nor doe nybh organization . Besides docs give an inch and they take a mile (standard nra practice as well) talk of lazy hunters is moot, I am on my property 300 plus days a year, I practice with bow , .22 ,45 70 and shotgun...guess what I own and shoot a crossbow as well.as do many friends I hunt with, it's simple another thing to try, why do you need a rifle when a shotgun has been killing deer for years... why do you want that new gun? Simply you want to try something different... I would bet that over half the x bow purchases were made by people that already bow hunt.. and now with course being made mandatory to use a crossbow ,Those that ran out and got one and signed a piece of paper have to be educated in effectiveness of death by hemoraging. I wouldn't call anyone that can get close and consistsntly take game lazy...

Found this in an old trapping magazine

Some times i just have to shake my head.

Enjoy Augusta!

Thanks all. Teeing off at 1pm for my first round of golf for the year. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Recently asked questions: 1) Can you do two subjects in one portrait? Not really. But will do two separate portraits at $80 2) Can you show photo before and resulting portrait? Yes. Below are a. Photo, b. Portrait & c. typical work in progress. 3. Can she do Cats? Very willing to try cats or most any pet. 4. Can she do deer in Habitat. Well deer less habitat.

Quick pick of my renegade xxc.

Thats it in a nut shell...

Doc - You are putting your thoughts into an animal's mind. Then you assume you understand the animal and ignore the species that evolved around it. Humans can examine their motivations - not that all do. Humans kill for many reasons from emotional release to fun. Some even kill because they need the food. A dog, a wolf, a weasel does not think/act in this way. Its mind does not make such distinctions. Killing prey by wild animals is essential for survival. Killing lots of prey increases the odds of survival. Dogs (red herring but I'll bite anyway) retain the desire to hunt and kill but not the need. A whole suite of species evolved around wolves. All of that meat would have been consumed if humans did not intervene. Most by wolves, ravens and eagles, some by coyotes, bears, mice, badgers, Stellar's Jays, crows, microtus and other rodents, etc.,etc. etc. Not a bit of it would have been wasted. The wealth of prey provided by a man-made, artificial situation created an opportunity the wolves exploited. This may be unfortunate. The wolves are not to blame for being wolves. My objection is not with the common man's lack of understanding. My problem is the way it is being portrayed. It is propaganda plain and simple. It was unprofessional for the WY spokesman to present it in that way. This is NO DIFFERENT than what the animal rights groups do to hunters.

ive always been against x-bows, up until last fall. I'm not against them, but I have zero interest in them whatsoever. At first it was the simple fact that they were easier to use than a compound or recurve, for the reason of there not being as big of an issue with proper form, anchor points, consistently practicing like there is with stick and string archery. I've noticed it all boils down to the person firing the weapon. I guarantee I can out shoot many people with my Mathews and somebody else using their x-bow. It may be a easier and possibly more "ethical" way of harvesting but the odds are basically the same as a compound( given we are all true sportsman and we practice and practice more).. I actually heard of more deer lost to x-bows in and around camp this past fall, due to people thinking they are guns that shoot "arrows" or "bolts" and can sling them 70-80 yards through the woods.. wounding the animal and never retrieving it. But "making x-bows legal for all of deer season", as long as this doesn't open a door to have early ML seasons or ML's mixed in with Archery equipment. I will not stand for that. i dont see much of an issue. Id prefer it to stay the way it is, but im not really against full inclusion anymore, as long as the guns stay in gun season and not during or before Archery...

I totally disagree with the bank robber thing……………...

That's the pointSent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

Lol honesty at its finest....there are things I find stupid and don't know why....just not xbow lolSent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

You can and you did! No problem at all. I respect your opinion even if I disagree.

This bill eliminate your fear, a archery course required to use crossbow. Isn't that the ethical way of learning how and when to shoot a deer with a cutting edge on the end of a shaft. Long shots can be posted of crossbow and bow at a target and even at game in an open field , the range most game is taken is still 50 yards and in even with gun that let's you shoot 500 yards or more, yes some will take longer shots, I've taken 65 yards shots and killed deer in an open field. Does it mean I shoot that in the woods ? My average kill range for deer is 22 yards.. including my long shots..an educational course that teaches ethics and proper placement of arrow is exactly what this bill is about, earning them the right to have full inclusion. I do not think anything will change your mind, doom and gloom x bows will bring.. it's your opinion and your entitled to it , but this bill eliminates your doom and gloom senerios.

Nothing is stopping them, but maybe they WANT to hunt with a crossbow. Maybe it's their weapon of choice. You're not disabled, right? So why aren't you out there with a recurve, or self bow? I mean, surely traditional guys are more dedicated & harder working, right? They HAVE to be. You hunt with a compound, because it is what you LIKE. You have that choice, so why not the guy who'd rather use a crossbow? Why should he have to use the weapon that you deem appropriate? Do you have a muzzleloader? Is it an inline? If so, why should you get to use it during muzzleloader season? What's keeping you from shooting a Hawken, like the real black powder guys? We surely work harder & have more skill than inline shooters. Right? No, it's your choice, & none of my damn business. As far as wounding, give me a break. Any weapon can be efficient when wielded by a hunter who has put in the time to learn it. Just like any weapon can wound when used by a hack. There's dbags out there who shoot too far, too late, too early, through brush, etc etc, no matter what weapon they hold.

Feeling like a Dirty Bastard tonight

I just got a headache.........

I knew this was going to come out sooner or later. Yes, I'm a baby trump! That being said, if anyone wants a personalized autograph sent to their house please PM for details on how to pay me. Thanks all!

My guess is that most who are against it fear the added hunting pressure, and not just from young folks, elderly, disabled and women. I have also heard some say they don't like to share the woods with people who don't want to spend or don't have the time required to develop proficiency with a regular bow. I never could relate to the fact that some like to increase the challenge to themselves and tip the odds more in favor of the quarry. While the deer may get more chance to escape, what about more chance of being wounded and not recovered (they never seem to acknowledge that part)? Personally, I want the deer to have minimal chance of escape and minimal chance of being wounded and I have seen the crossbow help me in both those areas. I would post my "heart-shot" picture again, but that might push some of the anti's over the edge. I hope to maintain my 100% clean, one-shot kill record with my crossbow, which I was never able to achieve with a compound. That said though, I don't mind sharing the woods with those bent on the increased challenge and who prefer the traditional archery methods of recurve and longbow, or even with the compound guys. I am holding back a bit here in my condemnation of the anti-crossbow folks because I think it is important at this time, when full inclusion finally appears near, that we put this behind us and reunite to keep our hunting tradition going in NY for many more generations. Dwindling hunter numbers hurts us all in the long run. The hunter is the best friend the deer has in NY, regardless of the weapon he chooses. United we stand, divided we fall.

When I started bow hunting I worked on a shipping dock / warehouse , all day I would pace off distance to I beams, tow motors, heck a piece of trash on the floor. To,this day it's hard to even walk my dog around the block and not pace off distance to Mailboxes . It's an easy skill to master bow distances .My traditional friends make fun of me for having " training wheels" on my bow , can't imagine what would happen if I pulled out range finder!

Wont change how I hunt a bit and seriously doubt it will impact my hunting by others using crossbows.